'Sweet As' South (Start Wellington)
Overview
Highlights
- Spectacular drive along the Kaikoura Coast & visit to a seal colony
- Drive through New Zealand's largest wine growing region
- Cruise the scenic Marlborough & Queen Charlotte Sounds
- Drive through Haast Pass & see Thunder Creek Falls
- Get cerebral with a visit to Wanaka's Puzzling World!
- Explore tiny Arrowtown
- Set your pulse racing with a hair-raising ride on the Shotover Jet
- Entry to one of Queenstown's hottest nightspots
- Stop at AJ Hackett's Kawarau Bridge
- Stop in Alexandra in Central Otago
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Trip includes
- Experienced & Professional Trip Manager & Driver team
- Sightseeing tours of all major cities
- 12 meals:9 breakfasts and 3 dinners
- Accommodation: 9 nights multi-share accommodation: 6 nights in hotels, 3 nights in lodges
- Modern, air-conditioned coach with powerpoints for charging
- Hotel tips, local taxes & service charges
Popular Trips
Itinerary
Kia ora! Meet up with your Contiki crew & travel buddies & set sail on the Inter-Island ferry for good times in New Zealand's stunning South Island. The South Island means a complete change of scenery with loads of wild nature. Cruise through the gorgeous Marl...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After a leisurely start to the day we begin our journey west through stunning Arthur’s Pass, following an old trade route. The dense native forest, alpine atmosphere and crystal clear rivers give the area its pioneer feel. We’ll stop...
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, get physical and pull on your crampons, grab an ice-pick and head out onto the ice of either the Franz Josef or Fox Glacier. On this optional activity, you’ll learn about how these glaciers came about with our professional Local G...
Meals: Breakfast
Relax on the coach, chat with friends and take in the stunning scenery of the Haast Pass & Thunder Creek Falls as we head down to Queenstown.
Cruise past remote beaches and the coastal dunes of the west coast before hitting Haast Pas...
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, you’ll take a ride on ‘The world’s most exciting jetboat’ the iconic Shotover Jet! Hold on tight - speeding down the Shotover River on a jetboat amongst the fierce canyon walls (so close you could probably touch them) is a thrilli...
Meals: Breakfast
It’s time to jump on the coach as we head to New Zealand’s student hub, Dunedin. This really is the city that looks old, but definitely thinks young! Originally a Scottish settlement, you’ll see references to the city’s past dotted throughout t...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Before we farewell Dunedin we’ll head to the base of Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest street, for a look at the sheer angle.
It’s time to hit the road, via Moeraki for a look at these massive boulders located right on the ...
Meals: Breakfast
Kick start the day with a spectacular optional glacier flight over Mt Cook. Later, we’ll stop off to see the intense milky blue waters of glacially-fed Lake Tekapo, before travelling back through the MacKenzie country to Christchurch.
Make your last night on tour one to remember and enjoy a fun night out with your friends!
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check current availability, prices, specials & more.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Contiki Reviews & Ratings
Other Contiki Reviews
Trusted Customer
Dec 2024
Scotland In a Week
So much fun! However this is a modular trip and as I only did the Scotland component I felt like I didn’t have enough time to make strong connections and also felt f...
Trusted Customer
Dec 2024
Anonymous
Was super easy and the team was very understanding
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Tour Operator
We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.
No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world. We have a number of options to choose from to create a vacation that’s perfect for you, from budget to accommodation style.
We're all about exploring the world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds, to celebrate being young, spirited and curious. You can expect to join a group of 18-53 awesome people from around the world on our Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand trips, and in Asia and Latin America it's all about small group adventures with up to 25 travellers. Don't worry if you're not traveling as a couple or with a friend from home – though there are plenty of pairs, 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you'll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.
With over 270 trips around the world and plenty of departure dates to work into your schedule, you'll never be short of options on where to go for your next great adventure.
About the company:
Contiki are the world leaders in social youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?
Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our core values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re about people’. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘Travel.Together.’ which means to travel with one another, the destinations we visit, the cultures we enjoy and the environment, too.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International Flights
- Passport and Visa Charges
- Personal Expenses
Accommodation
In New Zealand we’re all about comfort and location, because at the end of a long day of adventures no one wants to have to travel miles to rest their head, and comfort is well and truly king. in New Zealand varies depending on the destination, but one thing is for sure – our mix of hotels, resorts & lodges will help you recharge for the next day, every day.
If you think you have to backpack around New Zealand staying in hostels, think again. Get amongst the bustle of cosmopolitan Auckland by staying in our stylish downtown hotel. Enjoy eating breakfast looking out of the crystal clear waters of Lake Wakitipu in Queenstown, or relax in the evening by playing pool at a beautiful rainforest lodge in Franz Josef. With single, quad-share & twin-share options available, you can choose a rooming option to suit your budget, without having to sacrifice on comfort. It’s win-win.
Hotel and Lodge
- Mercure Hotel, Auckland
- Rainforest Lodge, Franz Josef
- Tanoa Aspen Hotel, Queenstown
- Mercure Hotel, Auckland
- Sudima Hotel, Rotorua
If Period Of Notice is Over 45 days, then Cancellation Fees is 25% of tour cost forfeited
If Period Of Notice is 45 – 22 days, then Cancellation Fees is 30% of tour cost forfeited
If Period Of Notice is 21 – 8 days, then Cancellation Fees is 30% of tour cost forfeited
If Period Of Notice is 7 – 1 days, then Cancellation Fees is 75% of tour cost forfeited
If Period Of Notice is at the Day of Departure, then Cancellation Fees is 100% of tour cost forfeited
9 Breakfasts and 3 Dinners
ME Time optionals will take your trip to a whole new level with unforgettable experiences unique to the places you visit. See more, do more, live more & go home completely regret-free. Costs for these aren’t included in your tour cost & are payable to your Trip Manager in local currency.Helihike - NZ$409
- Valley Walk - NZ$75
- Franz Josef Glacier Heli - NZ$195
- Franz Josef / Fox Glacier Heli - NZ$280
- Mt. Cook / Franz / Fox Heli - Grand Tour - NZ$390
- Mt. Cook (western face) / Fox and Franz Heli - NZ$340
- Ice Explorer - NZ$305
- Across Country Quad Bikes - Riders NZ$159 / Passengers NZ$69
- Glacier Country Kayaks - NZ$115
- NZone Skydiving - 9,000 ft. NZ$299/ 12,000 ft. NZ$339/ 15,000 ft. NZ$439
- Milford Sound - NZ$159
- AJ Hackett Bungy - Thrillogy - NZ$399
- AJ Hackett Bungy - Nevis - NZ$275
- AJ Hackett Bungy - The Ledge - NZ$195
- AJ Hackett Skyswing - Nevis Arc - NZ$195
- AJ Hackett Skyswing - The Ledge - NZ$160
- Kawarau or Shotover Rafting - NZ$199
- Heliraft - NZ$289
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- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
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