9 Day Must Do South Island Self Drive Tour Itinerary

 
1

Christchurch

‘Haere Mai’ and Welcome to New Zealand.

New Zealand’s second-largest city and the gateway to the South Island, Christchurch sits on the very edge of the Canterbury Plains and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. The city itself has bounced back after a series of major earthquakes, and has shown its resiliency with a number of new and exciting developments popping up everywhere. Don’t miss the Re Start shopping area, made out of Shipping Containers, as well as the many funky Pop Up bars dotted throughout the city. Make the most of your free time, your New Zealand Short Break starts tomorrow.

Some Suggested Activities If You Have Time

Easygoing Cycling Tour

   Punting the Avon River   Lyttelton Harbour Wildlife Cruise

Māori Cultural Evening

   French Akaroa Tour   Southern Alps Ballooning

Christchurch Gondola

   Clearwater Golf   Arthur's Pass TranzAlpine Hike


Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 night

Christchurch the Garden City
Accommodation:
The Quest Christchurch is located just off Cathedral Square in the heart of the commercial, arts and tourist precinct. This purpose built property is on Christchurch's famous inner city Tram Loop and features a mix of new and heritage architecture. Incorporated in the complex are a variety of retail shops, cafes and restaurants. All the serviced Apartments have free Wi-Fi & Fully Equipped Kitchens.
Quest Christchurch

2

Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook


Mt Cook National Park

This is a Fantasy Land of Ice and Rock. Mt Cook National Park, known for its exquisite alpine beauty and is home to the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook. Its Maori name, ‘Aoraki’ means ‘cloud piercer’ and at 12,016ft (3,755m) it towers above the surrounding snow-covered peaks in the park.

Star Gazing Tour

Tonight enjoy a Star Gazing Tour - this area also has World Heritage status as a SkyPark for the purity and lack of light pollution.

Some highly recommended excursions around the National Park.

Tasman Glacier by Boat   Hooker Valley Walk   Glacier Helicopter Landing   


Approximate Distance: 359 km | 223 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 45 mins

Accommodation: Mt Cook - 2 nights

Mighty Mt Cook
The Aoraki/Mount Cook Alpine Lodge is located in the heart of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and offer a range of accommodation style to suits your requirements. All rooms have ensuite facilities and most have spectacular views of Mount Cook and the surrounding peaks and glaciers. The lodge is hugged by mountains and surrounded by native bush and bird life, this is the perfect place to relax.  
Mount Cook Alpine Lodge

3

Walk the Hooker Valley Track

Hooker Valley Guided Hike: 5 Hours Walking, Distance 11 km (6.8 mi)

Start your day with a guided walk up the beautiful Hooker Valley, providing breathtaking views of some of New Zealand's highest and most enthralling peaks. Enjoy a stunning 11 km (6.8 mile) trek along over mostly flat terrain (there are some rocky bits) to the terminal lake of the Hooker Glacier. The journey encompasses an Alpine Memorial and passes over the turbulent Hooker River by Swing Bridge to unsurpassed vistas of Aoraki Mount Cook's south face and the surrounding glaciers. Your guide will point out the unique features of this alpine world as you enjoy lunch in the shadow of New Zealand's and Oceania's highest peak, standing at 3,754 metres (12,316 Feet).

 

Hooker Valley Walk

4

Queenstown - TSS Earnslaw Cruise

Queenstown, located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps, is New Zealand’s most celebrated destination.  Offering a wealth of experiences to be enjoyed – from adrenaline activities through to superb golf, gourmet food, and wine tours or romantic hot air ballooning.

Full Steam Ahead
All aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw this old coal-fired beauty has been ferrying passengers around the lake for over 100 years. Kids find the experience fascinating and love watching the stokers at work in the engine room and seeing the glowing fireboxes.

On arrival at Walter Peak High Country Farm on the western shores of Lake Wakatipu, you will get a real taste for rural New Zealand. Kids can pet and feed the lambs (during Spring - Oct to December) and other farmyard animals, watch the sheepdog's round-up a flock of sheep and see a shearing demonstration. 

