9 Day Rail, Glaciers & Mountains Family

Arrive at Christchurch, collect your luggage and your airport transfer will be waiting to take you into the city for your first night’s accommodation. Start exploring the new vibrant city that is Christchurch straight away.

Your transfer will collect you from your accommodation and transfer you to the train station.

Board the TranzAlpine train to Greymouth. The TranzAlpine is one of the world’s great train journeys covering 223 kilometres and a South Island Must Do! The scenery is spectacular. On arrival into Greymouth, collect your rental car and head towards Franz Josef where you will stay for the next 2 nights.

Today is yours to explore what the gorgeous Glacier Country has to offer.

Kayak across Lake Mapourika’s reflective water and take in the panoramic views of the surrounding tall peaks and glaciers. Once on the far side you will enter a kiwi sanctuary set amongst some of Westland’s oldest untouched rainforest.

Enjoy a helicopter ride over spectacular scenery. From sea level rising to the heart of the magnificent Southern Alps, this 20-minute flight explores the icefalls on either the Franz Josef or Fox Glaciers. Experience the seclusion of a snow landing in this largely inaccessible alpine region.

Or Heli Hike on a Glacier, a once in a lifetime experience. After a thrilling flight, high above the rugged terrain, you will land on the glacier, ready to undertake up to two hours guided glacier hike. Your friendly guide will lead you through some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring glacier scenery in the world. He will choose your route carefully as you go and, with an eye for the most spectacular ice formations, you’ll soon be making your way through an extraordinary land of towering peaks and glistening blue ice.

View incredible scenery as you travel past the untouched native forests and pristine lakes of the World Heritage Westland National Park and Haast Pass to Wanaka. 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.

Stay 2 nights in Queenstown and indulge in excellent food and wine and take in spectacular mountain views.

Enjoy a full day to experience this magnificent resort town. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure and leisure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration.

**Jump onboard one of the best ways to see Queenstown’s surrounding landscape – a cruise across Lake Whakatipu aboard the iconic century-old coal-fired steamship, the TSS Earnslaw.

The TSS Earnslaw has been lovingly maintained since 1912 and is an iconic piece of Queenstown’s history. Take time to explore the vessel, view the engine room, and study the historic displays of the steamship’s former life.

Your trip will take you across the lake, past the Remarkables mountain range and Cecil Peak, to Walter Peak High Country Farm.

**TSS Earnslaw replaced with 1 Hour K Jet Boat Ride

Say goodbye to Queenstown and head to Mackenzie country to stay in the alpine village of Aoraki-Mt Cook for 2 nights.

Twizel will be your final stop-off point before you head into the Mt Cook National Park. There is a good range of shops here to stock up on goodies for the rest of your journey into the National Park. Your journey from Twizel takes you up the shoreline of Lake Pukaki with some stunning views of the Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mt Cook which will leave you breathless. It’s a further hour from Twizel to Mt Cook Village.

We have added this day at leisure, to ensure you have enough time to take advantage of your surroundings. There are many tracks for walking and tramping in this area – you can find the most suitable for you by going to the Visitor Centre.

There are scenic flights available by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft, and if you wish to have a glacial adventure, we highly recommend the Glacier Explorers excursion on Lake Tasman at the base of the Tasman Glacier.

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.

Enjoy a relaxed morning before checking out of your accommodation.  Drop your car hire off at the airport before checking in for your flight home.