14 Day Tantalizing South Island

14 Day Tantalizing South Island
Imperious mountains, beautiful lakes, remote wilderness areas, World Heritage Areas and an array of National Parks. The scenery does not get any better than this. This 14 day relaxed tour starts and ends in Christchurch and does a loop of the South Island. With plenty of time to relax and enjoy activities, this tour will show you some of the most untouched and pristine environments in the world.
Highlights
Christchurch to Mount Cook day tour Mt Cook - Queenstown tour. Milford Sound cruise + lunch Abel Tasman Kayaking Marine Reserve Marlborough Group Wine Tours Summer Half Day
Regions Visited
Itinerary Map
Imperious mountains, beautiful lakes, remote wilderness areas, World Heritage Areas and an array of National Parks. The scenery does not get any better than this. This 14 day relaxed tour starts and ends in Christchurch and does a loop of the South Island. With plenty of time to relax and enjoy activities, this tour will show you some of the most untouched and pristine environments in the world
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.
Click here for the full
Day 1 : Christchurch
Welcome to Christchurch. On arrival you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your first night’s accommodation, where you will receive your detailed tour information pack.
Take the rest of the day to relax and explore the inner city, with its famous botanical gardens. The city has bounced back from the devastating 2010 earthquake and is once again a very vibrant place.
Accommodation :
Day 2 : Christchurch - Mt. Cook
Your South Island coach tour departs Christchurch in the morning and travels through the lush farmland of the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo, where you can see the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd as it stands in solitude next to the vibrant blue waters. Leaving Tekapo, we continue into the Southern Alps towards Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's tallest mountain. Along the way your driver guide will keep you entertained and informed with commentary on the area's history and sites of interest.
Explore the village and soak up the views of Aoraki / Mount Cook as it towers above.
We also recommend a scenic heli flight as optional activity.
Accommodation :
Travelling distance : 333 km - Travelling time : approximately 4 hrs 10 mins
Day 3 : Mt. Cook - Queenstown
Accommodation :
Driving distance : 264 km - Driving time : approximately 3 hrs 17 mins
Day 4 : Queenstown
Accommodation :
Day 5 : Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown
Visit Milford Sound on a GreatSights sightseeing tour and experience a world of cascading waterfalls, sheer rock faces and dense rainforest. Your sightseeing tour to Milford Sound is made even more enjoyable by glass-roofed coaches, which provide spectacular panoramic views as you travel along the Milford Road – one of the world's most scenic roads – and through the Homer Tunnel, before arriving for your Milford Sound cruise. Enjoy striking views of iconic Mitre Peak from the head of the Sound – it rises 1,692 metres from the south shore and is named for its resemblance to a bishop’s mitre (headdress).
The pristine Milford Sound is part of the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, in the south west of the South Island, and is famed for its pristine natural beauty and remote atmosphere. It is New Zealand’s best known fiord and the only one that can be reached by road. The fiord extends 15km inland from the wild Tasman Sea and is regularly visited by wildlife including penguins, seals and dolphins.
Activity :
Accommodation :
Driving distance : 287 km - Driving time : approximately 3 hr 44 mins (one way)
Day 6 : Queenstown- Wanaka
A short journey takes you to Wanaka today. 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.
Accommodation :
Travelling distance : 113 km - Travelling time : approximately 1 hrs 30 mins
Day 7 : Wanaka - Franz Josef
Leaving Lake Wanaka, travel past picturesque scenery of massive mountain peaks and crystal-clear blue lakes. Your driver guide will keep you entertained and informed, pointing out sites of interest and telling snippets of local knowledge. Spend some time in Makarora on the border of Mount Aspiring World Heritage National Park, before crossing over the Haast Pass, named after 19th century explorer and geologist Julius von Haast. On the other side of the Southern Alps, the landscape changes dramatically. Welcome to the wild and wonderful West Coast, a remote and unspoiled region. Wend your way past native rainforest, rocky coastlines and powerful waterfalls, stopping in the early afternoon at a boutique salmon farm in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Your one-way tour concludes in the village of Franz Josef, your base for exploration of the area.
Accommodation :
Travelling distance : 286 km - Travelling time : approximately 3 hrs 40 mins
Day 8 : Franz Josef
You have the entire day to yourself to explore the Glaciers. Take a guided hike, or a heli-hike up to the base of the glacier. For the more adventurous, you may want to go heli-ice climbing, are very unique and exciting experience.
Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier with the mirror perfect reflection of Mt Cook in the background provides opportunities for that perfect photo.
Accommodation :
Day 9 : Franz Josef - Greymouth
Your journey continues north along the West Coast and you pass the town of Hokitika, known for its greenstone (pounamu).
Your final destination is Greymouth, a town with a history of jade hunting, gold mining and dramatic river floods. Sample the beer and listen to wild west coast stories.
Accommodation :
Travelling distance : 173 km - Travelling time : approximately 2 hrs 15 mins
Day 10 : Greymouth - Nelson
Your Intercity coach will take you to the sunniest town of New Zealand, Nelson. Nelson enjoys the most sunshine hours of any town in New Zealand, and is known for its many creative artists. Enjoy the afternoon off to explore this lovely town.
Accommodation :
Travelling distance : 286 km - Travelling time : approximately 3 hrs 45 mins
Day 11 : Nelson - Abel Tasman National Park - Nelson
You'll be spending a day in the coastal paradise of Abel Tasman National Park today. It is New Zealand's smallest national park, but perfectly formed for both relaxation and adventure.
And what better way to explore the golden bays and beaches than from the water in a kayak.
You will be picked up and dropped off again at your accommodation in the evening.
Activity :
Accommodation :
Day 12 : Nelson - Blenheim
Ass you head towards Blenheim today, your journey takes you through Marlborouh, New Zealand's largest wine growing region and the home of world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc.
You'll have the chance to sample some of this world-class wine during a half-day Marlborough Group Wine Tours which starts from Blenheim.
Accommodation :
Travelling distance : 115 km - Travelling time : approximately 1 hrs 40 mins
Day 13 : Blenheim - Hanmer Springs
You'll be travelling to the picturesque alpine village of Hanmer Springs today, best known for its natural hot pools and stunning landscapes. The town is an attractive year-round holiday destination for adventure, relaxation and indulgence. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and towering forests, this charming town has a main street filled with boutique shops, cafes and eateries.
Accommodation :
Travelling distance : 337 km - Travelling time : approximately 4 hrs 29 mins
Day 14 : Hanmer Springs - Christchurch
It's only a few hours to Christchurch today, the largest city on the South Island and second largest city by urban area in New Zealand. This is where your tour of the South Island comes to a conclusion.
Travelling distance : 134 km - Travelling time : approximately 2 hrs 10 mins
NZD4,461.00
Price includes
- Complimentary airport transfers
- Detailed tour pack upon arrival at first night's accommodation.
- All coach and transfers
- 13 Nights Accommodation.
- Abel Tasman Kayaking Marine Reserve
- Marlborough Group Wine Tours Summer Half Day
- Milford Sound Cruise.
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
Create your custom itinerary
Start planning and create your own custom New Zealand itinerary here: