High Country Stations - Of Inland Canterbury 23-30 November 2020 - Tranzit Tours
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EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
BOOK EARLY
& SAVE!
Erewhon Clydesdales
High Country Stations
Of Inland Canterbury
23-30 November 2020
New Zealand’s
Senior Travel Club
Itinerary
We love this tour, and we hope you will too. We do stress though that this is a
back-country adventure so expect to really get in touch with nature. We will be
travelling over at times, uneven terrain in 4WD vehicles. A level of basic fitness
and mobility, together with a flexible attitude, is strongly recommended.
Day 1: Monday 23 November - Travelling to Blenheim
A leisurely start from all destinations today as we are transferred to Wellington and meet at
the Interislander Ferry terminal for our mid-afternoon sailing across Cook Strait to Picton. Upon
reaching Picton we travel the short distance to Blenheim in the heart of the Marlborough wine
region, where we settle into our accommodation at Quality Hotel before dining in this evening.
Day 2: Tuesday 24 November – Blenheim to Hanmer Springs
Departing Blenheim this morning, we make our way up the Wairau Valley, passing through the
village of St Arnaud, in the Nelson Lakes area, and stopping for lunch (own choice and cost) in
the country town of Murchison. Our journey continues this afternoon through the scenic Lewis
Pass to our destination Hanmer Springs, where we stay at Hanmer Springs Retreat. There will
be time before dinner to soak in the natural mineral waters of the thermal pools for which this
area is so renowned, or alternatively a wander in the leafy grounds of the historic Queen Mary
Hospital or the exotic forests of Hanmer. We dine at a restaurant adjacent to our accommodation
this evening.
BlackHills Sheep
Day 3: Wednesday 25 November – Hanmer to Methven: BlackHills and Terrace
Stations
This morning we depart for Hurunui, where we visit BlackHills, an historic North Canterbury farm
specialising in coloured sheep breeding. This property also features restored cob farm buildings
and pioneer farm machinery and we will meet its dynamic owner Bev Forrester. Our lunch stop
today (own choice and cost) is in the quaint village of Oxford on the inland scenic route.
This afternoon we visit Terrace Station at Hororata. Owned by Richard and Kate Foster, Terrace
Station is the one-time hub of an extensive property dating from the 1850s that was established
by Kate’s descendants. Most of the farm buildings, including the smithy and woolshed still exist,
and a delightful garden surrounds the historic homestead. We will be able to view the front rooms
of the homestead, which provide much information on the colonial period, as well as a swaggers
hut, a 19th century ploughman’s caravan and a Carriage House with original family horse-drawn
vehicles. A cup of tea provided by our hosts will see us on our way as we make our way into the
upper Rakaia Gorge, crossing the Rakaia River at this spectacular spot and making our way to
Methven. Checking in to our hotel, Ski Time Resort, there will be time to relax and explore our new
surroundings, or mingle for a pre-dinner drink before we dine in tonight.
Terrace Station, Hororata
Itinerary
Day 4: Thursday 26 November – The Point, Middlerock and Ben Lea Stations
Today’s tour begins with a visit to The Point Station, a historic farming property at Windwhistle
owned by Steve and Teena Richards. Over morning tea with our hosts, we will learn about the
property, and can take a tour of the large garden with a glimpse into the historic homestead.
We then move on to Middle Rock Station where we are welcomed for lunch by hosts Lyn and
Bruce Nell and their daughter Charlotte Rietveld, who with her father, runs the farming operation.
We will have time for a leisurely wander of the large homestead garden framed by panoramic
views of the Mt Hutt range, before reboarding the coach to take a tour of the farm. Middle Rock
farms over 7,000 sheep producing fine wool and export lamb for international meat markets. We
then travel to nearby Ben Lea Station, whose owners Sam and Cathie Bell will share the history
of Ben Lea and provide a farm tour of the station’s diverse cropping river flats, including a peak at
the magnificent Terrace Downs Resort, a luxury high country retreat and golf course. Afternoon
tea back at Ben Lea Homestead ends our day. Returning to our hotel, we have time to relax and
freshen up before dining out at a popular Methven Village restaurant this evening.
Day 5: Friday 27 November – Ashburton Gorge: Lake Heron and Erewhon Station
We travel up the Ashburton Gorge today; stopping to enjoy morning tea at beautiful Lake Heron,
in the Hakatere Conservation Park. We then make our way up into the vast headwaters of the
Rangitata River to Erewhon Station, nestled amongst the Southern Alps. Erewhon is named in
honour of Samuel Butler, who wrote the novel “Erewhon”, and farmed on nearby Mesopotamia
Station. The 14,000 hectare Erewhon today is owned by Colin and Erin Drummond who breed
Clydesdales and run 5000 merino. We enjoy a very special experience today, taking a wagon
ride pulled by a team of Clydesdales over the spectacular terrain of this remote property. We will
be able to explore the small museum and station buildings, as we enjoy a picnic lunch in the
Erewhon woolshed and listen to Erin as she talks to us about high country life.
