22 Day Both Islands

Enjoy today at leisure. You may wish to drive up Mount Victoria or ride the Cable Car to get some magnificent views over this pretty city. You may wish to simply walk around Oriental Bay, visit Te Papa Museum of New Zealand or visit one of the many fine restaurants.

Today you will travel across Cook Strait, the stretch of water that separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The journey across Cook Strait has a dramatic beauty all of its own. Both islands can be viewed, including the magnificent Kaikoura ranges and there is often the chance to see wildlife such as seabirds, dolphins, seals, whales and orca.

On arrival in Picton, collect your new rental car and make your way past vineyards and wineries until you reach Blenheim, Marlborough.

Travel through vineyards and rolling hillsides to the seaside settlement of Kaikoura. If arriving at Kaikoura early, we recommend purchasing tickets to join a Whale Watching Cruise for the ultimate marine experience or simply visit one of the many spectacular lookouts over Kaikoura Peninsular. Continue driving until you reach Christchurch – the Garden City.

Journey through the scenic Arthur’s Pass and make a pit-stop in the beautiful Hokitika Gorge before you arrive in Franz Josef. Nestled on the edge of the rainforest and descending 2500m in 13kms, these great cascading frozen rivers are only 6kms from the Tasman Sea and in this respect are unique. They are also amongst the fastest moving glaciers in the world, Franz Josef glacier is known to move up to 5m per day on occasions.

Embark on a journey across the Lake and into the sheltered bays of the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary. Enjoy the views and wildlife from the boat then disembark on the far shore for your guided walk through our magical rainforest trail into the Kiwi Sanctuary! The rainforest trail is designed to take you on a walk through another time, Jurassic rainforest, abundant bird life and home to the rarest Kiwi on the planet – the Rowi! Your guide will point out the birds and tell you all about the flora, fauna and kiwi conservation in the region. You may even get to try some edible native plants!

The rest of the day is yours to explore. You may wish to explore the glacier by guided walk, heli-hike or simply travel by helicopter for a once in a lifetime snow landing on top of the glacier.

View incredible scenery as you drive past the untouched native forests and pristine lakes of the World Heritage Westland National Park and Haast Pass to Wanaka. Wander the popular lakeside township of Wanaka before travelling over the Crown Range to the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown and then on to Queenstown.

 You may wish to add a night in Wanaka to allow for additional time.

Known as the home of adventure, discover Queenstown with an iconic ride on the Skyline Gondola. Upon reaching the summit, take the driving seat with a gravity fueled ride on the Skyline Luge, as you take on 1600m of banked corners & tunnels.

Prepare for an action-packed Jet Boat adventure on the spectacular Shotover River. Experience thrills, spins & speeds of up to 95kph.

After check-out, make your way south to the picturesque township of Te Anau, gateway to the glacier-carved wilderness of Fiordland National Park. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure to wander the small town with a choice of charming restaurants.

Drive through native rainforest and glacier carved valleys as you make your way along Milford Road. Once you have arrived at Milford Sound, board your Cruise Milford cruise and see the fiord in all its glory. Witness cascading waterfalls and towering mountains as you experience New Zealand’s ultimate natural attraction.

After check-out, travel through the rolling hills of Southland & South Otago, making a stop in Gore, a small town home to country music and fly fishing. Upon arrival into Dunedin, check-in to your hotel for the next two nights.

Explore Dunedin, known as the Edinburgh of the South. Founded by Scottish settlers, Dunedin in a vibrant, architecturally splendid city framed by a magnificent harbour and gateway to an arresting hinterland. Visit Larnach Castle & Gardens and learn of its rich history that dates back to 1871. Enjoy the evening at leisure to visit one of the many restaurants or experience a brewery tour.

This morning travel through the towns of Omarama and Twizel before driving up the western side of Lake Pukaki to the Mt Cook National Park, a World Heritage listed site. Mt Cook is Australasia’s highest mountain at 3724 metres.

The park covers over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery and is also home to the Tasman Glacier, the longest in the Southern hemisphere. A total scenic highlight, you may wish to see Mt Cook from above by taking an optional scenic flight. Alternatively, you may wish to visit one of the many walking tracks to embrace the enormous peaks.

After a relaxing morning, leave New Zealand’s highest mountain behind as you head north through the picturesque town of Geraldine and across the Canterbury Plains, through to Christchurch. Be sure you make a photo stop at Lake Tekapo, a beautiful turquoise coloured lake and visit the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of the lake. This is one of the most photographed churches in the world made of stone and sand from around the lake.

Upon check-out, make your way to Christchurch International Airport where you will drop off your vehicle and check-in for your return flight to Australia.