Southern Highlights Itinerary

Welcome to your South Island journey. Starting in Christchurch the “Garden City,” explore at a relaxed pace with a full-day tram pass through the city’s key sights, gardens, and historic landmarks.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Private airport transfer
• Full-day heritage tram pass
• Explore at your leisure
• 3 nights in Christchurch

Suggested Accommodation: 

Discover Christchurch through its flavours and stories on a guided inner-city walking tour. Experience tastings of locally inspired cuisine while learning about culture and the importance of shared kai. This evening, explore Christchurch at your own pace.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Guided cultural food walking tour
• Local storytelling and culinary experiences
• Explore at your leisure

Make it yours:
Elevate your evening with a scenic gondola ride, taking in sweeping views as day turns to night.

Journey across Banks Peninsula on a small-group tour to the charming French-influenced settlement of Akaroa. Enjoy a harbour cruise in search of Hector’s dolphins, fur seals, and seabirds, with free time to explore the village.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Morning tea, lunch
• French heritage village stopover
• Wildlife harbour cruise
• Dolphin, fur seal & seabird viewing opportunities

Ready to make the journey yours? Enquire online or speak with a Travel Designer to personalise your perfect New Zealand escape.

Join your full-day coach tour across the Southern Alps and along the rugged West Coast. Explore alpine scenery, rainforest, and dramatic coastlines with scenic stops along the way.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Lunch
• Scenic full-day coach journey to Franz Josef
• Castle Hill, Arthur’s Pass Village & Hokitika Gorge stopovers
• 2 nights in Franz Josef

Suggested Accommodation: 

Experience some of New Zealand’s most iconic alpine landscapes on a full-day guided exploration of Glacier Country, discovering the region’s dramatic glaciers, rainforests, and unique natural geography.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Hot drink & biscuits
• Guided glacier region tour
• Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers 
• Lake Matheson

Travel along the spectacular West Coast and through Haast Pass to Queenstown. Enjoy glacier lakes, waterfalls, and alpine scenery with scenic photo stops along the way.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Scenic coach journey to Queenstown
• Lake Matheson & Scenic Haast Pass 
• Lake Hāwea & Lake Wānaka photo opportunities
• 4 nights in Queenstown

Suggested Accommodation:

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound on a full-day coach and cruise journey through Fiordland National Park, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural landscapes, defined by towering cliffs and dramatic waterfalls.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Lunch
• Return coach journey & scenic Milford Sound cruise
• Fiordland National Park scenery
• Fiordland crested penguin & dolphin spotting opportunities

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Queenstown before boarding the historic TSS Earnslaw for a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak for a gourmet dining experience.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Gourmet BBQ dinner
• Explore at your leisure
• TSS Earnslaw vintage steamboat cruise 
• Walter Peak farm visit

Experience the beauty of Mount Aspiring National Park on an exhilarating jet boat journey through glacier-fed rivers and untouched wilderness landscapes. This evening, enjoy Queenstown at your own pace.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Jet boat experience
• Guided commentary
• UNESCO World Heritage views
• Explore at your leisure

Make it yours:
Take your experience to new heights with a scenic gondola ride to Bob’s Peak, followed by a romantic dinner overlooking Lake Wakatipu at sunset.

Travel through dramatic alpine landscapes on a small-group guided journey to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. Enjoy scenic stops and learn about the region’s natural wonders along the way.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Dinner
• Scenic coach journey to Mount Cook
• Kawarau Gorge, Lindis Pass & Lake Pukaki
• Omarama stopover
• 2 nights in Mount Cook

Suggested Accommodation: 

Explore the incredible glacial environment of Mount Cook with a Tasman Glacier boat experience, followed by an unforgettable evening stargazing in one of the world’s best dark sky regions.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, dinner
• Tasman Glacier boat tour
• Glacial lake & iceberg scenery
• Dark Sky Reserve Stargazing Experience

Journey through the Mackenzie Basin to Christchurch, stopping at Lake Tekapo and other scenic highlights along the way.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic coach journey to Christchurch
• Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo & Geraldine town stopovers
• 2 nights in Christchurch

Suggested Accommodation: 

Spend the day exploring Christchurch at your own pace. Enjoy the gardens, Avon River, central city precinct, and relaxed atmosphere of the revitalised “Garden City.”

Inclusions at a glance:

• Explore at your leisure

Make it yours:
End your trip on a thrilling high with New Zealand’s longest zipline, soaring high above Christchurch’s native forest with breathtaking mountain views.

“Haere rā” and farewell from New Zealand! As you are transfer to Christchurch Airport, reflect on unforgettable memories of your South Island journey filled with glaciers, fiords, alpine scenery, wildlife, and iconic landscapes.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Private airport transfer

Inspired by what you’ve seen? Let’s create a journey to Aotearoa, New Zealand that’s uniquely yours.

Speak with a Travel Designer to start planning your personalised escape.