South Island Discovery

An unforgettable journey around New Zealand's remote and mountainous South Island, with magnificent scenery throughout.

UNFORGETTABLE SIGHTSEEING EXPERIENCES
• Free time in Christchurch
• Mt Cook National Park
• Lake Tekapo
• Dunedin city tour
• Milford Sound cruise
• Explore Queenstown
• Fox Glacier
• Punakaiki Blowholes
• Tranz Alpine Train option


Day 1: Arrive Christchurch
After your transfer from the airport and check-in to your hotel, you’re free to explore Christchurch. You could visit Hagley Park, the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Cathedral and the Botanic Gardens. There will be a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director and fellow travellers in the evening.
Hotel: Hotel Ibis, Christchurch.

Day 2: Mt. Cook
Start the day your way – go shopping, ride the Christchurch Tram or simply relax. Later, travelling over the patchwork countryside of the Canterbury Plains, the spectacular sightseeing begins. Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki are first up. Next we’ll visit the Church of the Good Shepherd before soaking up the sensational alpine landscape of Mt. Cook National Park – a scenic highlight! You may choose to take an optional scenic flight over Mt. Cook.
Hotel: Heritage Gateway Hotel, Omarama.

Breakfast & dinner included.

Day 3: Dunedin
Our day starts along the Waitaki River with the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam. We travel through Oamaru with its famous white limestone buildings to Dunedin, where we tour the city. Then you’ve got the afternoon to yourself – take a Wildlife Cruise, visit the Cadbury Chocolate Factory or ride the historic Taieri Gorge Railway, suit yourself.
Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel, Dunedin.

Breakfast & dinner included.

Day 4: Dunedin – Te Anau
After a morning of time to yourself, during which you might like to tour New Zealand’s Larnach Castle, we head off across South Otago’s fertile, sheep-filled farming land en route to Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the largest lake in the South Island. Tonight you may choose to travel by boat to the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves.
Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel, Te Anau.

Breakfast & dinner included.

Day 5: Milford Sound
Today you’ll be awestruck by great sights from Fiordland National Park – New Zealand’s largest – to Milford Sound, one of the world’s most amazing places. Along the way we’ll see Mirror Lakes, Claudu Valley, The Chasm, Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, travel along the Devils Stair Case and the shores of Lake Wakatipu. At Queenstown we’ll have an orientation tour, take a group photo and enjoy an alpine dinner with views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.
Hotel: Mercure Queenstown Resort, 2 nights.

Breakfast & dinner included

Day 6: Queenstown ‘Free Time’
Explore exciting Queenstown your way, all day. From wine and garden tours to jet boat rides and white water rafting, Queenstown will surprise and exhilarate. An option to dine at the Skyline Restaurant on Bob’s Peak ends the day.Access is via the steepest Gondola in the Southern Hemisphere. Experience a Kiwi Haka Maori Show as well! B

Day 7: Fox Glacier
First stop, Arrowtown, on the Arrow River. Second stop Cromwell and its sensational stone fruit. Then it’s a trio of lakes –
Lake Dunstan, Lake Hawea, Lake Wanaka. Through the Haast Pass, we view Thunder Creek Falls and enjoy a rainforest walk. Final stop, majestic Fox Glacier – a rare, still advancing glacier. Take the opportunity for an optional scenic flight over the glacier.
Hotel: Heartland Hotel, Fox Glacier.

Breakfast & dinner included

Day 8: Christchurch
We visit Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade), for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration first up. We travel through Greymouth, the largest town on the west coast, to experience the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki, before heading back to Christchurch.
Hotel: Hotel Ibis, Christchurch.

Breakfast & dinner included

Day 9: Depart Christchurch
Explore Christchurch – the ‘most English city’ outside of England – at your leisure, until your Christchurch Airport transfer. B

TranzAlpine Train Option
Experience one of the world’s top six train trips aboard the TranzAlpine today. Additional cost per person from Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch.


9 day South Island tour: Standard – from £805 or 10 day Premium tour - from £1490

Premium tours include a higher level of accommodation and some extra excursions.
Prices include accommodation and touring only. Ask your consultant for flight details.
Accommodation specified is subject to availability and may be substituted to a similar or higher standard if necessary.