NZ SOUTH ISLAND ADVENTURES!
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Day 1
Queenstown
Private Car/Driver International Airport to City Hotel
Accommodation at Scenic Suites Queenstown
1 Double Superior Room for 3 Nights
This hotel provides one of the most sought after locations for Queenstown hotels. The hotel’s elevated position gives fantastic views of the Southern Alps and over Lake Wakatipu. It’s hard to go past this property with its convenience and quality apartment style accommodation. Featuring 84 superior rooms and one-bedroom suites, many of which have lake and mountain views.
Gondola & Luge Rides
Please make your way to Skyline Gondola at a time that suits and enjoy the Gondola ride to the top for excellent views of the surrounds.
The Skyline Gondola will whisk you smoothly up 450 metres to Bob’s Peak, as Queenstown drops away below you. From the top enjoy breathtaking views, which extend almost 360 degrees from Coronet Peak around to the Remarkables and on to Cecil and Walter Peaks on the other side of Lake Wakatipu.
Day 2
Full Day Funyak Safari Trip with Jetboat & Lunch
Embark on this 8.5 hour tour. A truly unique adventure and a fun way to intimately experience this amazing area. Start with an exciting jet boat trip up the Dart River with all the thrills of classic braided shallow river jet boating, complete with exhilarating jet spins. Stop along the way to discover why this area is so rare and special with its ancient 80 million year old ecology. You’ll then disembark and continue your journey in an inflatable canoe. Paddle and drift on a spectacular downstream journey, with your guide providing insight to the awe-inspiring sights and stories found amidst the Dart River’s sparkling channels. Stop amongst the ancient beech forest and enjoy a buffet style lunch and take the opportunity to explore the hidden side streams, rock pools and dramatic chasms such as the beautiful Rockburn. Afterwards continue downstream to ‘Paradise’, from where you’ll return to Glenorchy by coach via a back-country route, through stunning scenery and locations that have inspired movies the world over.
Day 3
Half Day Self-Guided Bridge to Vine (Arrowtown to Gibbston)
Your 4 hour self-guided tour begins with a scenic 25 minute drive from Queenstown to Arrowtown. Explore historic Arrowtown and grab a coffee before setting off to ride the most popular section of the Queenstown Trail. Follow the Arrow River Trail to the historic Kawarau Bungy Bridge. From there proceed into the Gibbston Wine Valley, making your way to a designated winery from which you will be shuttled back to Queenstown.
Original Onsen Indoor Soak (From 5.00pm) 1 Hour
Located high on a cliffside overlooking the magnificent Shotover River canyon with breathtaking views of alpine scenery, it's the perfect vantage point from which to watch the Shotover jet boats on the river below. Enjoy exclusive access to a cedar hot tub with a retractable roof for a one hour rejuvenating soak. A large airy reception and waiting area provides a comfortable environment for relaxing and chatting with friends. The outdoor sundeck has one of the most impressive views in Queenstown so spend a little time before or after your soak taking it all in! Bathers may shower and change in their pool room or in the beautifully appointed changing rooms. Each pool can comfortably accommodate up to four people.
Day 4
Today collect your rental vehicle
Drive Queenstown to Te Anau
(170 kms/105 miles - 2.5 hours non-stop drive time)
Today, leave the picturesque resort town of Queenstown and make your way to the gateway of the Fiords, Te Anau. The first part of your journey will skirt Lake Wakatipu in the shadow of the rugged Remarkable Ranges until you arrive in Kingston, the home of a remarkable vintage steam train. From here, continue on through to Mossburn and into the tussock covered hills. Once the highest point is reached there are magnificent views of the mountains of Fiordland to the north, south and west. After a few miles the wide panorama of Lake Te Anau comes into view.
Te Anau/Fiordland
Accommodation at Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas
1 Double Lakeview Room for 3 Nights
Surrounded by extensive, colourful gardens and overlooking spectacular Lake Te Anau and the Fiordland ranges, this hotel and villa accommodation sets the tone for your stay in one of the world’s most breathtaking regions. Ideally located on the Te Anau lake front and just a short stroll from the Te Anau town centre. Designed for your comfort, there are 112 luxurious rooms, including standard hotel rooms, spacious villa suites, comfortable villa rooms, and deluxe suites, offering a breathtaking lake or garden view.
