Experience the enchanting South Island of New Zealand like never before with our exclusive 12-day guided / small group tour – Kiwi. This journey takes you to iconic landmarks and unveils hidden gems off the beaten path.
Explore the majestic Aoraki/Mount Cook region and discover the breathtaking Milford Sound by land, sea, and air in our South Island Guided Tour. Enjoy a private lunch with locals at a mid-Canterbury farmhouse, savor a delightful lunch and wine tasting at a Marlborough vineyard, and relish a picnic in the stunning Abel Tasman National Park.
Get up close and personal with New Zealand’s unique native wildlife on land and water. After a day of adventure, unwind in the comfort of 4-star accommodations. Instagram photos
Privately hosted homestead lunch • Milford Sound Cruise • Milford Sound Scenic Flight • Abel Tasman cruise, picnic lunch, and guided walk • Lunch and wine tasting at a Marlborough winery • Welcome dinner at Aoraki/Mt Cook • Farewell dinner in Kaikoura
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park • Mt Aspiring National Park • Fiordland National Park • Westland Tai Poutini • Paparoa • Abel Tasman
Christchurch → Aoraki Mount Cook → Queenstown → Milford Sound → Arrowtown → Wanaka → Franz Josef Glacier → Punakaiki → Nelson → Abel Tasman National Park → Marlborough → Kaikoura → Christchurch
We meet in Christchurch and head south for a special lunch at Akaunui homestead, a 117-year-old country home where we dine on wonderful fresh produce prepared by our hosts, Di and Ian Mackenzie.
We continue through the spectacular Mackenzie Country for sweeping vistas of tussock lands, glacial lakes, and the Southern Alps. We can’t miss the Church at Lake Tekapo and the unreal turquoise blue Lake Pukaki before arrival at Aoraki/Mt Cook village. We celebrate our arrival with dinner at The Hermitage.
Your morning is free to explore Aoraki Mt Cook National Park with New Zealand’s best short walks right out the front door or take an optional flight up onto the Tasman Glacier. After lunch, we head south over the Lindis Pass and onto Queenstown.
We follow the shores of the great lakes Wakatipu and Te Anau into the mountains and waterfalls of Fiordland National Park. We cruise on Milford Sound dominated by iconic Mitre Peak and home to seal colonies and dolphins. A magnificent scenic flight back over the Southern Alps to Queenstown ends this fantastic day.
Today is yours to make the most of the infinite choice of day tours and activities Queenstown has to offer. From lakeside walks, galleries, bike tours, food & wine, and of course the famous adventure activities like jet boating and bungy jumping, there’s something for everyone!
Today is a quintessential kiwi day, where else in the world can you visit the seaside, a rainforest, and a glacier all in the same day? From Lakes Hawea and Wanaka over the Haast Pass and out to the West Coast before ending our day in Franz Josef Glacier, your camera will be working overtime today!
Your morning is free to discover Glacier Country and Westland with a walk to the Franz Josef Glacier Valley lookout or a visit to Okarito, home of the revered Kotuku – White Heron. After lunch, we head north via Hokitika to Punakaiki and Paparoa National Park.
Paparoa National Park is very different from any other area on the trip, with towering limestone cliffs and karst rock formations with beautiful river valleys draped in subtropical forest.
Travelling north up the West Coast we call into Tauranga Bay and Cape Foulwind. Turning inland, we continue through the rugged Buller Gorge to Nelson, known for its arts and crafts scene.
Abel Tasman is a highlight of the entire tour for many people. A picnic lunch is included so you can take your pick from a full scenic cruise or a cruise/walk combo to explore a section of the coastal track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, with time to relax on the beach or even jump in for a swim.
INCLUDED ACTIVITIES
Privately hosted homestead lunch
• Milford Sound Cruise
• Milford Sound Scenic Flight
• Abel Tasman cruise, picnic lunch and guided walk
• Lunch and wine tasting at a Marlborough winery
• Welcome dinner at Aoraki/Mt Cook
• Farewell dinner in Kaikoura
General 12 Day South Island Guided Tour Inclusions
• All transport by comfortable, air conditioned coach
• Small group tour, maximum 18 guests
• Services of your knowledgeable Kiwi guide
• Quality accommodation chosen for a “sense of place”
THREE MULTI-NIGHT STAYS
Queenstown (3 nights) • Punakaiki (2 nights) • Nelson (2 nights)