The South Island spectacular beautiful landscape includes vast mountain chains, rigged coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforest. You will see the main highlights of the South Island and visit the best knows locations
All tours are private, depart daily, and can be customized to suit individual interests and schedules. Please contact us at info@arohatours.co.nz or 0064-21-890611 for more information about our luxury New Zealand tours.
Day 1: Christchurch
Arrive in Christchurch Int. Airport and you will be met by your driver/guide and transferred to your accommodation. Here you will have the opportunity to spend some time is this very English influenced city with the old Cathedral and the Victorian stone buildings. Walk the inner City with the many shops and get that one last present for your friends and family, dine at some of the local restaurants and bars, visit the Arts Centre and take a relaxing walk through the Botanical gardens. Accommodation: City Center Christchurch
Day 2: Christchurch-Franz Josef Glacier
Depart Christchurch aboard the Tranz Alpine Express through the scenic untouched areas of the Southern Alps, through Arthurs Pass to the west coast town of Greymouth. On arriving in Greymouth, your driver/guide will meet you and your tour continues by road. We stop and stay at Punakaki the jewel of the West Coast, Punakaiki is world renown for its pancake rock formation and blowholes. Walk with us along some of the stunning and remote beach treks, though a dense rainforest with Nikau Palms and large ferns. We follow the winding road along one of the most stunning coastal drives in the country. Pass the township of Greymouth and Hokitika; known both for gold and coal mining in New Zealand. The mountains in this area are a source for jade, or greenstone, important in Maori history as material for jewellery, tools and weaponry. Galleries here offer you the chance to view this beautiful stone and gold crafts. We take a leisurely and scenic drive to the famous glacier region, which make a dramatic approach to the sea. Your day’s itinerary will end in the tiny settlement of Franz Josef. One of the best ways to appreciate the glaciers size and features and blue ice crevasses is by air. From here you can hire a helicopter to take a scenic flight over this spectacular scenery. Accommodation: Glacier area
Day 3: Franz Josef-Queenstown
An interesting day of scenic opportunities experiencing the untamed beauty of the native New Zealand flora and fauna, with plenty of photo opportunities along the way. This day gives you the opportunity to view two major glaciers Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, it also takes you through the South Westland region to one of our World Heritage Parks Mt Aspiring National Park this area is a vast, glacial sculpted wilderness. As you exit Mt Aspiring National Park you will travel through what is known as “The Neck” a formation of land that separates two of our great South Island lakes Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka, a short stopover in Lake Wanaka before continuing on across the Crown Range to Queenstown. We take you on a tour into the surrounding areas to Arthur’s Point it’s on to Coronet Peak for more spectacular views of Queenstown, to your next stop in Arrowtown, a historic colonial village that takes you back into the Gold Mining days of the Otago region. We will take you to your accommodation in Queenstown from where you can take the opportunity to explore the village area. Accommodation: Queenstown
Day 4: Queenstown-Glengorchy
Queenstown is the top adventure and activity centre in New Zealand. Most of the cast was based here and major parts movie where filmed in this region. Your day’s itinerary will lead you to some of the most interesting adventures Queenstown has to offer, your first stop is Arthurs point, home of the Shotover Jet Boat Company, here you can experience one of New Zealand’s most exciting adventure rides Jet Boating on the Shotover River (this is a safe excursion for both children and adults) Today we have planed a drive through” Paradise. We drive along Wakatipu. This is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand and used for a favourite location in several Hollywood productions and commercials around the world. Maori passed through this area in their search for pounamu (NZ Jade), but is wasn’t until m1862 that settlers arrived in the search for gold. Glenorchy is one of the Gateways to Mt Aspirin National Park covering a large World heritage area. We travel further into the Park along a most pictures river and multiple river arms to a forest glade. The high peak of Mt Ears law and its Glazier is powering over this area. Accommodation: Queenstown
Day 5: Queenstown-Milford Sound
We are heading for the spectacular Milford Sound, described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world” and was carved out during successive ice ages and, at its deepest point off Mitre Peak, plunges to a depth of 265 meters. Getting there is half of the experience; we take you through the Fiordland National Park, pass staggeringly beautiful valleys, lakes and creeks. If the time allows we will stop at the” Mirror Lakes”, before entering the narrow and dark 1km long Homer Tunnel. We take you on a day cruise into the magnificent wonder-world of the Milford Sound. View the Bowen Falls, hurtling 165 meters into the sea, and the Stirling Falls further down the sound, set amidst the towering cliffs and dwarfed by Mitre Peak. On the way back we take a broad walk into the “Chasm” to see surreal, water-hewn rock sculptures. Accommodation: Te Anau
Day 6: Te Anau–Dunedin
We take you from Te Anau through our leading fruit growing areas to the Otago Coast and the town of Dunedin. The splendour of many of its public buildings reflects Dunedin's economic and cultural pre-eminence in Victorian New Zealand. Today, Dunedin has a rightly deserved reputation as one of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. High among the rolling hills of the Peninsula is Larnach Castle , the grand home of an early politician. Visit its historic-style garden which can be reached via the high road along the Peninsula's ridge. From here, views out to sea and back towards the city emphasise the singular beauty of Dunedin and its jewel-like harbour. Drive further to the tip of the Otago Peninsula is Taiaroa Heads, about forty minutes from the city centre. The magnificent Royal Albatross, a huge sea bird of mythology, soars above the rugged cliffs. Take a guided tour of the only mainland nesting colony of the Royal Albatross in the world. Accommodation: Dunedin
Day 7: Dunedin-Lake Tekapo-(Mt Cook)
We take you from Dunedin to Oamaru. The main Town of North Otago is a pretty town and the best-preserved collection of historic and commercial buildings in New Zealand. To the east lie the coastal climes of Timaru while, to the west, Mackenzie Country accounts for a large percent of New Zealand’s sheep population. We travel into deep into the heart of the Southern Alps and to the southern slopes of Mt Cook National Park. We overnight in the small township of Lake Tekapo. You will encounter an array of spectacular mountain ranges including Mt Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand, which peaks at some 3700 meters. The Lake Tekapo shine’s all year round in a beautiful turquoise colour, and reflects the surrounding mountains. Relax at this mystical, tranquil place and take a stroll along the lake’s shores. Accommodation: Mt Cook
Day 8: Mt Cook-Akaroa Peninsula
Our trip will take us through some of the most evocative hill county in New Zealand. Speckled with small agricultural outposts, the Canterbury Plains are an area of serene, rural beauty We drive you through Canterbury to the historic French colonial village of Akaroa; only 90 minutes drive from Christchurch. The township is settled around a dormant crater and natural harbour. The French explorers who sailed to Akaroa in 1840 left some indelible imprints throughout township. There are numerous ways to get you up-close and personal with wildlife. You can experience the rare Hector Dolphins, fur seals and cormorant colonies and might have a chance to spot the world smallest “Blue Penguin” on a majestic harbour cruise (optional extra charge). Visit New Zealand’s own unique Blue Pearl farm. Accommodation: Akaroa Peninsula
Day 9: Akaroa Peninsula–Christchurch
We make our way back from the peninsula through the mountain road of the bank peninsula, on the way we stop at Christchurch habour and take you back to Christchurch City center. The guide will take you through the highlights of this English influenced city and to the botanical gardens. Accommodation: Christchurch
Day 10: Departure from Christchurch
Your driver/guide collects you from your accommodation to transfer you to Christchurch Airport to connect you with your departing airline.