This tour squeezes more jaw-dropping scenery into two weeks than any other! The South Island has an unparalleled variety of landscapes, from the majestic Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, to the stunning views across Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, to the Remarkable Mountains.
(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner (SD) Specialty Dinner
Built in 1928, this hotel is in Wellington’s Central Business District. Situated adjacent to Wellington Cable Car, leading to the Botanic Garden and offering panoramic views of the city. The waterfront is less than five minutes away — home to a variety of dining and waterside activities.
Guests can enjoy the fitness center and a complimentary welcome cookie. There is a restaurant featuring Asian-inspired flavors with modern European cuisine, fine wines and glamorous cocktails at the Spring Kitchen’s Art deco restaurant. The menu showcases the freshest of local and seasonal produce. The restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
The hotel boasts a prime spot only minutes walk from Nelson’s landmark cathedral and main shopping district (including just a block away from Jens Hansen Goldsmiths, creators of the ring in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy), and an equally good base from which to explore the great outdoors – with three national parks, sandy beaches, blue seas and mountain wilderness at your doorstep. The hotel offers a full complement of dining options – two restaurants and a bar, along with 24-hour room service. You can enjoy a leisurely lap in the pool, relax in the steamy sauna, or workout in the gymnasium.
With its superb location on the shoreline close to town, Sudima Kaikōura is blessed with stunning views of both the mountains and sea. It also puts the hotel within easy walking distance of Kaikōura activities, shops, restaurants, and bars. This state-of-the-art waterfront hotel has a 4.5 star rating with an outstanding in-house restaurant, a bar and conference facilities.
The renovated Distinction Christchurch Hotel combines sophisticated smarts and familiar warmth whilst standing proud amongst the buzz of the rejuvenation of Cathedral Square. Ideally positioned in the heart of the city only a few minutes’ walk from the Avon River, Botanical Gardens, Christchurch Casino, Cashel Mall and future Christchurch Convention Centre. The hotel offers air-conditioned hotel rooms out-fitted with the latest technology including large, flat screen Smart TVs. The stylish Gumption Restaurant & Bar is the perfect place to enjoy drinks and delicious cuisine with friends or colleagues. There is complimentary high speed WiFi and complimentary access to a new air-conditioned gym on level 3 of the hotel is also available to hotel guests.
Te Weheka Retreat is an ideal accommodation in Fox Glacier village. The hotel’s location provides a real sense of privacy and peaceful seclusion, while being only a short stroll to the village. All rooms have been recently refurbished and feature their own balcony, lounge area, spacious bedroom, TVs with Freeview channels and en-suite with a separate shower and bath. The hotel has complimentary unlimited WiFi, and access to the cosy lounge area with fireplace and library, a great place to relax with a glass of wine and enjoy views of the township and Cook River Valley.
Located right on the lakefront in Wanaka and a short drive from the town centre, Edgewater Resort has a beautiful scenic setting. All guest rooms have either an outdoor patio or balcony. Enjoy a tranquil and relaxing stay directly on Wānaka’s lakefront. You can relax by playing tennis or biking or relax on The Terrace and enjoy a drink or meal.
Conveniently located in the heart of Te Anau’s town shopping centre, a short stroll from Lake Te Anau, the Distinction Luxmore offers 2 on-site restaurants. Enjoy views of the township looking towards Lake Te Anau from Hilights Restaurant which is known for its excellent breakfasts and delicious carvery buffet dinners. Bailiez’s legendary café style menu and bar is popular among Te Anau locals and a great choice for relaxing after exploring Fiordland.
Scenic Suites Queenstown provides a fantastic central Queenstown location. The hotel’s elevated position gives fantastic views of the Southern Alps and over Lake Wakatipu. It’s hard to go past Scenic Suites Queenstown with its convenience and quality of four-star apartment style accommodation.
The Mackenzie Country Hotel is located in Twizel in the heart of the Mackenzie Region. Featuring a beautiful garden setting with high country views, the Mackenzie Country Hotel is instantly recognisable by its classic stonework exterior, reflecting the distinctive mountain and river landscapes of the Mackenzie region. The spacious and mature grounds are a key feature of this idyllic country setting. The hotel has comfortable furnished bedrooms, with their own en-suites and private balconies or patios overlooking the gardens with mountain views.
Wellington is New Zealand’s capital city and the location of our parliament. Located at the bottom of the North Island it sits on the Cook Strait, which divides the North and South Islands. Strong winds through the Cook Strait give it the nickname “Windy Wellington”.
It is a vibrant and compact city, with a beautiful waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and some lovely turn of the century, timber houses on the steep hills it features. From Lambton Quay, the iconic red Wellington Cable Car heads to the Wellington Botanic Gardens.
