Luxury Escapes - New Zealand Self Drive Tours - Train Tour Packages
10 Day South Island Scenic Self Drive & Train Journey
price from
NZ$ 9347
per person (twin share)
New Zealand - South Island 
Self Drive Tour 
10 days 
Queenstown 
Christchurch 10 Day South Island Tour | Self Drive & TranzAlpine | Milford Sound, Wanaka & Franz Josef Glacier | Tours designed for travelers seeking a private, luxury experience.
This South Island scenic journey covers the region’s biggest names over 10 days, at your own pace behind the wheel. It starts in Queenstown and ends in Christchurch. Eight days of car hire fill the time in between. Two nights at The Rees Apartment Hotel kick things off, with a full-day Milford Sound cruise ex Queenstown built in.
From there, drive to Wanaka for two nights at Edgewater. A half-day cruise and guided walk to Mou Waho Island on Lake Wanaka is included. The route continues to Franz Josef for a two-day, two-night glacier-camping experience. Helicopter transfers, meals, equipment, and a guide are all included. A night in Hokitika follows, with a treetop walk and zipline nearby.
This South Island scenic journey finishes by rail rather than road. A one-way TranzAlpine journey runs from Greymouth to Christchurch in a Scenic Plus cabin. Two nights in the city follow, along with a heli-gin tasting experience over Akaroa. Want a fully guided version of a similar West Coast and Fiordland route instead? Our 8 Day Central Otago Adventure in Style tour covers nearby ground without the driving. So does our 5 Day Southern Lakes & Fiordland tour. Browse our full range of South Island Self Drive Tours to compare routes.
- Fully self-drive for 8 of the 10 days, with a guided glacier camp and a rail leg included
Tour Photo Gallery
Tour Information, Departure Dates & Price
Transportation
- Rental Car
Tour Departures
- Daily
Airport Transfers
- Not Included
Pricing
-
From NZD 9,347
Meals
- Check the meal details in the itinerary
Accommodation
- First Class Hotels
- Hotels
- Apartments
Cities/Regions Visited
-
Queenstown – Wanaka – Franz Josef – Hokitika – Greymouth – Christchurch
Group Size
- no minimum number
Tour Code
- ANZ20092026
Pre & Post Accommodation
- Available
10 Day South Island Scenic Self Drive & Train Journey Days
Arrive in Christchurch and transfer privately to Hapuku Lodge in Kaikōura for two nights in an Upper Branch Tree House, with breakfast and dinner included daily. From there, transfer to Otahuna Lodge on the edge of Christchurch for two nights in a Master Suite, with pre-dinner drinks and canapés, a 4-course degustation dinner with wine pairing, breakfast, lunch, and laundry service included.
Continue to The Lindis in Omarama for two nights in a Master Suite, set among the golden tussock lands of the Mackenzie Country, with pre-dinner drinks and canapés, a multi-course dinner, breakfast, light lunch, and minibar included. The final stage brings three nights at Rosewood Matakauri on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in a Lake View Suite, with breakfast and dinner included daily and a 2.5-hour Fiordland’s Finest helicopter trip with Heliworks Queenstown built in.
To finish, transfer privately to Queenstown Airport for a domestic flight back to Christchurch, where the tour concludes.
Inclusions & Highlights
- 8 days car hire with Ezi Car Rentals in a Ford Puma Hybrid or similar, including Ultra Insurance, pick up Queenstown, drop off Greymouth
- 2 nights at The Rees Apartment Hotel, Queenstown, in a One Bedroom Executive Lakeview Apartment
- Full Day Milford Sound Day Tour ex Queenstown with Luxe Tours
- 2 nights at Edgewater Wanaka in a Premium Hotel Room
- Half Day Mou Waho Island Cruise & Guided Walk with Lake Wanaka Cruises
- 2 day, 2 night Franz Josef Overnight Glacier Experience, including 2 nights at Te Waonui Forest Retreat, heli transfers to the glacier campsite, meals, equipment, and a guide
- 1 night at Hokitika Fire Station in a Studio Apartment
- West Coast Treetop Walk & Tower Zipline
- One-way TranzAlpine rail journey from Greymouth to Christchurch in a Scenic Plus cabin
- One-way private transfer from Christchurch Railway Station to hotel
- 2 nights at Sudima Hotel Christchurch City in a Premium King Room
- 3-hour Akaroa Craft Distillery Heli-gin Experience with Garden City Helicopters
- One-way private transfer from Christchurch hotel to Christchurch Airport
Tour Departure Dates
Daily
01 Aug 2026 – 15 Dec 2026
NZ$ 9,347 per person (twin share)
06 Jan 2027 – 31 Mar 2027
NZ$ 9,586 per person (twin share)
Accommodation
This trip mixes self-drive hotel and apartment stays in Queenstown, Wanaka, Hokitika, and Christchurch with two nights of guided glacier camping at Franz Josef, one of the more unusual overnight experiences on offer in New Zealand.
Included activities
Most Popular New Zealand Tours
