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South Island Natural Discovery

This 18 day tour starts in Christchurch and finishes in Christchurch.

Please note this tour does not operate during the winter months (May - September). Due to winter closures, certain locations and activities are unavailable.

Experience the South Island as nature intended. This journey connects New Zealand’s most storied landscapes, trading the crowds for the sanctuary of Wilderness Lodges and overnight fiord cruises. You’ll encounter rare wildlife, glacial giants, and the quiet majesty of the Mackenzie Country Dark Sky Reserve on a loop designed for those who find luxury in the landscape.

Accommodation type on this tour is: Boutique Lodges & Hotels.

This tour also features:

Included activity: The Visitor Promise - Cultural Learning Course

Included activity: Electronic Travel Guide and In-Country Support App

Included activity: Private Transfer Christchurch International Airport to Christchurch Accommodation

Included activity: TSS Earnslaw Cruise and Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dinner

Included activity: Te Anau Glowworm Caves with RealNZ

Included activity: Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise, Aboard the Navigator with Real NZ

Included activity: Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour and Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience with Blue Penguins Pukekura

Included activity: The Alpine Restaurant Buffet Dinner

Included activity: Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise with Black Cat

Included activity: Twin Glacier Scenic Helicopter Flight with The Helicopter Line

Included activity: Gondola and Premium Buffet Dinner Experience with Skyline Queenstown

Included activity: Appellation Boutique Wine Tour

17 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners

Itinerary summary for: South Island Natural Discovery

Day 1: Welcome to Christchurch
Accommodation: Merivale Manor House

Day 2: Christchurch Heritage and Botanic Exploration
Accommodation: Merivale Manor House

Day 3: Explore the French Charm of Akaroa
Accommodation: Beaufort House Akaroa

Day 4: Journey to the Heart of the Southern Alps
Accommodation: Wilderness Lodge, Arthurs Pass

Day 5: Wilderness Immersion at Arthur's Pass
Accommodation: Wilderness Lodge, Arthurs Pass

Day 6: Across the Divide to West Coast Rainforests
Accommodation: Westwood Lodge

Day 7: Glacial Wonders and Ancient Ice
Accommodation: Westwood Lodge

Day 8: Through the Haast Pass to Alpine Queenstown
Accommodation: The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, A Naumi Chapter

Day 9: Vineyards and Vistas of Central Otago
Accommodation: The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, A Naumi Chapter

Day 10: Lake Wakatipu Cruising and High Country Dining
Accommodation: The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, A Naumi Chapter

Day 11: Gateway to Fiordland and Glowworm Grottoes
Accommodation: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas

Day 12: The Silent Majesty of a Doubtful Sound Overnight
Accommodation: Fiordland Navigator Overnight Boat in Doubtful Sound

Day 13: From Fiordland Depths to Coastal Castle Gardens
Accommodation: Camp Estate at Larnach Castle

Day 14: Wildlife Encounters on the Otago Peninsula
Accommodation: Camp Estate at Larnach Castle

Day 15: Following the Waitaki Valley to Aoraki Mt Cook
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium Plus

Day 16: Alpine Grandeur and the Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve
Accommodation: Galaxy Boutique Hotel

Day 17: Across the Canterbury Plains
Accommodation: The Observatory Hotel

Day 18: Homeward Journey Across the Canterbury Plains