If you would like to book this tour please contact Jo or Jennie at Williment Sports Travel.
Jo: jo@williment.co.nz +64 4 471 6107
Jennie: jennie@williment.co.nz +64 4 494 6854
Depart Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch for London. Domestic connections at special add-on fares are available from other centres.
Why not consider travelling four days earlier (depart New Zealand on Saturday 29 September) and take-in the famous Munich Beer Festival prior to joining your Rugby World Cup 2007 Tour? The Oktoberfest is not just about drinking beer. It is first and foremost a Folk Festival, celebrating the music, dance, customs and costumes of this ancient Bavarian town. You will find exhibitions of art and theatre, dance and mime. Over six million people visit Oktoberfest each year and along with the famous Beer Keller Tents, you will find the local cuisine is to the fore. The accent is on fun, friendship and fellowship and the locals look forward to the Festival as much as the visitor, as it is a time for everyone to relax and enjoy each others company. After four-nights and three full days in Munich - on Thursday 4 October, you will fly from Munich to join the people arriving for your Tour. The additional cost is $1895 per person on a twin or double share basis. Please mark on the registration form if you wish to take up this option.
Arrive at London Heathrow this morning. You will be met and transferred from Heathrow to Cardiff, in Wales. The balance of the day is free to relax and recover from the journey. This evening, meet with your fellow tour party members for a Welcome function and dinner hosted by your Tour Leader.
Enjoy a full-day guided sights tour into the Valley’s of Wales today. You will see the beauty of the Valleys and the Brecon National Park – a lunch at a local Inn is included.
The All Blacks are aiming to make the Quarter Finals by finishing first in their Pool C. If they achieve this, they will play in Cardiff today against the runner-up in Pool D. Their likely opponents will be one-of; Argentina, France or Ireland. This will be a magnificent occasion in one of the World’s great Stadiums. Cardiff on match-day is a festival of colour and excitement as the crowds poor onto the street surrounding the Stadium – in the heart of Cardiff City.
QUARTER FINAL 2: WINNER POOL C V RUNNER-UP POOL D
The other Quarter Final (QF 1), which is being played in Marseille today is the Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A. This could be Australia or Wales v England or South Africa. You will have the opportunity to watch this live on a big screen prior to the All Blacks match.
Relax in Cardiff this morning and in the afternoon, join local Welsh Rugby folk at their Clubrooms for an afternoon of socialising and friendship. A Male Voice Choir will entertain and a meal will be provided by your hosts. Today’s two remaining Quarter Final matches will be screened live in the Clubhouse.
The two Quarter Finals being played today are QF 3 in Marseille; the Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B (likely to be England or South Africa v Australia or Wales) and QF 4 in Paris; the Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C (likely to be Argentina, France or Ireland v Italy or Scotland).
Transfer by coach this morning up the M4 to London for a three-night stay. Your time in London is free to shop and sightsee. Your Tour Leader will suggest places to go and things to see.
Free day in London. Why not take in a West End show?
Another Free day in London.
Travel by Eurostar Train from London to Paris this morning. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to a central Paris Hotel for a four-night stay. This evening, dinner is included at a local Parisian Restaurant.
This morning, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the highlights of wonderful Paris. Paris is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and your tour will show you all the great buildings and landmarks. There will be time to ascend the Eiffel Tower and then board a Seine River Boat and enjoy a luncheon cruise upon the Seine. This balance of the day is free.
Today is free to explore Paris. You could climb Mont Martre and take in the views from the Sacre Coeur Basilica or shop on the Avenue des Champs Elysees, Boulevard Haussemann or Rue de Faubourg St-Honore or visit the many fine Museums and Art Galleries that Paris is famous for.
This evening, attend the first Semi Final of the Rugby World Cup 2007 at Stade de France – Saint-Denis. If the All Blacks were victorious in their Quarter Final, they will play tonight against England, South Africa, Australia or Wales.
SEMI FINAL 1: WINNER QF 1 V WINNER QF 2
Another free day in Paris. You could take a day trip out to the Palace of Versailles or visit the Louvre or the Cathedral of Notre Dame or some of the interesting street markets that are scattered throughout this great city.
This evening, attend the second Semi Final of the Rugby World Cup 2007 at Stade de France – Saint-Denis. This match could see Australia, Wales, England or South Africa play against France Ireland, Italy or Scotland.
SEMI FINAL 2: WINNER QF 3 V WINNER QF 4
This morning, board the Train Grande Vittesse or TGV at Gare de Lyon for a wonderful high-speed cross-country journey to the South of France and the Cotes d’Azur on the French Riviera. This will be an absolute highlight as you get out of Paris and enjoy some free days at Nice, the premier Mediterranean holiday destination of Europe.
The weather will be warm and you can relax and enjoy the beach and the scenery and the wonderful atmosphere for a few days away from the Rugby and the big smoke. This evening, enjoy a dinner at a local Restaurant, hosted by your Tour Leader.
Nice is famous for its beachfront Promenade des Anglais and for its markets and medieval lanes in the Old Town. It is brimming with nightlife – pubs, bars, cafeĢs, casinos and clubs offering a myriad of choice. The convenient train service along the Cotes d’Azur offers easy access to near-by Atibes, Juan les Pins and Cannes to the west and the Principality of Monaco with Monte Carlo its centrepiece and beyond the quaint border town of Menton all to the east.
Today will be special as you join-in on Williment Sports Travel’s Exclusive Inclusion to a French Village in the Alpes Maritime, where the locals, including the Mayor, will welcome everyone to an afternoon and evening of markets, entertainment and food in a wonderful setting. This will be a highlight of your French touring experience. More details will be provided at a later date.
Another free day in Nice, to soak up the sun or to explore along the coast to the legendary towns and resorts near-by.
Today we must return to Paris for the biggest weekend of the year. Travel by either air or TGV and upon arrival back into Paris, transfer to your hotel for the last two nights of the tour. The Rugby World Cup 2007 play-off for 3rd and 4th place will be played this evening and Williment Sports Travel will be pleased to access tickets to this match if required.
Rugby World Cup 2007 Finals Day has arrived. The city will be humming with fans from around the Rugby World and the wonderful atmosphere created by the French peoples’ passion for Rugby, sport in general and their great sense of occasion. Our All Blacks are favoured to make the Final in 2007 as they have done on two previous occasions. However, they will face stiff competition in their quest to be fi nalists from previous fi nalists Australia (3 times), France (twice), England (twice) and South Africa once. Of course England are the reigning Rugby World Cup Champions and Australia have won the title twice before and New Zealand and South Africa have each had one term as Rugby World Cup Champions. It will be an epic battle where the stakes are high. If the dramas of the Final in South Africa in 1999 and in Sydney in 2003 are repeated, everyone will get their money’s worth.
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2007 – THE FINAL
The celebrations will last all night – win, lose or draw. Paris will be rocking!
Today, you will transfer to the airport and depart Paris for home.
In-flight – lose a day.
Arrive home in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch today. Domestic connections at special add-on fares are available from other centres.
