Off The Beaten Track Rail Odyssey 2021

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8 - 21 April 2021

A 14 day exclusive musical train charter around the North Island to see many natural wonders off the beaten track, not available on public rail.

We will explore the regions around the Chateau, Napier, Martinborough, New Plymouth and Taumarunui as well as present you with numerous concerts from our escorts Sue, Bonnie, Alex F and Paul on piano.

$6,955 NZD

Single Supplement

- ADD $1,860 NZD

Initial Deposit On Booking

$900 NZD

Second Deposit Due

$0 NZD

Final Balance Due 15 December 2020

Off The Beaten Track Rail Odyssey

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Themed music events hosted by Sue, Bonnie, Alex Foster and Paul on piano include:
Getting To Know You featuring songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein,
Melodies and Memories a walk down memory lane with best loved melodies,
Drink, Drink, Drink! Songs from Student Prince, The Great Waltz and other musicals from the Golden Era of Musicals,
A Celtic Celebration, songs from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales,
Gatsby Glitter and Glam Gala! a concert of fabulous Art Deco songs,
A Family Soirée, songs and singalongs to celebrate our tour.
An exclusive charter train journey on tracks no longer accessible by public rail: Auckland to National Park includes three volcanic mountains - Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu.
National Park to Napier includes the famous Raurimu Spiral to Palmerston North and the picturesque Manawatu Gorge, currently only accessible by rail.
Napier to Masterton includes the Heretaunga Plains on towards Dannevirke, before branching off South towards Masterton.
Palmerston North to New Plymouth includes the Westmere Bank with the mighty Mt Taranaki on our left and the distant slopes of Mt Ruapehu on our right.
- Auckland (1 night) to enjoy our welcome dinner and music and get ready for our train journey.
- Chateau Tongariro Hotel (2 nights) plus tours of National Park and the National Army Museum, Waiouru.
- Napier (3 nights) including vintage car tour of the city, wine tasting at Te Awa Winery, Birdwood Gallery, Art Deco concert at the Old Church and dinner at the Mission Estate.
- Martinborough (3 nights), visits to vineyards, wine tasting, Tui Brewery, Greytown and Stonehenge.
- New Plymouth (3 nights) garden and historic house visits, Glockenspiel, mountain drive and lunch, visit to Tawhiti Museum.
- Taumarunui (1 night) Whangamomona, Lavender Farm, drive through the Forgotten Highway.
Escorted by singers Susan Boland, Bonaventure Allan- Moetaua, Alex Foster and pianist Paul Carnegie-Jones.
Susan Boland is owner and co-founder of Operatunity. She has been a professional singer for 30 years. Combining their shared vision for a new music company to cater to the senior market Susan and her husband John started Operatunity in 2001. She is the Managing Director and Creative Director co-ordinating and driving her vision of all musical aspects of the business including choosing all artists, concerts styles and programming as well as singing in well over 100 concerts per year.
Bonnie has worked for Operatunity for 13 years, and has developed into our principal artist. He has an amazing ability to sing all sorts of different styles of music. He has a beautiful operatic tenor voice but can also sing crooners, rock n roll and music theatre styles as well as has a genuine care of all our customers.
Also blessed with a vibrant sparkling personality, Alex Foster is a beautiful classically trained soprano who will join our dynamic duo. When she is not singing with us she works in our office and is charged with costume design and arranging for our shows and concert tours.
Paul is a pianist, song accompanist and musical director whose performance interests span classical genres, opera, jazz and musical theatre. Paul grew up in Hawkes Bay where he maintains a teaching practice and is a faculty member of the New Zealand Singing School. He is an amazing asset to Operatunity and everyone who works with him or travels with him will vouch for his generous and kind nature.
Auckland (1 night) Cordis Hotel (formerly the Langham Hotel - a non COVID quarantine hotel out of the city centre). This is a five star luxury hotel within easy walking distance to the city centre but not in the Central city so we can stay away from any COVID quarantine hotels at present.
Chateau Tongariro Hotel (2 nights)
The historical Chateau Tongariro Hotel impresses with its grand architecture and interiors, location in the Tongariro National Park and facilities, which include a 9 hole golf course and a cinema.
Navigate Seaside Hotel and Apartments, Napier (3 nights)
Offering views of the Port of Napier, this polished apartment hotel is across the street from the beach and located beside some great restaurants.
Peppers Parehua Martinborough (3 nights)
Set on a large country estate with sweeping gardens and panoramic views of the Wairarapa wine-growing region, Peppers Parehua has been individually designed, with artwork and furnishings by New Zealand artists.
Millennium Hotel New Plymouth, The Waterfront (3 nights)
This 4 star hotel is located in the heart of the city, close to shops and overlooks the magnificent West Coast.
Central Park Motor Inn, Taumarunui (1 night)

