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The Southern Drift (Base, 2026/2027, 10 Days)

10 days
Start and end in Christchurch
4.3
111 traveler reviews

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:
Explorer
Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 20 - 48
All Ages Welcome
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Christchurch

    You'll arrive in Christchurch and get picked up by private car to head to your hotel. Once you're settled, there's a Welcome Reception where you'll meet your Journey Director and try some local wine with canapes.

    Meals
    Welcome Reception (Local wine and canapés)

    Included Activities

    • Welcome Reception with local wine and canapés
  2. Day 2

    Lake Tekapo - Mt. Cook - Lake Ohau

    This morning you'll check out Christchurch's main sights before traveling to Lake Tekapo to see the Church of the Good Shepherd. From there, head to Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat for High Tea with local sparkling wine overlooking Lake Pukaki, and you'll meet owners Kaye and Luke Paardekooper. Later, you'll reach Lake Ohau Lodge for a family-style dinner and wine.

    Meals
    Breakfast, High Tea (Complemented by local sparkling wine with majestic views of Lake Pukaki), Dinner (Family-style dinner with wine)

    Included Activities

    • Explore Christchurch city sights
    • Visit Church of the Good Shepherd
    • High Tea at Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat with local sparkling wine and views of Lake Pukaki
    • Meet Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat owners Kaye and Luke Paardekooper
    • Family-style dinner with wine at Lake Ohau Lodge
    Landmarks/POIs
    Church of the Good Shepherd
    Lake Pukaki
    Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
  3. Day 3

    Lindis Pass - Cromwell - Arrowtown - Queenstown

    You'll travel through Lindis Pass to Cromwell and stop at Mrs. Jones Orchard to pick up some fresh produce. Then it's on to the Highlands Museum, which is great if you like cars, followed by a wine tasting and lunch at Gibbston Valley's Kinross cellar door. After that, you'll walk through the gold rush heritage village of Arrowtown before arriving in Queenstown for the night.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch at Gibbston Valley's Kinross cellar door)

    Included Activities

    • Travel through Lindis Pass
    • Visit Mrs. Jones Orchard for fresh produce
    • Explore Highlands Museum
    • Wine tasting at Gibbston Valley's Kinross cellar door
    • Lunch at Gibbston Valley's Kinross cellar door
    • Explore Arrowtown
    Landmarks/POIs
    Lindis Pass
    Highlands Museum
    Gibbston Valley
    Arrowtown
  4. Day 4

    Queenstown

    You have the day to yourself in Queenstown and can do whatever you'd like. Consider taking a cruise aboard TSS Earnslaw, New Zealand's oldest steamship, over to Walter Peak Station if you want something peaceful. As evening comes around, grab dinner at the Bathhouse, an elegant restaurant right on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Sumptuous meal at the Bathhouse with vast, serene lakeside views)

    Included Activities

    • Dinner at the Bathhouse with lakeside views

    Optional Activities

    • Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station
    Landmarks/POIs
    Lake Wakatipu
    TSS Earnslaw
    Walter Peak Station
  5. Day 5

    Devil's Staircase - Te Anau - Fiordland - Milford Sound

    You'll journey along the scenic Devil's Staircase toward Te Anau and have lunch at a local farm. From there, head through World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park, where you'll see glaciers, mountain ranges, Mirror Lake, and the Homer Tunnel. Tonight you'll stay aboard the Milford Mariner cruise ship with specialist nature guides who'll point out waterfalls, rainforest, mountains, and wildlife like seals, penguins, and dolphins.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Delightful lunch at a local farm immersing in authentic flavors and hospitality), Dinner (Hors d'oeuvres followed by three-course buffet meal), Breakfast (Choice between continental or cooked breakfast)

    Included Activities

    • Journey along Devil's Staircase
    • Lunch at a local farm in Te Anau
    • Travel through Fiordland National Park
    • View Mirror Lake
    • Drive through Homer Tunnel
    • Night aboard Milford Mariner cruise ship
    • Specialist nature guide commentary on board
    • Viewing of waterfalls, rainforest, mountains, and wildlife

    Optional Activities

    • Explore the shoreline by kayak or tender
    Landmarks/POIs
    Devil's Staircase
    Te Anau
    Fiordland National Park
    Mirror Lake
    Homer Tunnel
    Milford Sound
  6. Day 6