Wellington is home to New Zealand’s National Museum, Te Papa, and bespoke art and creative pursuits thrive in this city. Couple this with a strong café and restaurant culture and you have an interesting and unique little city to explore.
Nelson is the main centre of the Tasman region. This is an extraordinary, vibrant region where art and businesses thrive together among a stunning natural landscape.
It is renowned for its sunny climate, produce and stunning natural landscapes. Indeed, its diverse geography captures everything from long golden beaches to untouched forests and rugged mountains.
Nelson Tasman has one of the largest concentrations of working artists and galleries in the country. You’ll find an array of traditional, contemporary and Māori, craftspeople living in the region.
And you’ll also find many ways to find something extraordinary to take home with you. Visit artist’s studios. Explore the weekend craft markets. Taste the delicious locally made artisan products.
Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand’s smallest national park. But it’s one of the most easily accessible and is unmatched for beautiful coastal settings and beaches.
The park is at the north end of New Zealand’s South Island near Motueka and Nelson. It’s known for the Abel Tasman Coast Track. This long trail, a 3-5 day walk, winds over beaches and across ridges between Marahau in the south and Wainui in the north.
This beautiful coastal area abounds with NZ wildlife. The headland at Separation Point is home to New Zealand fur seal colonies. Little blue penguins, bottlenose dolphins and seals inhabit the Tonga Island Marine Reserve.
Explore the park from land, on the water, or in the air, with cruises, water taxi services, kayaking options, heli-tours and sailing catamarans through its beautiful coastal waters.
Tucked into the forested foothills of the Southern Alps is the cosy township of Fox Glacier. Focused around a 13-kilometre-long temperate maritime glacier, ‘Fox’ is in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of Aoteaoroa’s South Island.
Fox Glacier describes both the glacier and the nearby village. The town offers glacier hikes, flights, scenic walks and glow worm caves just a short walk from the town centre. And there is a good choice of cafes and restaurants.
Like its twin, Franz Josef, the glacier descends from the Southern Alps down into temperate rainforest just 300 metres above sea level.
Close to Fox is beautiful Lake Matheson, one of the most photographed lakes in New Zealand. On a clear day it reflects Mount Cook and features prominently in many New Zealand promotional images. The short walk that circles the lake is a local must-do, offering numerous photo ops.
Wanaka is a lively resort town surrounded by some stunning alpine scenery. It offers a picture-perfect location and easy access to the outdoors. The town has the buzz of a genuine alpine town and is the ultimate hub for outdoor adventures.
With Mount Aspiring National Park close by Wanaka is the perfect destination for exploring the Southern Alps. There are an abundance of activities on offer. Sky dive. Take a scenic flight. Go canyoning. Do some climbing or mountaineering. Or hike or bike on the hundreds of kilometres of local tracks offering iconic South Island views.
In summer, the crystal-clear water of the lakes and rivers are ideal for kayaking, fishing, lake cruises and jet-boating. And, in winter, Wanaka is a vibrant centre for skiers and snowboarders with four ski areas just a short drive from the town.
A two hour drive from Queenstown, Te Anau is a Southland town. A pretty lakeside town, it’s known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park.
Te Anau offers great views of the lake and mountains beyond and a good range of cafes and restaurants. The awe-inspiring natural beauty of the park’s wilderness, including Milford and Doubtful Sounds is within easy reach.
The region is home to many of NZ’s Great Walks, endangered flightless takahē birds and abundant trout in Lake Te Anau. Te Anau Caves feature a limestone grotto of glowworms and an underground waterfall. To the southwest, the Kepler Track winds through beech forests, glacial valleys and mountains.
Famously described by Rudyard Kipling as the “eighth wonder of the world”, Milford Sound is a stunning fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island.
The “sound” was carved out by glaciers during the ice age like all modern fiords. But it’s majesty and the drama of its surrounding mountains is hard to match. It is known for the towering Mitre Peak, plus rainforests and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which plummet down its sheer sides.
When it rains in Milford Sound — and it often does — those waterfalls multiply with magnificent effect. Whatever the weather it really is a breath-taking sight.
Boat tours are a popular way to explore the inky waters of this pristine natural wonder. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins and dolphins. Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory offers views of rare black coral and other marine life.
Queenstown is a stunning resort town, renowned for its beauty and wealth of adventure activities, it sits on the shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Southern Alps mountains, Queenstown is also a base for exploring the region’s vineyards and historic mining towns.
Iconic adventure activities include bungee jumping off Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge and jet-boating on the Shotover and Dart rivers. And in winter, there’s skiing on the slopes of The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Cardrona ski resorts.
