A trip with a difference as we enjoy a week of music making together. We form a choir, learn songs, enjoy movement, yodelling, singing classes and lots of fun, and then present a finale concert together, all while drinking wine and eating great food in the Barossa Valley.
CHRISTCHURCH
MID-WINTER
CHRISTMAS
29 June - 4 July 2025
We invite you on a 6-day Mid-Winter Christmas journey to one of New Zealand’s most beautiful cities, surrounded by magnificent scenery
and including wonderful music events: La bohème, I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, Carols by Candlelight and A European Romance, all in iconic venues.
$3990 per person twin share
Single Room Supplement Add $990
Initial Deposit On Booking $1000
Final Balance Due: 01 April 2025
Days
5
Nights
Highlights
La bohème opera, 3 special events, TranzAlpine train,
Akaroa, wine-tasting, tram ride, great meals
Group Size
44
Travellers
Meals
All Breakfasts
All breakfasts
4 Lunches
4 Dinners
Mobility
Gentle Tour
SPECIAL FEATURES
• 4 music events: La bohème presented by New Zealand Opera at the Isaac Theatre Royal, and 3 of our own galas,
where the music is matched to the beauty of these special venues: A European Romance in an Italianate winery,
Carols by Candlelight in a mystical historic church and I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas in an exclusive after hours Antarctic Centre event.
• 5 nights in Christchurch, staying at the 5-star Fable Hotel with special flavours including Botanic Gardens visit, TranzAlpine Scenic Train ride to Arthur’s Pass, wine tasting in the Waipara Valley, private tram ride around Christchurch central, Gondola Ride, visit to The Giant’s House in Akaroa and even some free time to meet friends or enjoy your own shopping time.
• Numerous meals including high tea at Mona Vale iconic historic house, dinner at a famous French restaurant in
Akaroa, wine tasting and lunch at a Waipara vineyard and a light lunch at the Gondola with views over Christchurch.
• We want you to feel welcome and enjoy it all with our wonderful hosts: Stuart Coats, Alex Foster-Winder, Amanda
Atlas and Paul Carnegie-Jones with special guest appearances by Ravil Atlas, Amanda’s husband.
TRIP ITINERARY
Experience the Exceptional:
SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2025 (HIGH TEA, D)
Fable Hotel, Christchurch (5 nights)
Christchurch will be our home for the next five nights as we
explore the city and its surrounds. This vibrant city offers
spectacular culture, heritage and nightlife – along with the world’s
most stunning scenery, right on its doorstep.
Highlights Include:
• On arrival, we meet at the airport and enjoy a short tour of
Christchurch, stopping at the Botanic Gardens and a drive
through Hagley Park.
•Then it’s off to Mona Vale, an iconic historic house for high tea
and a chance to enjoy the beautiful park.
•Time to check in before we are off to Cossar’s Winery for a
sumptuous dinner and wonderful music from our artists and
special guest Amanda’s husband Ravil Atlas: A European
Romance with popular songs, opera, fun and a chance to enjoy
a singalong. A wonderful way to start our Mid-Winter Christmas
celebrations!
MONDAY 30 JUNE 2025 (B, L)
Highlights Include:
• A high point for our trip as we are off on the TranzAlpine Scenic
Train to Arthur’s Pass. This majestic stretch of scenery is one of the most breathtaking in the world with its dramatic changing landscapes. It is simply a winter wonderland!
• Following a hearty lunch, we drive back to Christchurch enjoying a different vista and more magnificent scenery!
• Time off this evening for your own dinner arrangements or meeting friends.
TUESDAY 1 JULY 2025 (B, L, D)
Highlights Include:
• We are off to the beautiful French settlement of Akaroa, enjoying lovely scenery on the way. Akaroa is one of the most loved towns, famous for its French cuisine, spectacular harbour, sightseeing, and rare dolphins.
• Following lunch, we enjoy a visit to the award-winning Giant’s
House, which is fun, elegant, playful and considered a must-see
in Akaroa.
• Wander in Akaroa with its myriad of cute shops, historic buildings and waterfront.
