Privately Guided South Island 7 Day Itinerary

 

Your Private Driver/Guide

When you touch down in New Zealand you will be met at the airport by Your Private Driver/Guide. 

Our guides have been with us for a long time and are seasoned professionals. Our aim is to give ‘you’ our guests a memorable experience of New Zealand and its stunning scenery. With years of experience in tourism in New Zealand, we guarantee that you will receive a first-class service!

The best part about our guides is that they are local and chances are they have their go-to destinations that only locals know about. Whether it’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, a favourite local pub, or a fantastic attraction that most tourists overlook, our guides can help recommend authentic experiences that you may not discover on your own.

First Light Travel Private Guides

1

Welcome to Queenstown!

‘Haere Mai’ … welcome to New Zealand. Now you can relax - you are officially on holiday

Your driver/guide will meet you at the airport and the rest of the day is free to to experience the beauty of Queenstown exactly as you want to. From relaxing vineyard tours or boat cruises to extreme adventure activities, Queenstown has it all. 

Recommended excursions in Queenstown:

Routeburn Day WalkHighest Bungey JumpExplore Arrowtown

Wine Tasting Central Otago      

Biking Skippers Canyon      Round at Millbrook Golf Resort
Earnslaw Steamboat Cruise  Dart River Jetboat Safari      

Gibbston Valley Wine Trail

The Botanic Gardens and lakeside walkways offer a myriad of opportunities for relaxing strolls, while the boutique shops offer kiwi shopping at its best. Queenstown’s stunning location means that however you choose to spend your day you’ll enjoy being surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery.

Accommodation Queenstown - 2 nights

Queenstown TSS Earnslaw steamship

Overlooking Lake Wakatipu and a short walk in to the centre of Queenstown is the elegant Hotel St Moritz. The hotel is modern and stylish decorated in an alpine style fitting to the location. Boasting an excellent restaurant and bar on site, spacious comfortable rooms, and a professional level of service, your stay will be rewarding.


2

Milford Sound Cruise & Fiordland Scenic Flight

Today is one of the highlights of your holiday in New Zealand. We travel along the breath taking Milford Road; admiring the glacier-carved valleys, sky-scraping mountains and mirror lakes, and making plenty of photo stops along the way. Arriving in Milford Sound we board a boat and cruise the inky blue waters, spotting dolphins, penguins and seals with our onboard nature guide. We return to Queenstown on a scenic flight that showcases the beauty of Fiordland and Central Otago, rounding off an unforgettable day in New Zealand’s Great Outdoors.

Milford Sound flight

3

Queenstown, Cardrona Valley, Wanaka

Today our first discovery is nestled beside the Arrow River - the postcard-perfect village of Arrowtown, where the pioneer gold mining era comes alive. Continuing on we drive into tussock country and climb the road into the Crown Range looking out to sweeping views of the Gibbston Valley. We make a stop at the historical Cardrona Hotel before continuing on to the beautiful lakeside town of Wanaka.

The afternoon is yours to relax. Your hotel is next to Lake Wanaka and there is a great bike trail and walkway close by.

Approximate Distance: 67 kms | 42 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 15 mins

Accommodation Wanaka - 1 night

Lake Wanaka
Accommodation:

Situated on the lake shores, a stroll across the lawn will have you gazing across Lake Wanaka to the spectacular Southern Alps. Choose between one bedroom suites, studios and two bedroom apartments. Savour the lakeside atmosphere while you are treated to a fresh and contemporary menu in Sargoods Restaurant and Wineglass Cafe.

The Edgewater Resort Lake Wanaka

4

Franz Josef Glacier

We cruise the road beside Lake Hawea, passing by the head of Lake Wanaka and admiring the pristine mountain scape of Haast Pass in Mt Aspiring National Park. We take a stroll along a walking track that weaves through native beech forests and reveals waterfalls and turquoise pools. Moving on from the mountains, we wind our way along the riverside to Haast where a visit to the local Department of Conservation Centre gives insights into the region's history and unique flora and fauna. Venturing further north through the ancient emerald rainforests of the Westland World Heritage Park, we stop at Ship Creek to stretch our legs. Lake Matheson is well known for crisp reflections of the Alps on calm days and at Franz Josef we see the impressive glacier flowing down from the mountain tops.

Approximate Distance: 286 kms | 178 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours

Accommodation Franz Josef - 2 nights

The beautiful Franz Josef Glacier.

Te Waonui is the only luxury property of its kind in the area. The retreat is nestled in the lush bush with views of the natural environment at almost every turn. Located in Franz Josef, the retreat offers easy access to the many natural wonders of the South West World Heritage Area. Mountains, glaciers, rivers, lakes, coastline, and native flora and fauna all lie in wait at the doorstep for visitors to admire and explore.

Te Waonui Forest Retreat - Franz Josef

5

Franz Josef Glacier

Experience the trip of a lifetime. After an exhilarating scenic heli-flight, above the rugged terrain, you will land high up on Franz Josef Glacier ready to undertake a two hour guided hike amongst some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring glacier scenery available. Your experienced guide will lead you on to the glistening blue ice, with spectacular ice formations, towering peaks, crevasses, and accessible iridescent blue ice caves. There are plenty of photo opportunities, and the chance to learn more about this magnificent (constantly moving) glacier. Relax and unwind after a day on the ice in the Glacier Hot Pools nestled in the heart of the lush rainforest. 

Glacier Landing

6

Punakaiki - A Wild Coast & Unusual Rock Formations

Today discover more of the ‘wild’ west coast of the South Island, as you head north through countryside dotted with little lakes and boulder strewn rivers, all under the watchful eye of the mighty Southern Alps in the distance. 

Check out the famous Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki. Nowhere have the effects of Tasman Sea heaving swells had such a dramatic effect on the West Coast landscape than at the beautiful seaside village of Punakaiki. These rocks are a truly remarkable piece of natural sculpture that have been created when a series of stratified limestone stacks have been eroded over thousands of years to give the effect of large piles of stacked pancakes. Another prominent feature are the blowholes that at high tide force columns of spray high out of these holes with a bone shaking roar.

Approximate Distance: 217 kms | 135 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Accommodation Punakaiki - 1 night

Sunrise at Punakaiki
Surrounded by the Paparoa National Park and with stunning views of the Tasman Sea, Scenic Hotel Punakaiki is in a great location. The resort is situated only 300m from the famous Punakaiki Blowholes and has been designed in harmony with the local environment.  Evenings are spent relaxing in a standard resort room with views of the sea or an Eco Suite with rainforest and distant seaviews.

 
Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

7

Tranzalpine Train to Christchurch

This morning travel to Greymouth where you will board the Tranzalpine to Christchurch. The TranzAlpine is renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. Descend through spectacular gorges, river valleys and over massive viaducts before completing your journey in Christchurch. Here we bid you farewell and hope that you have wonderful memories of your South Island experience. 

Approximate Distance: 173 km | 107 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 14 mins

Tranz Alpine Train

Profile picture for user Tracy
What Tracy says about this tour: Driving on the 'wrong' side of the road is not for everyone - we have expert drivers who can take care of all your requirements while you're on the road and ensure that your trip runs seamlessly. One of the highlights has to be flying over the Milford Sound and there are many cultural and wilderness encounters along the way. A popular 7 day tour.
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