14 Day Oceans, Ice & Wine ‘Premium’ Tour 

Upon arrival you will be picked up for your private transfer from Christchurch Airport to your accommodation with time to get a feel for Christchurch.

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.

Make the most of your free day in the Garden City! Stroll through the gorgeous Botanic Gardens, glide down the Avon River on a punt, or jump on the vintage tram to see the city in style. Ride the gondola for epic views across the mountains and coast, or simply wander the lively laneways packed with street art, Riverside markets, and cool cafés – or book an optional tour if you’re keen to explore even more.

Today you will pick up your Intermediate SUV Budget rental car and begin your trip in Christchurch and head north along the coast. The route hugs the Pacific Ocean, offering incredible views, and it’s a great place to spot seals basking on the rocks right next to the highway. You’ll leave the dramatic coastal scenery behind as you approach the city of Kaikōura, a perfect way to end a coastal adventure.

KAIKOURA/TE TAUMANU O TE WAKA A MAUI – means “to eat crayfish”, from the Māori words “Kai” meaning food, and Koura meaning crayfish. You can savour crayfish here in Kaikoura, view whales and dolphins at play, or visit local galleries and craft shops, or take a walk along the Peninsula Walkway. If you travel out onto the Kaikoura Peninsula and look back towards the mountains, an amazing tableau will appear before you. The seaward Kaikoura Range appears to rise from the sea, with the snow-capped Southern Alps as a backdrop.

This afternoon you will venture out on one of New Zealand’s most iconic tours joining Whale Watch Kaikoura’s famous Whale Watch – Captain’s Cabin. This is a fantastic boat tour with a high success rate for spotting whales. You’ll be on a modern catamaran designed for whale watching, with an enclosed cabin and large outdoor decks. Your expert guides will use specialized equipment to locate giant sperm whales, the stars of the show and year-round residents, and you might also see dolphins, seals, and a variety of seabirds.

Take a scenic journey north with the Pacific Ocean on your right and the mountains on your left. It’s an easy and beautiful trip. You’ll pass through some lovely coastal scenery before arriving in the rolling vineyards of the Marlborough region, with Blenheim at its center.

BLENHEIM/WAIHARAKEKE – the “Sunshine Capital” of New Zealand is situated on the Wairau Plain near the top of the South Island. Blenheim’s combination of high sunshine hours, a long ripening period, and free-draining river flats have put the district’s vineyards at the forefront of the International Wine Industry. The second Saturday of February is Blenheim’s Wine and Food Festival which draws many to celebrate food, music and dance.

Indulge your senses on your first wine experience with a full-day Taste Marlborough Wine Tour. You’ll be collected from your accommodation, and you’ll visit a selection of Marlborough’s best wineries, sampling award-winning wines and learning about the history and passion of the people who create them. It’s a fantastic experience for both connoisseurs and casual wine drinkers, offering a deep dive into New Zealand’s largest and most famous wine region.

This is a nice, straightforward journey that links New Zealand’s main wine region with the sunny city of Nelson. You’ll travel through beautiful countryside and pass a few small towns along the way. Nelson is a creative hub with lots of art, excellent food, and a more relaxed vibe than the bigger cities. A suggested optional experience is trying the famous green mussels on a Seafood Odyssea Cruise – they’re a local delicacy and well worth sampling if you’re a seafood fan.

NELSON/WHAKATU – with its gardens and gorgeous sunsets, looks across Tasman Bay. Streets and Parks are named after Admiral Nelson and his exploits, as well as the names of the ships that brought the first pioneers over from England. Forestry, fruit and fishing are the main focus of Nelson’s port, while to the west, apple orchards, tobacco and hop plantations occupy the land.

Just 30 minutes from Nelson, Kaiteriteri is your launchpad to Abel Tasman National Park, a sun-soaked playground of golden beaches, turquoise waters, and lush trails.

Wilson’s Abel Tasman Ltd – Cruise/Walk – Open Day Pass. This is a great way to explore Abel Tasman National Park at your own pace. You’ll enjoy a scenic boat cruise past Split Apple Rock and a fur seal colony before being dropped off at a beach of your choice. From there, you can embark on a walk of varying lengths through native forests and along golden beaches, with the shuttle picking you up at the end of your day.

This is a great journey from Nelson that takes you west and then south down the wild coastline. The route winds through native bush and along the rugged coast, offering some spectacular views. The trip ends at Punakaiki, a small village famous for its unique rock formations and the blowholes that erupt with a loud roar.

PUNAKAIKI – is the gateway to the dramatic limestone country of the Paparoa National Park. It lies halfway between Greymouth and Westport on one of the most spectacular coastal highways. The Pancake Rocks that Punakaiki is famous for are limestone formations that began forming 30 million years ago. The seabed was raised above sea level by earthquakes to form the coastal cliffs and coastline. The sea, wind and rain have since etched out the soft layers to form the unusual rock formations we see today. When conditions are right, large ocean swells thunder into the caverns beneath the rocks and huge water spouts blast skywards through the blowholes creating a spectacular sight. Tourism activities in the area include canoe adventures, horse trekking, caving and guided walks to name just a few.

Today, this is a scenic trip that takes you south to Franz Josef. You’ll be following a winding road that offers continuous views of the rugged coastline. The route passes through charming, historic towns, and plenty of places to stop for photos before you arrive in the stunning glacier country of Franz Josef.

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.

After you arrive in Franz Josef, get ready to dive straight into adventure with a Franz Josef Glacier Guides – Heli-Hike. 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.

The drive from Franz Josef to Wanaka 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.

Enjoy all the wonderful activities that the Wanaka and Lake Hawea region has to offer.

Today a Wanaka Wine Tours guide will whisk you away on a Boutique Wine Trail to vineyards where winemakers pour with passion and stories flow as freely as the wine. This tour is a perfect way to discover Wānaka’s hidden gems. Your local guide will take you to several small, family-owned vineyards, where you’ll be greeted by the winemakers themselves. You’ll get to taste a variety of local wines, with a focus on the region’s acclaimed Pinot Noir, and learn about the unique terroir of Wānaka.

Departing from Wānaka, you will climb the Crown Range, which is New Zealand’s highest main road. You’ll pass through the Cardrona Valley and by the historic Cardrona Hotel. The journey then descends steep switchbacks, offering breathtaking views of the Wakatipu Basin.

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.

This afternoon at Kinross, enjoy a 45 minute in depth hosted wine tasting at 4:30pm. Sample five wines from five local vineyards – Hawkshead, High Garden, Valli and Wild Irishman and of course Kinross wine.

The adventure capital of New Zealand. