Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll arrive in Christchurch, the South Island's innovative hub. This evening you'll meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for drinks and a briefing on what's ahead for the next couple of weeks.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Hotel Christchurch)
Optional Activities
- Explore Christchurch's innovative architecture
- Visit forward-thinking restaurants and bars
- Day 2
Christchurch to Omarama
Start with a city sights tour that takes in Christchurch's Cardboard Cathedral and gives you free time to wander the Botanic Gardens. After that, you'll head to Geraldine to pick up local cheeses at Barkers Store, then drive through the scenic Waitaki Valley before arriving in Omarama.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel)
Included Activities
- Christchurch city sights tour
- Visit Cardboard Cathedral
- Free time in Botanic Gardens
- Visit Geraldine and Barkers Store
Landmarks Cardboard Cathedral Christchurch Botanic Gardens - Day 3
Clyde to Invercargill
The day begins in charming Clyde, where you'll walk through the historic precinct and see buildings from the gold mining days that now operate as cafes and shops. Later, travel to Invercargill for a guided tour of Transport World with its collection of rare and classic vehicles. Dinner follows in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Transport World)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kelvin Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Clyde historic precinct
- Transport World guided tour and dinner MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
Landmarks Transport World - Day 4
Invercargill to Te Anau
You'll tour the Templeton Flax Mill with curator Nathan Templeton, learning about the operation firsthand. From there, continue through farmland to Riverton, then head into Fiordland National Park. By evening you'll settle into Te Anau on the shores of the South Island's largest lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Luxmore Hotel)
Included Activities
- Templeton Flax Mill guided tour and presentation MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
- Visit Riverton
Landmarks Templeton Flax Mill Fiordland National Park 
- Day 5
Te Anau to Milford Sound
Travel through Fiordland National Park's beech forests and dramatic scenery to reach Milford Sound. You'll board a sightseeing cruise where you can see towering cliffs, waterfalls cascading down mountainsides, and if you're lucky, spot Kea alpine parrots.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Luxmore Hotel)
Included Activities
- Milford Sound sightseeing cruise
Landmarks Milford Sound/Piopiotahi 
- Day 6
Te Anau to Queenstown
Experience country life at Real Country with demonstrations of how to communicate with horses and watch sheep dog mustering. Later, visit Arrowtown with its movie-set-like streets that reflect its gold rush history. You'll end up in Queenstown for a two-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Real Country farm experience with horse communication and sheep dog mustering MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
- Visit Arrowtown historic gold rush village
Landmarks Real Country Arrowtown 
- Day 7
Queenstown
You have free time in Queenstown. Included lunch at Fergburger is yours to enjoy at your pace. If you want to stay active, consider optional experiences like a jet boat ride on the Shotover River, vineyard tours, or an afternoon cruise on Lake Wakatipu out to Walter Peak High Country Farm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Fergburger)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Lunch at Fergburger
Optional Activities
- Jet boat ride on Shotover River
- Vineyard tours
- TSS Earnslaw cruise on Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm with gourmet barbecue dinner
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu - Day 8
Queenstown to Christchurch
Stop at Jones Family fruit stall to grab fresh local stone fruit. Cross the Lindis Pass between Otago and Mackenzie Basin with panoramic mountain views stretching all around. You'll see turquoise Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd, then continue through Canterbury Plains back to Christchurch for a city tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Hotel Christchurch)
Included Activities
- Jones Family fruit stall visit
- Lindis Pass alpine crossing
- Church of the Good Shepherd viewing at Lake Tekapo
- Christchurch city tour
Landmarks Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo 
- Day 9
Christchurch to Punakaiki
Board the scenic TranzAlpine train and travel through Arthur's Pass with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks and beech forests. Later, check out Greymouth with its mining history, then continue to Punakaiki to view the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes from a scenic viewpoint. You'll stay at a coastal eco resort.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Punakaiki)
Included Activities
- TranzAlpine train journey to Arthur's Pass
- Visit Greymouth
- Punakaiki Pancake Rocks viewing from scenic viewpoint
Landmarks Arthur's Pass Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Day 10
Punakaiki to Nelson
You'll travel along the Heritage Highway toward Nelson. Along the way, gaze over Buller Gorge and Kahuranui National Park with its wild rivers, high plateaus, and alpine herbfields creating a scenic backdrop for most of the drive.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Rutherford Hotel)
Included Activities
- Travel Heritage Highway
- View Buller Gorge and Kahurangi National Park
Landmarks Buller Gorge Kahurangi National Park - Day 11
Nelson
Explore Nelson, the South Island's oldest and sunniest city. You can head to nearby Tahunanui Beach or venture to Abel Tasman National Park with its golden beaches framed by sculpted granite cliffs and native forest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Rutherford Hotel)
Included Activities
- Nelson city exploration
Optional Activities
- Visit Tahunanui Beach
- Explore Abel Tasman National Park
Landmarks Tahunanui Beach Abel Tasman National Park - Day 12
Nelson to Wellington
You'll cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound and the Tory Channel as you cross Cook Strait from the South Island to the North Island. After the crossing, you'll arrive in Wellington, New Zealand's cool little capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Cook Grand Chancellor)
Included Activities
- Queen Charlotte Sound cruise
- Cook Strait crossing
Landmarks Queen Charlotte Sound Cook Strait 
- Day 13
Wellington
Start with Wellington's famous cool cafes before heading out on a city sights tour. You'll say farewell to your NZ crew. If you're interested, there's an optional visit to Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, where you can learn about Maori culture and the nation's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wellington city sights tour
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand
Landmarks Te Papa
