'Sweet as' South (Start Wellington - Until Sep 2018)

10 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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USTOA

Group Tour
Experience the best of New Zealand’s South Island - it's an adventure you won't want to end. Kick off this tour in the land of the Lord of the Rings, Wellington & quad bike in the bush! Hike a glacier, then it's on to Queenstown. Go bungy jumping, canyon swinging & quad biking - the activities endless (& the nightlife is legendary!) Choose to crui...

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

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
    • Scenic drive across the Southern Alps
    • Stop at Arthurs Pass
    • See a demonstration of traditional Maori greenstone carving
    • Drive through Haast Pass & see Thunder Creek Falls
    • Explore tiny Arrowtown
    • Set your pulse racing with a hair-raising ride on the Shotover Jet
    • Entry to one of Queenstown's hottest nightspots

What's this trip about?

    Experience the best of New Zealand’s South Island - it's an adventure you won't want to end. Kick off this tour in the land of the Lord of the Rings, Wellington & quad bike in the bush! Hike a glacier, then it's on to Queenstown. Go bungy jumping, canyon swinging & quad biking - the activities endless (& the nightlife is legendary!) Choose to cruise through Milford Sound & take an amazing scenic flight over Mt. Cook!

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityWellington (Nz)
End CityChristchurch (Nz)

Travel Themes

  • Local Immersion & Homestays

Destinations

  • New Zealand

Attractions

  • Christchurch
  • Dunedin
  • Queenstown
  • Wellington

Activities

  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Day 1: Wellington to Christchurch via Picton and Kaikoura

So long north island! Today we're making tracks for your southern brother, darting across the Tasman via the Inter-Island ferry. Our first port of call on the South Island will be Picton, the gateway to wine country. Sauv blanc, anyone? Our next drive takes us throu...

Day 2: Christchurch to Franz Josef via Arthers Pass and Hokitika

Christchurch, it was short and sweet, but with with ice age action on the horizon we gots to move on. Take in the beautiful scenery as we wind our way across the highest and most spectacular mountain pass across the Southern Alps. In the gold rush town of Hokitika we'...

Day 3: Franz Josef Glacier

This morning will be another big ol' tick off the list as we take to the ice of Franz Josef Glacier. Want to double tick the list in gold sparkly pen? We've got a heli ride over the glacier up for grabs for an ultra special experience. Satisfaction levels on high, ton...

Day 4: Franz Josef Glacier to Queenstown

Armed with a new found appreciation for frozen water, we'll hop back on the coach & start making our way to Queenstown, making a few cheeky stops along the way. Our first piece of NZ eye-candy comes in the form of Haast Pass, beautified by ancient rainforests, sm...

Day 5: 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. To get you warmed up, we'll be treating you to an exhilirating Shotover Jet experience, so throw those hands in the air as you fly through narrow Shotover canyons at speeds of up to 85 kph.

Day 6: Queenstown

With our last day in adrenalin city ahead of us, this is the time to push yourself to the limits and hurl over any mental barriers you've put up around yourself. Jump into #NOREGRETS spirit and conquer those niggling fears once and for all. For those who did their dash yesterday, a day staying mellow and enjoying this beautiful region will prove more than sufficient.

Day 7: 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 doing a spot of horse back riding, or you may be that guy that crams in a bungy jump, a skydive and a heliraft & still craves more. It's your holiday - run wild as you see fit.

Day 8: Queenstown to Dunedin

Alright, it's time to return our adrenalin levels to a normal and make tracks to the student town of Dunedin. But before we do, bridge bungy jump, anyone? As the student hub, Dunedin always impresses travellers, and for those from the UK you'll notice a distinct Scottish throwback. Take a tour of the iconic Speight's Brewery, where tasting their brews is simply good manners.

Day 9: Dunedin to Lake Ohau

Before we farewell Dunedin we'll head to the base of Baldwin Street, the world's steepest street, for a look at the mind boggling angle. Seriously, living on this street would give you major vertigo. A trip to the south wouldn't be complete without a stop at Moeraki f...

Day 10: Lake Ohau to Christchurch via Lake Tekapo

It's our last day but don't get sad, we're sure plans for Contiki 2.0 are already well underway. Kick start the day and end the trip on a high with a spectacular optional glacier flight over Mt. Cook for all new views of the country's highest mountain. Later, we'll s...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,830
Price per day$183
Last Updated: 0/17/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Contiki.

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.

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Apr 2024

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Vienna to Rome Trail

Amazing trip! So many fantastic add ons as well.

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Apr 2024

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Anonymous

Booking the trip was easy. Would be nice to advertise more c...

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Apr 2024

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From the get go, Contiki were great. Communication was qu...

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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

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
  • We'll get 12 of your meals, you get the rest. You can expect a healthy breakfast every morning, as a few dinners along the way. We'll also give you plenty of opportunities to try the best gourmet eats in NZ.
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
contiki-NSHADW1812

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