2 Hour Jet n Fly
Your 2 hour journey begins with an exhilarating jet boat ride down the Waiau river. A picturesque spot, the Waiau river is lined by ancient beech tree forest and is the Anduin River featured in The Lord of the Rings! Get the inside-story on The Lord of the Rings filming locations, and the crazy logistics involved in filming. Experience the thrill and excitement as you cruise down the powerful, surging, Waiau River. After jet boating down the Waiau River transfer straight from the jet boat to the seaplane right on the water of Lake Manapouri and take off for an unforgettable flight above Fiordland National Park. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the lush forest you just explored by foot and truly grasp the enormity of the park. You’ll be soaring high above and yet be close enough to see into the thick forest and spot waterfalls and hidden lakes that are all but untouched. Finish with a beautiful panoramic view of Te Anau township before landing back on the lake and taxiing to Wings and Water's wharf, a 1 minute (200m) walk from the Fiordland Jet office, right on the lakefront!
Day 5
Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise ex Te Anau
Embark on this 8 hour tour. Board a coach in Te Anau for a short journey through rolling countryside to Manapouri. From Manapouri, cruise across the crystal waters of Lake Manapouri to West Arm before boarding a coach and crossing the alpine route of Wilmot Pass through some of Fiordland’s most dense rainforest. On reaching Deep Cove, board a modern catamaran vessel for a cruise exploring the waterways of this serene and isolated fiord. There is plenty of time to explore points of interest and view the spectacular alpine scenery including waterfalls, rainforest and mountains all the way out to the Tasman Sea. A Nature Guide with specialist knowledge of the region’s history, flora and fauna provides a detailed commentary. On the return cruise, the vessel’s engines are turned off to enjoy the ‘sound of silence’ before returning to Te Anau.
Day 6
Full Day Milford Track Giant Gate Guided Walk
Depart from Te Anau and transfer to Milford Sound where you will meet your guide at the Milford Sound Wharf Complex, the 11 hour tour begins with a short boat ride to Sandfly Point. An easy 11 kilometre round trip walk alongside the cascading Arthur River, then Lake Ada, on a well maintained track takes you to your destination, Giant Gate. This scenic waterfall is best viewed from the large swing bridge. At this point you return, walking under ancient temperate rainforest surrounded by an array of ferns, mosses and lichens in vibrant shades of green. Learn about the fascinating human heritage of the track. On completion of the walk an opportunity is made for photos at the sign marking the end the track, festooned with the boots of walkers that have made it to the end of the walk, not a single step further. Rejoin the boat for your transfer back to Milford, note you will have 2 hours free in Milford Sound before boarding your coach and transfer back to Te Anau.
Day 7
Drive Te Anau to Dunedin
(289 kms/180 miles - 4 hours non-stop drive time)
Today, depart the small township of Te Anau and head towards the East Coast of the South Island through farmland and tussock country. You will pass through picturesque Lumsden which sits at the elbow of the Oreti River in the upper reaches of Southland. After Lumsden, you'll travel across the river plain to Gore. Stop in Mandeville if you'd like to fly in a Tiger Moth, or by the Mataura River if you want to catch a trout. Fresh, green farm scenery will accompany you to Balclutha, which has a distinctive arched concrete bridge and an interesting museum. Milton is the last sizeable settlement before Dunedin - the unusual kink in the main road is where two surveyors didn't quite meet.
