South Island Culture and Heritage Tour Itinerary

‘Haere Mai’ … Welcome to New Zealand!

Welcome to Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital! Following a scenic landing over the snowy mountain peaks, you'll pick up your rental car and head into town to settle in.

Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, set against the dramatic Southern Alps. Early Maori explorers journeyed here in search of pounamu (greenstone) — a nephrite jade used to make chisels and weaponry — and also to hunt for the giant Moa bird. But the town really kicked off in the 1800s when Europeans found gold and the rush began in 1862.

The dramatic natural landscape has made Queenstown the hub for adventure sports in New Zealand. But the jewel in the crown is Lake Wakatipu - and what better way to explore it than a vintage steamship cruise?

TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak Station
The vintage TSS Earnslaw is the oldest passenger steamship still in operation in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a charming way to view the lake and its grand surroundings. Your destination is the Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak Station (Farm). The beautiful lakefront location is a real drawcard, as is the great dining experience on offer so sit back and enjoy some fine high country hospitality or take one of the tours offered around the workings of the station.

Accommodation Queenstown - 2 nights

Take a day 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. Queenstown’s stunning location means that however you choose to spend your day you’ll enjoy being surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery.

Recommended excursions in and around Queenstown:

Sitting alongside the gold-bearing Arrow River, you'll find one of the most picturesque settlements in New Zealand. Welcome to historic Arrowtown.

This lovely township was established in 1862 after a local sheep shearer struck gold. Within a year, over 1500 miners flooded here to try their luck, constructing wooden cottages, shops, and churches, many of which remain today. The result is a town overflowing with character, surrounded by shadowy forested mountains.

Come in autumn and you'll see the hillsides ablaze with a covering of crimson and golden leaves. It's a photographer's delight! Try panning for gold yourself on the Arrow River's shores. Who knows, you might strike it rich! Either way, you can reward your efforts tonight with world-class dining: Arrowtown is a much-loved foodie haven with a wealth of exciting eateries to choose from.

Approximate Distance: 43 km | 28 miles  Total Driving Time: 50 mins

Accommodation: Cardrona - 1 night

Journey onwards to the coastal city of Dunedin, home of New Zealand's one and only castle.

Dunedin: City of Grace and Grandeur
The name "Dunedin" comes from the Scots-Gaelic name for Edinburgh: "Dun Eideann" and you won't have to look hard to see the Scottish influence in this lovely old university town. One of the best-preserved Victorian cities in the Commonwealth, Dunedin also incorporates a diverse array of architectural styles from Tudor to Neo-Gothic.

Larnach Castle Tour
Built-in 1871 by the merchant baron William Larnach, over 200 workers spent more than three years constructing the main shell of Larnach Castle. Master European craftsmen spent a further 12 years embellishing the interior, using the finest materials from around the world.
The magnificent architecture of this superbly crafted building showcases a unique collection of New Zealand antiques, spectacular tower views, and beautiful gardens.

Approximate Distance: 317 km | 198 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 45 mins

Accommodation Dunedin - 1 night

Be sure to stop en route at Koekohe Beach to admire the Moeraki Boulders. There are over 50 of these 65-million-year-old natural wonders strewn along the sands. They are up to 2 metres wide and the largest weigh around 7 tonnes!

Oamaru

The North Otago town of Oamaru greatly prospered from gold mining in the 1800s and boasts some of the finest heritage buildings in New Zealand. The splendid nineteenth-century whitestone buildings — formerly prestigious banks and hotels — are now home to galleries and specialty stores.

Oamaru is considered the Steampunk capital of the world, and the Steampunk Museum in town is well worth a look.

Head to the Oamaru Harbour at sunset for a special treat. As darkness falls, a local colony of Little Blue Penguins waddles up the steep bank, before heading towards their comfy nests. Locals and visitors alike gather to watch the penguin parade, it's a sight not to be missed.
 

Blog Article: The Art of Victorian Futurism in Oamaru

Approximate Distance: 113 km | 70 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 30 mins

Accommodation Oamaru - 1 night

Leaving Oamaru behind, your journey continues along the coast to Akaroa, pausing in South Canterbury to admire New Zealand's only known Maori cave paintings.

The Moa Hunters and their early Māori Rock Art
The area you will be travelling through contains New Zealand's oldest art galleries: our ancient limestone caves. The Maori rock paintings within these caves are of enormous cultural significance.

Join local Māori guides on a rock art site tour. Following in the footsteps of the ancestors, you will learn how they lived and why they left their cave drawings. These are believed to be the only example of Māori cave paintings in New Zealand.

A scenic drive over the Banks Peninsula transports you to Akaroa: a harbour-side village which counts the world's rarest dolphin among its neighbours.

Approximate Distance: 301 km | 187 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 

Accommodation: Akaroa - 1 night

Morning in Akaroa
You'll love pottering around French-settled Akaroa, with its quaint 19th-century cottages housing an array of artisan galleries & boutiques. Most streets have French names, and many descendants of the original French families continue to live here. It's a charming setting, right by the shimmering waters of the Akaroa Harbour.

Akaroa's most famous resident is the tiny Hector's Dolphin, which you won't find anywhere else in the world. If you take a scenic harbour cruise they are a joy to watch, darting and diving around your boat, as playful as puppies!
Driving onwards to Christchurch, there may be time for some last minute sightseeing or shopping before making your way for your outbound flight.

Christchurch
Bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Christchurch is our "Garden City", blessed with beautiful parks and gardens right in the heart of town. English heritage buildings sit side by side with innovative post-earthquake regeneration in this vibrant place.

"Haere rā" Goodbye! and Bon Voyage!
We know you will enjoy the New Zealand's South Island Culture and Heritage Tour and our promise to you 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.

Approximate Distance: 82 km | 60 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 20 mins