Destinations: Queenstown, Christchurch, Te Anau, Omarama, Dunedin, Franz Josef
Destinations: Omarama, Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin, Te Anau, Franz Josef
Destinations: Dunedin, Queenstown, Christchurch, Te Anau, Omarama, Franz Josef
Christchurch, Omarama, Dunedin, Te Anau, Queenstown, Franz Josef
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 Fox or Franz Josef glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere on a tour. And in between are cities that take your breath away. Queenstown tour, anyone?
Christchurch, Omarama, Dunedin, Te Anau, Queenstown, Franz Josef
Destinations: Queenstown, Christchurch, Te Anau, Omarama, Dunedin, Franz Josef
Destinations: Omarama, Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin, Te Anau, Franz Josef
Destinations: Dunedin, Queenstown, Christchurch, Te Anau, Omarama, Franz Josef
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.
On your city tour view the mind-bending Transitional Cathedral, made largely of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold-clad central library. 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.
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’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.
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. Cruising this World Heritage listed expanse will give you goosebumps, a string of waterfalls creating a misty curtain across sheer escarpments.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For all new bookings, if you can’t travel as a direct result of border closures or Government-imposed travel restrictions that directly impact your booking, we will:
Package inclusions are correct at the time of purchase, and are outlined in more detail in the “Highlights and Inclusions” section, as well as in the itinerary. Refer to your booking confirmation for details.
Any items and matters not referred to above, including, airfares to and from your destination, air-related taxes and fees (except where specified); additional fees charged by airlines such as checked and/or excess baggage, seat selections and any other services; passport and visa fees; insurances of all kinds; tips/gratuities to Travel Directors, Local Guides, Motorcoach Drivers and other ; laundry; phone calls; minibar; drinks and meals not detailed in the itinerary; and all items of a personal nature.