Dunedin
Accommodation at Distinction Dunedin Hotel
1 Double One Bedroom Suite for 2 nights
This 1937 former Chief Post Office in Dunedin has been transformed into an elegant 4 star luxury hotel located in the rejuvenated and vibrant Warehouse Precinct in the heart of the city. The modern hotel consists of 121 elegant suites and studio rooms. All offer superior soundproofing and are outfitted with a microwave, washer/dryer, 55" television and luxurious walk-in shower with double shower heads. Take advantage of complimentary access to the on-site club gym, Dunedin's premium health and fitness club which is located on level 3 of the hotel and is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
1 Hour Wellers Rock Wildlife Cruise
Sit back and enjoy the scenery as the MV Monarch explores the stunningly beautiful and rugged coastline near the entrance of the Otago Harbour. The crew will give you a full commentary during your 1 hour tour about local wildlife, history and geology. The trip will travel past the beautiful Aramoana Beach and its tidal sandflats. With a little luck, you'll spot sea lions here, sprawled out, basking in the sun. Across the other side of the harbour channel you’ll see remnants of the areas military history. You’ll see uninterrupted views of the world's only mainland colony of Royal Albatross. Watch as they fly in low from the ocean, then use updrafts from the hillside to get up high and land at their nest. Enjoy postcard views of the lighthouse, perched high above the volcanic cliffs of Taiaroa Head. Your expert skipper will get you up-close to rocky outcrops that stretch out to the ocean. This is where a large New Zealand fur seal colony resides. Watch them sleep, fight and play on the rocks and swim in the water around this breeding rookery. Your cruise then takes you a short way out into the Pacific Ocean. Here you can spot rarely seen ocean birds including other smaller albatross species, cormorants, petrels and sometimes blue penguins, dusky and hectors dolphins and other marine mammals.
Day 8
Full Day Peninsula Encounters Tour
Join a local guide for a 7 hour journey across the Otago Peninsula. Your tour begins with a drive over the high road with postcard views of the Otago Harbour and the coast. You’ll travel past quaint communities and rural farms. Spot wading birds during your journey around the inlets and the wetland eco-systems. Your tour will visit a remote Otago Peninsula beach. A short walk will provide dramatic views of rugged coastal cliffs, offshore islands and perhaps some huge sea lions. The trip continue to Taiaroa Head, home to the Royal Albatross Centre where you will have time to visit inside and check-out the displays. Take a walk down to Pilots Beach and see fur seals hauled out on the rocks, or walk out to the clifftop viewpoint and you might spot a royal albatross gliding past. The final stop is at a Yellow-eyed Penguin Conservation Reserve where you will have the opportunity to visit the on-site rehab centre before a tour of the reserve. You’ll take trails through native bushland, walking through tunnels and trenches to different viewing hides scattered around the reserve. Watch as the world’s rarest penguin returns ashore and interacts around their nesting sites. The tour ends with a relaxed drive, following the harbour, back to Dunedin.
Day 9
Drive Dunedin to Christchurch
(359 km's/223 miles - 5 hours non-stop drive time)
Today, make your way from Dunedin to Christchurch. You simply can't drive along the North Otago coast without stopping to stare at the Moeraki Boulders. They are located at Koekohe Beach between the towns of Moeraki and Hampden, about an hour out of Dunedin just past Palmerston. From here continue on to Oamaru. Many of the handsome buildings found in this city are constructed from Oamaru stone which has led to its nickname 'The White Stone City'. En route to Timaru, a very popular seaside town, pass the 45th Parallel - halfway between The Equator and the South Pole. Pass through Temuka, known for its earthernware pottery and soon afterward you will arrive in the town of Ashburton, the centre of a large sheep and wheat farming area. Leaving Ashburton, head north and pass over the mighty Rakaia River, famous for its salmon fishing. Continue across the farmland of the Canterbury Plains and past the military township of Burnham to Christchurch, known as ‘The Garden City.’
Christchurch
Accommodation at Scenic Hotel Cotswold
1 Double Standard One Bedroom Suite Queen for 3 Nights
The distinctive Tudor-style architecture reflects Christchurch's image as the most English of cities outside England. This classic charm is carried throughout the hotel with understated style. Enjoy the spacious award-winning gardens or take an easy stroll to boutique shopping at Merivale Mall, Christchurch Casino and the beautiful Hagley Park.This property has 77 spacious rooms, including standard rooms and spacious one and two bedroom suites.
Kai Safari - Progressive Dinner Walking Tour
On this 3 hour progressive dinner tour, travel on foot down weaving through laneways, gardens and hidden squares, past historic buildings and land marks revealing gems hidden in plain sight. Stop at your guide's favourite establishments, sharing kai (food) and tasting the regions finest beverages. In between courses you will learn about māori and settler culture and see the city come to life at night. Soak up the local feel of Ōtautahi (Te Reo Māori for Christchurch) as you enjoy its emerging foodie scene. Between stories, visit locally-loved modern New Zealand restaurants for seasonal shared plates of local produce and savour new favorite bites among dishes you probably wouldn't order on your own.
