Premium New Zealand South Island

10 days4.713 reviews
Explorer
From
NZD $9,014

Scenic beauty, fresh cuisine and incredible mountainscapes in the South Island

Taking you from Christchurch to Queenstown via glaciers, wineries, lakes and an overnight cruise on Milford Sound, this 10-day Premium trip 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.

Map of Premium New Zealand South Island including New Zealand
Trip code: PHPS
Start
Christchurch, New Zealand
End
Queenstown, New Zealand
Destinations
New Zealand
Meals
9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Jet boat, Cruise boat
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Resort (1 night), Cruise boat (1 night)
Days
10
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Ages
Min 15
Theme
Every trip caters to specific interests and activities, such as wildlife or family.
Explorer
Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Orginal: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: 4+ star accommodation, exclusive premium inclusions, our most experienced leaders
Premium
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
This trip generates 20 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 accommodationOur best 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service
Premium experiencesAll must-see locations plus authentic experiences exclusive to Premium
Premium knowledgeTrips led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders

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.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 July 2024 to 30 April 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 May 2025 - 31 August 2026

Itinerary

Map of Premium New Zealand South Island including New Zealand

Inclusions and activities

Meals

9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Jet boat, Cruise boat

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights), Resort (1 night), 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
Included 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
  • 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
  • Gibbston Valley - Wine Tasting
  • Arrowtown - Leader-led walk
  • Queenstown - Farewell Aperitivo
  • Queenstown - Shotover River Jetboat Experience

Optional activities
  • Franz Josef - Lake Mapourika Scenic Cruise - NZD125
  • Franz Josef - Waiho Hot Tubs - from - NZD89
  • Franz Josef - Heli-Hiking Tour - from - NZD695
  • Franz Josef - Kayaking Excursion - from - NZD149

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!

Dates and availability

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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. Trips departing on 13 September 2024 (PHPS240913), 29 November 2024 (PHPS241129), and 15 November 2024 (PHPS241115) will stay in Queenstown on day 7 and board the Milford Sound cruise on day 8.

3. On the trip departing on 16 May 2025 (PHPS250516) the Milford Sound cruise has finished for the season so the Feature Stay will instead be at the Milford Sound Lodge.

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

4.7 out of 5 based on 13 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.

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Alistair · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 06 Nov 2024

Terry · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 20 Oct 2024

Stephanie · Traveled February 2024
Review submitted 08 May 2024

Brian · Traveled January 2024
Review submitted 22 Jan 2024

Yvette · Traveled January 2024
Review submitted 16 Jan 2024
Premium New Zealand South Island
From
NZD $9,014