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This trip includes

• An exclusive charter train journey on tracks no longer accessible by public rail: Auckland to National Park includes three volcanic mountains - Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. National Park to Napier includes the famous Raurimu Spiral to Palmerston North and the picturesque Manawatu Gorge, currently only accessible by rail. Napier to Masterton includes the Heretaunga Plains on towards Dannevirke, before branching off South towards Masterton.
Palmerston North to New Plymouth includes the Westmere Bank with the mighty Mt Taranaki on our left and the distant slopes of Mt Ruapehu on our right.
• Themed music events hosted by Sue, Bonnie, Alex Foster and Paul on piano include Getting To Know You featuring songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Melodies and Memories a walk down memory lane with best loved melodies, Drink, Drink, Drink! Songs from Student Prince, The Great Waltz and other musicals from the Golden Era of Musicals, A Celtic Celebration, songs from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, Gatsby Glitter and Glam Gala! a concert of fabulous Art Deco songs and A Family Soirée, songs and singalongs to celebrate our tour.
• Auckland (1 night) to enjoy our welcome dinner and music and get ready for our train journey.
• Chateau Tongariro Hotel (2 nights) plus tours of National Park and the National Army Museum, Waiouru.
• Napier (3 nights) including vintage car tour of the city, wine tasting at Te Awa Winery, Birdwood Gallery, Art Deco concert at the Old Church and dinner at the Mission Estate.
• Martinborough (3 nights), visits to vineyards, wine tasting, Tui Brewery, Greytown and Stonehenge.
• New Plymouth (3 nights) garden and historic house visits, Glockenspiel, mountain drive and lunch, visit to Tawhiti Museum.
• Taumarunui (1 night) Whangamomona, Lavender Farm, drive through the Forgotten Highway.
• All breakfasts, 10 lunches, 1 high tea, 10 dinners and all morning and afternoon teas on board the train are included.
• Escorted by singers Susan Boland, Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua, Alex Foster and pianist Paul Carnegie-Jones.
PLEASE NOTE: As our travellers are coming from all over NZ, airfares are not included.

EASY TOUR
This tour will suit people with a stick, but not a walker. You will be required to walk to get from place to place, but it is designed to be an easy tour with lots of times to rest, travel on a coach and walk easy leisurely distances.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• All trips are subject to change but any changes will be of equal or greater value.
• Deposits refundable until final payment date minus any costs incurred, or an administration fee of up to $300.
• Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
• Travellers are required to obtain comprehensive travel insurance for all international trips.
• Please refer to terms & conditions on our booking form.

Travel Insurance

Every customer is required to take out insurance for all international travel when taking a trip with Operatunity Ltd.

DOMESTIC INSURANCE
Insurance for Domestic travel is currently available from many companies. Insurance for New Zealand trips is entirely at your discretion. Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice.

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
Insurance for International travel is currently available from many companies. For our trips overseas it is a requirement that proof of cover be sent to our office some time before departure from NZ. We can not accept travellers who hold no cover for international travel as per our term and conditions.
Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice. Email travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz Phone 0508 886 489

MOBILITY

Operatunity provides group senior travel and with this in mind we plan trips to suit our target market. But not every trip is created equal in terms of mobility. We want to give you the best possible experience but that will only be achieved if you are able to enjoy everything that our trips have to offer.
Most of our long haul trips require a better level of mobility. We will look after everyone as well as we possibly can, but we cannot look after one at the expense of the rest of the group. We also cannot have one person slowing the rest of group to the point where the group is not able to enjoy every experience we are able to provide.
With this in mind we have put a mobility clause into every trip. Under each explanation here I have popped a statement. Ask yourself if this is ‘you’, when booking on a trip.

None of the following mobility clauses preclude you from ordering a wheelchair at the airport if required.

1. GENTLE TOUR This tour will suit most people, even with a stick or a walker, but sorry not someone in a wheelchair. The activity level is gently paced, but you still need to be able to get on and off buses easily. There will be walking, but not a lot. “I love travelling, but at a gentle pace. I like to avoid stairs or too much activity, but I am able to get on and off buses easily.”

2. EASY TOUR This tour will suit people with a stick, but not a walker. You will be required to walk to get from place to place and stand in museums, but it is designed to be an easy tour with lots of times to rest, travel on a coach and walk easy leisurely distances. ”Walking is fine. I can get on and off a coach. I am happy to stand for an hour or two in museums and galleries and gently stroll through places of interest. I am happy to climb the odd set of stairs.”

