Tour 8-Day Southern Crossing Small Group Tour

Others

Whats included: Milford Sound Day Tour - including a 2 hour boat cruise on Milford Sound. Greenstone carving experience; carve your own piece of pounamu jewellery, a highly valued greenstone in New Zealand that plays an essential role in Māori culture. Christchurch Street Art tour - a journey of street art, murals and graffiti art of all sizes, explaining the history of urban art, and the city’s emergence as an urban art destination. Franz Josef Wildlife Centre visit - home to the official hatching facility for the world’s 2 rarest kiwis – the Rowi and Haast Tokoeka. Various scenic hikes (all included and optional); Devils Punchbowl, Mount Iron and Franz Josef glacier valley walk.

Guide

A passionate and experienced Kiwi Guide.

Transport

Transport in a comfortable private air-conditioned vehicle.

Meals

7 tasty breakfasts and 1 dinner (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options on request).

Accommodation

7 nights of hostel accommodation.

Not included:

Flights

As we have travellers from all over the world, flights before and after the tour are not included in the tour price and you need to arrange these separately by yourself once your tour is guaranteed. As we specialise in organising the best tours around the world for you, we are unable to advise on flight prices or book flights on your behalf. We recommend that you do not book your flights until your place on the tour has been confirmed. Check out the following link which is powered by Skyscanner to book your flight - https://flights.tourradar.com.

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (http://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Christchurch Arrival
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Christchurch Arrival

Welcome to Christchurch - the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. Your accommodation for this evening is included and will be staying at Hotel Give, located at 12 Hereford Street, Christchurch Central. You’ll be able to check into your accommodation from 2pm onwards.

This afternoon, meet your Kiwi Experience Driver Guide and the rest of your tour companions for a Christchurch Street Art tour (included), a journey of street art, murals and graffiti art of all sizes, explaining the history of urban art, and the city’s emergence as an urban art destination.

Accommodation | Hotel Give (multi-share)
Day 2 Christchurch To Franz Josef
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Christchurch To Franz Josef

Today we travel from coast to coast right over the Southern Alps passing through the Arthur’s Pass National Park, a landscape of 2 halves. Ascending the eastern side, we’ll venture through shingle-filled riverbeds and vast swaths of beech forest, over deeply gorged rivers to dense rainforest on the western side. Along this road, we will stop off at the Devil’s Punch Bowl and the breath-taking Castle Hill (included).

Accommodation | Rainforest Retreat (multi-share)
Day 3 Franz Josef (Free Day)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Franz Josef (Free Day)

Incredible Franz Josef sits in the world heritage area, the combination of alpine scenery and west coast rainforest makes for an epic setting for your free day. You can experience a Heli-Hike on the glacier (paid extra activity) or you can explore this lush corner of New Zealand (for free) on foot; hitting up the many walking trails in the area. Design and carve your own Greenstone jewelery in a West Coast workshop (included).

Accommodation | Rainforest Retreat (multi-share)
Day 4 Franz Josef To Lake Hawea
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Franz Josef To Lake Hawea

In the morning we head to Lake Matheson where you can catch the perfect mirror reflection of Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. Afterwards, we then cruise up the last stretch of Highway 6, stopping at popular scenic spots along the way, and onwards to Lake Hawea.

Accommodation | Hawea Hotel (multi-share)
Day 5 Lake Hawea To Queenstown Via Wanaka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Lake Hawea To Queenstown Via Wanaka

Today we head to Queenstown; known as the adrenaline capital of New Zealand. There is so much to see and do here for everyone, you will not be dissapointed. But before we get to Queenstown, we’ll first stop in Wanaka; a resort town set on the southern end of its namesake lake with views of snowcapped mountains. It’s the gateway to the Southern Alps’ Mount Aspiring National Park, a wilderness of glaciers, beech forests and alpine lakes.

Accommodation | Nomads Queenstown (multi-share)
Day 6 Queenstown (Free Day)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Queenstown (Free Day)

Carrying on the adrenaline-pumping theme, you have a full day to fill with activities that suit all budgets and appetites for adventure. Try your hand at activities such as white water rafting, bungy jumping, skydiving, jet-boating or canyon swinging… if you dream it, it probably exists here in Queenstown. Speak to your Driver Guide who will be able to point you in the right direction.

Accommodation | Nomads Queenstown (multi-share)
Day 7 Milford Sound Day Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Milford Sound Day Tour

Visiting Milford Sound is a must when visiting the South Island. The Milford Explorer departs Queenstown early and the first stop for breakfast, coffee or just a snack is at the picturesque town of Te Anau. Before getting to the Homer Tunnel, we make plenty of photo stops at places like Mirror Lakes and the Chasm. Once at Milford, you will go on an unforgettable scenic boat cruise through the sound exploring soaring peaks and towering waterfalls. Seeing New Zealand’s scenery and nature at its best. Then it’s back on the bus for your journey back to the adventure capital.

Accommodation | Nomads Queenstown (multi-share)
Day 8 Queenstown To Christchurch
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Queenstown To Christchurch

We drive on through the stunning Lindis Pass and into the magnificent Mackenzie Country, home to Lake Tekapo. Here we will visit the charming stone Church of the Good Shepherd (included), sat next to the breathtakingly blue waters of the lake framed with colourful lupins. Afterwards we head to Christchurch for one last hurrah before the tour ends.

8 days tour

8-Day Southern Crossing Small Group Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 8-Day Southern Crossing Small Group Tour

Christchurch Arrival

Christchurch To Franz Josef

Franz Josef (Free Day)

Franz Josef To Lake Hawea

Lake Hawea To Queenstown Via Wanaka

Queenstown (Free Day)

Milford Sound Day Tour

Queenstown To Christchurch

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania