Premium New Zealand South Island

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Carbon neutral

10 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

12 peopleMaximum group size

15 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Christchurch, New Zealand

Ends

Queenstown, New Zealand

Highlights

Embark on an Exclusive cruise in Doubtful Sound / Patea – Patea means ‘place of silence’ in Maori, and you’ll soon see why. Coast past sheer cliffs and waterfalls and learn about the local wildlife with an onboard naturalist.

Savour the flavours of the Otago region with an Exclusive chef-led food and foraging experience at a high-country deer station.

Explore Arrowtown – a heritage town that dates back to the gold rush era – and taste some of Central Otago’s best drops at a well-loved winery in Gibbston Valley.

Enjoy a ranger-guided walk around the aptly named Blue Pools that feed the Makarora River and learn about the important work of the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust to reduce predators and save some of New Zealand’s rarest species.

Take a backstage tour of the West Coast Wildlife Centre which is helping to save the critically endangered rowi and Haast tokoeka kiwi birds from extinction.

Itinerary

Set off on a ten-day premium journey through New Zealand’s South Island, starting in Christchurch and ending in Queenstown. Designed with experienced travelers and seniors in mind, this small group tour showcases the region’s awe-inspiring natural beauty, from glaciers and lakes to world-class wineries and Milford Sound’s dramatic fjords. Highlights include foraging with a local chef in Otago and meeting rare kiwis at a West Coast wildlife center. With comfortable accommodations, delicious meals, and expert guidance, the tour’s unique selling point is its immersive approach—connecting you to both the land’s grandeur and its vibrant culinary and wildlife scenes.

day 1 - Christchurch

Welcome to New Zealand! When you arrive in Christchurch, you’ll be met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, followed by a welcome dinner at a restaurant featuring produce from the Canterbury region. Enjoy a three-course dinner celebrating local producers at a restaurant that champions sustainability.

included:Christchurch - Welcome Dinner, Complimentary Arrival Transfer

accommodation:The Fable Christchurch or similar

meals:1 Dinner

day 2 - Christchurch / Greymouth / Punakaiki

Take an orientation tour with your leader around some of the landmarks of Christchurch. Then, set off for Punakaiki, driving through Arthur’s Pass and Castle Hill – the spectacular mountain scenery may look familiar, as parts of The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings movies were filmed here. After lunch in Moana, enjoy a short stop at Lake Brunner – the largest lake in the South Island. Spend the afternoon in Greymouth, stopping into a boutique studio to learn about the prized west coast jade known locally as Pounamu (Greenstone). Then, continue to Monteith's Brewery, considered the original home of New Zealand craft brewing for a tour and tasting. Arrive at Punakaiki Resort by late afternoon – in Paparoa National Park, this resort lies next to Punakaiki Beach and the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

included:Greymouth - Monteith's Brewery Tour & Tasting, Greymouth - Pounamu (Greenstone) Studio Visit, Christchurch - Leader-led Orientation Walk, Lake Brunner - Nature Walk

accommodation:Scenic Hotel Punakaiki or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 3 - Hokitika / Franz Josef

After breakfast, explore the Punakaiki Rocks and Blowholes before the drive to Franz Josef. Along the way, stretch your legs at the charming town of Hokitika and enjoy an exhilarating treetop adventure on a walk through the ancient Rimu and Kamahi tree canopy. In the afternoon, take a private ranger-guided tour of the West Coast Wildlife Centre – home of the official breeding program for the world's rarest kiwi bird, the rowi. Also keep an eye out for tuatara (a reptile endemic to New Zealand). Arrive in Franz Josef in the late afternoon, where you’ll have a free evening.

included:Hokitika - West Coast Treetops Walk, Franz Josef - West Coast Wildlife Centre Visit with Ranger, Punakaiki - Rocks & Blowhole Visit

accommodation:Rainforest Retreat Deluxe Tree Hut or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 4 - Franz Josef

Begin your day with a self-guided walk to see the icy wonderland created by the Franz Josef Glacier – one of the steepest glaciers in New Zealand. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you may like to join an optional heli-hiking tour and get even closer to the glacier. Other optional activities include kayaking, a scenic cruise on Lake Mapourika or a soak in the hot tubs at Franz Josef.

accommodation:Rainforest Retreat Deluxe Tree Hut or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 5 - Makarora / Wanaka

