Itinerary
Slow down and discover the hidden gems that are often missed when travelling from one location to the next. This 14-day itinerary will give you time to stop at places such as Thunder Creek Falls, an impressive 96m waterfall which can be seen while driving from Franz Josef to Wanaka.
Arrive at Christchurch and collect your car hire. Make your way into the city and to your first night’s accommodation. Start exploring the new vibrant city that is Christchurch straight away.
This morning you head to Punakaiki. Turn inland to travel through the Canterbury Plains and over the beautiful Arthur’s Pass. Along the way you will see the awesome engineering feats of the Otira Viaduct and Tunnel.
You will have time to stop and look around before descending through some fantastic alpine scenery and on down Greymouth, then it is a short trip north to stay the night at Punakaiki, best known for its Pancake Rocks and Blowholes – both of which are spectacular and a must-see when visiting the West Coast.
After a morning of sightseeing head south today down the West Coast. There are some great old towns to visit on the way as well as some fantastic places to photograph the scenery and take a look at the dramatic coastline, you have time to enjoy this area at a leisurely pace.
Continue south through to Franz Josef Glacier where you are staying for 2 nights.
It is a day of leisure. There is lots to explore in this area – you can take your own time walking up to the glacier, going to the Okarito Lagoon or join a guided walk on the glacier, take a Heli-hike adventure, or a scenic flight over both glaciers.
This morning join a small group of fellow travelers on a relaxing visit to a very cute island. Often called the jewel of Wanaka, Ruby is small but very photogenic. The eclectic mix of exotic and native plants adds a foreground to the colors of the lake and the mountains behind.
Your guided walk around the island is one of the easiest Wanaka walks and suitable for all ages. Visit the remains of a dance hall from the days of prohibition in Otago, learn about Manuka Honey and enjoy some great photo opportunities. The majestic mountains of the Southern Alps provide the perfect backdrop to your holiday pictures.
There’s time to wander around the popular lakeside township of Wanaka before travelling over the spectacular Crown Range to the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown and then on to Queenstown, a beautiful alpine resort town regarded as New Zealand’s premier holiday destination.
Enjoy a day to experience this magnificent resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Here you can experience the Ultimate bungy jump, pan for gold, raft the white-water rapids, follow a wine trail, fish for trout, play golf – your options are endless.
This evening enjoy a pre-dinner chilly cocktail at Minus 5º ICE BAR. This is Queenstown’s coolest experience and an adventure you’ll never forget. Explore over 18 tonnes of captivating ice architecture, hand carved ice statues and amazing ice furniture and everyone stays warm in custom-made jackets, warm boots and gloves. Sip deliciously cool cocktails and mocktails from solid ice glasses, on fur-covered ice chairs, a totally frozen bar and solid ice tables. Snap photos and create unique icy memories at one of Queenstown’s must-do attractions.
Depart Queenstown today and follow the southern arm of Lake Wakatipu to Lumsden and Te Anau.
Te Anau township sits on the shores of Lake Te Anau. From here, the delights of the Fiordland National Park are within easy reach, including the start of the Milford Track. The Te Anau Caves are an excellent adventure.
Join the Milford Road from Te Anau and drive through the famous hand-hewn Homer Tunnel to the Sound itself. Here you board an extended and leisurely cruise on board a catamaran with a two-hour duration. Cruise the full length of the fiord in comfort on a modern, spacious vessel with comfortable indoor seating and large, tall windows for panoramic viewing of spectacular Milford Sound. With a flexible and relaxed itinerary, enjoy a large and wide open outdoor, upper-level deck for excellent wildlife viewing including seals, dolphins, and penguins when in season. A specialist nature guide shares their local knowledge with lively and informative commentary while roaming the vessel, and the wheelhouse is open to join and speak with the skipper.
Drive across the Waimea plains towards the farming community of Gore, then travel through the rolling hill country of South Otago to Dunedin, the ‘Edinburgh of the South’
This afternoon is at your leisure. The Otago Harbour deserves to be on every bucket list, and you can cruise the harbour onboard a Monarch Cruises vessel and savor an unrivalled view of Taiaroa Head, the only mainland nesting place for Northern Royal Albatross in the world and the home to New Zealand fur seals.
Do not be surprised if you spot dolphins, sea lions and countless ocean birds, including penguins!
A leisurely start to the day before you head out to Larnach Castle. Situated on the picturesque Otago Peninsula, Larnach Castle is one of New Zealand’s premier visitor attractions. Lovingly restored by the Barker Family, the Castle and surrounding grounds are at the heart of the Dunedin visitor experience. You will visit the Castle and discover its rich history that dates back to 1871 as well as explore the exquisite gardens, which have attained a Garden of International Significance award from the New Zealand Gardens Trust.
Head north along the coastal highway to Moeraki Beach, stopping to view its mysterious, spherical, 60-million-year-old boulders. On to the town of Oamaru, famous for its white limestone buildings.
Continue your journey north through the towns of Timaru, Geraldine, and Ashburton as you make you way back to Christchurch.
Sadly, your holiday is at an end. At leisure today until you return your rental car to the airport in time to connect with your onward flight.
