16 Day South Island Adventure
16 Day South Island Adventure
This 16 adventure tours starts and ends in Christchurch and is packed with the South Island's most mind-blowing adventure activities. On this in-depth tour you'll have plenty of time to cruise around and take in all the spectacular sights the South Island has to offer. The ever changing dramatic landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for your next exhilarating adventure. A heli-flight in Mt Cook National Park, Skydiving in Queenstown, an alpine safari are just a few of the activities included in this tour.
Highlights
Christchurch and Canterbury Alpine Safari Mt Cook Heli Flight Queenstown Skydiving Milford Sound Cruise Doubtful Sound overnight kayaking Wanaka Wildwire Franz Josef Heli Hike Punakaiki Pancake Rocks Abel Tasman Guided Trekiking 3 days Kaikoura Whale WatchingRegions Visited
Itinerary Map
This 16 adventure tour starts and ends in Christchurch and is packed with the South Island's most mind-blowing adventure activities. On this in-depth tour you'll have plenty of time to cruise around and take in all the spectacular sights the South Island has to offer.
Terms and Conditions
Prices are based on twin share occupancy in a double room, and are subject to availability. If anything comes back unavailable, we will endeavor to find you a suitable alternative.
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Day 1 : Christchurch
Welcome to Christchurch. On arrival you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your first night’s accommodation. Or if you’ve decided to pick up your rental vehicle immediately, you pick up your vehicle at the airport and drive to your accommodation.
Your detailed tour information pack will be given to you once you arrive at your accommodation.
Take the rest of the day to relax and explore the inner city, with its world famous botanic gardens. The city has bounced back from the devastating 2010 earthquake and is once again a very vibrant place.
Hotel : Scenic Hotel Christchurch
Motel : Bella Vista Chistchurch
Day 2 : Christchurch
Experience the ultimate alpine adventure today with a scenic coach trip, adrenaline-charged jet boat ride, off-road exploration and a spectacular train journey to top it all off.
Leaving Christchurch, travel by coach through the Canterbury Plains to the Waimakariri Gorge. Experience the thrill of a 45-minute jet boat ride along the crystal clear 'Waimak' River. Your experienced guide will navigate through shallow waters and rapids and get your heart racing with 360° spins. Next, take a rugged four wheel drive journey across Mt Torlesse Station, a working sheep and cattle farm at the foot of the Southern Alps. Get an insight into faming in New Zealand as you traverse back country terrain amid stunning scenery.
Enjoy a delicious lunch in a countryside café before continuing through the Canterbury high country, stopping at glacier-fed Lake Pearson and passing by locations made famous in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and The Lord of the Rings films. At Arthur's Pass, high in the Southern Alps, board the TranzAlpine train, then sit back and relax on one of the world's top six rail journeys for a stunningly scenic ride back to Christchurch.
Hotel : Scenic Hotel Christchurch
Motel : Bella Vista Chistchurch
Day 3 : Christchurch - Mt Cook
Today you'll cross the expansive Canterbury plains on your way to Mt Cook. The route via Geraldine is the more scenic option, just before entering McKenzie Country. The Southern Alps seem to be ever increasing in size as you approach closer, and leaving a bigger impression as you carry on.
Lake Tekapo will leave you dazzled with its remarkable turquoise coloured water against the backdrop of the Southern Alps. The picturesque Church of the Good Shepherd is a great place for great photo opportunities, but please note that photos are not allowed inside the church.
Once you arrive at Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook dominates the landscape, and how! It will leave a memorable impression, and the drive along the lake with its green and turquoise water is nothing but spectacular. This is New Zealand driving at its best!
In the afternoon you'll head to the skies on a Mt Cook Heli-Flight, providing the best views of New Zealand's tallest mountain.
Motel : Mount Cook Lodge.
Driving distance : 333 km - Driving time : approximately 4 hours 10 mins
Click map to enlarge
Day 4 : Mt . Cook - Queenstown
On the road to Wanaka, you will cross the the Lindis Pass, one of the highest roads in New Zealand. The contrast in scenery will be noticeable as you leave the McKenzie Country and enter Otago.
Wanaka town is nestled below towering mountains, and is a little bit quieter than its neighbour Queenstown. In winters skiers from all over the world flock here for its great skiing, and in summer the impressive mountains provide for a range of adventure activities. You will return to Wanaka later in your tour, but for now you continue onwards to Queenstown.
