Premium New Zealand South Island

10 Days | Scenic beauty and delicious adventures in the South Island

4.8 out of 5 based on 10 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
EUR €3,731
View dates and book

Taking you from Christchurch to Queenstown via glaciers, wineries, lakes, and an overnight cruise on Milford Sound, this 10-day tour showcases the natural beauty and thriving food and wine scene in the South Island of New Zealand. Forage for fresh ingredients with a local chef in Otago, set your pulse racing during a jetboat ride in Queenstown and come face to face with endangered species at a wildlife centre on the West Coast, including New Zealand’s rarest kiwi. With a friendly leader to guide the way, you’ll experience a landscape that has been shaped by the elements over thousands of years.

Trip overview

Map of Premium New Zealand South Island including New Zealand
Start
Christchurch, New Zealand
Finish
Queenstown, New Zealand
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
New Zealand
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Premium
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
PHPS
This trip generates 18.6 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.
Premium accommodation
Premium experiences
Premium knowledge

Why you'll love this trip
  • Experience some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery during your Feature Stay on Milford Sound aboard a purpose-built vessel.
  • Savour the flavours of the Otago region with a chef-led food and foraging Exclusive Experience on an expansive and stunning New Zealand deer station.
  • Take an exhilarating jetboat ride on the Kimi Akau (Shotover River). This Exclusive Experience takes you deep into the spectacular Shotover Canyons, with the Ngai Tahu - the Maori people of this land.
  • Enjoy a ranger-guided walk around the aptly named Blue Pools that feed the Makarora River and learn about the important work of the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust to reduce predators and save some of New Zealand’s rarest species.
  • Take a 'backstage tour' of the West Coast Wildlife Centre, helping bring the critically endangered Rowi and Haast tokoeka kiwi back from extinction. Come face-to-face with these rare creatures.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Forest & Bird. Donations help them give nature a voice - protecting wildlife and wild places in Aotearoa New Zealand by advocating for conservation on the ground and at a government level. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Is this trip right for you?
  • The diversity of the seasons here makes for incredible scenery, but the weather in this region can be unpredictable. It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change during the day. At night the temperature can really drop, so bring your warm clothes.
  • There are walking opportunities throughout this trip. We recommend you bring good quality walking shoes if you're keen to enjoy a hike - or two!

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 July 2024 - 30 June 2025

Map of Premium New Zealand South Island including New Zealand

Inclusions

Meals

9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Jet boat, Cruise boat

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights), Homestead (2 nights), Cruise boat (1 night)

Premium Inclusions
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support
Activities
  • Christchurch - Welcome Dinner
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Greymouth - Monteith's Brewery Tour & Tasting
  • Greymouth - Pounamu (Greenstone) Studio Visit
  • Christchurch - Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Lake Brunner - Nature Walk
  • Hokitika - West Coast Treetops Walk
  • Franz Josef - West Coast Wildlife Centre Visit with Ranger
  • Punakaiki - Rocks & Blowhole Visit
  • Franz Josef - Glacier View Walk
  • Makaroa - Aspiring Biodiversity Trust Lunch
  • Makaroa - Guided Flora and Fauna Walk with Local Ornithologist
  • Wanaka - Criffel Station Foraging & Lunch Experience with Local Chef
  • Milford Sound - Overnight Boat Cruise
  • Queenstown - Shotover River Jetboat Experience
  • Gibbston Valley - Wine Cave Tour
  • Arrowtown - Leader-led walk
  • Queenstown - Farewell Aperitivo
Add on activities
  • Franz Josef - Lake Mapourika Scenic Cruise - NZD120
  • Franz Josef - Waiho Hot Tubs - from - NZD89
  • Franz Josef - Heli-Hiking Tour - from - NZD695
  • Franz Josef - Kayaking Excursion - from - NZD145

Dates and availability

Loading trip dates and availabilities...

Important notes

1. A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. The price of the single supplement does not include the following nights, where a single room does not form part of the package. In this case you will be matched up with another traveller of the same gender: Day 7 - Milford Sound Cruise
Please also note that due to the small properties we use there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent.

2. The Milford Sound Cruise is seasonal and weather dependent. Some departures may require a slight shift in itinerary to make sure the cruise is included. If the Cruise has finished for the season, the Feature Stay will instead be the Milford Sound Lodge.

3. Travel is always an adventure and, as destinations reopen, there are a few challenges as everyone gets back up to speed and adjusts to the new normal. Our leaders are experts when it comes to dealing with anything unexpected along the journey, so pack your understanding and flexibility, sit back and relax while they take care of the rest.

4. Some changes will be required for departures over Christmas and New Years. On PHPS231219 and PHPS231221, the visit to Aspiring Biodiversity on Day 5 will be replaced by a boat ride to explore islands on Lake Wanaka, and Criffel Station on Day 6 will be replaced by Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dining on the final night.

5. Criffel Station will be closed during the following departures: PHPS231228, PHPS240130, and PHPS240201. Instead, the visit will be replaced by Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dining on the final night.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 based on 10 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

Filter by rating

Brian · Traveled January 2024
Summer was the best (she told me to say that 🤣), but it is true. She always had everything organized, timely, communicated very well. She looked out for and took care of everyone and made everyone feel special. We have a trip lined up for Japan, that leader has there work cut out for them to meet the expectation Summer has provided for us 😉😁. We look forward to our next trip with Intrepid.
Review submitted 22 Jan 2024

Yvette · Traveled January 2024
Perfect balance between planned activities and free time so there is freedom to explore through more physical activities, or relaxing and enjoy the amazing scenery and food. Highly recommend this amazing trip.
Review submitted 16 Jan 2024

Gina · Traveled December 2023
It was such an amazing trip that I got emotional when I was leaving and shed tears after saying goodbye. The New Zealand Premium tour was the experience of a lifetime. Everything was perfectly thought out and organized. Each day was like being in a new little world! I had an absolute blast with the fellow travelers and our amazing, knowledgeable guide, Summer. If you are considering this trip-GO FOR IT. I wish I could do it all over again. thank you intrepid for the lifelong memories!!! I can’t wait to do another trip with you again one day!!!
Review submitted 10 Jan 2024

Mary · Traveled December 2023
Good tour spectacular scenery well organised. Detour because of road closure was well handled. Good guide very friendly approachable flexible knowledgeable Good variety of activities. On the whole we met well informed people who delivered their knowledge very well. Milford Sound was a big highlight. Great emphasis on biodiversity. Have come away from tour with very positive feelings about New Zealand the people, their history and traditions, their excellent food quality, their care for the environment, people flora fauna and the country’s traditions. Would recommend highly.
Review submitted 18 Dec 2023

Ian · Traveled May 2023
The grandeur of New Zealand and our excellent tour leader made this a memorable trip.
Review submitted 09 Jun 2023
Premium New Zealand South Island
From
EUR €3,731