Southern Spectacular

Southern Spectacular

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Southern Spectacular

10 Days Starting and ending in Christchurch, New Zealand

Visiting: Christchurch, Twizel, Dunedin, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Franz Josef, Punakaiki

Tour operator:

Trafalgar

Tour code:

ZCQRFM25

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Medium

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Adventure Tours

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Embark on the Southern Spectacular tour and discover the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand's South Island. This adventure begins and ends in Christchurch, taking you through iconic destinations like Dunedin, Queenstown, and the stunning Milford Sound. Experience the tranquility of Lake Manapouri and the grandeur of the Southern Alps. Enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Wakatipu and a thrilling journey on the TranzAlpine Train. Stay in eco-friendly accommodations and savor local flavors with daily breakfasts and select dinners included. Engage in unique cultural experiences, such as a Pavlova afternoon tea with local hosts and a farm show at Walter Peak. With a luxury air-conditioned coach and expert guides, this tour offers a perfect blend of guided exploration and free time for personal adventures. Optional experiences and surprise extras ensure an unforgettable journey through New Zealand's natural wonders.

Highlights

  • Explore Lake Manapouri around Pomona Island and the Ponaumu Pathway.

  • Visit Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown.

  • Discover Franz Josef/Waiau, historic Arrowtown, and the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki.

  • View The Southern Alps, Lake Tekapo, and Lake Te Anau.

  • Enjoy a scenic cruise on Milford Sound and Lake Wakatipu.

  • Experience a jet boat ride on Lake Manapouri in Fiordland National Park.

  • Journey on the TranzAlpine Train through the Southern Alps.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Welcome To Christchurch

Location: Christchurch

Accommodation: Distinction

Accommodation Name: Distinction

Welcome to Christchurch! (Flights to arrive prior to 4pm). Kick off your New Zealand South Island tour in this city that is rebuilding itself after the devastating 2011 earthquake. There’s plenty to see and your hotel near Cathedral Square in the heart of the city is the perfect jumping off point. Meet your Travel Director and travel mates for drinks before a free evening to get to know Christchurch as you like, perhaps exploring the Avon River, Botanic Gardens, Christchurch Casino, and Cashel Mall.

Day 2: Through Scenic Wonderland To Twizel

Location: Twizel

Accommodation: Mackenzie Country Inn

Accommodation Name: Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Begin your day with a sightseeing tour of Christchurch featuring the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Earthquake Memorial, Bridge of Remembrance, and streets lined with bars, cafes, and riverside markets. Then go from city to country as you make your way to the quaint farming town of Geraldine. Grab a tasty sample at the famous Talbots Forest Cheese, sit down for lunch, and pop into the cute shops before journeying through the Canterbury Plains to the shores of Lake Tekapo. Afterwards, make a scenic stop at the little stone-hewn Church of the Good Shepherd. Next up, you’re in for a treat as you pull into the lakeside home of Angie and Stan Taylor for a Be My Guest experience over afternoon tea, scones, and stories. Enjoy the Taylors’ insights from a lifetime of farming as well as a bit of real New Zealand hospitality as Angie invites you into her kitchen. You’ll get to watch and learn as she prepares the New Zealand specialty dessert, Pavlova before having a taste for yourself. After this sweet visit, you'll arrive in Twizel for the evening. Soak up the vibe of this cute town and popular holiday destination dining on classic New Zealand fare.

Day 3: Dunedin, City Of Scottish Heritage

Location: Dunedin

Accommodation: Scenic Southern Cross

Accommodation Name: Scenic Southern Cross

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

A day of epic natural landscapes and cute colonial towns await you on your journey to Scottish inspired Dunedin, travelling along the Waitaki River en route to the quirky town of Oamaru. You'll feel like you’re stepping back into the Victorian era as you stroll the tree-lined streets past white limestone buildings and 19th century architecture. Take a tea break and browse the shops and galleries of traditional crafts before continuing your journey to the city of Dunedin, built as a 'mini Edinburgh' and vibrant university town. You have the rest of the day free to explore more of Dunedin town, or select from some tempting Optional Experiences. You could visit the famous Speight's Brewery, or tour Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle. Later tonight swap stories with the group over dinner in the heart of the city where you’ll be spoilt for choice of fresh seafood or a specialty from the butcher’s block.

Day 4: Te Anau, Gateway To Fiordland

Location: Te Anau

Accommodation: Distinction

Accommodation Name: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy plenty of stunning scenery as you make your way through farmlands to Te Anau. Travel through sheep farms into forested, rugged mountains into the Fiordland National Park and the South Island's largest lake to Te Anau. A truly memorable thrill awaits you next, exploring the islands on a jet boat ride down the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri savouring its many tranquil spots. Take in the birds and swimming trout as you learn about this unique environment’s history. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience is not only scenic but supports the Pomona Island Charitable Trust’s conservation efforts to restore the largest inland island in New Zealand to its natural state where native birds can thrive. If you’re still keen to see more, you could learn more about the area on an Optional Experience to the fascinating, glittering glowworm caves before ending a delightful day with dinner at your hotel.