There is much to see in this magnificent glaciated valley, and time to explore as we travel back
down the valley. Mt Sunday was the setting for Edoras, the fortressed city of the Rohan people in
the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and we pass several other scenic montane lakes. We stop to explore
the historic station buildings of the original great Hakatere run, the oldest a stone cottage built
in 1860. This evening we dine out at Stronechrubie Country Restaurant, located at Mt Somers,
featuring delicious cuisine from locally sourced produce.
Lake Heron, Ashburton
Day 6: Saturday 28 November – Glenfalloch Station
We will be travelling with a local company in comfortable 4-wheel drive vehicles today as we
embark on another unforgettable adventure. Today our travels take us up the valley of the
Rakaia River, another of the great Canterbury Rivers. Up in the headwaters of the Rakaia we find
Glenfalloch Station, a 10,000 hectare high country run owned by Charles and Dietlind Todhunter.
A drive over the main arterial farm track will take us through terraced grassy flats, tussocky hill
country, and over scree slopes fanning their way down valley, and will provide endless views of
the Rakaia Basin, and glimpses across the river to the famous Mount Algidus Station. A delicious
lunch catered by Dietlind in a special spot on the banks of the river is one of today’s highlights,
before we make our way back down river to Methven. We enjoy relaxed dining in this evening
after another big adventure.
Day 7: Sunday 29 November – Gunyah Estate and Travelling to Hanmer
Before departing Methven this morning, we visit the Methven Heritage Centre to experience the
Alpine and Agriculture Encounter, an interactive collection that will summarise our stay in this
region, telling the story of Mid Canterbury – from the mountains to the plains. We then visit
Gunyah Country Estate at Hororata, where we will enjoy our last taste of rural hospitality. Gunyah
is a grand homestead built in 1912 and which has a historic places listing. Here owner Simonetta
Ferrari will share the history of this elegant Edwardian home and property and provide a finger
food lunch with silver tea service to see us on our way. This afternoon we return to Hanmer as
we begin the journey homeward.
Glenfalloch Station, Rakaia Gorge
Day 8: Monday 30 November – Travelling Home
An early start this morning as we travel north on our way to Picton, travelling via Kaikoura and
the Pacific Coast. A fascinating journey through this changed landscape. Lunch today is in
Picton (own expense) prior to departing on our afternoon sailing returning us to Wellington.
Finally, we bid our fellow travellers goodbye before being transferred to our home locations.
Rush hour on Potts Road
Tour Highlights
> BlackHills Station – a historic North
Canterbury farm breeding coloured
sheep
> Terrace Station – one-time hub of
an extensive early Canterbury run BlackHills Station
> Coleridge Valley Stations – meet the
owners at Point, Middle Rock and Ben
Lea Stations
Middle Rock
> Erewhon Station - an historic
Canterbury high country station
breeding Clydesdales and merinos
> Glenfalloch Station – an iconic
property set high in the headwaters Erewhon Station
of the Rakaia River
> Gunyah Estate – an elegant
Edwardian homestead with a
fascinating history
Gunyah Estate
Tour Schedule
Price Per Person:
• Double or twin share....................................................................$2845.00 per person
• Single Accommodation ...............................................................$3409.00 per person
Deposit required to confirm your booking: ......................................$445.00 per person
Cost of Tour Includes:
•
Accommodation
•
2 course dinners
•
Breakfasts
•
Morning teas on most travelling days
•
All coach travel
•
Interislander ferry transfers
•
BlackHills, Hurunui: visit
•
Terrace Station: garden, homestead and station building tour
•
Erewhon Station: horse drawn wagon tour and talk
•
Point, Middle Rock, and Ben Lea Stations: station tours: morning tea and lunch
•
Glenfalloch Station: station tour and lunch
•
Methven Heritage Centre: entry
•
Gunyah Country Estate: lunch and tour
•
Packed picnic lunch day 5
•
Stronechrubie Country Restaurant: dinner
•
Ski Time Resort dinner
Tour Balance payable by..........................................................................9 October 2020
Bank account details: BNZ 020688 0127658 00 Tour Reference: Hicountry20
To: Tranzit Coachlines Wairarapa Ltd,
P O Box 116 MASTERTON 5840
Phone (0800) 471 227 or (06) 370 6600
Please read the “Terms and Conditions ” enclosed
New Zealand’s
Senior Travel Club
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