Depart Franz Josef for the resort town of Wanaka – the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park in the Otago region. Stop along the way at Makarora and visit the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust – an organisation that strives to protect and restore indigenous biodiversity. After lunch, take a guided flora and fauna walk with a local ornithologist and ecologist. Look out for endangered birds as you learn about how they’re working to reduce predators and save some of New Zealand’s rarest species. Arrive in Wanaka by late afternoon and settle into your home for the next two nights. Located next to the resplendent Wanaka Station Park on the shores of Lake Wanaka, and a short stroll from Wanaka township, you'll be perfectly placed to enjoy all this popular town has to offer.

included:Makaroa - Aspiring Biodiversity Trust Lunch, Makaroa - Guided Flora and Fauna Walk with Local Ornithologist

accommodation:Edgewater Hotel or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

day 6 - Wanaka

Enjoy a sleep-in this morning or start your day with a hike up Mt Iron for a view over Lake Wanaka and the surrounding peaks. Central Otago is a region well known for food and wine, and today you’ll visit the spectacular deer station of Criffel Station. Here, you’ll be shown around the farm by the family before doing a chef-guided foraging and tasting tour, followed by a delicious lunch.

included:Wanaka - Criffel Station Lunch Experience

accommodation:Edgewater Hotel or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

day 7 - Wanaka / Doubtful Sound

Say farewell to Wanaka after breakfast and begin the journey to Doubtful Sound / Patea – a lesser-known but stunning part of Fiordland National Park. Drive to Lake Manapouri where you’ll hop on a ferry for a one-hour journey across the water, followed by a scenic drive to Deep Cove via Wilmot Pass – a subalpine road surrounded by dense rainforest. Here, you'll board your vessel and meet the crew for your Doubtful Sound Cruise. This Premium Exclusive Experience includes a delicious three-course dinner featuring local produce, and a resident naturlist who’ll share insights about the fiord’s history, flora and wildlife – including dolphins, seals and penguins. With fewer boats on the water than in Milford Sound and a more peaceful atmosphere, there’s a higher chance these creatures will pop up to say hello! If weather conditions allow, you might also like to explore by kayak.

included:Doubtful Sound - Cruise

accommodation:Doubtful Sound Cruise (Feature Stay)

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

day 8 - Doubtful Sound / Queenstown

Start your day with a hearty cooked breakfast as the mist rolls over the cliffs, then get ready to explore some of the other nooks of the fiord this morning. After, return to Deep Cove to take the ferry back to Lake Manapouri and continue to Queenstown, arriving in the late afternoon. The rest of the evening is free to relax or explore this resort town, famed for its picturesque scenery and dramatic location on the edge of the Southern Alps.

included:Doubtful Sound - Cruise

accommodation:Millenium Queenstown or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 9 - Queenstown

Soak up a free morning in Queenstown and wander at your own pace. Then, head to Arrowtown in the afternoon. This historic gold mining town is known for its heritage town centre and autumn festival – and perfect to explore on foot. Learn about the town’s history on a leader-led walking tour and browse its shops and cafes. Then, head to Gibbston Valley to sample some of Central Otago’s famous drops at a well-known winery. Tonight, maybe go for a farewell dinner with your group and say cheers to an amazing adventure.

included:Gibbston Valley - Wine Tasting, Arrowtown - Walking Tour

accommodation:Millenium Queenstown or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 10 - Queenstown

Your New Zealand adventure ends this morning after breakfast. As this trip spends little time in Queenstown, it’s recommended that you spend an extra day or two if you want to experience all the town has to offer. Your booking agent will be happy to book additional accommodation for you, just get in touch ahead of time.

meals:1 Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights)

Meals

9 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 3 Dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Christchurch - Welcome DinnerComplimentary Arrival TransferGreymouth - Monteith's Brewery Tour & TastingGreymouth - Pounamu (Greenstone) Studio VisitChristchurch - Leader-led Orientation WalkLake Brunner - Nature WalkHokitika - West Coast Treetops WalkFranz Josef - West Coast Wildlife Centre Visit with RangerPunakaiki - Rocks & Blowhole VisitMakaroa - Aspiring Biodiversity Trust LunchMakaroa - Guided Flora and Fauna Walk with Local OrnithologistWanaka - Criffel Station Lunch ExperienceDoubtful Sound - CruiseGibbston Valley - Wine TastingArrowtown - Walking Tour

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a PremierThis travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.6 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 163 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6rating.

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1 week ago

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