Day 10
Full Day Arthurs Pass with Train to Arthurs Pass
Travel across the Canterbury Plains into high country and spectacular Arthur’s Pass National Park with its rugged mountain ranges. You will be transferred to Arthur’s Pass by TranzAlpine train. Your approx 10 hour journey will take you west across the rich agricultural belt of the Canterbury Plains to Springfield where you will have the opportunity to take photos of the mountains rising above you. The train journey through the gorge is spectacular before you make your way to the high mountains of the Southern Alps and Arthur’s Pass. View the Waimakariri River and enter Arthur’s Pass National Park where short walks can be taken to experience forests, rivers and mountain vistas. Enjoy lunch at an historic high country hotel. After lunch, continue your journey onboard a luxury vehicle. Follow the old stage coach route and view the spectacular Otira Gorge, testament to the road builders of the 1860’s and the route taken by the Maori in their quest for greenstone. Visit Cave Stream where it burrows underground in an area of limestone cliffs, gorges and craggy outcrops (this area was used for the filming of CS Lewis’s “The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe”) or Visit the incredible Castle Hill rocks, unique weatherworn outcrops of limestone and regarded sacred by the Maori. Return to Christchurch via sub-alpine Porter’s Pass and the Canterbury Plains.
Day 11
Drive Christchurch to Akaroa
(81 kms/50 miles - 1.5 hours non-stop drive time)
Depart Christchurch and travel through semi-rural suburbs and farmland as the road makes its way around the base of the Port Hills. Pass Lake Ellesmere, popular with duck hunters but also an area of great cultural and ecological significance due to the wide range of wildlife that live in the area, once an important source of food for local Maori. Turn inland to the heart of Banks Peninsula and pass through Little River village, where the general store, which extends to accommodate an art gallery and cafe, is well worth a visit. From here the road begins to climb until you reach the ‘Hilltop’ lookout – the perfect place to stop and admire the magnificent view over Akaroa Harbour and the surrounding volcanic landscape. Descend into Barry’s Bay and follow the shoreline of the harbour around to Akaroa village.
Canterbury Region
Full Day Hike (self guided) and Guided Kayak
After being picked up in Akaroa by our booking office you will be transported by 4WD mini-van to the beginning of a 3 hours hiking trail. With a map and instructions provided, at your leisure walk down part of the famous Banks Track through ancient red beech tree forest and tree ferns to Pōhatu bay. Along the way discover many waterfalls and listen to native bird songs and visit the prehistoric forest of Tutakakahikura scenic reserve. On arrival at Pohatu bay you will have access to a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom facilities to relax, eat and get ready for afternoon sea-kayaking.
Explore the towering volcanic cliffs, reefs and sea caves of Pohatu marine reserve and encounter its unique wildlife. You will be taken on a 3.5 to 4 hour wildlife adventure to find various seabirds, see curious New Zealand fur seals with pups playing in rock pools, Little penguins and possibly even spot the world's smallest dolphin gliding under your kayak. There is much to see and explore under the guidance of experienced knowledgeable guides. Explore the outer coast of Pōhatu Marine Reserve and marvel at its spectacular towering cliffs, rock stacks, reefs, and deep sea-caves. Flea Bay Island and the impressive island arch make an added exciting attraction in settled sea conditions.
Drive Akaroa to Christchurch
(81 kms/50 miles - 1 hour 30 minutes non-stop drive time) Depart Akaroa village northbound and climb the hill until you reach 'Hilltop Lookout' which is the perfect place to stop and take in one last view of Akaroa Harbour. Continue inland along State Highway 75 and pass through Little River village, where the general store, which extends to accommodate an art gallery and cafe, is well worth a visit. Travel through farmland and semi rural suburbs to reach the city of Christchurch.
Day 15
Christchurch
Today marks the end of your holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand. We trust you have made lasting memories and hope to welcome you back in the future.