Premium New Zealand South Island

Welcome to New Zealand! When you arrive in Christchurch, you’ll be met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, followed by a walking food tour with a local Maori guide. As you explore the city’s less-trodden laneways and stroll along the riverside, make stops to try local bites that showcase excellent seasonal produce and learn about Maori culture and heritage. Your walking tour takes you to your final spot for tonight’s welcome dinner, where you can get to know your fellow travellers and toast to the start of your adventure.

Take an orientation tour with your leader around some of the landmarks of Christchurch, then board the TranzAlpine train for a scenic journey to Greymouth. This spectacular route takes you through the vast green of the Canterbury Plains, then passes through the Southern Alps, offering views of river gorges fringed with steep cliffs, glassy mountain lakes and winding rivers. As you soak up the views, you’ll tuck into a menu inspired by the regions surrounding you. From your seat in the Scenic Class carriage, you’ll also have access to the open-air viewing carriage so that you can feel even closer to the nature around you. When you arrive, you’ll explore Greymouth, stopping into a boutique studio to learn about the prized West Coast jade known locally as Pounamu (Greenstone). Arrive at Punakaiki Resort by late afternoon – located in Paparoa National Park, this resort lies next to Punakaiki Beach and the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

After breakfast, explore the Punakaiki Rocks and Blowholes before the drive to Franz Josef. Punakaiki, a town with less than 100 residents, is famed for its so-called Pancake Rocks. These layers of fossilised animals and plants, formed over 30 million years ago, were thrust above the surface by the moving earth and sculpted by wind and water. At high tide, the sea is forced through blowholes in the limestone to burst metres into the air – it’s an entertaining sight! Along the way, stop for lunch and then pay a visit to Okarito where you'll take part in a hands‑on restoration activity with the Okarito Plant Project, a community‑led initiative focused on regenerating native forests and protecting the unique ecosystems of the West Coast.

Begin your day with a self-guided walk to see the icy wonderland created by the Franz Josef Glacier – one of the steepest glaciers in New Zealand. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you may like to join an optional heli-hiking tour and get even closer to the glacier. Other optional activities include kayaking, a scenic cruise on Lake Mapourika or a soak in the hot tubs at Franz Josef. Ahead of your ranger-led visit tomorrow, you will also have access to the West Coast Wildlife Centre for you to explore at your own pace.

This morning, take a private ranger-guided tour of the West Coast Wildlife Centre – home of the official breeding program for the world's rarest kiwi bird, the rowi. Also keep an eye out for tuatara (a reptile endemic to New Zealand). During your visit, your expert ranger will share behind‑the‑scenes insights into the conservation efforts taking place on the West Coast including how eggs are incubated and chicks are raised before being released into the wild. Then depart Franz Josef for the resort town of Wanaka, arriving by late afternoon. Located next to the resplendent Wanaka Station Park on the shores of Lake Wanaka, and a short stroll from Wanaka township, you'll be perfectly placed to enjoy all this popular town has to offer.

Enjoy a sleep-in this morning or start your day with a hike up Mt Iron for a view over Lake Wanaka and the surrounding peaks. Central Otago is a region well-known for food and wine, and today you’ll visit the spectacular Criffel Station deer farm. Here, you’ll be shown around the farm by the family before doing a chef-guided foraging and tasting tour, followed by a delicious lunch.

Say farewell to Wanaka after breakfast and begin the journey to Doubtful Sound / Patea – a lesser-known but stunning part of Fiordland National Park. Drive to Lake Manapouri, where you’ll hop on a ferry for a journey across the water, followed by a scenic drive to Deep Cove via Wilmot Pass – a subalpine road surrounded by dense rainforest. Here, you'll board your vessel and meet the crew for your Doubtful Sound Cruise. This Premium Signature Experience includes a delicious three-course dinner featuring local produce, and a resident naturalist who’ll share insights about the fiord’s history, flora and wildlife – including dolphins, seals and penguins. With fewer boats on the water than in Milford Sound and a more peaceful atmosphere, there’s a higher chance these creatures will pop up to say hello! If weather conditions allow, you might also like to explore by kayak.

Start your day with a hearty cooked breakfast as the mist rolls over the cliffs, then get ready to explore some of the other nooks of the fiord this morning. After, return to Deep Cove to take the ferry back to Lake Manapouri and continue to Queenstown, arriving in the late afternoon. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax or explore this resort town, famed for its picturesque scenery and dramatic location on the edge of the Southern Alps.

Soak up a free morning in Queenstown and wander at your own pace. Then, head to Arrowtown in the afternoon. This historic gold mining town is known for its heritage town centre and autumn festival – and is perfect to explore on foot. Learn about the town’s history on a leader-led walking tour and browse its shops and cafes. Then, head to Gibbston Valley to sample some of Central Otago’s famous drops at a well-known winery. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with your group and say cheers to an amazing adventure.

Your New Zealand adventure ends this morning after breakfast. As this trip spends little time in Queenstown, it’s recommended that you spend an extra day or two if you want to experience all the town has to offer. Your booking agent will be happy to book additional accommodation for you, just get in touch ahead of time.