Wild South 12 Days
 Click on the north or south island for a chart of travel distances: |
Itinerary Summary:
| Day 1 | Arrive Christchurch |
| Day 2 | Christchurch > Wanaka |
| Day 3 | Wanaka > Milford Sound > Wanaka |
| Day 4 | Wanaka > Queenstown > Wanaka |
| Day 5 | Wanaka > Fox Glacier |
| Day 6 | Fox Glacier |
| Day 7 | Fox Glacier > Punakaiki |
| Day 8 | Punakaiki > Motueka |
| Day 9 | Motueka > Abel Tasman > Motueka |
| Day 10 | Motueka > Kaikoura |
| Day 11 | Kaikoura > Hanmer Springs |
| Day 12 | Hanmer Springs > Christchurch > Depart |
> NZ$3,975.00 per person (twin share)
> View itinerary details (pdf format)
Included in this Package are:
- Accommodation as listed (twin share, 2 people in one room):
- George Hotel, Christchurch (1 night)
- Riverrun Lodge, Wanakla (3 nights, incl. breakfast)
- Misty Peaks Lodge, Fox Glacier (2 nights, incl. breakfast)
- Hydrangea Cottage, Punakaiki (1 night, incl. breakfast)
- Resurgence, Motueka (2 nights, incl. breakfast)
- Hapuku Lodge, Kaikoura (1 night, incl. breakfast)
- Cheltenham House, Hanmer Springs (1 night, incl. breakfast)
- Rental car for 11 rental days, Compact Automatic, unlimited kms, standard insurance with NZ$1688 insurance excess
- Taxi transfer after train arrival in Christchurch to accommodation)
Tours as listed: - Wanaka Flight to Milford Sound and Cruise
- Shotover Jet, Queenstown
- Helihiking tour, Fox Glacier
- White Heron tour, Whataroa/ Okarito
- Charleston Caving tour, 2-3 hours
- Abel Tasman Kayaking day tour
- Whalewatch Kaikoura
to get a quote and further information:
Itinerary Details:
DAY 1
- Arrive Christchurch Airport and transfer to your accommodation at The George Hotel. This is centrally located with an outlook over Hagley Park and the River and within easy walking distance of the Botanical Gardens, Arts Centre and Canterbury Museum. Take a Tram ride fom the Arts Centre and stop off in New Regent St for coffee and a browse the shops
- Dine tonight at Pescatore in The George Hotel or a short walk away at Hayes in Victoria St
DAY 2
- Collect your rental car this morning and drive to Wanaka where you are based for the next 3 nights at River Run Lodge
- Aim for Lake Tekapo for a picnic lunch stop. This is a 2.5 hour drive from the outskirts of Christchurch and Geraldine is a pretty rural service town en- route which is a good place to stop for supplies
- At Lake Pukaki stop at the lookout for views up to Mt Cook. If time allows and the weather is clear you may want to drive up to Glentanner on the Mt Cook road and take a scenic flight over the Southern Alps with Air Safaris
- Driving Time: Allow 5.5 hours
DAY 3
- This morning depart early from Wanaka airport for a scenic flight to Milford with Wanaka Flightseeing. See Mt Aspiring and Milford Sound from the air then experience a 2 hour cruise the length of Milford Sound before returning by air over Glenorchy and Queenstown.
- Returning to Wanaka, enjoy a relaxing lunch in one of the waterfront cafes and then explore the lake front and town on foot or drive up the West side of the Lake to the Matukituki Valley.The Department of Conservation office in Wanaka can provide maps.
- For dinner, drive up to the historic Cardrona Hotel in the Cardrona Valley 20 minutes away
DAY 4
- Today drive over the Crown range via Cardrona to Queenstown. This one hour drive is very scenic and the last portion winds down the mountain range towards Lake Wakatipu - drive carefully!
- There is plenty to see in and around Queenstown - start with Arrowtown and then on into Queenstown via the Skippers Canyon Bridge. After lunch on the Queenstown waterfront join Shotover Jet for an adrenalin rush boat trip up the Shotover River
- Take a Gondola ride, drive up the edge of Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy or take the Earnslaw boat cruise across the lake to Walter Peak High Country Station
- Return home via Lake Hayes, the Kawarau Gorge where you can stop for a bungy jump or at least watch other jumpers then travel onto Cromwell and Wanaka
DAY 5
- Depart Wanaka for Fox Glacier driving via lake Hawea and the thick rainforest of Haast Pass. Along the way stop at the Blue Pools, the Haast River and Lake Paringa.
- Stay at Misty Peaks Lodge in Fox Glacier for the next 2 nights
- Driving time today allow 4 hours
DAY 6
- Join Alpine Guides in Fox Glacier this morning for a Helihike onto the Glacier
- Take a drive out to the rugged Gillespies Beach
- Walk around lake Matheson at sunset for views and reflections of the Glacier and Mt Cook
DAY 7
- Drive from Fox Glacier to Franz Josef, Lake Mapourika and onto Whataroa. Visit the White Heron Nesting Colony at Okarito
- Other good stops include the very pretty lake Ianthe and Hokitika for greenstone carving, handmade jewellary and glass blowing
- Try the menu at Trappers, Hokitika's wild food restaurant
- Drive on to Punakaiki and view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. Stay at Hydrangea Cottages tonight
- Driving time today 3.5 hours
DAY 8
- Take the walk along Truman Track to the beach this morning
- Join Norwest Adventures for an open topped train trip through the rainforest of the Nile Valley. You can also take in a caving trip here or underground tube rafting.
- Stop at Cape Foulwind and the Bayhouse cafe for lunch
- Stay at The Resurgence Lodge just 15 minutes from the Abel Tasman National Park for the next 2 nights
- Driving time today 3.5 hours
DAY 9
- Join Abel Tasman Wilsons Experience for a day trip into the park which includes sea kayaking and walking on the Abel Tasman Track
- Return to The Resurgence for a delicious 4 course dinner and relax in the spa under the stars after your energetic day!
DAY 10
- Drive from Motueka to Kaikoura today. Drive to Mapua and try the chowder at The Smokehouse Cafe on the wharf. Spend an hour or so in Nelson, a great place to buy art including pottery and hand-blown glass.
- Good stops are the Pelorus River, Havelock, Highfield Winery in Blenheim and The Store at Kekerengu
- Stay tonight in the treehouses at Hapuku Lodge near Kaikoura
- Driving Time today 4 hours
DAY 11
- Join Whale Watch Kaikoura this morning or Dolphin Encounters - or do both!
- Take a walk around the peninsula and see the seal colony
- Take the inland Road from Kaikoura to Hanmer Springs and stay at Cheltenham House tonight
- Soak in the hot pools or take a walk up Conical Hill this evening
- Driving time today 2 hours
DAY 12
- Depending on your departure time , you may want to stop for lunch at a Waipara Vineyard such as Pegasus Bay. For a more casual dining experience, the Norwester Cafe in Amberley, the Pukeko Cafe or Brew Moon are good options. Stop off at Waikuku or Woodend Beach or head straight into Christchurch
- The Antarctic Centre near the airport is a good stop for a few hours prior to your flight
- Driving time to Christchurch airport allow 2 hours
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