Queenstown is synonymous with adventure, and often labelled the "adventure capital of the world". Regardless of the season, Queenstown gets your adrenaline flowing year round, and the options are endless. Want to throw yourself out of a plane in amazing scenery, jump off a bridge in the birthplace of Bungy, jetboat, raft down a river, you name it...Queenstown has it all.
And we have the ultimate rush for you in store today, as you'll be Skydiving from 12,000 ft.
Hotel : Nugget Point Queenstown.
Motel : Bella Vista Queenstown.
Driving distance : 264 km - Driving time : approximately 3 hrs 15 mins
Click map to enlarge
Day 5 : Queenstown
You'll be staying in Queenstown for another day today. It is the adventure capital of the world after all!
A fun wilderness experience awaits you today. Dart River Wilderness Jet
Hotel : Nugget Point Queenstown.
Motel : Bella Vista Queenstown.
Day 6 : Queenstown - Te Anau
Heading south along the shores of Lake Wakatipu you are heading for Te Anau today. This picturesque town on the shores of Lake Te Anau is your base for the Fiordland National Park wilderness. When you arrive in Te Anau, your will continue onwards to Milford Sound on one of the most spectacular drives in New Zealand. Once you arrive you will board for a cruise through the fiords. Also keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins and fur seals as you cruise along.
Milford Sound is truly breathtaking in any weather. The fiord's cliffs rise vertically from the dark waters, mountain peaks scrape the sky and waterfalls cascade downwards, some as high as 1000 metres. When it rains in Milford Sound, and it often does, those waterfalls multiply with magnificent effect. You will feel humbled by the magnitude of nature upon your return to Te Anau late in the afternoon.
Hotel : Distinction Hotel Te Anau.
Motel : Te Anau Red Tussock.
Driving distance : 173 km - Driving time : approximately 2 hours 10 mins
Driving Te Anau - Milford Sound : 118 km - Driving time : approximately 1 hour 45 mins
Click map to enlarge
Day 7 and 8 : Fiordland National Park : Doubtful Sound Kayaking
A true wilderness adventure deep in Fiordland National Park awaits you today. You'll be kayaking for 2 days in an untouched world of spectacular mountains, lush rain forests and dramatic landscapes. Your tour starts off with a cruise across Lake Manapouri by ferry and a coach across the Southern Alps, via the Wilmot Pass. As you arrive into the sound, make sure you put on plenty of insect repellent, the sandflies will be waiting for you!
Once on the water though, they will not bother you. Each day involves around 5 hours of kayaking, and in the evening you'll camp out at a camp nestled in the forest up Hall Arm.
Day 8 : Te Anau - Queenstown
When you return from your soul feeding kayaking adventure, you'll head back in the direction of Queenstown.
Hotel : Nugget Point Queenstown.
Motel : Bella Vista Queenstown.
Driving distance : 226 km - Driving time : approximately : 2 hr 55 mins
Click map to enlarge
Day 9 : Queenstown - Wanaka
We have another exhilarating adventure for you planned this morning, deep into the Mt Aspiring National Park Wilderness, the Dart River Funyak.
Upon your return from the wilderness, it's only a short drive to Wanaka.
Hotel : Edgewater Hotel Wanaka.
Motel : Wanaka Lakeview.
Driving distance : 67 km - Driving time : approximately 1 hours 5 mins
Click map to enlarge
Day 10 : Wanaka - Franz Josef
There is no rest for the wicked, as the Wanaka wildwire trip is next on your agenda this morning. Expect loads of fun, an amazing adventure and incredible scenery on this tour. You will be climbing ladder rungs that run next to a waterfall and crossing bridges over the waterfall. There are opportunities to swim in hidden pools and picnic along the way.
In the afternoon your destination is Glacier Country, and your drive today takes you through a number of national parks and a World Heritage Area.The road takes you along Lake Hawea first, and once you pass Makarora you'll drive through Mt Aspiring National Park with its towering mountains, and head out to the coast. The road between Haast and Frans Josef winds its way along the rugged West Coast with lush native bush and rainforest. Haast is located in the heart of Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area, with national parks to the north, south and east.
Hotel : Scenic Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier.
Motel : Fox Glacier Westhaven Motel.
Driving distance : 286 km - Driving time : approximately : 3 hrs 40 mins
Click map to enlarge
Day 11 : Franz Josef - Punakaiki
Westland National Park and its glaciers is an area of magnificent primeval vistas – snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forests, tussock grasslands, lakes, rivers, wetlands and beaches.