• An early evening concert from our artists: Carols by Candlelight
at one of Akaroa’s historic churches, featuring beautiful carols
and sacred songs, creating mystical atmosphere - a very special
event just for you!
• To round off a special day we enjoy a French inspired dinner in
one of Akaroa’s best restaurants - Vive le France!
WEDNESDAY 2 JULY 2025 (B, L, D)
Highlights Include:
• A private tram tour of the famous sights of central Christchurch.
• Gondola Ride where we witness a spectacular view of the city and enjoy a light lunch.
• Back for some free time for shopping and a freshen up before our early evening dinner.
• Time to put on your glad rags for La bohème at the Isaac Theatre Royal this evening. Presented by New Zealand Opera, this is one of the most loved Puccini Operas, filled with sumptuous songs like the Boheme Quartet, Your Tiny Hand is Frozen and of course the Love Duet which ends Act I.
THURSDAY 3 JULY 2025 (B, L, D)
Highlights Include:
• Lunch at a vineyard plus wine-tasting at 2 famous wineries in the Waipara Valley. Waipara is a picturesque valley, premier wine
making region just 45 minutes north of Christchurch. Time for a
little wine tasting?
• A premium event this evening as we travel to another winter
wonderland: International Antarctic Centre for dinner and private
tour of the centre and our own special event: I’m Dreaming of
a White Christmas. We are able to wander the exhibitions after
hours - just us and the penguins!
• With bubbles, penguins, ice, gourmet food and wonderful
singing, this will be a very special final night to remember,
accompanied by famous Christmas songs and great hits of the
50s and music theatre repertoire.
FRIDAY 4 JULY 2025 (B)
Following breakfast we transfer back to the airport for our flights
home around New Zealand. It has been a few days of wonder,
music, scenery, food, wine and a chance to make new friends!
This Trip Includes:
• 5-night tour in Christchurch, staying at the 5-star Fable Hotel.
• 4 music events: La bohème presented by New Zealand Opera at the Isaac Theatre Royal, and 3 of our own galas, where the music is matched to the beauty of these special venues: A European Romance in an Italianate winery, Carols by Candlelight in a mystical historic church and I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas in an exclusive after hours Antarctic Centre event.
• Special flavours including Botanic Gardens visit, TranzAlpine Scenic Train ride to Arthur’s Pass, wine tasting in the Waipara Valley, private tram ride around Christchurch central, Gondola Ride, visit to The Giant’s House in Akaroa, and even some free time to meet friends or enjoy your own shopping time.
• Numerous meals including high tea at Mona Vale iconic historic house, dinner at a famous French restaurant in Akaroa, wine tasting and lunch at a Waipara vineyard and a light lunch at the Gondola with views over Christchurch.
• All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners plus 1 high tea included.
• All tours, transfers, tips, concerts, taxes, as listed in the itinerary are included.
• We are aware that some people cannot go on our longer trips, for either physical or financial reasons so we have put together a very special trip which will suit those with some limited mobility.
• We want you to feel welcome and enjoy it all with our wonderful hosts: Stuart Coats, Alex Foster-Winder, Amanda Atlas and Paul Carnegie-Jones with special guest appearances by Ravil Atlas, Amanda’s husband.
PLEASE NOTE: As our travellers are coming from all over NZ, airfares are not included. If you require us to book your flights at an additional cost, please contact us.
Important Information
• All itinerary details are subject to change, but changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option.
• Initial & Second deposits are fully refundable up until final balance due date, minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs.
• All monies are non-refundable at final balance due date. This becomes an insurance claim.
• Bank transfer payments incur no surcharge. Credit card payments incur surcharge of 1.5%.
• Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
• Bookings will only be accepted with initial deposit & booking form.
• All travellers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for international travel and insurance for domestic travel is recommended.
• Please refer to our terms and conditions on booking form.
Mobility - Gentle Tour
This trip is a gentle tour with limited walking and standing. We do require you to be able to get up on a coach with ease. This tour will suit people with a stick or possibly a walker however you need to be independent and require little assistance with your mobility needs.