9 Day Southern Dream

Haere Mai (Welcome) to your New Zealand journey which begins in Christchurch, also known as the Garden City thanks to the lush parks dotted around the city.

Check in to your hotel and spend the afternoon wandering the city streets to discover hidden eateries, indulge in some retail therapy in the city’s shopping district or hop on the tourist tram and explore the city sights. This evening you’ll have dinner at the hotel and meet your Guide and your new travelling companions.

After breakfast this morning, we’ll continue our South Island tour down the east coast. We’ll pass through the township of Oamaru, home to some of the best-preserved heritage buildings in New Zealand before heading onto the mystical Moeraki Boulders.

Geological marvels that began to form about 60 million years ago, the Moeraki boulders were exposed by the erosion of sedimentary rocks over time and now stand along the beach as though they are sentinels guarding the coastline.

We’ll arrive in Dunedin with plenty of time for a rest and some exploration of the Scottish City.

This morning we’ll visit the famous Larnach Castle of Dunedin, the only castle in the country. We’ll explore the area, stroll through the magnificent gardens and enjoy the amazing views before departing for our next destination.

We’ll make a stop in Gore where we’ll explore Gore’s colourful past as a centre for illicit whisky distilling and bootlegging at the Hokonui Moonshine Museum. Learn about the adventures of the Scottish settlers and their exploits to avoid run-ins with the law and taste Old Hokonui made from the original recipe.

Later, we’ll drive to our destination for the evening, Te Anau – the gateway to Fiordland National Park and the spectacular Doubtful Sound.

Departing Te Anau this morning we’ll travel to Manapouri, where we’ll take a leisurely cruise across the lake to West Arm. This is followed by a short coach trip on New Zealand’s most expensive road, travelling over Wilmot Pass and pausing along the way to experience the dense rainforest in Fiordland National Park and view the Doubtful Sound glistening below.

At Deep Cove, we’ll board a modern catamaran and set sail into the majestic fiord – a sight that is sure to take your breath away. Listen to the onboard commentary for an insight into the region’s history as you view the towering mountain ranges and soak up the breathtaking views of this unique and beautiful area of New Zealand. Keep an eye out for local wildlife, as penguins, seals and dolphins all enjoy spending time in the sound!

After exploring the magic of Fiordland National Park, we’ll make our way to the alpine resort of Queenstown where we’ll spend the next two nights.

Today is yours to experience Queenstown, a picturesque alpine resort town known for its vast array of adventure activities. If you’d like to explore the area, we recommend taking a ride on the world-famous Shotover Jet Boat or taking a trip to the gold mining area of Skippers Canyon.

For the best views of the town, travel to the top of Bob’s Peak by gondola and have lunch at the Skyline restaurant, why not make your way to the bungy centre to watch people hurling themselves off cliffs – bungy is a NZ invention after all!

Alternatively, make your way to the lakeside and enjoy a refreshing drink or stroll through Queenstown’s lush park. It’s a great way to relax and enjoy world-class food on this part of the leg of our South Island bus tour.

This morning we’ll get to see some incredible scenery as we travel through Arrowtown, a picturesque village steeped in fascinating history relating to New Zealand’s gold mining era.

Next, we’ll visit Wanaka, a popular township on the lake’s edge with a spectacular mountain backdrop where we’ll enjoy lunch and spend some time enjoying the views.

Departing Wanaka, we’ll make our way north towards the east coast and the small town of Haast, a UNESCO world heritage site and home to the famous Haast River. This evening we’ll enjoy a group dinner together at our hotel.

Your coach travels north along the coast of the Westland National Park this morning, we’ll travel to the home of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. The West Coast is a remarkable part of the country that is shaped by dynamic glaciers and boasts lush rainforests that grow beneath towering mountains.

We’ll stop in Fox Glacier, where we can hike the gentle 2.6km track around Lake Matheson. Nestled amongst ancient forests and famous for mirror views of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mount Tasman, Lake Matheson aka Mirror Lake is a serene and beautiful place to enjoy a stroll. This evening, we’ll spend the night in the township of Franz Josef, surrounded by rainforests and mountains.

This morning our bus tour of New Zealand’s South Island departs Franz Josef and travel north to the artistic town of Hokitika, famous for its beautiful Greenstone. We’ll visit the Greenstone and Glass-Blowing factory to see the work of some talented local artists before continuing to Greymouth, a historic town known for jade hunting and gold mining.

From Greymouth, we’ll board the Tranzalpine train, considered one of the world’s greatest one-day train journeys. Prepare to be blown away by epic vistas of forests, rolling plains and the snow-capped Southern Alps! At the end of the journey, we’ll transfer to our hotel in Christchurch, where we’ll enjoy a farewell meal together on our final tour evening.

Today is the final day of the South Island tour, our trip has come to an end. Enjoy breakfast before saying a fond farewell to your tour leader and all your travel companions.

Whether you’re travelling home today or staying in Christchurch for longer, we hope you leave this tour with some happy memories and friends for life.