Tour Description

The South Island of New Zealand dials up the natural drama, whether you’re enjoying a Milford Sound/Piopiotahi tour through World Heritage listed wilderness or basking in the beauty of Franz Josef/Waiau on a tour. And in between are cities that take your breath away. Queenstown tour, anyone?

Priced From:

$ 4930pp ^*

From: 2024-12-01

To: 2025-03-30

Start Location: Christchurch (Nz), New Zealand

End Location: Christchurch (Nz), New Zealand

Trip Type: Cost Saver Escorted

Tour Advisors

Tiffany McCrea-Lennon

Managing Director

Chris McKinnel

Travel Specialist

Gaylyn Murdoch

Administration Manager

Russell Mein

Travel Specialist

Holly Skene

Travel Co-ordinator

Kim Thomas

Broker

Itinerary

Welcome to Christchurch

Day 1

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Wyndham Garden

Since its 2010/11 earthquakes, Christchurch has reinvented itself in more ways than one. It's time tonight to meet your travelling companions for a Welcome Reception.

Christchurch - Omarama

Day 2

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel

Christchurch is not only rebuilding itself after the devastating 2010/11 earthquakes, but is changing the way architects think about design. Case in point the mind-bending Cathedral, made largely of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold clad central library. You will view these on your city tour. From here, your outlook is the Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd, snow-capped mountains and atmospheric towns. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.

Omarama - Dunedin

Day 3

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City

Oamaru, with its Victorian heritage buildings, stands proud before you journey further south toward the Edinburgh of the South: Dunedin. It’s easy to while away the afternoon in the city’s atmospheric art-lined alleys. Or venture further afield to discover the wildlife that thrives in this pretty pocket of the country – fur seals among them. Thirsty? Visit Speight's Brewery, a New Zealand institution.

Dunedin - Te Anau

Day 4

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel

Dunedin’s Scottish ancestry is everywhere you look, from the manicured grounds of Otago University to the city’s main George Street. Rolling green hills dotted with doe-eyed sheep are replaced by soaring mountains as you weave your way into Fiordland National Park and the South Island’s biggest lake and the town of Te Anau. Soak up the serenity – it doesn’t get any better than this.

Te Anau - Queenstown

Day 5

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown

From the moment you step outside today, nature rules. Your route through Fiordland National Park is an intoxicating union of beech forests, alluvial flats, meadows and mirror-like lakes. Gin-clear rivers carve the countryside, with all roads leading to your Milford Sound/Piopiotahi tour. Cruising this World Heritage listed expanse will give you goosebumps, a string of waterfalls creating a misty curtain across sheer escarpments.

Queenstown Free Time

Day 6

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown

Take today at your own pace. Like things fast and furious? Feel the wind in your hair on the high-octane Skippers Jet, perhaps. There’s a reason why Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the country. Nature lover? Discover some of New Zealand’s feathered friends at a wildlife centre. Wherever you wander, make sure you’re back in time to glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue Highlight Dinner.

Queenstown - Franz Josef/Waiau

Day 7

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Try and keep count of today’s lakes. Leaving Lake Wakatipu behind, Arrowtown appears on the horizon. We know you’ll want to linger in the movie-set-like streets, lined with trees and character-filled boutiques. But Lake Dunstan awaits, as do its orchards. Pause to refuel on flavour-packed stone fruit. Then there’s Lake Hawea followed by Lake Wanaka, with its Instagrammable shoreline of poplars and willows. Over the Haast Pass to the town of Franz Josef, where, this afternoon you may choose to fly over Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere.

Franz Josef/Waiau - Christchurch

Day 8

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Wyndham Garden

Swap snow for pounamu (native greenstone or jade) in Hokitika. Just when you thought your adventure couldn’t get any better, you’ll aboard the TranzAlpine train bound for Christchurch, through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys.

Farewell from Christchurch

Day 9

Duration: 1

New Zealand’s South Island never fails to wow. We hope you find the words to describe this epic New Zealand tour to your family back home.

Dates & prices

Start Date: 2024-12-08

End Date: 2024-12-16

twin

Child Price: 4670

Adult Price: 5185

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5185

triple

Child Price: 4930

Adult Price: 4930

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 6820

Start Date: 2025-01-19

End Date: 2025-01-27

twin

Child Price: 4815

Adult Price: 5345

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5345

triple

Child Price: 5080

Adult Price: 5080

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7030

Start Date: 2025-02-16

End Date: 2025-02-24

twin

Child Price: 4815

Adult Price: 5345

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5345

triple

Child Price: 5080

Adult Price: 5080

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7030

Start Date: 2025-03-16

End Date: 2025-03-24

twin

Child Price: 4815

Adult Price: 5345

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5345

triple

Child Price: 5080

Adult Price: 5080

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7030

Start Date: 2025-03-23

End Date: 2025-03-31

twin

Child Price: 4815

Adult Price: 5345

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5345

triple

Child Price: 5080

Adult Price: 5080

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7030

Start Date: 2025-03-30

End Date: 2025-04-07

twin

Child Price: 4815

Adult Price: 5345

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 5345

triple

Child Price: 5080

Adult Price: 5080

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7030

Southern Spotlight

Tour Advisors

Itinerary

Dates & prices