This tour brings you the best of Southern New Zealand…from Wellington to Queenstown to Christchurch; it’s an adventure you won’t ever want to end. Kick off this tour in the land of the Lord of the Rings, Wellington, and be sure to quad bike in the bush! In Franz Josef you’ll hike a glacier; then it’s on to Queenstown, the adventure-adrenaline ‘Capital of the World’. Go river boarding, bungee jumping, canyon swinging – the possibilities are countless (& the nightlife is not to be missed!) Cruise past stunning waterfalls in Milford Sound and take an amazing scenic flight over Mt. Cook in Lake Ohau as the trip’s finale.
| Length: | 12 days |
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| Accommodations: | Hotel, Lodge, Overnight Cruise as per itinerary
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| Meals: | Breakfast, Dinner as per itinerary
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| Sightseeing: | Southern New Zealand, including Wellington, Christchurch, Franz Joseph, Queenstown and Lake Ohau |
| Transportation: | n/a |
Depart for New ZealandFly over the international date line on your way to New Zealand.
Arrive WellingtonCheck into the Abel Tasman Hotel, spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore Wellington.
Wellington to ChristchurchBoard the Inter-Island ferry and do the north to south island hop through Marlborough Sound and Cook Strait to Picton. Then make sure your camera has film for the spectacular views along the Kaikoura Coastline. If we're lucky, we'll spot one of the many seal colonies in this area. Then, via the Canterbury Plains, we'll head towards the city of Christchurch.
Christchurch to Franz Josef GlacierWe'll cross the spectacular Southern Alps via majestic Arthur's Pass and take in the jade greenstone carving at Hokitika. Then we'll journey along the South Island's rugged coast to the awesome Westland National Park, home to Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
Franz Josef Glacier to QueenstownToday there's the chance to explore the incredible Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers with professional guides that will be on hand to show you the beauty of this natural wonder. We'll then journey through Haast Pass to Queenstown and our lodge high above Lake Wakatipu. Hold onto your hat - Queenstown beckons!
QueenstownLeisure is probably the wrong word as Queenstown is known as the 'Adventure-Adrenaline capital of the world', one of those places that you can literally do as much or as little as you like. A number of options to astound you await! Ever tried Bungy jumping, Sky diving, Jet boating, River boarding, White water rafting, Helicopter riding, Luging, Canyon Swinging, Four wheeldriving, Hiking???? Be extreme! Action by day, action by night - that's Queenstown. Yes, when you've dried off and caught your breath, it'll be time to experience Queenstown's legendary nightlife, and there's no shortage of venues for dining and socialising - why not try an optional meal at the world famous Skyline gondola complex.
Queenstown to Milford SoundNeed an adrenalin boost? We'll take you to a bridge to jump off! The bungee jumping bridge provides a hair-raising, gob-stopping adrenalin rush. It is one of the options on this tour that separates the tourists from the purists. Pure fun. Pure rush. Why don't you try it? After this we travel to Fiordland National Park, where we head through the Homer Tunnel (D'OH!) for our first view of Mitre Peak and Milford Sound. Then it's all aboard the Milford Wanderer, for an overnight cruise taking in all the beauty of the fjord. There's the chance to kayak and see whales, dolphins and penguins along with towering mountains and breathtaking waterfalls. It'll be an evening to treasure!
Milford Sound to Lake OhauIn the morning we'll breakfast on board before heading back to the mainland. We travel past Lake Te Anau and the Clutha River to Arrowtown for the chance to find gold. Then we head to the Southern Alps to our lodge at Lake Ohau which affords views over Australasia's tallest peak, Mt Cook.
Lake Ohau to ChristchurchFree time this morning to visit Lake Tekapo, then on through the Mackenzie country, home to the sheep industry. Later enjoy free time in Christchurch.
ChristchurchSay a final farewell to your new friends as your trip ends this morning after breakfast.
All these highlights along with city sightseeing are included in your tour price!