Fall in love with the highlights of this 10 day South Island itinerary that takes you on a circuit of spectacular mountains, lakes, rivers, glaciers, waterfalls and rainforests and gives you the opportunity to enjoy all the bucket list adventures you could wish for.
Created for travellers in their mid-thirties and upwards, on this New Zealand South Island itinerary you’ll visit Christchurch, Queenstown, Lake Wanaka, Lake Tekapo (and Lake Wakatipu, Lake Mapourika, Lake Hawea, plus more lakes!), the Mackenzie Country, and Franz Josef, plus you’ll get to take one of the world’s greatest train rides! Your comfortable 3–4 star accommodation on tour includes a boutique hotels and a rainforest retreat.
We’ll travel from the wide plains of Canterbury, through the mountains and lakes of Central Otago, to the glaciers and pristine rainforest of the West Coast via the spectacular Haast Pass. By the end of this New Zealand South Island itinerary, you will have lost count of the number of times you’ve uttered the words: “Wow!”, “So beautiful!” and “It’s breathtaking!”.
You’ll have the opportunity to swim, kayak, jet boat, skydive, hike, bike, see kiwis, relax in hot pools, eat and drink like a local, and more.
But only if you want to; this is your trip, and it’s designed to be flexible. Across this 10 day South Island itinerary we include some of the things that we reckon are absolute essentials, but rather than force you into activities you’re not so sure of, we leave the choice up to you. You can pre-book activities that you definitely want to do before the trip starts, and then add more while you’re on tour.
As our tours are made up of a combination of tours, the composition of your group may change throughout your tour (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch are the hubs where the group may change).
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Christchurch, Kaikoura, Aoraki
Christchurch, Kaikoura, Aoraki, Ohau, Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef
I traveled to New Zealand during the Fall it did rain on/off and was beautiful, lush green and clear blue skies. It was nice driving in the country and layering is perfect for this time of year. I liked, meet a Farmer, Milford Sound Day (it was a very long day) but worth it, Queenstown had many restaurants to walk too but take a taxi back it is very hilly in this city. Kiwi Park was fun to do and learn about their animals. Māori Village was awesome as well as Waitomo Caves! NZ natives and service staff were very nice and always helpful in all the places we stayed.
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua
Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua
13% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Explore the narrow strip of South Island land sandwiched between the mountains and the Tasman Sea that’s home to some of the country’s most beautiful places. Millions of years of natural history are right in front of you in wild limestone rock formations, powerful glaciers, rushing rivers and surf pounded coast, while the much more recent stories of the gold and coal rush can be found in the heritage settlements and in the resolute spirit of the coasters. Take in highlights from Christchurch to Queenstown, Pancake Rocks to craft gin, kayaking to spa soaking. This is a coastal road trip to rival any other.
Active and outdoorAdventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Christchurch, Greymouth, Westpor
Christchurch, Greymouth, Westport, Karamea, Fox Glacier, Wanaka, Queenstown
18% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
An amazing and unforgettable experience exploring the breathtaking South Island with an awesome group of people. This was my first Contiki and international solo travel and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Contiki and our trip manager Brad made planning and organising the trip effortless and the locations, activities and transport were sensational. I cannot recommend this trip enough!
Active and outdoorGlaciers
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Christchurch, Wellington, Lake O
Christchurch, Wellington, Lake Ohau , Te Anau, Queenstown, Franz Josef
5% OFF TODAY
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Honestly, one of the best experiences of my life. I loved every moment of the trip. The accommodation was great, the activities were fun and exciting and pushed me out of my comfort zone and I loved all the people.
National parks
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Auckland, Christchurch, Kaikoura
Auckland, Christchurch, Kaikoura, Paihia, Wellington, Mount Ruapehu, Lake Taupo, Rotorua
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Wherever you lay your eyes in New Zealand, there’s something remarkable to look at. On this adventure from the South Island through the beauty of the North, spend 11 unforgettable days soaking up sunshine and hopping between beaches, lakes, villages and cities. A local leader will show you the best bits of this spectacular island as you jump off from Christchurch, head to seaside Kaikoura, explore trendy Wellington, marvel at the sight of Lake Taupo, learn about local culture in a Maori village, take in the geothermal wonders of Rotorua and chill out on the beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula before wrapping up in lively Auckland. Of all New Zealand’s assets, its people top the list, so embrace a warm welcome from the locals as you explore their beautiful backyard.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Accommodation on this trip is in mixed-gender multi-share dormitory style hostels with shared facilities. We are aware of a system functionality limitation incorrectly indicating "twin-share" when you manage your booking on our website.
