New Zealand South Island 12 days - Superior

Day notes

After arrival at Christchurch Airport go to the rental car counter to collect your reserved rental car. The central city is only a short drive away (15 minutes) so depending on your flight arrival time, you’ll have some time to explore some of Christchurch.

Day notes

Drive via the Inland route (via the scenic Rakaia Gorge) through South Canterbury to Geraldine, then into the Mackenzie country to Lake Tekapo and Twizel Village (285 km, 177 miles, 4 hours). Lake Tekapo gets its milky turquoise colour from fine rock-flour formed by suspended glaciers. Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and enjoy views of the Southern Alps through the altar windows.The southern hemisphere's equivalent of the Northern Lights is best seen at Lake Tekapo, between April and September. The Mount John Observatory is definitely worth a visit. Because of limited accommodation in this region, your stay may vary between Twizel, Mt. Cook Village and Lake Tekapo.

Day notes

The alpine village of Mount Cook, is located in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.This area offers 4WD safaris, boating on the glacier lakes, horse treks, fishing, scenic flights with snow landings and numerous walks and hikes. The Glacier Explorers company operates up to 7 trips per day from early September to late May. From the Hermitage Hotel, be driven by coach to the Tasman Valley. After a 20-minute walk, take a boat cruise through the Tasman Glacier terminal lake. Touch and taste the ice crystals from the floating icebergs and get awesome views of Mount Cook and southern alps. After exploring the high country of the South Island, travel down the Waitaki Valley region and visit Oamaru, to see it's historic whitestone architecture. Stop for lunch at the nearby iconic ‘Fleur’s’ restaurant in the fishing village of Moeraki (not to be confused with the ‘Moeraki Boulders’).

Day notes

Its time to explore the wild and stunning beauty of the Otago Peninsula. Nestled at the foot of Tairoa Head is the Royal Albatross Centre, the only place in the world on a mainland where you can view Northern Royal Albatross in their natural habitat. (The Albatross colony is closed between 15 Sept and 25 Nov.) At Dunedin's doorstep, you'll find an incredible variety of wildlife, including the rare yellow- eyed penguin. See fur seals, sea lions and the cute little blue penguins. If exploring the peninsula on your own, do the ‘Tunnel Beach Walk’ then the ‘Sandfly Bay’ beach walk. Visit New Zealand’s only castle ‘Larnach’ and stroll through it’s stunning gardens.

Day notes

Travel the ‘Southern Scenic Route’ via the Catlins or from Invercargill to Te Anau. This 200km (124 miles) drive via Tuatapere takes approx 2.5 hours. The drive traverses the eastern boundary of Fiordland National Park and the rugged south coast, connecting to the southern parts of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. There are opportunities for tramping, mountain biking, trout fishing, hunting, boating and caving. When you arrive at New Zealand’s hiking capital, Te Anau, take the ‘LOTR walk’ along the Waiau River (on the Kepler Track). Start from the ‘Rainbow Reach’ swing bridge between Te Anau and Manapouri. The Fiordland region features 1.3 million hectares of untouched national heritage park. Now's your chance to see gigantic waterfalls, enormous fiords, ancient rainforests and pristine lakes. Stay a minimum of 2 nights.

Day notes

Milford Sound is a mixture of spectacular and breathtaking natural features (125 km, 78 miles, 2.5 hours one-way). The fiords rise vertically and when it rains, waterfalls transform into giant water canons of power. To avoid the 5-hour drive from Te Anau to Milford, join a local tour into Milford Sound for a nature cruise in the fjord. This guided tour begins from Te Anau then along the Milford Road. With a maximum of 11 passengers, this is a quality Fiordland experience. Once in Milford Sound and included in the tour, is a leisurely Nature Boat Cruise to the Tasman Sea. Kick back and enjoy the majesty of the land and it's wildlife. At the end of the boat cruise, the overland part of the tour begins. Go on a series of short short walks with your nature guide, or a 2.5 hour walk on the Routeburn Track to Key Summit. Return back to Te Anau around 5.30pm.

Day notes

The drive to Queenstown only takes 2.5 hours and to Wanaka, 3.5 hours. Wanaka is located on Lake Wanaka and has a relaxed village atmosphere, plus it's only a 1-hour drive from the busy Queenstown. If you want a relaxed and local ‘vibe, stay in Wanaka. If you crave the nightlife and world-class facilities, then stay in Queenstown. Either way, the Wanaka-Queenstown region (with Cromwell and Cardrona in between) offers an endless supply of adventure, including zipline, jet boating, bungy or sky diving. Once in Central Otago, the rainforests of the Fiordland area are replaced by large lakes and tussock grassland. This area is renowned for it’s stunning wines and boutique vineyards.

Day notes

Wanaka is a 4-season holiday destination, with skiing, fishing, hiking, wine tasting, canyoning, scenic flights, skydiving and 750 kms of cycle trails. Visit the nearby town of Queenstown, Cromwell and Alexandra. Queenstown is one of New Zealand's top visitor destinations. You'll be spellbound by the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu and it’s dramatic alpine surrounds. Queenstown is also home to the ultimate adventure bucket list. Skiers love the winter months and all visitors love activities like bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse trekking and river rafting. Queenstown is now a famous cycling destination with different graded scenic track and backcountry trails.

Day notes

Travel to the beautiful rugged West Coast (Queenstown to Fox: 327 km, 202 miles, 5.5 hours). From Haast to Jackson Bay there are empty shingle beaches, lakes and wetlands, all with the backdrop of the Southern Alps. For an authentic insight to this area, join the Waiatoto River Jet Boating Safari to explore the local rivers. Join a wildlife tour to see fur seals, Hector's Dolphins and Fiordland Crested Penguins. A helicopter flight over the Franz Josef or Fox Glacier is a definite highlight, especially if you land on the snow! Do the Lake Matheson Walk (about 1 hour and a bit to walk around) or the glacier face walk in the Fox Glacier valley. Accommodation options are limited on the West Coast and will vary between Punakaiki and Greymouth, Franz Josef and Fox Village.

Day notes

The West Coast region is sparsely populated parts of the country and there very few towns on the 600 kms of coastal road between Karamea and Jackson Bay (Fox to Greymouth/Punakaiki area: 200-250 km, 124-155 miles, 3-4 hours). A visit to the White Heron colony near Whataroa is a must-do! The town of Hokitika, is famous for New Zealand Pounamu (Jade) and the gold rush from 1860-80. Stop here for a break and immerse yourself in it's history. 

Day notes

There is plenty of time to discover the sights and stunning walks in the Paparoa National Park, before leaving Greymouth for Christchurch. The TranzAlpine scenic train runs between Christchurch and Greymouth (Greymouth to Christchurch: 250 km, 155 miles, 4.5 hours). From the comfort of modern carriages you can see the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. Continue on through the Canterbury Plains, a vast quilt of agricultural land. Arrive at Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city. Be collected at the Christchurch Railway Station and driven to your accommodation for the last night of this trip.

Day notes

Depending on your flight time, you may have ample time to explore the Christchurch region before leaving. If departing in the evening, Akaroa would be a perfect day trip (only a 1.5 hour drive away (one-way). Feel free to extend your stay in Christchurch or any other location.

Important to know: every part of this itinerary can be amended to your personal requirements. We can add, delete or amend. Just contact us and it will be done!