12 Day Southern Soul Tour 

Welcome to New Zealand! Upon arrival you will be picked up for your private transfer from the 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.

Today you will pick up your Compact SUV Budget Rental Car and head out on your scenic trip from the plains to the heart of the Southern Alps. You’ll travel west from Christchurch across the flat Canterbury Plains. As you get closer to the mountains, the scenery becomes more dramatic. The route climbs into Arthur’s Pass National Park, a rugged and beautiful alpine wilderness. It’s a great first leg of a trip across the South Island.

ARTHURS PASS – Arthurs Pass National Park offers year-round outdoor recreation. Arthur’s Pass is easily accessible by car, or on the world-famous TranzAlpine Express train journey. Picturesque valleys and ravines, roaring waterfalls and snow capped peaks will catch your eye as you travel through stunning Arthur’s Pass. Activities are varied and include hiking and fishing in the summer, to skiing and ice skating in the winter.

Today is your day to immerse yourself in the peace, wildlife and outdoors that is abundant in Arthurs Pass.

Arthur’s Pass is a stunning alpine destination known for its dramatic landscapes and excellent hiking. Must-do walks include the short track to Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall and the Otira Viaduct Lookout, both offering great views and frequent kea sightings. Nearby, Castle Hill is worth a visit for its unique limestone boulders and photo opportunities.

This is a fantastic trip that takes you from the alpine scenery of Arthur’s Pass and onto the West Coast. You’ll travel through lush rainforest and past waterfalls, which is an amazing sight, before you arrive in the heart of glacier country.

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.

This afternoon you’ll join Franz Josef Wilderness Tours for their Cruise and Walk Tour. This unique tour offers a two-and-a-half-hour immersion into the untouched beauty of the Franz Josef region. You’ll begin with a tranquil cruise across Lake Mapourika, a scenic gem known for its mirror-like reflections of the surrounding Southern Alps and ancient rainforest. Your knowledgeable guide will share local stories and point out native birdlife as you glide across the calm water. The highlight of the trip is an exclusive landing at the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, where you’ll embark on a guided walk along a private rainforest trail. This is a rare opportunity to experience a Jurassic-like ecosystem, with towering trees and a lush undergrowth, all while learning about the conservation efforts for the critically endangered Rowi kiwi.

There’s time to do an optional tour this morning before you head off but either way this is a trip you’ll never forget. You’ll leave the unique rainforest environment of Franz Josef, passing through the Haast Pass, with waterfalls and lush native bush, before the landscape completely changes into the rugged high-country of Central Otago. It’s an epic journey that ends in the bustling town of Wānaka.

WANAKA – faces north across Lake Wanaka, to views of the surrounding mountains, which are often reflected on the Lake’s surface on calm days. Poplars and willows grow around the Lake’s edge, affording a colourful show during autumn. Wanaka is best known for boating, fishing and skiing at the Cardrona and Treble Cone ski-fields

Today you will head out with Eco Adventures Wanaka on their spectacular Lake Cruise and Island Nature Walk. This tour is a perfect blend of cruising and exploring. You’ll take a boat cruise on Lake Wānaka to the remote Mou Waho Island, which is a Department of Conservation wildlife sanctuary. Your guide will lead you on a short, scenic walk to a lookout, where you’ll find a lake on an island, in a lake, on an island, and have a chance to see the rare flightless buff weka.

Leave Wānaka and travel through Cromwell in Central Otago. The route continues southeast through Alexandra and Clyde, following the Clutha River valley. You’ll then pass through South Otago farmland and small towns before arriving in Dunedin, a city set on the Otago Harbour.

DUNEDIN/OTEPOTI – often called the “Edinburgh of the South”, Dunedin was settled by the Scottish settlers that came to New Zealand. It is a city of spires, of towers, gables and roofs with turrets, and gracious, generally stone, buildings. Dunedin is also home to the Albatross and Penguin colonies plus many species of New Zealand wildlife.

This afternoon we’ve included entry to Larnach Castle & Garden. Step back in time with a visit to Larnach Castle, a gothic revival masterpiece built in 1871. Your entry gives you access to the castle’s restored interior, where you can learn about the history of the Larnach family. You can also explore the stunning gardens of international significance and climb the tower for panoramic views of the Otago Peninsula and surrounding harbor.

A fantastic day is in store for you today with two of our favourite Dunedin tour booked for you.

Royal Albatross Centres, Unique Tour – this exclusive 90-minute private tour provides an intimate experience with the magnificent Northern Royal Albatross. With a dedicated expert guide, you will learn about the breeding cycle of these majestic birds and their conservation. You’ll view the albatross from a secluded, glass-fronted observatory and explore the historical Fort Taiaroa, which offers insights into the area’s human history.

Blue Penguins Pukekuras Blue Penguin Experience – this 90-minute tour provides a captivating and guaranteed wildlife viewing experience. You’ll take a guided walk to a purpose-built observation deck to watch the little blue penguins scurry up the beach to their burrows. The tour is run by a charitable trust, and a portion of your fee goes directly to supporting conservation work for the largest penguin colony on the Otago Peninsula.

This journey takes you southwest from Dunedin, passing through some lovely rural areas and smaller towns. The landscape is a mix of farmlands and high country, and as you get closer to Te Anau, you’ll start to feel the grandeur of the mountains and lakes that make up Fiordland. Te Anau is a great place to stay overnight before heading into Milford Sound.

TE ANAU – the focal point of the Fiordland National Park, the country’s most rugged and remote. Lake Te Anau sprawls at the feet of high rugged mountains with its South, Middle and North fiords probing into the ranges. The Lake, New Zealand’s second largest, is 417 metres deep.

Time for some adrenalin this afternoon as you join Fiordland Jet on their popular Pure Wilderness Tour. This tour is an exhilarating adventure that combines speed with sightseeing. Your jet boat will take you on a journey up the Waiau River, which was used as the River Anduin in the “Lord of the Rings” films. Your guide will provide entertaining commentary as you glide over shallows and spin through the pristine river system, with the stunning Fiordland mountains as your backdrop.

Today, will blow you away when you join RealNZ on their Doubtful Sound – Wilderness Cruise. Depart from Te Anau to Pearl Harbour, Manapouri, and cruise across picturesque Lake Manapouri to West Arm. Travel by coach over Wilmot Pass, through dense rainforest. Once at Doubtful Sound, board the Patea Explorer, for a 2.5 hour cruise of beautiful Doubtful Sound, to the Tasman Sea. There is excellent viewing of waterfalls, rainforest, and mountains. Of particular interest, if sighted, are fur seals basking on the rocks, or a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins. The rare Fiordland crested penguins are sometimes encountered, depending on the season. Return to Manapouri at the end of your journey.

Leave Te Anau and follow the highway east across open farmland. You will pass through Mossburn and Lumsden before entering the Wakatipu Basin with its spectacular mountain views. Your journey concludes as you arrive in Queenstown 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’ll return your rental car today and leave New Zealand ready to share your extraordinary memories and plan your next trip down to see us.