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The trip was absolutely amazing!! We had an amazing trip Manager and bus driver! The group on the contiki was the best and I definitely made some life long friends!! The trip was pure enjoyment and I couldn't fault it.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Auckland, Christchurch, Queensto
Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington, Mount Ruapehu, Taupo, Rotorua, Franz Josef, Kaikoura
20% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Consistantly good with the accommodation and sights as well.
Good weather, good time of year.
People on the trip were friendly.
Bus driver and guide were most helpful and friendly
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Auckland, Christchurch, Queensto
Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Franz Josef, Rotorua, Wellington, Picton, Omarama, Dunedin, Te Anau
10% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
New Zealand’s South Island has a reputation as one of the most naturally beautiful places on earth, yet it still manages to defy expectations. On this 10-day round trip from Christchurch, you’ll be met with astonishing sight after astonishing sight as a local leader shows you what they love about their country. Get your heart racing in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, discover the laidback delights of postcard-perfect Wanaka, stand in awe of the Franz Josef Glacier, and cross the Southern Alps on one of the world’s most spectacular train journeys. Between glacial lakes and snow-capped peaks, you’ll soon see what all the fuss is about.
Active and outdoorBeach
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Christchurch, Ohau, Queenstown
Christchurch, Ohau, Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef
18% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
We had a wonderful time on tour with Santo our tour director and Pete our driver who both took extra care of my elderly parents who had mobility issues
The places we went to were amazing and the meals provided excellent. The accommodation is what one expects in New Zealand but every care was taken to make sure we had everything we needed
We were sad when our South Island tour ended
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queen
Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Te Anau, Dunedin, Omarama
20% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
You could spend eons exploring New Zealand’s two islands. If you only have time to do the North, this NZ holiday is for you. Discover cosmopolitan cities on an Auckland tour and Wellington tour. Revel in geothermal wonders on a steamy Rotorua tour. Drop in on Lord of the Rings movie sets. And be moved by Maori culture, whether in galleries or traditional villages. The Indigenous heartbeat is strong, wherever you venture on this epic NZ tour.
Local cultureCity sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua
Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
The legendary landscapes and natural beauty of New Zealand’s North Island are simply unbeatable, but there’s so much more to the region than its showstopping scenery. This 10-day adventure takes you from the bright lights of Auckland to creative and contemporary Wellington. Along the way, your local leader will introduce you to the beaches and forests of the Coromandel Peninsula, the geothermal wonders of Rotorua and otherworldly landscapes of Tongariro National Park. Add a hangi dinner with a Maori community and kiwi spotting and you’re in for a classic Kiwi adventure.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
From bubbling geysers to yawning gorges; gem-like glaciers to mirrored lakes; snow-tipped mountains to subtropical islands; it’s hard to believe that such a small country packs so much natural punch into its two islands. And then there are New Zealand’s cosmopolitan cities and towns, and celebration of Māori culture wherever you turn. Make no mistake – this journey from south to north is the ultimate New Zealand tour. Magic is an understatement.
Rainforest and jungle visits
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Auckland, Christchurch, Wellingt
Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua, Bay Of Islands, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Te Anau, Dunedin, Omarama, Picton
10% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
From north to south, east to west, Auckland to Christchurch, New Zealand is a country of contrasts. And that’s why we love it. One minute you’re drifting through World Heritage-listed gorges on a Milford Sound/Piopiotahi tour, then next you’re scaling ice on a Franz Josef/Waiau tour. Sometimes there’s a Maori-inspired feast on the menu; at others there’s award-winning wine. Spanning 17 days, two islands and countless things to do in New Zealand – both city and country – this trip is one for the record books.
Local cultureWaterfalls
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Te Anau, Queenstown, Franz Josef, Punakaiki, Rotorua, Wellington, Kaikoura, Twizel
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Geoff VenningTravel Expert in New Zealand
David TupperTravel Expert in Australia & New Zealand
