On this Classic Escorted Group tour, travel on a 48 seat coach with a professional Coach Captain and Tour leader. This tour departs from Christchurch and tours through the spectacularly scenic highlights of South Island of New Zealand, including a visit to the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow finishing in Christchurch. We take care of it all leaving you to get on with creating incredible holiday memories.
(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner (SD) Specialty Dinner
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.
The Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier is close to the edge of one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural attractions. In the heart of Franz Josef village and on the edge of the Westland World Heritage Park, the Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier is very close to the spectacular Franz Josef Glacier. The hotel offers everything you need to be able to explore this dramatic region in style and comfort. With an exceptional restaurant, serving hearty, West Coast fare, and the Moa Bar with its open fireplace, you are never without choice. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.
This hotel is nestled within a garden-inspired property with 240 guest rooms, including 6 Suites and over 80 rooms that have views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range. Select rooms also feature private balconies or courtyards. There are meetings facilities with Wi-Fi access in public areas, as well as in Impressions Restaurant and Cocktail Bar.
Sudima Christchurch Airport is just five minutes from the airport terminals and next door to the International Antarctic Centre. The property is well equipped to make your stay comfortable, facilities include an in-house restaurant and bar, a gym, conference rooms, high-speed internet and a shuttle that runs 24/7.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The drive north from Wanaka to the West Coast passes through the spectacular scenery of Haast Pass. Makarora, at the northern tip of Lake Wanaka, is a launching point for several multi-day walks in Mount Aspiring National Park. It also marks the start of the drive over the pass.
A number of shorter walks begin at the highway’s edge between Makarora and Haast. These lead you through rainforest to fabulous waterfalls. Favourites include walks to the Blue Pools, Fantail Falls, Thunder Creek Falls and Roaring Billy.
At the Gates of Haast gorge, many travellers stop to photograph the wild water as it crashes over the river boulders.
The basins gouged out by Hawea and Wanaka Glaciers are now under the waters of Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka. Two arms of the glaciers joined at a narrow piece of land called The Neck, crossed on the drive to Makarora.
Franz Josef is the name of both the glacier and the nearby village. The small but lively Franz Josef Waiau village is surrounded by lush rainforest with the high snow-capped Alps rising above it.
There are many ways to take in the natural attractions within a short distance of the village. Your options include a cycleway, walks of varying lengths, guided walks, kayaking, and action adventures like rafting or skydiving. You can also visit the white heron colony or see the world’s rarest kiwi.
A short distance from neighbouring Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier is one of the steepest glaciers in New Zealand. It descends from its origins high in the Southern Alps deep into the lush native rainforest of Westland’s National Park.
The glacier moves faster than your average glacier so no two days are the same. The main ice fall moves an average of 50cm per day, but steep sections can move as much as 10 metres in a single day. This creates some truly incredible features in the glacier such as ice caves, tunnels, seracs and crevasses; and all features are constantly changing and evolving.
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.
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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