Approximate Distance: 255 km | 159 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Accommodation: Queenstown - 2 nights

Queenstown on the Lake
Just 5 minutes’ walk from Lake Wakatipu, Blue Peaks Lodge offers heated rooms with satellite TV. The property offers free parking and 500mb of free Wi-Fi per stay. Blue Peaks Lodge Queenstown is 3 minutes’ walk from Queenstown Gardens, and 10 minutes’ drive from the popular Onsen Hot Pools. Queenstown Airport is a 15-minute drive away.
blue peak

5

Queenstown Shotover Jet & Gondola

Enjoy today a Shotover Jet Boat Trip and discover and explore every aspect of this magnificent area through a combination of exciting jet boating. 

If you want to enjoy spectacular scenic views, you can sit back and relax in the Skyline Queenstown Gondola (cost of Gondola included). The steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the must-do activities in Queenstown. 

Recommended Queenstown excursions if you have time:

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

Shotover Jet

6

Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef village is small (only 500 locals) and is located only ten minutes from the Glacier. The Franz Josef is a glacier located in Westland National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km (13 Miles) to the south, it is a unique in the fact that it descends from the Southern Alps to just 200 metres above sea level amidst the greenery and lushness of a temperate rainforest. The glacier is currently 12 kilometres ( 8 miles) long and terminates 19 km (11mi) from the Tasman Sea. The glacier exhibits a cyclic pattern of advance and retreat, driven by differences between the volume of meltwater at the foot of the glacier and volume of snowfall feeding the neve.

Take the time this afternoon for a walk to the Glaciers Terminal Face.


Approximate Distance: 352 km | 219 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Franz Joseph - 2 nights

Franz josef Glacier Terminal Face
At Punga Grove, all of our stylish accommodation is set amidst the native Franz Josef rainforest. Our mountainside motel has been designed to maximise the beauty of the greenery with decks, outdoor areas and conservatory windows virtually putting you deep in the rainforest. All apartments include a fully equipped kitchen.
Punga Grove

7

Twin Glacier flight - Fox & Franz with Landing

Steep and dramatic or vast and remote? Take our Twin Glacier flight and you won't have to choose – you'll experience two very different glacial formations and a snow landing. This is the perfect trip to encounter two jaw-dropping glaciers, Fox and Franz Josef; giving you the opportunity to take in all the epic surroundings.

This is the ultimate scenic flight journey featuring New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook, and the second-highest, Mt Tasman.

Visit Lake Matheson: At Lake Matheson, near Fox Glacier, nature has combined exactly the right ingredients to create truly stunning reflections of New Zealand's highest peaks ...

Glacier Helicopters

6

TranzAlpine Train to Christchurch

Rated as one of the top scenic train journeys in the world, the Famous Tranz Alpine Train will take you deep into the heartland of the South Island… a coast to coast journey through some of the world’s most extreme and beautiful scenery. The Tranz Alpine winds its way over massive viaducts and through spectacular gorges and river valleys, tracking slowly across the country's greatest mountain range, the Southern Alps. It stops in the heart of the Southern Alps at Arthur’s Pass National Park before descending to the Canterbury Plains and on to Christchurch.

Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 night

TransAlpine Train
Accommodation:
The Quest Christchurch is located just off Cathedral Square in the heart of the commercial, arts and tourist precinct. This purpose built property is on Christchurch's famous inner city Tram Loop and features a mix of new and heritage architecture. Incorporated in the complex are a variety of retail shops, cafes and restaurants. All the serviced Apartments have free Wi-Fi & Fully Equipped Kitchens.
Quest Christchurch

9

Homeward Bound

"Haere rā" Goodbye! and Bon Voyage!

There maybe time for some last minute excursions or shopping before making your way for your outbound flight. We are sure you will enjoy your New Zealand short break holiday, our promise is to make your travels through New Zealand as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with a memory card full of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your time in New Zealand! Have a great homeward journey, farewell and hope to see you again soon in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Some Suggested Activities If You Have Time

Easygoing Cycling Tour   Punting the Avon River   Lyttelton Harbour Wildlife Cruise
Māori Cultural Evening   French Akaroa Tour   Southern Alps Ballooning
Christchurch Gondola   Clearwater Golf   Arthur's Pass TranzAlpine Hike


 

Trams in Christchurch

Profile picture for user Natalie 2
What Natalie 2 says about this tour: The South Island is beautiful and secluded - this 9 day trip gives you the opportunity to see so much of this easily travelled island. You will circumnavigate the Southern Alps which run the length of the South Island - allowing you to experience coastal rainforests and alpine environments and everything in between.
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