Southern Icons - 9 Day Self Drive Tour

9 days
Start and end in Christchurch
4.5
2 traveler reviews

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Partially Guided
Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
Guided in English
All Ages Welcome
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Drive at your own pace in your own rental car
  • Journey over mountain vistas on the TranzAlpine
  • Visit Queenstown on the shores of Lake Wakatipu
  • Experience Mt Cook, New Zealand highest mountain

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Arrive Christchurch City
  2. Day 2 Today you'll enjoy a scenic drive through Canterbury and the MacKenzie Country
  3. Day 3 Head south-west to Fiordland
  4. Day 4 Take the spectacular Milford Road to Milford Sound for your nature cruise
  5. Day 5 Leave the fiords behind and head back into the mountains
  6. Day 6 Enjoy a fun-filled day in the adventure capital of New Zealand
  7. Day 7 Travel via Wanaka and across the 'Gates of Haast' to the West Coast
  8. Day 8 Drive north to meet the famous Tranz Alpine Scenic Train across alps and viaducts to Christchurch
  9. Day 9 Depart Christchurch today
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar 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
  • Guide
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services
4.6
(20 reviews)

Number of tours

3

Age Range

21 to 99 years old

Response time

9 hours

Response rate

100%

Discover New Zealand is your one stop shop for all your New Zealand touring...

Read more

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.5
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Guide
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Transport
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Food
    Excellent
    5.0
  • 4.6
  • BF
    · March 28th, 2024
    We thoroughly enjoyed our self-driving tour. The experience was seamless from start to finish. Once we signed up, we received communication within minutes putting our hearts at ease. When we reached our destinations, we would simply give our names and the rest would be taken care of. Any questions or changes we had we're dealt with quickly and efficiently. The accommodations were simply beautiful, everything we needed and more. I also enjoyed using the app, especially being able to keep a travel journal and a list of our expenses. We would recommend this service to others who would like to explore an area with all the work taken care of at a reasonable price.
    Show more
    Discover New Zealand commented on this review
    Hello Barbara, We are thrilled to hear that everything went well with your holiday to New Zealand. I am glad that you like the accommodations that I provided and that everything was dealt efficiently. Thank you so much for your kind words and for... Show more
    Trip date: March 2024
  • PM
    · November 23rd, 2019
    Accommodation was great and staff were really friendly. No issues with checking in. Suggestions were helpful. It would be nice to see some not so touristy location like Glenorchy included in the suggestion.
    Show more
    Discover New Zealand commented on this review
    Thank you for you kind review Pushpa! We really appreciate your feedback. We do offer personally tailored tours, so if you travel with us again please get in touch and let us know your preferences for less touristy spots and I'm sure we can find... Show more
    Trip date: November 2019

Dates & Availability

9 days
Southern Icons - 9 Day Self Drive Tour
From Christchurch to Christchurch

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    • Free eSim with every purchase

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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
  • L

    Luis

    Asked on February 27th, 2025

    What documents are needed for travel?

    Visa
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten February 2025

      You will need a valid passport and may need a visa depending on your nationality. Additionally, for entry into New Zealand, an NZeTA is required.

  • L

    Lourdes

    Asked on November 5th, 2024

    Are meals included in the tour price?

    Meals
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten November 2024

      Meals are not typically included in the tour price unless specifically mentioned as part of the itinerary.

  • H

    Helen

    Asked on July 22nd, 2024

    Can I get a detailed itinerary?

    Tour Details
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten July 2024

      Yes, a detailed itinerary can be provided, listing all scheduled activities and accommodations subject to availability.

  • S

    Sjonnie

    Asked on July 5th, 2024

    What if I can't drive on the left side, can I get a driver?

    Transport
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten July 2024

      Yes, a driver can be arranged for your tour if you are not comfortable driving on the left side, though this will generally increase the total cost.

  • D

    Diana

    Asked on June 23rd, 2024

    Are there any insurance requirements?

    Travel Support
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten June 2024

      While insurance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to have travel insurance for any unforeseen circumstances during the trip.

  • J

    Jordanne

    Asked on April 27th, 2024

    Is there a guide on managing personal expenses?

    Other
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten April 2024

      It's advisable to budget for personal expenses and optional tours, which are not included in the main tour price.

  • L

    Lahcen

    Asked on April 17th, 2024

    What are the age restrictions for the tour?

    Age Range
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten April 2024

      Age restrictions vary depending on the tour. It's best to check specific tours for any age limits or recommendations.

  • U

    Ulrich

    Asked on February 13th, 2024

    What support is available during the tour?

    Travel Support
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten February 2024

      Support during the tour includes help with any on-tour issues, access to emergency contacts, and information.

  • G

    Georg

    Asked on January 13th, 2024

    Do the prices for tours include car rentals and accommodations?

    Accommodation
    Price / Availability
    Transport
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten January 2024

      Yes, the prices provided for tours generally include all major expenses like car rentals and accommodations.

  • O

    Omar

    Asked on November 25th, 2023

    Can I add extra activities to my tour?

    Other
    Tour Details
    • Discover New ZealandOperatorWritten November 2023

      Yes, you can add extra activities to your tour; availability and additional costs will apply.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Discover New Zealand with your enquiry, they usually respond within 9 hours.

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 161886

  • Currency
    $
    New Zealand Dollar
    New Zealand
  • Plugs & Adapters

    Type I
    New Zealand
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before November 13th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after November 13th, 2025, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Discover New Zealand. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Discover New Zealand will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Discover New Zealand" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.