South Island – Oceania Coachlines

UK Golf Group – 22 day tour

Oceania Coachlines — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 01:17:23 +0000

Greencard Golf brought 47-keen golfers to New Zealand. They played courses from Kauri Cliffs in the far North, to Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay and Millbrook and The Hills in Queenstown. With a lot of sightseeing in between! Oceania provided three separate 49-seat tour coaches from Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown to make it work.

I would like to thank you for helping me organise our tour to New Zealand. We played 9 of the top courses and 5 others that were all fabulous. We played them all in sunshine (with a little wind at times!) and found them fantastic. Oceania provided us with luxury coaches and three of the best drivers we have ever had. Thank you one and all.

Richard Vine: Managing Director, Greencard Golf Ltd, United Kingdom

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The wonderful wineries of sunny Marlborough

Oceania Coachlines — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:30:13 +0000

Oceania Coachlines recently took a group from a wine distribution company on a tour of some of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley wineries. The valley is renowned for producing world-class Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. It’s a delightful area with vineyards stretching over river terraces and rolling countryside as far as the eye can see. In autumn the vineyards put on a spectacular show of flaming colour from pale gold to deep ruby red.

Marlborough’s sunny but dry and cool climate creates ideal conditions for the grapes to go through a long, slow, flavour-intensifying ripening period. The average daytime temperature during summer is around 24 degrees C.

Visiting food and wine lovers are spoilt for choice, with more than 100 vineyards and countless restaurants and café’s to sample.

Fast Facts:

– The South Island of New Zealand is the world’s most southerly wine growing region at latitude of 45 degrees south.

– Marlborough is one of New Zealand’s sunniest and driest areas.

– Marked day/night temperature variations are a key factor behind the ability of Marlborough grapes to retain both fresh, vibrant fruit and crisp, herbaceous characters.

– The contrast between day and night also helps to enhance the colour development in the skins of Pinot Noir.

– At last count, the Marlborough region was home to 119 wineries

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It’s a Puzzling World at Wanaka

Oceania Coachlines — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:30:32 +0000

This place really intrigues the Oceania Coachlines passengers who visit its puzzling eccentricities. Located near Wanaka in the beautiful Southern Lakes Region, the attraction challenges your senses. Starting out as just a maze in 1973, Puzzling World now features holograms in the Illusion rooms, forced perspectives, a tilted house, tumbling towers, a puzzle centre and The Great Maze, complete with 1.5 km of passages.

Fast facts:

– The Leaning Tower of Wanaka has a backwards clock that was started on the eve of the new millennium

– The owners offer a monetary prize to anybody who can prove that they have psychic powers. All contestants have to do to win is locate an item hidden in the grounds.

– To date the prize has been unclaimed, although 6 ‘professional’ psychics have attempted the challenge.

– To conquer the biggest challenge, the participant must reach all four towers while navigating The Great Maze.

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Discover Natures Wonders at Otago Peninsula

Oceania Coachlines — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:30:12 +0000

The Otago Peninsula near Dunedin embraces some very special wildlife habitats. At the very tip of the peninsula is Natures Wonders – a popular stop for Oceania coach tour passengers. Here an eight-wheel drive, all-terrain vehicle will take you on an exhilarating cross country ride that descends to the rocky foreshore where penguins, fur seals and other wildlife can be seen in their natural environment. Alternatively visitors can go on The Sheep Shed tour to watch the working dogs in action and see what life’s really like inside a New Zealand sheep farm.

Fast facts:

– Nature’s Wonder is a self-funded conservation strong-hold run by Perry Reid and his family.

– Described by David Bellamy as ‘one of the finest examples of eco-tourism in the world.’

– Thousands of native trees, kilometres of twelve foot high predator fencing and a 365 day a year predator patrol protects the wildlife and creates a sanctuary for breeding penguins, seals and seabirds.

– The mythical ‘Maori’s Footprint’ location offers 360-degree panoramic views at 189 meters above sea level.

– Nature’s Wonder is home to breeding colonies of cormorants, fur seals, blue penguins and the rare yellow-eyed penguin.

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Shotover Jet, Queenstown

Oceania Coachlines — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:30:40 +0000

Almost every Oceania coach tour in Queenstown includes a drive out to Arthurs Point to the Shotover Jet. This is a real highlight for everyone. What a thrill to speed over churning rapids and through narrow, twisting gorges past rocky outcrops. And the 360 degree spin at the end – you certainly won’t forget that!

Fast facts

– Billed as the world’s most exciting jet boat ride

– The Shotover River was the site of the world’s first commercial jet boating operation in 1960

– The Shotover Jet company has been in operation since 1970

– It is the only company permitted to operate in the towering Shotover river canyons

– In 2010 Shotover Jet carried their three millionth passenger – NZ Prime Minister John Key!

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