Day 5: Milford Sound Contrasts With Queenstown

Location: Milford Sound

Accommodation: Millennium

Accommodation Name: Millennium

Meals Included: Breakfast

Begin your day travelling through Fiordland National Park past native rainforests, beech forests, alluvial flats, and meadows. Passing Mirror Lakes, catch the reflection of the surrounding mountains shimmering in the water. Wind your way through the Homer Tunnel, where the sheer rocky ranges have been cut through, to the Cleddau Valley. Then get right in the middle of the stunning scenery cruising the tranquil waters of the Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. Watch Bowen and Stirling Falls cascade from hanging valleys into the sea and the sheer pinnacle of Mitre Peak rising from the deep waters of the fiord. With photo ops at every turn and maybe a fur seal or two popping up, it’s a gorgeous afternoon on Milford Sound and a must-do experience on your New Zealand South Island tour. On arrival, excitement is sure to be at an all-time high as we arrive in the adventure capital of Queenstown at your picturesque hotel on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.

Day 6: Queenstown, It's All Yours

Location: Queenstown

Accommodation: Millennium

Accommodation Name: Millennium

Meals Included: Breakfast

Explore Queenstown that you’ve been dreaming of today with plenty of adventure-filled Optional Experiences to choose from. Join a tour to Skippers Canyon, or go for maximum adventure riding the adrenaline pumping Skippers Jet. This evening it’s time to relax and Dive Into Culture on a cruise aboard New Zealand's oldest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. You’ll be warmly greeted at the Colonel's Homestead by a gourmet barbecue dinner piled high with ribs and fresh vegetables. Sit back and be entertained by an after-dinner farm show, complete with sheep dogs in action, that will give you a glimpse into high country farm life. After a fun-filled evening at the homestead, board the Earnslaw and head back to Queenstown, maybe taking a spin on their polished wooden dance floor.

Day 7: Spectacular Franz Josef

Location: Franz Josef

Accommodation: Scenic Franz Josef Glacier

Accommodation Name: Scenic Franz Josef Glacier

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

It’s a day of epic scenery into untamed wilderness as you head through Central Otago to the West Coast. Your first stop is the restored gold mining settlement of Arrowtown. As you walk down its tree-lined avenues and have a look at the 19th-century wooden buildings, you’ll feel as if you’re in a movie set of the Old West. You’ll then travel to Cromwell on the shores of Lake Dunstan for a visit to Mrs. Jones' Fruit Stall. Take a break sampling of some of the town's juicy stone fruit including apricots, nectarines and peaches before journeying further into Central Otago where the vivid blue waters and willow-lined shoreline of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka call. Take to an ancient greenstone trail, cross Haast Pass, and bid farewell to the alpine scenery of the Southern Lakes as you meet the rainforests of the West Coast for the first time. Stunning scenes await as you approach your destination of the famous Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Perhaps join an optional helicopter flight for unforgettable views of take in its majesty from the ground.

Day 8: Punakaiki, Coastal Forest

Location: Punakaiki

Accommodation: Scenic Punakaiki

Accommodation Name: Scenic Punakaiki

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Awaken to a day filled with natural and man-made beauty. You have time to explore Franz Josef/Waiau, perhaps visiting the West Coast Wildlife Centre to see kiwi birds, before traveling to Hokitika for a lunch break. Then soak in the natural surroundings as you head to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. Standing at the water’s edge, you’ll be amazed at how these eroded limestone foundations that began forming 30 million years ago really do look like a stack of pancakes! As you marvel at nature’s creation, listen closely for a 'whoosh' of water - that's a burst of sea spray coming through the blowholes. Take in the sights, sounds, and sea air before making your way to the eco-friendly, Stays With Stories waterfront Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, where you’ll dine on seafood and local specialties and wine as the surf rolls and churns just outside your window.

Day 9: Christchurch, City Of Contrasts

Location: Christchurch

Accommodation: Distinction

Accommodation Name: Distinction

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

It’s your last full day in New Zealand and it’s a big one full of local tastes and sights. Travel to Greymouth’s Pounamu Pathway, for history and culture celebrating local Māori. Enjoy a pub-style lunch at local institution Monteith's Brewery, proud to operate in Greymouth since 1868 and perhaps try one of their summer ales or a crushed pear cider. Now that you’ve wet your whistle, board the famous TranzAlpine train to Christchurch on one of the world’s most scenic train trips through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges, and river valleys. This 223-kilometre journey across the South Island along the Waimakariri River and across the Southern Alps is a grand finale to the landscapes you’ve come to love. Celebrate the highlights of your trip joining your Travel Director and new friends for a Farewell Dinner showcasing food from the Canterbury region.

