Southern Spectacular Tour with 12 Reviews by Trafalgar

10 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

48 peopleMaximum group size

5 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

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

Starts

Christchurch, New Zealand

Ends

Christchurch, New Zealand

Highlights

Be My Guest Afternoon tea with Pavlova Queen Angie at Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo: Join your hosts, former farmers Angie and Stan Taylor, for a Pavlova afternoon tea in their home on the shores of Lake Tekapo.

Walter Peak: Get up close to sheep and working dogs with a farm show at Walter Peak on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in the New Zealand high country.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Pure Wilderness at Lake Manapouri

Fiordland National Park: Enjoy an exhilarating jet boat ride on Lake Manapouri, home to Pomona Island, where you'll help conserve a sanctuary for native plants and animals

Explore Pure Wilderness at Lake Manapouri

Discover Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown

Visit Franz Josef/Waiau, historic Arrowtown, and Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki

View Franz Josef Glacier, Southern Alps, and Mt. Cook

Scenic Cruise on Milford Sound, and Lake Wakatipu

Scenic Train Ride on the TranzAlpine

Stays With Stories Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

Punakaiki: Situated on idyllic Punakaiki Beach, the environmentally friendly retreat offers views of the ocean and rainforest. Designed in harmony with the environment, your stay gives you a unique insight into local ecology and nature.

Explore Pure Wilderness at Lake Manapouri

Discover Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown

Visit Franz Josef/Waiau, historic Arrowtown, and Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki

View Franz Josef Glacier, Southern Alps, and Mt. Cook

Scenic Cruise on Milford Sound, and Lake Wakatipu

Scenic Train Ride on the TranzAlpine

Stays With Stories Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

Itinerary

South Island’s breathtaking landscapes come alive on the 'Southern Spectacular' trip—a 10-day city sightseeing tour starting and ending in Christchurch. Glide across Milford Sound, journey through Franz Josef and Queenstown, and experience the wild West Coast. Perfect for those who prefer an easy pace with maximum scenery, the tour package includes accommodation, meals, and transport. The highlight here is the inclusion of the legendary TranzAlpine train, offering a spectacular view of New Zealand’s natural wonders. For travelers drawn to dramatic vistas and vibrant cities, this trip captures the very essence of the South Island.

day 1 - Welcome to Christchurch

Welcome to Christchurch! (Flights to arrive prior to 4pm). Kick off your New Zealand South Island tour in this city that is rebuilding itself after the devastating 2011 earthquake. There's plenty to see and your hotel near Cathedral Square in the heart of the city is the perfect jumping off point. Meet your Travel Director and travel mates for drinks before a free evening to get to know Christchurch as you like, perhaps exploring the Avon River, Botanic Gardens, Christchurch Casino, and Cashel Mall.

Location Visited:Christchurch

Accommodation:Distinction

day 2 - Through Scenic Wonderland to Twizel

Begin your day with a sightseeing tour of Christchurch featuring the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Earthquake Memorial, Bridge of Remembrance, and streets lined with bars, cafes, and riverside markets. Then go from city to country as you make your way to the quaint farming town of Geraldine. Grab a tasty sample at the famous Talbots Forest Cheese, sit down for lunch, and pop into the cute shops before journeying through the Canterbury Plains to the shores of Lake Tekapo. Afterwards, make a scenic stop at the little stone-hewn Church of the Good Shepherd. Next up, you're in for a treat as you pull into the lakeside home of Angie and Stan Taylor for a Be My Guest experience over afternoon tea. Enjoy the Taylors' insights from a lifetime of farming as well as a bit of real New Zealand hospitality as Angie invites you into her kitchen. You'll get to watch and learn as she prepares the New Zealand specialty dessert, Pavlova before having a taste for yourself. After this sweet visit, you'll arrive in Twizel for the evening. Soak up the vibe of this cute town and popular holiday destination dining on classic New Zealand fare.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Location Visited:Christchurch, Twizel

Accommodation:Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel

day 3 - Dunedin, City of Scottish Heritage

A day of epic natural landscapes and cute colonial towns await you on your journey to Scottish inspired Dunedin, travelling along the Waitaki River en route to the quirky town of Oamaru. You'll feel like you're stepping back into the Victorian era as you stroll the tree-lined streets past white limestone buildings and 19th century architecture. Take a tea break and browse the shops and galleries of traditional crafts before continuing your journey to the city of Dunedin, built as a 'mini Edinburgh' and vibrant university town. You have the rest of the day free to explore more of Dunedin town, or select from some tempting Optional Experiences. You could visit the famous Speight's Brewery, or tour Larnach Castle, New Zealand's only castle. Later tonight swap stories with the group over dinner in the heart of the city where you'll be spoilt for choice of fresh seafood or a specialty from the butcher's block.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Location Visited:Twizel, Dunedin

Accommodation:Scenic Southern Cross

day 4 - Te Anau, Gateway to Fiordland

Enjoy plenty of stunning scenery as you make your way through farmlands to Te Anau. Travel through sheep farms into forested, rugged mountains into the Fiordland National Park and the South Island's largest lake to Te Anau. A truly memorable thrill awaits you next, exploring the islands on a jet boat ride down the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri savouring its many tranquil spots. Take in the birds and swimming trout as you learn about this unique environment's history. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience is not only scenic but supports the Pomona Island Charitable Trust's conservation efforts to restore the largest inland island in New Zealand to its natural state where native birds can thrive. If you're still keen to see more, you could learn more about the area on an Optional Experience to the fascinating, glittering glowworm caves before ending a delightful day with dinner at your hotel.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Location Visited:Dunedin, Te Anau

