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Taranaki Garden Spectacular & Chateau

Taranaki Garden Spectacular & Chateau

30 October - 6 November 2020

We drive through some of the most beautiful coastlines and gorges in New Zealand, wander fabulous private gardens in the famous garden festival, and enjoy beautiful settings for meals and concerts along the way. We then head inland to the Chateau to marvel at Mounts Tongariro and Ruapehu.

$3,930 NZD
per person
twin share
Single Room Supplement
- ADD $890 NZD
Initial Deposit On Booking
$750 NZD
Second Deposit Due 18 May 2020
$1,000 NZD
Final Balance Due 5 August 2020

Taranaki Garden Spectacular & Chateau

  • Celebrate the beauty of the North Island’s west coast with the Taranaki Garden Spectacular Festival, Stratford, Waitara, and the magnificent Tongariro National Park, staying at the beautiful Chateau.

    We drive through some of the most beautiful coastlines and gorges in New Zealand, wander fabulous private gardens, explore the local area through coach trips, visit a lavender farm and Waitomo Caves, and enjoy local museums and beautiful settings for meals and musical concerts along the way.

    Then when we have had our fill of wonderful gardens and coastlines, we head inland to the Chateau to marvel at Mount Tongariro and Ruapehu and experience our final evening with a gala concert and sumptuous dinner at the Chateau.

    Care, fun and music provided by John, Lynette and Hamish.

  • We begin our adventure, leaving Auckland and drive down the magnificent west coast, or meet us in New Plymouth.

    HIGHLIGHTS include:

    Drive along the coast and through beautiful gorges before arriving in New Plymouth late afternoon.

    Visit the Kiwi House, Otorohonga, a sanctuary for New Zealand’s unique native birds and reptiles.

    A private lunch at The Night Owl Restaurant & Bar, Piopio, a popular local restaurant.

    A casual dinner at the hotel this evening and a chance to meet your fellow travellers and tour escorts.

  • HIGHLIGHTS include:

    Tawhiti Museum in Hawera, widely regarded as the best private museum in the country.

    Visit Hollard Gardens, a 4.5 hectare property described as a horticultural oasis, in the heart of dairy country. Our visit here includes a guided tour and lunch.

    Dine exclusively at Gusto Café & Restaurant where our singers will provide wonderful entertainment.

  • HIGHLIGHTS include:

    The Yews, inspired by a traditional English style with an old villa, the garden is made up of expansive lawns framed by rhododendrons, rose beds and yew hedging.

    High Tea style lunch at Stanleigh Gardens, a country garden nestled under Mt Taranaki.

    Free afternoon and evening to explore New Plymouth.

  • HIGHLIGHTS include:

    Visit to Te Kainga Marire, a skillfully designed inner-city native garden, considered to be one of few private gardens of international significance by the prestigious RNZIH New Zealand Gardens Trust.

    Waiongana Estate, traditionally European design.

    Buffet lunch at Ngamotu Golf Club.

    Te Kukumara Garden which includes tropical and native planting, a large lake, bird aviary and sculpture and classic car collections.

  • HIGHLIGHTS include:

    Visit to Pukekura Park to explore at our leisure and take part in a fernery tour.

    High Tea at “The Tea House on the Lake”.

    Tupare Home and Garden for a historic house tour and look around the garden.

    Floral Art Demonstration and talk about the Garden Festival at the hotel.

    Dinner with music at the Orangery Restaurant.

  • HIGHLIGHTS include:

    Tour of Lauren’s Lavender Farm with Lunch (near Taumarunui).

    Continue to the Chateau with its views of Ruapehu and casual dinner this evening.

  • HIGHLIGHTS include:

    Tour of the local area: a scenic drive around Mt Tongariro and Mt Ruapehu, plus a visit to the National Army Museum in Waiouru.

    A sumptuous feast of cuisine and a gala concert with our surprise special guests in the private dining room at the Chateau.

  • HIGHLIGHTS include:

    Visit the Waitomo Caves where we will enjoy a tour and a delightful lunch with possibly a spontaneous song or two in the caves.

    Drive back to Auckland, filled with memories of music, flowers, scenery and new friends - the finer things in life!

This trip includes

  • Coach transfers Auckland - New Plymouth, New Plymouth - Chateau Tongariro - Auckland.

  • 5 nights’ accommodation at Waterfront Hotel New Plymouth, 2 nights Chateau Tongariro.

  • 4 days touring the stunning Taranaki Garden Spectacular with a variety of gardens and parks, ranging from small cottage gardens, rhododendron gardens, formal English gardens to magnificent parks.

  • Special flavours such as final night gala at the Chateau, dinner and 2 private concerts, museum tour, lavender farm visit, National Army Museum, High Tea style lunch at Stanleigh Gardens, and a song or two in the Waitomo Caves.

  • Tours and entries as listed in itinerary including Otorohonga Kiwi House, Waitomo Caves, Tawhiti Museum and a floral demonstration and talk. All this under the backdrop of some of the most fabulous scenery in NZ: the majestic Mt Taranaki, the stunning West Coast of the North Island including drives through gorges and magnificent coastline, New Plymouth, Stratford, Waitara, Mt Ruapehu and the Waitomo Caves.

  • All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners and 1 High Tea included.

  • Hosted by John Cameron, Lynette Martin and Hamish McGregor.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Special flavours such as final night gala at the Chateau, dinner and 2 private concerts, museum tour, lavender farm visit, National Army Museum, High Tea style lunch at Stanleigh Gardens, and a song or two in the Waitomo Caves.

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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