This familiarisation programme is organised for top Russian travel agents in order to promote New Zealand. The suggested dates of travel are between 2nd May 2009 and 11th May 2009.

Arrive at Auckland International Airport.  Airport VIP service from the door of your aircraft to your waiting chauffeur, Jean-Michel!  Enjoy a short city tour on the way into the Westin hotel, located on the waterfront.  Have a casual meal on Auckland's waterfront after your long flight.  (Elena will come directly to the hotel as she will arrive after midnight.)

In the morning, Chad Thompson will host us on a cruise of the Hauraki Gulf aboard Lady Gay.  To fit everything in we need to start the cruise at 8:30am.  Then drive 3.5 hours north to arrive at our exclusive 1,000 acre coastal resort.  The main accommodation is still being completed and we have one double bedroom and a twin in the luxury Boathouse available to us.  The rest of us will stay in comfortable (but not luxury) staff accommodation.  We need to decide among ourselves who stays in the Boathouse.

We will meet Hone on arrival at the estate, have some free time, and then one of our favourite chefs will prepare a meal for us in the evening.

Spend the morning relaxing and looking around the estate before taking a flight to Rotorua.  In Rotorua, transfer to the Waiora Resort and Spa.  Depart 2:30pm (NZ2665), arrive 5:35pm in Rotorua. (NZ2365)

Today, Jean-Michel needs to handle a VIP client, so he will disappear  around 6am and reappear in Rotorua in the evening.

In the morning Volcanic Air is taking us by helicopter to White Island, an active volcano, before an early lunch at exclusive Okareka Lake House.  (departing 8:00am from Rotorua Airport and returning to Okareka at 11am)  Then continue onto Treetops Lodge for afternoon tea around 2pm before walking around Wai o Tapu geothermal reserve (3:30pm) on the way to Taupo (5:00pm), then Poronui Ranch for dinner and the night.  This is a long day.

View Poronui Ranch in the morning.  Then see a private, wild Maori high country estate for lunch.  Then continue to Hawkes Bay for a quick wine tour before settling into Greenhill Lodge for the evening.

Depart the North Island and fly to Queenstown NZ8479 at 06:40 to Christchurch, NZ5383, arriving Queenstown 09:55. Then drive north for an hour along the picturesque Cardrona road to Wanaka. We'll stop at the Cardona Tavern for a drink and then continue up to Silver Pine Lodge on Lake Hawea.
 

Enjoy a special day today with a jetboat on remote rivers. Start in Makarora with a scenic helicopter flight. Land in the remote Siberia Valley and enjoy 3 hours of relaxing trekking and hiking on a well marked track. Rendezvous for a fast-paced return jet boat safari. Return to Silver Pine.

Drive an hour down to Queenstown, possibly stopping at some wineries.  Then take a helicopter flight out to Milford Sound.  Spend the afternoon relaxing in Queenstown and seeing some lodges.  Stay at the Sofitel in central Queenstown.