Southern Spirit

Trip Type: Guided Holiday
New Zealand | 13 Days

NZD 6,184.00 /Person

It’s hard to do the South Island of New Zealand justice in just two weeks. But we’ve been exploring this part of the country for years, and know wh...

Southern Spirit

It’s hard to do the South Island of New Zealand justice in just two weeks. But we’ve been exploring this part of the country for years, and know which azure lakes, yawning gorges, gem-like glaciers and unpeopled beaches will set your heart racing. From Milford Sound tours to Franz Josef Glacier tours, Christchurch tours to Queenstown tours, get set for 14 days of eye-opening attractions glimpsed from planes, trains, automobiles and boats. This trip to New Zealand is hard to beat.

Welcome to Christchurch

Arrive early to get your bearings on a self-guided Christchurch tour. The best way to do that? Aboard the Christchurch Tram. Your journey not only takes you past jaw-dropping attractions but also tells an inspiring story of community spirit in the rebuilding and reinvigoration of the city since the 2010/11 earthquakes. Explore at your leisure. We recommend jumping aboard the Christchurch Tram. This evening, it's time to meet your fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.

Accommodation:

Wyndham Garden

Locations Visited:
  • Christchurch

Christchurch - Omarama

Step out with your guide for a deeper dive into ‘The City of Gardens’ before traversing the colourful Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and snow-capped mountains. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.

Accommodation:

Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Christchurch

Omarama - Dunedin

Architectural drama awaits in Dunedin. While away the afternoon in atmospheric art-lined alleys or sipping a lager or two in Speight’s Brewery (a national institution). Or venture further afield to discover Larnach Castle, which nods to Dunedin’s Scottish link – it’s known as ‘Little Edinburgh’ for a reason.

Accommodation:

Dunedin Leisure Lodge

Locations Visited:
  • Omarama

Dunedin - Invercargill

If you find yourself humming a Garth Brooks tune en route to Gore, you’re not alone; it’s the country music capital of NZ. Invercargill is obsessed with something else: motor vehicles. Tributes to speed legends colour the city. So, it’s only fitting that you visit Transport World for a guided tour and Highlight Dinner.

Accommodation:

Kelvin Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Dunedin

Stewart Island

Invercargill is the gateway to the southernmost community in the country. Welcome to Stewart Island, a wild and wonderful drop of land that is 97% national parkland. Naturally, it’s a magnet for endemic flora and fauna, as you’ll discover on a guided Village and Bays tour.

Accommodation:

Kelvin Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Stewart Island / Rakiura

Invercargill - Queenstown

You’ve probably already noticed that there’s a lot of farmland here in New Zealand. It’s fitting, then, that you meet southern girl Laura, who will introduce you to the sheep farm where she was born and raised. The Real Country Farm Show, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, offers an authentic taste of what rural New Zealand is like. For every guest, we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture. Continue to Queenstown and take the afternoon at your own pace.

Accommodation:

Copthorne Hotel and Resort

Locations Visited:
  • Invercargill

Queenstown

We wouldn’t blame you for using today to linger by the banks of Lake Wakatipu, marvelling at sky-scraping Remarkables. But if you want to venture further afield, we have a few ideas. Top of our list today is an epic journey through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, carved by waterfalls and a playground for dolphins and seals. There’s a reason why this part of the island has World Heritage status.

Accommodation:

Copthorne Hotel and Resort

Locations Visited:
  • Queenstown

Queenstown - Franz Josef/Waiau

Atmospheric Arrowtown was born from gold, and its movie-set-like streets still shimmer today. It’s hard to tear yourself away, but the Alpine country of the Southern Lakes is calling, from Lake Dunstan – pause for juicy stone fruit picked fresh from the tree – to oh-so-blue Lake Hawea and lovely Lake Wanaka, with its shoreline of poplars and willows. Over the Haast Pass, the pretty town of Franz Josef/Waiau, awaits. Get some perspective on an optional Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere flight tour – if the weather behaves, you may even get to land on it. New Zealand tours don’t get much cooler than this.

Accommodation:

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Locations Visited:
  • Queenstown

Franz Josef - Punakaiki

On the wild West Coast, Hokitika may be small in size, but boy is it big in personality, not to mention natural attractions. Wander the windswept coast before discovering the town’s other beauty: pounamu (native greenstone or jade). Steel yourself for Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes; they owe their existence to the thundering surf that will lull you to sleep.

Accommodation:

Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

Locations Visited:
  • Franz Josef

Punakaiki - Nelson

After action-packed days, all you need to do today is sit back and enjoy the drama of the Heritage Highway en route to Nelson. Gaze over Buller Gorge – a deep canyon home to New Zealand’s longest swingbridge – and Kahurangi National Park, a place of wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herbfields and coastal forests.

Accommodation:

The Rutherford Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Punakaiki

Nelson

The South Island’s oldest city, Nelson is the ideal starting point for outings through Abel Tasman National Park. This pocket in the north of the island is a beguiling union of golden beaches framed by sculpted granite cliffs. It’s home to one of the country’s most legendary coastal tracks, if you fancy stretching your legs on a hike. Otherwise, drift away on a cruise around the coast, revealing unpeopled bays and dreamy inlets. The choice is yours.

Accommodation:

The Rutherford Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Nelson

Nelson - Wellington

All aboard the Interislander for a cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait, from the South Island to the North, navigating a maze of arms and inlets into New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington. End your tour on a high note at a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director and travel companions.

Accommodation:

Travelodge Wellington

Locations Visited:
  • Nelson

Farewell from Wellington

Wellington also knows a thing or two about good coffee, and you’ll need a strong one to get you through this morning's sightseeing. You may wish to linger in town, discovering Māori culture at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. It's hard to say goodbye to your tour of the South Island of New Zealand. If you can't bear to leave, we have a few ideas up our sleeves to extend your holiday.

Locations Visited:
  • Wellington
  • • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide • Comfortable accommodation with easy access to city centres • National Park entrance fees
  • New Zealand’s natural bounty is epic, as you’ll see in Nelson, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. The bounty also inspires talented chefs across Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington.
  • New Zealand’s cool little Capital, Wellington’s diversions range from cultural Nirvana at Te Papa to the beehive-like Parliament building.
  • The Real Country Farm Show offers an authentic taste of what real, rural New Zealand is like. For every guest we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture.
  • An island off an island, Stewart Island is wild, wide and wonderful. Some 97% is national parkland – prepare for epic animal encounters.
  • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide Comfortable accommodation with easy access to city centres National Park entrance fees
  • Warm layers in cooler months Camera Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle
  • Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Christchurch AirportDay 13 – flights to depart after 2.00pm from Wellington Airport
  • Low level of fitness required

Departure

Arrival

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Destination Details
New Zealand | 13 Days
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Christchurch (Nz), New Zealand
Trip Finishes:
Wellington (Nz), New Zealand
Countries Visited:
New Zealand

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