Day 10: Farewell Christchurch

Location: Christchurch

Meals Included: Breakfast

It’s been a beautiful time but sadly all good things must come to an end. Your New Zealand South Island tour concludes this morning after breakfast with a fond farewell before your transfer to the Christchurch Airport (flights anytime).

What's Included

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

    The tour includes the services of an expert Travel Director and a professional Driver.

  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

    Accommodation is provided in cherry-picked hotels that are tried and trusted.

  • Porterage where hotels provide this service

    Porterage is included where hotels offer this service.

  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

    Daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals are included in the tour.

  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

    The tour includes must-see sightseeing and surprise extras.

  • All land transport shown. All transfers shown

    All land transport and transfers as shown in the itinerary are included.

  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

    Travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation such as rail journeys.

  • Optional Experiences and free time

    The tour offers optional experiences and free time for personal exploration.

What's Not Included

  • Flights

    Flights to and from New Zealand are not included in the tour package.

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.

  • Personal Expenses

    Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.

  • Optional Experiences

    While optional experiences are available, they are not included in the tour price and may incur additional costs.

Dining Summary

  • 9 Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
  • 5 Dinner (D)
  • 1 Regional Dinner (RD)
  • 1 Lunch (L)
  • 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)

Dive Into Culture

  • Walter Peak: Get up close to sheep and working dogs with a farm show at Walter Peak on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in the New Zealand high country.

Mode of Transport

Travel in luxury with a fully air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi, ensuring a comfortable journey across New Zealand. Enjoy scenic rail journeys like the TranzAlpine Train, and explore the stunning landscapes with optional experiences and free time for personal adventures.

Accommodation

Experience comfort and style with stays at cherry-picked hotels like Distinction, Mackenzie Country Inn, Scenic Southern Cross, and Millennium, offering trusted service and unique local insights. Enjoy eco-friendly retreats at Scenic Punakaiki, blending harmoniously with nature, and indulge in the luxury of Scenic Franz Josef Glacier.

Check out our Q&As

  • What kind of transportation is provided during the Southern Spectacular tour?

    The tour provides travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi, ensuring a comfortable journey across New Zealand. Additionally, there are scenic rail journeys like the TranzAlpine Train included in the tour.

  • Are meals included in the Southern Spectacular tour package?

    Yes, the tour includes daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals. There is also a Be My Guest experience with afternoon tea, a regional dinner, and a farewell dinner.

  • What kind of accommodation can I expect on the Southern Spectacular tour?

    The tour includes stays at cherry-picked hotels like Distinction, Mackenzie Country Inn, Scenic Southern Cross, and Millennium, offering trusted service and unique local insights. There are also eco-friendly retreats at Scenic Punakaiki, blending harmoniously with nature, and luxury accommodations at Scenic Franz Josef Glacier.

  • What unique experiences are offered on the Southern Spectacular tour?

    The tour offers a variety of unique experiences, including a jet boat ride on Lake Manapouri supporting conservation efforts, a Be My Guest experience with afternoon tea at Lake Tekapo, and a cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show.

  • Is there any free time or optional activities available during the tour?

    Yes, the tour offers optional experiences and free time for personal exploration, allowing you to tailor your adventure with activities like visiting the glowworm caves or taking a helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1947

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Renato Arrieta  

Best tour I joined so far

14-Jan-2023

My first time with Trafalgar and I see no reason why I should not join them again.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
King Ng, Lafayette, California  

Very well planned trip with timely breaks during the coach ride..

08-Nov-2021

It was a well organized tour group and we hit lots of interesting and beautiful scenes. Like our previous trips with Trafalgar, tourists were treated with well manner and professional tour guide/director, making our trip very enjoyable and delightful!

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Trusted Customer  

Best of Egypt

14-Jan-2023

We really did see the best of Egypt and beyond. Our tour guide, Mohammad, guided us through the rich history and the urban and rural life of such a unique and delightful country. We felt very safe and pampered.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Marshal Daguio  

Wonderful Best Of Turkey

06-Nov-2021

It was my first time with Trafalgar Tour and I had a wonderful trip from day 1 till the last day. The Tour Director, Yocel Atik is very knowledgeable and Excellent. The health director and coach driver are helpful and supportive as well. The hotels selected were comfortable especially Rixos Hotel and Movenpick Hotel. The Best of Turkey is better than I expected.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Barbara, Canada  

Irish Experience

09-Nov-2021

I am single and travel alone. I always feel secure and well-looked after when I travel with Trafalgar

Feefo Trusted Reviews

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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