Queenstown is a hub of adventure, thrumming with adrenaline and an buzzing with a carefree sense of fun. But extreme activities aren’t the only options here. This world-famous resort town and its surrounding area boast many things to see, do, eat, drink and explore. Something for everyone at any time of year.
Aoraki / Mount Cook, standing at 3,724 metres, is the highest mountain in New Zealand. It is located within Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
The park is home of the highest mountains and the longest glaciers. It is alpine in the purest sense — with skyscraping peaks, glaciers and permanent snow fields, all set under a star-studded sky. It is part of the Southern Alps, the mountain range running the length of the South Island.
A popular tourist destination, Aoraki /Mount Cook is also a favourite challenge for mountain climbers. Mt Cook, helped Sir Edmund Hillary to develop his climbing skills in preparation for the conquest of becoming the first person to climb Mt Everest.
Although the National Park encompasses 23 peaks over 3000 metres high, it is very accessible. State Highway 80 leads to Aoraki/Mt Cook Village beside scenic Lake Pukaki, which provides a comfortable base for alpine activities.
Far from city lights, the stargazing here is magnificent. Indeed, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park forms the majority of New Zealand’s only International Dark Sky Reserve.
Twizel is the largest town in the South Island’s Mackenzie District. It was purpose-built in the 1960s to provide a home for workers involved with the Upper Waitaki Power Scheme. And today’s its location makes it great base of mountain climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, horse trekking and hiking.
The town sits in the basin that characteries the district surrounded by canals, lakes and wide open plains and overlooked by the Southern Alps. The peaks and trails of Mount Cook National Park are just up the road.
Fish for salmon and trout in the stunning aqua-blue local waters. If you don’t have any luck, call into the salmon farm and buy a fish – fresh or smoked.
In summer Twizel’s population more than trebles, as holiday houses and camp grounds fill to capacity with New Zealanders on holiday.
Christchurch is an fascinating city to explore. It was once a historic garden city. Since the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes it has turned into a fascinating city of regeneration and growth.
The central city is filled with cutting-edge architecture alongside some of the oldest buildings in New Zealand. But Christchurch is constantly evolving, always giving locals and visitors something new to explore. Expect street art and innovative projects, a bustling hospitality scene and established green spaces.
The Avon River runs through the city, bringing a natural landscape to the urban environment. Cruise along the picturesque river on a flat bottomed punt. Take a ride on a historic tram through the city. With wonderful parks and botanic gardens to explore Christchurch is a great place to visit.
There are few places on earth like Kaikōura. A small coastal village, with a relaxed beachside vibe, it has some stunning views of both mountains and sea. And it offers to enjoy the bounty of the sea whether eating local kai moana or encountering local sale sea life off the coast.
The nearby Seaward Kaikōura Mountains, a towering snow-clad mountain range, provide a stunning backdrop over the town centre. Meanwhile, the town extends out to the Kaikōura Peninsula, where the waves of the Pacific Ocean roll in.
These mountains rise to heights of 2600m. And the undersea canyon that comes to meet them, plunges to depths of over 1200m very close to shore. These two factors alone make Kaikōura unique.
Stand on top of a snow-capped mountain in the morning. Whale watch or dolphin / seal swim in the afternoon. Then take in a gorgeous sunset while feasting upon fresh seafood beside the sea.
The small alpine village of Arthur’s Pass is located between Canterbury and the West Coast of the South Island. Climbing to more than 900 metres through Arthur’s Pass National Park, it is the highest and most spectacular pass across the Southern Alps.
The road and rail tracks through this challenging environment are pieces of extreme engineering involving viaducts, bridges, rock shelters and waterfalls redirected into chutes. This is also the route of the famous Tranz Alpine Train journey.
Arthur’s Pass National Park itself is a landscape of two halves. Climbing the eastern side of the alps from Christchurch you’ll see wide, shingle-filled riverbeds and vast swathes of beech forest. Then, as you descend the western side, you’ll pass through dense rainforest alongside and over deeply gorged rivers.
Visitors should look out for New Zealand’s inquisitive and comical alpine parrot, the kea, along the way. This is a rugged and beautiful part of New Zealand.
The Interislander is one of The Great Journeys of New Zealand and doubles as a Marlborough Sounds cruise. It is New Zealand’s original Cook Strait ferry, sailing between Wellington and Picton several times a day connecting the North & South Islands’ road and rail networks.
Considered one of the most beautiful ferry journeys in the world, The Interislander is one of New Zealand’s most iconic travel experiences. The ferry takes around three-and-a-half hours to travel between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island.
