Highlights
Hokitika: The South Island is home to Pounamu (greenstone) – so special the island’s even named Te Wai Pounamu, the greenstone waters. In Hokitika, we’ll meet a local Māori guide from the region, who’ll share the history, sacred sites and cultural significance of this treasured stone. Then it’s off to see if we can spot some Pounamu. All of this, while supporting the local trust that keeps the river healthy.
Wānaka: A lake town with views for days, surrounded by beech forests, alpine lakes, and wilderness glaciers.
Milford Sound: Cruise along the glassy waters and get the kind of view people write poems about. You'll soon see why it's a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Te Anau: Today we’ll visit a local farm in Te Anau to support the Fairlight Foundation, which works to advance women in Agriculture. We’ll learn all about farming, as well as the Fairlight Foundation and the work that they do.
Arrowtown: A historic gold mining town, Arrowtown is known as one of the cutest towns in New Zealand, so see for yourself on a walking tour that covers all the best things to see in Arrowtown.
Lake Tekapo: See the church on the shores of Lake Tekapo with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks - and get that iconic Insta pic too!
Lake Tekapo: We'll stop at Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and Geraldine... and watch happily on as NZ's astonishing natural beauty takes your breath away.
Lake Tekapo: See the church on the shores of Lake Tekapo with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks - and get that iconic Insta pic too!
Lake Tekapo: We'll stop at Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and Geraldine... and watch happily on as NZ's astonishing natural beauty takes your breath away.
Itinerary
Picture yourself soaring above the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Cook, then diving into Queenstown’s legendary adrenaline scene—this is just the start of the "New Zealand: Sweet As South" tour package. Designed for adventurous young adults, this 9-day group trip through New Zealand’s South Island combines outdoor thrills with stunning natural landscapes. Beginning and ending in Christchurch, you’ll journey through highlights like Franz Josef and Wellington, with all accommodation, transport, and meals included.
Kick off with a breathtaking scenic flight over Mt. Cook, capturing panoramic views that set the tone for what’s to come. Queenstown awaits as your playground: try bungy jumping or opt for a serene cruise through the majestic Milford Sound. In Franz Josef, an unforgettable glacier hike lets you tread across ancient ice, creating memories few travelers ever experience. The trip culminates back in Christchurch, giving you a taste of urban Kiwi culture to round out your adventure.
What makes this tour stand out? It’s the seamless blend of heart-pounding activities, awe-inspiring landscapes, and easy camaraderie of traveling in a group—all curated for those hungry for adventure. If you crave a trip that delivers both iconic sights and off-the-beaten-path excitement in New Zealand’s spectacular South, this is your ticket to the ultimate Kiwi experience.
day 1Christchurch to Franz Josef via Arthur's Pass and Hokitika
Christchurch (tautahi) what's up? New Zealand's South Island is the home to adventure, adrenaline and good times and we're here to take it all on. Take in the beautiful scenery as we wind our way across the highest and most spectacular mountain pass across the Southern Alps. In the gold rush town of Hokitika, we'll meet with a local Mori guide wholl teach us all about pounamu on a unique tour. Well learn about the history of the illustrious green stones (which the South Island is named after) and its connection with the Mori people. Back on the coach, we're coastline bound to one of the islands most jaw-droppingly beautiful spots (and thats saying something). We'll pull up for the night in glorious Franz Josef (K Roimata o Hine Hukatere), probably one of the most beautiful places you'll ever of clapped eyes on. A bold statement we know, but well deserved.
day 2Franz Josef
day 3Franz Josef to Queenstown via Haast and Wnaka
day 4Queenstown
day 5Queenstown
day 6Queenstown
day 7Queenstown to Te Anau via Milford Sound
day 8Te Anau to Lake hau via Kingston and Arrowtown
day 9Lake hau to Christchurch via Lake Tekapo
What's Included
Customer Reviews
It was a nice balance of travel and exploration, having a couple of days in Franz Josef Glacier and Queenstown was fabulous while also exploring lots of Te Waipounamu. Our guide was really passionate about Aotearoa New Zealand and shared her love beautifully. She also managed all our free time add-on activities so smoothly. The coach was comfortable, clean, and expertly driven on some wild roads! The accommodation was clean and well located, though a kettle would have been nice in Queenstown lol.
Highly recommend booking this trip if you want to explore New Zealand. Our trip manager was so informative about the places we were driving through/staying as well as the Māori myths, legends and history. I’d recommend visiting in winter especially between July and early September as there’s more chance of snow in Queenstown and the other towns. The accomodation was good, mostly four per room then in Queenstown it’s a room of 8 pods that were super fun. Super easy to eat a lot and eat healthy with the included breakfasts and dinners. I can honestly say I was never hungry. Queenstown you get food vouchers for fergs for breakfast and they have so much to choose from! There’s lots of free time add-ons to do and lots of adrenaline ones if that’s your thing. I enjoyed the kayaking and quad biking in Franz Josef and the e-bike tour in Queenstown is a must if you want to explore the lake. Fair warning it is about 3-4 hours of biking and you go up and down hills but the scenery is stunning. I would’ve liked another day in Lake Ōhau as there was fog there the whole 24 hours we were there so we didn’t see the lake or mount cook but the three course dinner was 10/10 and it was such a cute place with the fireplaces. We also had to take a detour to Christchurch as the roads were closed from ice and it was sad not going through Twizel and Geraldine. If you’re thinking about doing this trip, it’s a nice one to start with and the views are extraordinary!
The trip was amazing! Our trip manager and driver did such an amazing job at making sure everything ran smoothly and that everyone got a chance to do everything they wanted!
It was the best experience I have ever had and I would recommend it to everyone !
Awesome adrenaline pumping adventure! Amazing trip manager who went above and beyond to make sure everything flowed smoothly. My downsides: (1) the included dinners were not good and (2) the Ferg vouchers for the “included breakfasts” had limited options/could not give change. I’d rather not pay for the 4 Queenstown “included breakfasts” and do my own thing. Overall 4.5 out of 5!
Monthly Price Comparison
Good to Know
Do you need help from our trip consultants?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Our travel experts are ready to help.
Why Book with Bookmundi
No credit card or booking fees.
Best price guaranteed.
Carbon neutral tours.
25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
What are customers saying about Bookmundi
