New Zealand: Sweet As South (Eastbound)

9 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Group Tour
Experience the best of South! From Lake Ōhau to Queenstown to Christchurch - it's an adventure you won't want to end. Start off on a scenic flight over Mt. Cook then get ready to hit Queenstown, the adventure Capital of the World. Try bungy, or you can opt to take a stunning Milford Sound cruise. In Franz Josef you'll hike a glacier before your tour ends in C...
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$2,214
From$1,683
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

What's this trip about?

    Experience the best of South! From Lake Ōhau to Queenstown to Christchurch - it's an adventure you won't want to end. Start off on a scenic flight over Mt. Cook then get ready to hit Queenstown, the adventure Capital of the World. Try bungy, or you can opt to take a stunning Milford Sound cruise. In Franz Josef you'll hike a glacier before your tour ends in Christchurch.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeGroup - max of 40 people
Age range18 to 35 years
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityChristchurch (Nz)
End CityChristchurch (Nz)

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 40

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Ōhau via Lake Tekapo

Welcome to Christchurch (Ōtautahi)! New Zealand's South Island is the home to adventure, adrenaline and good times and we're here to take it all on. We'll stop off to see the intense milky blue waters of glacially-fed Lake Tekapo (Takapō). Here we'll also get to enj...

Day 2: Lake Ōhau to Te Anau via Arrowtown and Kingston

Another day, another natural wonder to discover. We make a quick stop for lunch in the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown (Kā Muriwai) before heading on.Our next stop today is Kingston for an authentic and important NZ farm experience. Where a charity helps local ...

Day 3: Te Anau to Queenstown via Milford Sound

It's time to make tracks to the spectacular natural wonder of Milford Sound. Welcome to New Zealand's most stunning attraction, with a magical combination of mountain peaks, forest-clad cliffs and deep dark waters. We take an included cruise of the fiord and experi...

Day 4: Queenstown

Today is yours to get acquainted with Queenstown and spend some time mulling over the activities up for grabs in the next two days. First stop is the legendary Kawarau Bungy Bridge, get your morning adrenaline hit with a heart pounding jump at the world home of the bu...

Day 5: Queenstown

It's times like this that you really start to work out what sort of traveller you are. And human for that matter. You might be the one trailing through wine country and exploring wine cellars and caves, or you may be that one that crams in a bungy jump and ziplining & still craves more. It's your holiday - run wild as you see fit.

Lylo (or similar)

Breakfast

Day 6: Queenstown

With our last day in adrenalin city edging closer, this is the time to push yourself to the limits and jump over any mental barriers you've put up around yourself. Embrace the spirit of adventure and conquer those niggling fears once and for all. For those who did the...

Day 7: Queenstown to Franz Josef via Wānaka and Haast

Time to return our adrenalin levels to normal and make tracks to the wild (and often wet) West Coast and it's towering glaciers. Enjoying our scenic drive we'll stop for lunch in Wānaka, a pretty ski resort town situated on a lake front and dwarfed by mountains. Thi...

Day 8: Franz Josef

This morning will be another big ol' tick off the list as we take to the ice of Franz Josef Glacier. We've got a heli ride over the glacier up for grabs, or the opportunity to carve your own Pounamu (jade) pendant, under the tuition of a Māori mastercraftsman. Pounamu...

Day 9: Franz Josef to Christchurch via Hokitika and Arthur's Pass

Armed with a new found appreciation for frozen water, we hop back on the coach & start making our way back to Christchurch. In the gold rush town of Hokitika, we'll meet with a local Māori guide who’ll teach us all about pounamu on a unique tour. We’ll learn abo...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,683
Price per day$187
Last Updated: 1/23/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
02 Feb 2025
10 Feb 2025
$1,845
10 Feb 2025
18 Feb 2025
$1,845
02 Mar 2025
10 Mar 2025
$1,845
03 Apr 2025
11 Apr 2025
$2,020
05 May 2025
13 May 2025
$1,818
17 Jun 2025
25 Jun 2025
$1,818
01 Jul 2025
09 Jul 2025
$1,782
08 Jul 2025
16 Jul 2025
$1,782
15 Jul 2025
23 Jul 2025
$1,782
22 Jul 2025
30 Jul 2025
$1,782

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

4.7/5  Excellent
Excellent
5,262
Great
794
Average
196
Disappointing
63
Terrible
71
T

Trusted Customer

Jan 2025

Written on

New Zealand: Sweet As South

The tour videos worked really well ensuring we all got a long and brought an inclusive vibe for everyone! The group was a lot of fun and really respectful of one an...

S

Sarah Beasley

Jan 2025

Written on

New Zealand: Sweet As South

It was a once in a lifetime. *Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* made it memorable and I'm truely grateful for the ex...

T

Trusted Customer

Jan 2025

Written on

New Zealand: Sweet As South

I couldn’t fault this trip at all! Only downside was that it wasn’t longer! I made such amazing friends and had the time of my life. NZ is definitely one of my top 3...

J

Jessica Perich

Jan 2025

Written on

New Zealand: Sweet As South

This trip was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone looking at travelling to New Zealand. We travelled over New Years, and wow, seeing the fireworks...

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Other Contiki Reviews

T

Trusted Customer

Jan 2025

Written on

New Zealand: Sweet As South

The tour videos worked really well ensuring we all got a long and brought an inclusive vibe for everyone! The group was a lot of fun and really respectful of one an...

S

Stina Bengtsson

Jan 2025

Written on

Philippines Island Hopping with Expedition

The trip overall went so smooth, and it was a good mix between chill days and some more exploring

T

Trusted Customer

Jan 2025

Written on

European Vistas

This trip became everything and more! Had the best time, with the best people. Made some life long friends. Our tour leader, *Personal information removed by Feefo* ...

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Tour Operator

Contiki

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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.

Why we love this operator
Their trips create life-long memories for young people setting off to discover the world.
What they’re known for
Social travel for 18-35 year olds around the world.

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Logistics

Accommodation

  • Lake Ōhau Lodge (or similar)
  • The Village Inn Hotel (or similar)
  • Lylo (or similar)
  • Rainforest Retreat (or similar)
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
  • 2 Dinner (D)
  • 8 Breakfast (B)
Age Requirements
18 to 35 years
Additional Information
Trip ID
contiki-NSZCDM24

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