Accommodation:Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas

day 5 - Milford Sound Contrasts With Queenstown

Begin your day travelling through Fiordland National Park past native rainforests, beech forests, alluvial flats, and meadows. Passing Mirror Lakes, catch the reflection of the surrounding mountains shimmering in the water. Wind your way through the Homer Tunnel, where the sheer rocky ranges have been cut through, to the Cleddau Valley. Then get right in the middle of the stunning scenery cruising the tranquil waters of the Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. Watch Bowen and Stirling Falls cascade from hanging valleys into the sea and the sheer pinnacle of Mitre Peak rising from the deep waters of the fiord. With photo ops at every turn and maybe a fur seal or two popping up, it's a gorgeous afternoon on Milford Sound and a must-do experience on your New Zealand South Island tour. On arrival, excitement is sure to be at an all-time high as we arrive in the adventure capital of Queenstown at your picturesque hotel on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.

Meals:Breakfast

Location Visited:Te Anau, Queenstown

Accommodation:Millennium

day 6 - Queenstown, It's All Yours

Explore Queenstown that you've been dreaming of today with plenty of adventure-filled Optional Experiences to choose from. Join a tour to Skippers Canyon, or go for maximum adventure riding the adrenaline pumping Skippers Jet. This evening it's time to relax and Dive Into Culture on a cruise aboard New Zealand's oldest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. You'll be warmly greeted at the Colonel's Homestead by a gourmet barbecue dinner piled high with ribs and fresh vegetables. Sit back and be entertained by an after-dinner farm show, that will give you a glimpse into high country farm life. After a fun-filled evening at the homestead, board the Earnslaw and head back to Queenstown, maybe taking a spin on their polished wooden dance floor.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Location Visited:Queenstown

Accommodation:Millennium

day 7 - Spectacular Franz Josef

It's a day of epic scenery into untamed wilderness as you head through Central Otago to the West Coast. Your first stop is the restored gold mining settlement of Arrowtown. As you walk down its tree-lined avenues and have a look at the 19th-century wooden buildings, you'll feel as if you're in a movie set of the Old West. You'll then travel to Cromwell on the shores of Lake Dunstan for a visit to the Jones Family fruit stall. Take a break sampling of some of the town's juicy stone fruit including apricots, nectarines and peaches before journeying further into Central Otago where the vivid blue waters and willow-lined shoreline of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka call. Take to an ancient greenstone trail, cross Haast Pass, and bid farewell to the alpine scenery of the Southern Lakes as you meet the rainforests of the West Coast for the first time. Stunning scenes await as you approach your destination of the famous Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Perhaps join an optional helicopter flight for unforgettable views of take in its majesty from the ground.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Location Visited:Queenstown, Franz Josef

Accommodation:Scenic Franz Josef Glacier

day 8 - Punakaiki, Coastal Forest

Awaken to a day filled with natural and man-made beauty. You have time to explore Franz Josef/Waiau, perhaps visiting the West Coast Wildlife Centre to see kiwi birds, before traveling to Hokitika for a lunch break. Then soak in the natural surroundings as you head to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. Standing at the water's edge, you'll be amazed at how these eroded limestone foundations that began forming 30 million years ago really do look like a stack of pancakes! As you marvel at nature's creation, listen closely for a 'whoosh' of water - that's a burst of sea spray coming through the blowholes. Take in the sights, sounds, and sea air before making your way to the eco-friendly, Stays With Stories waterfront Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, where you'll dine on local specialities and wine as the surf rolls and churns just outside your window.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Location Visited:Franz Josef, Punakaiki

Accommodation:Scenic Punakaiki

day 9 - Christchurch, City of Contrasts

It's your last full day in New Zealand and it's a big one full of local tastes and sights. Travel to Greymouth's Pounamu Pathway, for history and culture celebrating local Mori. Enjoy a pub-style lunch at local institution Monteith's Brewery, proud to operate in Greymouth since 1868 and perhaps try one of their summer ales or a crushed pear cider. Now that you've wet your whistle, board the famous TranzAlpine train to Christchurch on one of the world's most scenic train trips through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges, and river valleys. This 223 kilometres journey across the South Island along the Waimakariri River and across the Southern Alps is a grand finale to the landscapes you've come to love. Celebrate the highlights of your trip joining your Travel Director and new friends for dinner showcasing food from the Canterbury region.

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Location Visited:Punakaiki, Christchurch

Accommodation:Distinction

day 10 - Farewell Christchurch

It's been a beautiful time but sadly all good things must come to an end. Your New Zealand South Island tour concludes this morning after breakfast with a fond farewell before your transfer to the Christchurch Airport (flights anytime).

Meals:Breakfast

Location Visited:Christchurch

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What's Included

Accommodation

Cherrypicked hotels, all tried and trustedPorterage where hotels provide this service

Meals

Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Transport

All land transport shown. All transfers shownLuxury airconditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Guide

An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

Others

Mustsee sightseeingOptional Experiences and free time

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

Read what other travelers have to say about Southern Spectacular

4.8

based on 12 reviews

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Sistema di prenotazione semplice e intuibile. In caso di necessità le istruzioni presenti sul sito sono risultate utili e chiare. Nessun problema riscontrato

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