Highlights
- Stand in awe of the epic Franz Josef glacier and visit a local gallery to learn about the significance of pounamu (greenstone) to Maori culture while carving your own pendant.
- Calling all adventure seekers! Queenstown is overflowing with adrenaline-pumping activities, so dive straight in or sit back with a glass of world-class local wine.
- Spend a night seeing the stars of Lake Tekapo – this gorgeous bright blue lake is also a designated Dark Sky Reserve and after sunset, the sky comes alive with stars. Maybe watch the sky change colours at the Church of Good Shepard for one of the most gorgeous backdrops!
- Soak in the beauty of Wanaka – from its centrepiece lake to surrounding mountains, you’ll uncover all this pretty little spot has to offer, including the iconic Wanaka Tree.
- Wander around Arrowtown – a heritage town and living historic settlement that’s perfect for exploring on foot. This town, surrounded by sometimes-snowy peaks, dates back to gold mining times and is now a popular spot with cute cafes, small shops and scenic landscapes.
What's this trip about?
This is the New Zealand you’ve always heard about – endless lakes, snow-capped mountains and pristine glaciers. Spend nine days discovering the best of the South Island with a passionate local leader at the helm. Encounter creativity and resilience in Christchurch, gaze at out-of-this-world stars in Lake Tekapo, get your adrenaline pumping in Queenstown, take your time in postcard-pretty Wanaka and stand in awe of the Franz Josef Glacier. With thrilling activities available around every corner, this adventure is sure to get your heart racing (and that’s just from the views!).
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
Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range65+, 50 - 64, 36 - 49, 18 - 35, 12 - 17, 6 - 11
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityChristchurch
End CityChristchurch
Travel Themes
Trip includes
- Lake Tekapo - Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Christchurch - City Tour
- Queenstown - Kawarau Gorge
- Arrowtown - Village visit
- West Coast - Haast Pass
- West Coast - Lake Hawea Lookout
- Franz Josef - Carve your own Pounamu Necklace
- Hokitika - Mountain Jade Greenstone Factory
