8 Day - South Island Tour (all Inclusive)

Itinerary

Day 1: Christchurch to Kaikoura

Stop At: The Church of the Good Shepherd, Pioneer Drive, Lake Tekapo 7999 New Zealand
The most photographed church in NZ, sitting on the picturesque shores of the stunning lake Tekapo. You will soon see why this church is a photographers dream.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Mount John University Observatory, 422 Godley Peaks Road, Lake Tekapo 7999 New Zealand
Hike to the top of Mt John to get stunning 360 degree views of the lake below and the towering southern alps. This hike will not disappoint.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, Lake Tekapo 7945 New Zealand
Enter the world of the "Dark sky project," where your guide will take you on a journey into the universe and a chance to learn more about our stars and moons
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lakefront Lodge Tekapo or similar

Day 2: Lake Tekapo to Wanaka via Mount Cook

Stop At: Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu), Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu), Mackenzie District, Canterbury Region, South Island
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is a rugged land of ice and rock, with 19 peaks over 3,000 metres including New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: YHA Wanaka or similar

Day 3: Wanaka to Queenstown

Stop At: Roys Peak Track, Wanaka-Mount Apsiring Road Mount Aspiring National Park, Wanaka New Zealand
Take in breathtaking views over Lake Wānaka, Mount Aspiring/Tititea and surrounding peaks after a steep climb through alpine meadows and tussock grasslands to the summit.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: That Wanaka Tree, 3 Tapley Paddock, Wanaka 9305 New Zealand
From humble beginnings over 70 years ago as a wooden fence post charged with keeping stock from wandering, the Wanaka Willow has become the beautiful tree we see today with photographers flocking from around the world.'
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Mount Iron Track, State Highway 84, Wanaka New Zealand
Mount Iron is an impressive, glacier carved, rocky knoll that rises nearly 250 m above the surrounding countryside. As a result, from the summit there are excellent 360-degree views of the The Pisa range, the Upper Clutha Basin, Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Nomads Queenstown or similar

Day 4: Queenstown free day

Stop At: AJ Hackett Kawarau Bungy Centre, Gibbston Valley, Queenstown 9384, New Zealand
Ever since 1988, Aj Hackett has been in the business of fueling people with courage and adrenaline. Take an opportunity to Bungy/swing or catapult at one of the three sites located in Queenstown.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Shotover Jet Queenstown, 3 Arthurs Point Road, Otago 9371, New Zealand
Adventurous boat ride through the Shotover River Canyons, at 85km/hour, with spins & spraying water.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Nomads Queenstown or similar

Day 5: Queenstown free day

Stop At: Glenorchy, Glenorchy, Otago Region, South Island
Road trip out the head of lake Wakatipu in the small town of Glenorchy. Here you take some walks and soak up the picturesque scenes before making your way back to Queenstown
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Nomads Queenstown or similar

Day 6: Queenstown to Franz Josef

Stop At: Thunder Creek Falls, Haast Pass-Makarora Rd Haast River, Wanaka 9382 New Zealand
An extremely tall and easy accessible 96 metre waterfall, Thunder Creek Falls is located in Mt Aspiring National Park along the Haast highway.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Lake Matheson Walk, Lake Matheson Road, Fox Glacier, Westland National Park (Te Wahipounamu) New Zealand
Lake Matheson is a small lake in South Westland, New Zealand, near the township of Fox Glacier. It is famous for its reflected views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, and is a traditional mahinga kai for Māori people, the lake contains as well as being home to many water birds
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Rainforest Retreat or similar

Day 7: Franz Josef free day

Stop At: Franz Josef Glacier, Glacier Access Road Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Franz Josef, Westland National Park (Te Wahipounamu) New Zealand
After an exciting brief flight over rugged terrain, you will land on Franz Josef Glacier ready for a three hour guided hike. Your guide, with an eye for the most spectacular ice formations, will lead you through some of the most awe-inspiring glacier scenery Aotearoa (New Zealand) has to offer.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Skydive Franz, Rainforest Retreat Reception 46 Cron Street, Franz Josef Glacier 7886, New Zealand
Skydive Franz & Fox has New Zealand’s highest mountain Aoraki/Mount Cook and the biggest glaciers Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers immediately on the right and the wide blue ocean on the left. Skydive amongst mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers and ocean views
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Rainforest Retreat or similar

Day 8: Franz Josef to Christchurch

Stop At: Lake Mahinapua, Hokitika New Zealand
Get your hands on some unique NZ pounamu (greenstone) and have a go at carving your very own treasure to take home with you to remember your epic adventure in NZ
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Arthur's Pass National Park Visitor Centre, State Highway 73, Arthur's Pass National Park 7654 New Zealand
Arthur’s Pass National Park is in the heart of the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. Its high mountains with large scree slopes, steep gorges and wide braided rivers straddle the main divide, and are the ‘back bone’ of the South Island. This drive will blow your mind
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.