3. MODERATE WALKING TOUR This tour requires a better level of fitness with no wheelchairs or walkers. Generally, there may be times when we can’t get the coach close. In some of our Pacific Island tours we will need you to transfer onto a tender and walk on soft sand. We also will have much longer flights and long walks through airports. “I like walking at a moderate pace. I love to keep my days full and experience everything the tour has to offer. Stairs, tender transfers and cobblestones don’t bother me.”

4. EXPLORING TOUR This is still a moderately paced tour, but you will be required to walk longer distances, walk on cobblestones and stand in museums. To really get the best out of this tour you need to be able to stand or walk for a couple of hours comfortably, be it at a leisurely pace. “I like to spend most of the day exploring. Whether walking historic neighbourhoods on cobblestones at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I want my days full. Stairs don’t bother me and I am keen to see and do as much as I can with the odd day off to recuperate.”

Operatunity is a company specialising in music lovers tours to the senior market. Each trip has been especially planned to include music and arts experiences and has a level of friendliness and care which cannot be found anywhere else! Our trips are packed with features not found anywhere else
Yes we have lots of people who travel on their own. We endeavour to match you up with someone who lives close to you or is close in age to you. Often you will get a chance to meet with your matchup or ring them before you leave on your trip. You also may prefer to travel solo and pay the single supplement price. We travel as a happy band so there will be lots of chances to meet people. You will find fellow music lovers and those with other similar interests. In fact those like the nicer things of life so you will travel with like-minded people. It is also important to remember that our singers are our escorts so you will see at least a couple of familiar faces as you leave.
If you live outside of Auckland, we can arrange travel and accommodation on your way to meet up with our group. We have access and can book domestic airfares in conjunction with Air New Zealand international airfares. Plus we can book your pre and post tour accommodation if required.
It is compulsory for our international trips and highly recommended for our domestic tours.
No as most airlines offer various special meals and any restaurants we visit are happy to accommodate special dietary requirements.
We seek to accommodate the needs of guests with disabilities whenever possible. However in most cases we are unable to take customers with walkers, wheelchairs or other mobility issues. Certain trips may be unsuitable due to walking or limited availability of accommodation with disabled facilities. We cannot be responsible for the care of customers suffering from significant cognitive illness (such as dementia). We ask such customers to consult with your doctor to obtain medical clearance. Guests needing assistance mustbe accompanied by an able companion who will be available to assist them and assume full responsibility for their wellbeing.
We ask that you can walk at least 100 metres unaided and be able to get on and off buses with little or no assistance. We cater for a senior market but it is important that you do not jeopardise the enjoyment of others by requiring more care and holding up the rest of the group. Talk to our office or staff at concerts and any advisory notes for individual trips to get a better idea of your suitability for each trip.
We stay at 4 and 5 star character hotels, avoiding package, tourist or big hotel chains. We choose hotels with a more personal feel often with historic content or hotels of beauty and character, centrally located or in parks, by the water, or with beautiful gardens.
Breakfast is included daily, and many dinners and lunches are also included as per our itinerary.
There are no hidden costs. Included in the trip are tips, taxes, porterage, breakfast, meals where specified, inclusions listed in the itinerary, entry fees where listed in the itinerary, concert/show tickets where listed in the itinerary, tour escorts and local specialised guides.
Some of our trips sell out very quickly and we recommend you make your booking as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
We will ask you to pay an initial deposit when making your booking. We will then follow up for a second deposit and then a final balance payment prior to travel.
All deposits up until final payment are refundable minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs the company may incur.
After final deposit refunds are unlikely and the refund becomes an insurance claim.
Our numbers vary from destination to destination, please contact our office for further information. We have a minimum number required to operate a tour. Should minimum numbers not be met, a full refund will be made.
For international trips, all guests must have a valid passport that does not expire earlier than at least 6 months beyond their intended stay.
Music is a key element in making our experiences special. There are special experiences and events every day, such as themed dinners, impromptu concerts, music, art tours with art experts and garden tours with garden experts.
Most hotels now have internet connection and all hotels have telephones in the room or at reception. If using your mobile telephone check calling and text rates, and disable data roaming before leaving New Zealand. Consider purchasing a prepaid SIM card. And you can keep in touch using social media such as Facebook. We have a copy of your next of kin details in case of emergency and we are also happy to help out with texts, phone calls and emails if you can’t get in touch with your family and need to while away. We are also happy to help out with getting your phones, ipads and cameras to work if needed while away.
We spend less time travelling between regions, allowing more time to enjoy experiences when you arrive. We avoid one night stops and “conveyor belt” travel, so you really can capture the local colour and vitality of the region. Our trips are planned so that there is a balance of included activities and free time for you to relax or do some exploring on your own.
Contact Operatunity Travel
Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
Mail your booking form to PO BOX 132 150, Sylvia Park, Auckland 1644
Email: travel@operatunity.co.nz
Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
Email: travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz

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