And you'll have the best view of all today, from a helicopter. After a thrilling flight, high above the rugged terrain, you will land on the glacier, ready to undertake a three hour guided glacier hike. Your friendly guide will lead you through some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring glacier scenery in the world.
You'll continue northbound in the afternoon along the coast. The seaside town of Hokitika is a place to appreciate the fascinating history of the west coast. The Arahura River, which enters the sea just north of Hokitika, is a traditional source of pounamu (greenstone). There are a number of jewelry stores selling greenstone in town, and are well worth a look.
Your final destination will be Punakaiki in the smallest national park of New Zealand, Paparoa National Park, known for its famous pancake rocks, where columns of water shoot skyward from rocks that resemble giant stacks of hotcakes.
Driving distance : 217 km - Driving time : approximately : 2 hrs 55 mins
Hotel : Punakaki Resort.
Click map to enlarge
Day 12 : Punakaiki - Nelson
The scenery changes dramatically driving through the Buller Gorge on the way to Nelson today. Once past the gorge a recommended side trip and stop is Lake Rotoroa in the Nelson Lakes National Park.
Nelson, the sunniest place in New Zealand, will be your base for your next adventure tomorrow.
Hotel : Trailway Hotel Nelson.
Lodge: Nelson Saxton Lodge.
Driving distance : 265 km - Driving time : approximately : 3 hrs 40 mins
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Day 13,14 and 15 : Abel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman National Park is renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and its world-famous coast track. For the next 3 days you will be walking the most beautiful sections of this track .
Read here for more details about your journey into this coastal paradise Abel Tasman Unguided trekking 3 Day Guided trip.
At the end of your hiking adventure, you will be dropped off at your Nelson accommodation again.
Hotel : Trailway Hotel Nelson.
Lodge: Nelson Saxton Lodge.
Click map to enlarge
Day 16 : Nelson - Kaikoura
Due to the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, State Highway 1 north of Kaikoura is still closed. This means your journey today will be a longer than the usual trip from Nelson to Kaikoura, but it is also the more scenic route. About an hour south of Blenheim lies the Nelson Lakes National Park, situated in the northernmost ranges of the Southern Alps. Although best known for its lakes, both large and small, this 101,733 hectare park offers tranquil beech forest, craggy mountains, clear streams, open tussock lands and river edge clearings.
Further South-East you'll cross the Lewis Pass en route to Hanmer Springs. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and towering forests, this charming town has a main street filled with boutique shops, cafes and eateries. The region around Hanmer Springs is also well known for its many natural hot springs.
Once passed Hanmer Springs you'll back up north along the coast for your final stretch into Kaikoura.
Hotel : Kaikoura Boutique Hotel.
Motel : Bella Vista Kaikoura.
Driving distance : 412 km - Driving time : approximately : 5 hrs 30 mins
Click map to enlarge
Day 17 : Kaikoura - Christchurch
On your last day of the tour, you'll have the opportunity to watch the world's largest marine predator, the sperm whale, in its natural habitat on the Kaikoura Whale Watching tour. The abundance of marine life you'll encounter on this trip is truly amazing. You may see the royal albatross take flight from the water, a pod of dolphins checking out the boat, fur seals, and of course the main attraction, the Sperm Whale.
An easy 2 hour drive takes you back to Christchurch where your tour ends.
Driving distance : 203 km - Driving time : approximately : 2 hrs. 56 min
Click map to enlarge
NZD5,990.00
Price includes
- Complimentary airport transfers
- Detailed tour pack upon arrival ot accommodation.
- 16 day car rental with unlimited daily kilometers
- Standard insurance with zero excess reduction option.
- 15 Nights Accommodation.
- Canterbury Alpine Safari
- Mt Cook Heli Flight
- Wildwire Wanaka
- Skydiving from 12,000ft Queenstown
- Abel Tasman NP Great Walk 3 days.
- Franz Josef Heli Hike
- Kayaking Doubtful Sound
- Milford Sound Cruise
- Dart River Wilderness Jet
Cancellation policy
- Where the date of cancellation is a date 45 days or more before the start of the tour, the cancellation fee will be equivalent to the deposit paid
- Where the date of cancellation is a date 30 to 45 days before the start of the tour the cancellation fee shall be 25% of the contract price
- Where the date of cancellation is a date 7 to 30 days before the start of the tour the cancellation fee shall be 50% of the contract price
- Where the date of cancellation is a date 7 days or less before the start of the tour the cancellation fee shall be 100% of the contract price
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