Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll arrive in Christchurch and get settled into your accommodation. After freshening up this afternoon, you'll meet the other travelers over wine and canapes to start things off. It's a good way to get to know everyone before the real exploring begins.
- Day 2
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
This morning starts with a guided tour around Christchurch, hitting the Cardboard Cathedral and the impressive library. From there you'll head across the Canterbury Plains toward Lake Tekapo. In the afternoon, you'll have tea at a local farmer's home through the Be My Guest program where they share stories about life on the land, and you'll also check out the Church of the Good Shepherd before the day ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Christchurch city tour including Cardboard Cathedral and library
- Be My Guest afternoon tea at Lake Tekapo with local farmers Angie and Stan Taylor
- Visit Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
Landmarks/POIs Cardboard Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo - Day 3
Lake Tekapo to Dunedin
You'll travel through Oamaru and walk around its Victorian streetscapes, poking through shops and galleries. Then it's on to Dunedin, called the Edinburgh of the South, where you can discover the rolling green meadows and the grand stone castle. If you're interested, Speight's Brewery and Larnach Castle are both worth visiting while you're there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Oamaru's Victorian streetscapes, shops, galleries and traditional crafts
Optional Activities
- Speight's Brewery tour
- Larnach Castle tour (NZ$76 Adult NZ$38 Child)
Landmarks/POIs Oamaru Victorian streetscapes Larnach Castle Speight's Brewery - Day 4
Dunedin to Lake Manapouri
Leaving the pastoral countryside behind, you'll head into Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage site. A thrilling jet boat ride takes you down the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri, and then you'll help out with conservation work on Pomona Island. There's also an optional cruise to the Glowworm Caves if you want to add that to your day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jet boat ride down Waiau River to Lake Manapouri
- Participation in conservation project at Pomona Island
Optional Activities
- Glowworm Caves cruise (own expense)
- Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour (NZ$98 Adult NZ$30 Child)
Landmarks/POIs Fiordland National Park Lake Manapouri Pomona Island - Day 5
Te Anau to Milford Sound
You'll go deep into Fiordland through native rainforests, beech forests, and alpine meadows, stopping at Mirror Lakes along the way. Then comes the guided Milford Sound cruise with a naturalist who points out fur seals and shows you the towering misty escarpments and waterfalls from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Milford Sound/Piopiotahi cruise with naturalist guide
- View Mirror Lakes and alpine scenery
- Fiordland National Park scenic journey
Optional Activities
- Milford Sound flight back to Queenstown (NZ$420 Adult NZ$260 Child)
Landmarks/POIs Fiordland National Park Mirror Lakes Milford Sound/Piopiotahi - Day 6
Queenstown
Queenstown is yours to explore however you'd like. Think about optional jet boat rides or cellar door wine tours in Central Otago if those interest you. By evening, you'll reunite with the group to cruise Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship, finishing with a gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm)
Included Activities
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw historic steamship
- Gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm
Optional Activities
- High-octane jet boat ride
- Central Otago cellar door wine tour
- Queenstown Boutique Wine Tour (NZ$199 Adult NZ$139 Child)
- Kiwi Birdlife Park (NZ$49 Adult NZ$24 Child)
- Lakeshore, Forest and Bird Guided Walk (NZ$115 Adult / NZ$75 Child)
- Shotover Jet Boat Ride (NZ$149 Adult NZ$79 Child)
- Skippers Canyon Scenic Tour & Jet Boat (NZ$195 Adult NZ$115 Child)
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak High Country Farm TSS Earnslaw - Day 7
Queenstown to Franz Josef
You'll travel through scenic country to Arrowtown with its tree-lined streets and 19th-century gold-rush buildings. There's a stop at a local fruit stall, then you continue to Franz Josef to see Franz Josef Glacier. A scenic helicopter flight can give you a spectacular view of the glacier, and you might even land on it depending on conditions (this is at your own expense).
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Arrowtown
- Scenic journey through Central Otago countryside
- View Franz Josef Glacier from scenic viewpoint
Optional Activities
- Scenic helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier with possible glacier landing (The Helicopter Line - Mountain Scenic Spectacular 40min Flight NZ$480 Adult NZ$336 Child; The Helicopter Line - Twin Glacier Scenic 30min Flight NZ$350 Adult NZ$245 Child)
- Haast River Safari (NZ$109 Adult NZ$59 Child)
Landmarks/POIs Arrowtown The Remarkables Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere - Day 8
Franz Josef to Punakaiki
Walk along Hokitika's windswept West Coast shore in the morning. After that, head to Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes where waves crash through the dramatic formations. You'll settle into your beachfront eco-resort overlooking this natural spectacle for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk along Hokitika West Coast shore
- Visit Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki
Landmarks/POIs Hokitika Pancake Rocks and Blowholes - Day 9
Punakaiki to Christchurch
Start your day with the Ponaumu Pathway, a self-guided walk through Maori history and heritage. You'll also experience the Weta Workshop storytelling about greenstone and Poutini Ngai Tahu culture. Lunch happens at the well-known Monteith's Brewery, and then you board the TranzAlpine train back to Christchurch, riding through the Southern Alps with great mountain views the whole way. You'll arrive in time for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at legendary Monteith's Brewery), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ponaumu Pathway self-guided cultural experience with Weta Workshop storytelling
- Lunch at Monteith's Brewery
- TranzAlpine train journey through Southern Alps to Christchurch
Landmarks/POIs Ponaumu Pathway Monteith's Brewery - Day 10
Christchurch
You'll depart Christchurch today and head home with new friends, full camera memory cards, and memories of your New Zealand trip.
