View allSouth Island is a treat to the eyes and we got to visit all the main cities in a short time.
Sruthi, traveled in July
Best price guarantee Learn More
- Silver Operator
- Thrifty Tours
- In-depth Cultural
- Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
- Group Tour
- Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
- Partially Guided
- Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
- Guided in English
- Group Size 2 - 50
- Age range 1 to 100
Places You’ll See
Highlights
- Cruise on the waters of the mystical Milford Sound
- Let loose in the adventure capital of Queenstown
- Enjoy a ride on the iconic skyline gondola
- Visit the awe-inspiring West Coast glaciers
Itinerary
- Introduction
- Day 1 Christchurch to Mt Cook National Park to Queenstown
- Day 2 Full day tour to Milford Sound including cruise
- Day 3 Free day to explore Queenstown. Enjoy the views from the Skyline Gondola
- Day 4 Queenstown to Fox Glacier by Newmans coach
- Day 5 Fox Glacier to Greymouth train station, TranzAlpine train to Christchurch
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Guide
- Additional Services
- Transport
- Free eSIMTourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Meals
- Optional
- Additional Services
Operated by
Thrifty Tours
Number of tours
28
Age Range
5 to 99 years old
Response time
within 1 day
Response rate
95%
It's all about enjoying the flexibility of travelling where you want when you...
Read moreCustomer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationExcellent
- FoodGood
- Lynne· February 19th, 2025The 5 day Alpine tour was everything I wanted. I was traveling solo and wanted to be with groups for safety, and tourradar made sure that I was. They even booked me with other groups to save me some money on my before and after hotel rooms. We had beautiful clear skies at Mt Cook and got rain in Milford Sound (that's what you want for more waterfalls), we saw the tip of Fox glacier and Franz Josef, and learned about the history and the people of New Zealand. The tour guides were fun and knew the area very well. Jonathon knows the best dad jokes and I want to give a special shout out to Sarah for being one of the best story tellers I've ever heard.Show moreTrip date: February 2025
- Sruthi· July 16th, 2020We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The accommodation and travel was all very well planned. We truly couldn't be happier. South Island is a treat to the eyes and we got to visit all the main cities in a short time. Thank you TourRadar for making this possible for us.Show more
Thrifty Tours commented on this reviewDear Sruthi, Thank you so much for your fantastic feedback! We are so glad to hear how much you enjoyed your time in the South Island and we are thrilled to have been a part of it!Trip date: July 2020 - MOMeghan· February 20th, 2020We had a great time, start to finish. Highly recommend!Show moreTrip date: February 2020
- SKStuart· June 18th, 2019We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. The motor coach was comfortable and had the right amount of rest stops and points of interest. Stuart was very knowledgeable and shared a wealth of information about the Canterbury plain and the Aoraki area. Peter was very personable and knowledgeable about the west Coast. He shared great stories and personal tips along the way. He Was just as excited showing us the sights. Our accommodations were very clean and comfortable. The blue peaks had been freshly renovated and was very close to Queenstown shopping. The Punga lodge was clean and comfortable and just steps away from the Main Street. We would definitely recommend booking a tour because it left out any of the guesswork.Show moreTrip date: June 2019
- TVTriplina· April 23rd, 2019The tour was good, but I would have loved to see the West Coast as well. It wasn't possible due to the bridge that collapsedShow moreTrip date: April 2019
- MHMarni· April 22nd, 2019Our Alpine Explorer tour was great except for getting diverted from seeing the J. Franz glacier and going on the Tranzalpine train due to weather and road conditions. Queenstown was wonderful, particularly the Milford Sound cruise. The only meal that was included in the tour was the one on the cruise and it (meal) was an excellent buffet! Riding on the Skyline gondola was a wonderful adventure and, of course, the views were spectacular! We were rerouted to Dunedin and we had an enjoyable time there, visiting the Botanic garden, the Otago museum, the splendid train station, and the Founder's museum. The trip back to Christchurch was long but necessary. It was a strange tour since we weren't touring with anyone else but the instructions were clear as to where to meet the bus everyday.Show moreTrip date: April 2019
Dates & Availability
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- Free eSim with every purchase
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- From Friday20 Jun, 2025To Tuesday24 Jun, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Saturday21 Jun, 2025To Wednesday25 Jun, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Sunday22 Jun, 2025To Thursday26 Jun, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Monday23 Jun, 2025To Friday27 Jun, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Tuesday24 Jun, 2025To Saturday28 Jun, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Wednesday25 Jun, 2025To Sunday29 Jun, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Thursday26 Jun, 2025To Monday30 Jun, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Friday27 Jun, 2025To Tuesday1 Jul, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Saturday28 Jun, 2025To Wednesday2 Jul, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
- From Sunday29 Jun, 2025To Thursday3 Jul, 2025EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,590
Best price guarantee Learn More
What our customers ask about this tour
The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.- R
Rebecca
Asked on March 29th, 2025What time do we depart from Christchurch for the tour?
Thrifty ToursOperator•Written March 2025You will be catching the bus in the morning from Christchurch, and your arrival time in Queenstown is around 17:00.
- I
Irene
Asked on January 3rd, 2025How far is the gondola from the drop-off point in Queenstown?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written January 2025
The gondola is located within walking distance from the drop-off point, and you can visit it any day during your stay.
- F
Fahida
Asked on November 19th, 2024Are meals included in the tour package?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written November 2024
Yes, meals are included during the Earnslaw tour as you will be sailing around Queenstown lake with meals provided.
- G
Geoffrey
Asked on October 3rd, 2024What is the closest hotel to the train station?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written October 2024
The closest hotel to the train station is Rydges Latimer, which is about a 15-minute drive away.
- R
Robert
Asked on September 7th, 2024How do I use the app for my itinerary?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written September 2024
Download the 'New Zealand Touring' app from the App Store and log in with your credentials to view your itinerary.
- S
Sara
Asked on August 13th, 2024How can I check if my hotel booking is confirmed?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written August 2024
I will check the availability of your chosen hotel and update you accordingly.
- Y
Yu Lin
Asked on August 5th, 2024Can I confirm my tour and secure my spot?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written August 2024
As soon as you express your interest, I can confirm the tour and secure your booking.
- M
Melanie
Asked on May 15th, 2024Can we add activities to our itinerary while in Queenstown?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written May 2024
Yes, you can add activities while in Queenstown, such as the Shotover jet or a farm tour with a barbecue lunch.
- S
Shelley
Asked on April 22nd, 2024Do you have tours of Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji in January 2025?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written April 2024
unfortunately, we do not offer tours to Australia and Fiji but we can help with your New Zealand adventure. We are a travel expert and would love to hear your interest and customising them to suit you.
- L
Ludwig
Asked on April 9th, 2024Is the Earnslaw tour included in our package?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written April 2024
Yes, the Earnslaw tour is included; however, the wilderness jet is not part of the package unless added separately.
Good to Know
Tour ID: 141073
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