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Our currency converter is based on weekly exchange rates and is provided to give you an idea of the itinerary prices in your local currency. The final cost for itineraries can be confirmed by our team of consultants.
Experience the ultimate luxury self drive journey through New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cities. Starting in Christchurch, you will be warmly welcomed and checked into The George, a sophisticated boutique hotel known for its personalized service and elegant ambiance. Explore the city’s resilience and artistic revival on a private walking tour, followed by a scenic drive through the Southern Alps to Mount Cook, where you will stay at the exquisite Lakestone Lodge, offering stunning lakeside vistas and exclusive experiences like a stargazing tour at Mt John Observatory. Travel to Queenstown and indulge in the refined comfort of Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa, enjoying private vineyard tours, gourmet dinners aboard historic steamships, and breathtaking scenic excursions. Venture to Franz Josef for an unforgettable heli-hike on the glaciers, staying at the deluxe Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, before crossing the Southern Alps aboard the iconic TranzAlpine train back to Christchurch. Throughout this journey, you will enjoy the finest accommodations, immersive cultural activities, and spectacular scenery, creating a truly memorable and luxurious New Zealand experience.
Welcome to New Zealand! Upon arrival you will be picked up for your private transfer from Christchurch Airport to your hotel.
CHRISTCHURCH/OTAUTAHI – Located on a level plain, Christchurch is defined by its historic past and vibrant future. The willow and oak-lined River Avon meanders through its heart, where you can enjoy a punt ride or explore the sprawling Botanic Gardens. Much of the city’s unique charm comes from its blend of old and new; elegant stone buildings sit alongside striking contemporary architecture. Following a series of earthquakes, the city has been thoughtfully and creatively rebuilt, resulting in innovative new spaces like the Transitional Cathedral and Margaret Mahy Playground. This spirit of renewal makes Christchurch an exciting hub for arts, culture, and dining, while its proximity to both the stunning Canterbury Plains and the volcanic Port Hills offers easy access to outdoor adventures.
The perfect introduction to the city, today you’ll join Fine Art Tours NZ for their Garden City Private Walking Tour. Explore the heart of Christchurch with a private guide and see how a region devasted by earthquakes has rebuilt and re-emerged as a modern, resilient city Christchurch, once known for its Gothic Revival architecture, is now also home to striking modern architecture and interconnected streets and pathways designed for walking and cycling. Tour the city on foot with a mature local guide who will share their new favourite spaces and personal stories of regeneration and the rebuild.
Today you will pick up your Intermediate SUV Budget rental car for your journey further south to Mount Cook. Prepare your camera for this spectacular trip that takes you inland from Christchurch. You’ll pass through the Canterbury Plains and enter the Mackenzie Country, with breathtaking views of the Southern Alps and the vibrant turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. The route then leads you directly to Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain.
MOUNT COOK/AORAKI – whose Maori name “Aorangi” means “Cloud Piercer” is some 3753.5 metres high and surrounded by a host of massive peaks. Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest mountain, and can quite often be surrounded by cloud, constantly vulnerable to the fast changing weather patterns of an alpine climate.
This evening you’ll love Dark Sky Projects Summit Experience at Mt John Observatory. This is a world-class stargazing experience. You’ll be taken to the summit of Mount John, the scientific heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve. Your guide will provide a captivating tour of the Southern Hemisphere sky, using a powerful, state-of-the-art telescope to show you constellations, planets, and nebulae, all while sharing stories and scientific knowledge.
A day to enjoy the many activities Mount Cook has to offer. Choose from one of our popular optional tours below or talk to your consultant about our many tours on offer.
Today you’ll leave the Mount Cook area and travel through the Mackenzie Basin, with views of the Southern Alps and the famous turquoise lakes. The journey continues through the rugged high country of Central Otago before you arrive in Queenstown, nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
QUEENSTOWN/TAHUNA – is the South Island’s most popular resort, set alongside the shores of Lake Wakatipu, under the gaze of the Remarkables Ranges. See the contrast of smooth glacier rounded hills, and jagged mountain summits that reach high above the ancient ice floor. The town is renowned for its jet boating, bungy-jumping, skiing and awe-inspiring scenery. Local story has it, that the gold prospectors of the 19th century pronounced the town as “fit for any Queen”, and so she was called Queenstown.
Today you will join Appellation Wine Tours for part of the day to enjoy their Private Gourmet Wine Tour. This is the ultimate tour for wine connoisseurs. Your private guide will tailor a day to your specific preferences, visiting the best wineries in the region for a series of exclusive tastings. The tour also includes a superb lunch at a vineyard restaurant, with local cuisine perfectly paired with the wines.
This is an incredibly scenic journey that links the adventure hub with the West Coast glaciers. before you go give yourself a shot adrenalin on the Shotover Jet or head off right away. You’ll travel over the Haast Pass, a route with lush rainforest and past towering mountains. The scenery transforms dramatically as you travel up the West Coast, with lush native bush and dramatic coastal views before you arrive at the glaciers.
FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER/WAIAU – originally named Victoria, after Queen Victoria of England, geologist Julius Von Haast, renamed it, Franz Josef, after the current Emperor of his homeland, Austria. The Glacier is pale blue/green ice that has retreated and advanced many times over the years. A walk from the carpark to the Glacier terminal will give you some impressive views and an idea of the immense size of the Glacier itself. The township of Franz Josef is a small town based around the tourist and supply trade.
Prepare for a fantastic day! You’ll join Franz Josef Glacier Guides on their famous Heli-Hike Tour. This tour is consistently rated as a highlight of any New Zealand trip. After a thrilling helicopter flight over the glacier, you’ll land high on the ice fall. Equipped with boots and crampons provided by the company, your expert guide will lead you on a two-and-a-half-hour hike through an ever-changing landscape of ice caves, crevasses, and towering ice formations.
Today you’ll drive from Franz Josef to Greymouth to drop your car off and begin an epic train journey aboard the TranzAlpine. Experience one of the world’s most scenic train rides, traveling through the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island. The journey takes you from the farmlands of the Canterbury Plains through river gorges and into the mountains of Arthur’s Pass, offering incredible views from the open-air viewing carriage.
The Great Journeys of New Zealand – TranzAlpine: Greymouth to Christchurch. Travel on the world famous TranzAlpine Train from Greymouth to Christchurch in the Scenic Plus cabins, enjoying the incredible scenery along the way. The journey will take you coast-to-coast through the ‘Great Divide’ and the indomitable spine of mountains that partitions New Zealand’s South Island. From your carriage you’ll see the lush green valleys of the West Coast, the spectacular Southern Alps, beautiful gorges and river valleys and the fields of the Canterbury Plains. Your train journey is 223.8 kilometres long with 16 tunnels and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 metres. An open-air viewing carriage allows you to get even closer to the stunning scenery and provides many opportunities to photograph your favourite spots. With the Scenic Plus experience, savour regionally inspired cuisine paired with wine and beer from the comfort of your luxurious seat as you soak in the spectacular scenery – a hosted dining experience like no other.
You will be met by Hallmark Limousines at the Christchurch Train Station for your private transfer to your Christchurch city hotel.
After checking out from your accommodation, you will be met by your driver for a private transfer to Christchurch Airport. Leave New Zealand ready to share your extraordinary memories and plan your next trip down to see us.
If you are looking at a once in a lifetime journey through some of the South Islands most stunning scenery while staying in five-star accommodation than this tour is for you and can be customised to include whatever takes your fancy.
Packed with lots of tips, highlights, activities and helpful information of our diverse country.
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