    Wānaka

    You'll leave Fiordland National Park and drive to Wanaka, a town in the Southern Alps right on Lake Wanaka's shore. By evening, you'll have dinner with wine while looking out over the quiet lake.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Delightful dinner with wine set against the tranquil backdrop of Lake Wānaka)

    Included Activities

    • Dinner with wine overlooking Lake Wānaka
    Landmarks/POIs
    Lake Wānaka
    Southern Alps
  7. Day 7

    Lake Hawea - Makarora - Haast - Franz Josef

    Starting from Wanaka, you'll take a scenic drive past Lake Hawea and through Makarora, which is known as a hub for hikers in alpine scenery and temperate rainforest. Continue to Haast and try a jet boat adventure through pristine waterways. Later you'll arrive in Franz Josef and settle at Te Waonui Forest Retreat, then have dinner with wine.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Sumptuous dinner with wine enveloped by the serene ambiance of forest sanctuary)

    Included Activities

    • Drive through Lake Hawea
    • Visit Makarora settlement
    • Haast River jet boat adventure
    • Dinner with wine at Te Waonui Forest Retreat
    Landmarks/POIs
    Lake Hawea
    Makarora
    Haast
    Haast River
  8. Day 8

    Franz Josef

    Take it slow today and soak in the surroundings of Franz Josef. A local guide will walk around with you and talk about the region's glaciers, rainforests, and different landscapes. After that, head back to Te Waonui Forest Retreat to relax and enjoy the peaceful setting.

    Meals
    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Guided exploration of Franz Josef region with local guide
    • Learn about glaciers, rainforests, and landscapes
    Landmarks/POIs
    Franz Josef Glacier
  9. Day 9

    Hokitika - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch

    You'll leave Franz Josef heading toward Hokitika and take a walking tour with a local history expert who'll tell you about shipwrecks, gold miners, and pounamu hunters. Then you'll ride the scenic TranzAlpine train from Arthur's Pass back to Christchurch, with great views of the Southern Alps along the way. The day wraps up with a Celebration Dinner in Christchurch where you'll toast your journey.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Celebration Dinner in Christchurch)

    Included Activities

    • Walking tour of Hokitika with local history expert
    • Learn about shipwrecks, gold miners, and pounamu hunters
    • TranzAlpine train journey from Arthur's Pass to Christchurch
    • Celebration Dinner in Christchurch
    Landmarks/POIs
    Hokitika
    Arthur's Pass
    Southern Alps
  10. Day 10

    Christchurch

    Your trip is ending today, so you'll get a smooth transfer to Christchurch Airport. You'll have time to reflect on everything you've seen and done throughout your time exploring New Zealand.

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What's Included

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  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • 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
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Operated by

AAT Kings

Number of tours

393

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

within 2 days

Response rate

91%

Since 1912, AAT Kings as a tour operator has been helping people from all...

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Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Kathleen
    · March 3rd, 2025
    Optional activities should be scheduled in advance and not as the tour progresses. That way we can know whether or not we can get the activity. If not, it can be scheduled online. I had no access to these activities from Tour Radars website and didn’t know they existed. Luckily I scheduled on my own and got to see what I wanted. Others did not.
    Show more
  • Lorne
    · February 25th, 2025
    Excellent, guide and driver were exceptional.
    Show more
  • Rhonda
    · September 14th, 2025
    This was my first trip on a guided tour. Was feeling nervous - but it ended up being a great experience. Everything went smoothly. The communication from Tour Radar was good.They responded promptly to my queries. It was well organized. The itinerary gave an opportunity to see and have a range of experiences, The tour guide Joe from Down Under Tours (AAT) was fantastic. He really enjoyed his job and was passionate about sharing the places we visited. He was very knowledgeable too. Joe was very friendly and respectful to all of us on the tour.
    Show more

Dates & Availability

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Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

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ChildrenUnder 18

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Why book with TourRadar?

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    • Free eSim with every purchase

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Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 298217

  • 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 January 8th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after January 8th, 2026, a minimum payment of $200 is required to confirm your booking with AAT Kings. 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 65 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 AAT Kings will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "AAT Kings" 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.

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

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Feb
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Aug
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Dec

2027

Jan
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