From Wellington, your short voyage begins with a tour around Wellington Harbour. You’ll then cross the narrow passage between New Zealand’s two main islands. This passage, The Cook Strait, is named after Captain Cook, the English explorer who first mapped it.
Having crossed Cook Strait, the final stretch of the journey is through the magnificent Marlborough Sounds. This sheltered stretch of water is spectacularly scenic. It’s the reason the trip is known for its scenery. And it is this hour long cruise through the Marlborough Sounds that makes the Interislanderr a must-do experience.
With more than 30 cellar doors offering tastings, the best way to explore the region’s wine trail is on a Marlborough wine tour. Sample some of Marlborough’s stunning wines right next to the vines the grapes were grown on. And learn about the distinctive flavours and arts of viticulture and winemaking that go into each glass.
New Zealand’s largest and most famous wine region, Marlborough produces over 75% of New Zealand’s wine. It is the undisputed home of Sauvignon Blanc — world famous for its intense and pure flavours.
Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand’s smallest national park. But it is one of the most easily accessible and beautiful coastal paradise settings. And you’ll see all the highlights along the coast on board this cruise.
See granite outcrops, golden sands and lush forest. Take in Split Apple Rock, Tonga Island Marine Reserve and Adele Island Wildlife Reserve. View sea birds and seals, with a chance to spot little blue penguins. Then relax with a comfortable Vista Cruise back to Kaiteriteri.
Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant sperm whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand fur seals, pods of dusky dolphins and the endangered wandering albatross.
Depending on the season you may also see migrating humpback whales, pilot whales, blue whales and southern right whales. Kaikōura often hosts the orca and dolphins – and is home to the world’s smallest and rarest – the Hector’s. Kaikōura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of albatross, 14 varieties of petrels and 7 types of shearwater.
Cruise Milford Sound, the most well-known and accessible of all the fiords in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage Area. Its 16 kilometre (14 nautical miles) length is lined by sheer rock faces that soar 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more from the water.
Milford Sound is in the heart of a rainforest (annual rainfall is 6,813mm or 268 inches). This creates walls of temporary waterfalls on a wet day. In drier conditions this recedes to just two permanent waterfalls (Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls). Glorious on a fine day, Milford Sound’s ethereal, moody beauty in the rain is equally spectacular.
On your leisurely and informative nature cruise, you’ll see towering cliffs and peaks. The spectacular 1692 metre Mitre Peak — NZ’s most photographed mountain — rises more than a kilometre straight out of the sea. Waterfalls cascade into the fiord. And luxuriant rain forest clings to sheer rock faces in this breath taking place.
The Christchurch Tram is a unique experience combining history and sightseeing. The beautifully restored heritage trams are one of the city’s best loved attractions.
Hop-on hop-off tickets allow you to visit the central city sights at your leisure. And the friendly and knowledgeable drivers keep you updated about the latest city changes in informative live commentaries.
Explore the best of the central Christchurch from the 17 stops enroute. Hop off at The Canterbury Museum & Botanic Gardens. Visit Turanga and the Margaret Mahy Playground. Enjoy many retail stores, bars and eateries at The Terrace, Cashel Street & Riverside Market. And the Arts Centre and New Regent Street offer fantastic shopping and dining options for all.
Punting on the Avon is an eco-friendly way to relax and enjoy Christchurch from a different perspective. You’ll be expertly guided along the Avon River through central Christchurch on this Edwardian-style punting tour. Move through the city centre at a gentle pace and take in the changing face of Christchurch.
Your Punter will pole you along the river from the platformed till at the rear end of your punt, a handcrafted flat-bottomed boat. Glide through the tranquil Botanic Gardens, and view the inner city’s revitalised Avon River Precinct. Admire the beautiful Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
A punting tour is an ideal group or family activity. Don’t miss this iconic Christchurch experience.
Enjoy a very special view of the South Island’s striking natural landscape. Take the Tranz Alpine train between Christchurch and Greymouth. See epic vistas, travel the edges of the ice-fed Waimakariri River, traverse the Southern Alps, and see miles of native beech forest.
You’ll cross the remarkabley flat Canterbury Plains overlooked by the majestic Southern Alps before eventually crossing the aqua-blue Waimakariri River. Tunnels, viaducts and feats of railway engineering take you across alpine passes where you’ll then travel through lush lake valleys towards the West Coast of the South Island. This iconic train trip is the journey of a lifetime.
The TranzAlpine is acknowledged as one of the world’s great train journeys. The 223 kilometre (139 mile) one-way trip takes just under 5 hours and connects Christchurch and Greymouth on the West Coast via Arthurs Pass through the Southern Alps.
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