12-Day South Island New Zealand Tour with Milford Sound Cruise

Meet and greet your driver-guide at the airport, then transfer to your accommodation for check-in. Enjoy some free time at leisure after arrival.

Transfer to your accommodation for a 2-night stay.

After breakfast, your driver-guide will take you to Kaikoura, a 2-hour 30-minute drive away and home of whale watching. If you would like to see whales, sightings are guaranteed all year round, or a portion of the ticket will be reimbursed. The activity is fully refundable if cancelled due to weather conditions. Pre-booking is a must.

Visit the NZ Fur Seal Colony.

Return to Christchurch in the late afternoon and transfer to your accommodation.

After breakfast, your driver-guide will take you to Arthur's Pass.

Enjoy a short walk to visit Bealey Chasm and, if time permits, the Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall on a short but steep hike.

Visit Punakaiki, the Pancake Rocks, and Truman Track for some spectacular photos.

Continue to Hokitika and transfer to your accommodation.

Leave Hokitika and head towards Franz Josef Glacier.

Upon arrival in Franz Josef, there is the possibility to do a heli-hike or take a helicopter flight over the three main glaciers of this region. Reservations must be made well in advance to avoid disappointment, and the activity is fully refundable if flights are cancelled due to weather conditions.

Continue to Wanaka via Haast Pass with scenic stops along the way.

Arrive and transfer to your accommodation.

Enjoy a morning at leisure.

Visit the Lonely Tree, the world's most photographed tree.

Visit the Lavender Farm and try some lavender chocolates at your own cost, or buy lavender products.

Continue through the Crown Range with photo stops.

Arrive in Arrowtown, an old gold mining town with an original Chinese shanty town.

Continue to Queenstown for orienteering, then transfer to your accommodation.

In the evening, enjoy the TSS Earnslaw experience with BBQ dinner, which is included.

Enjoy a day at leisure. However, your driver-guide can assist with making reservations for extra activities if you wish.

Optional activities include the Gondola and Luge Ride, Shotover jet boat ride, and Dart River Safari.

Start early and travel towards Milford Sound via Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

Enjoy photo stops along the way to Milford.

A 2-hour cruise is included today.

After the cruise, transfer to your accommodation in Te Anau.

This morning's activity is the Glow Worm Caves, the largest in New Zealand, with much of the cave system still unexplored. Do not worry - you will be fully guided in the explored areas.

Afterwards, continue to Dunedin, the Edinburgh of the South.

Visit the highlights of this Scottish city.

Transfer to your accommodation.

Travel inland on a scenic route via Omarama and reach Tekapo with its turquoise lake.

Stop at Pukaki for a photo opportunity.

Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Collie Dog Statue, dedicated to the animal to which the district owes its discovery.

There is also the possibility to do the International Dark Sky experience, but it must be pre-booked.

Transfer to your accommodation for a 2-night stay.

Today, visit Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and enjoy a 3-hour casual walk in the area.

Make photographic stops along the way.

There is also the possibility to do a Tasman Glacier experience by zodiac, with photo opportunities of icebergs on the terminal lake. This must be pre-booked.

Transfer back to your Tekapo accommodation.

Travel back to Christchurch via Geraldine and stop for some Merino-Possum clothing and accessories.

Arrive in Christchurch and make a photo stop at the lookout point of Sign of the Takahe.

Transfer to your accommodation.

Depending on your departure time, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

End of tour.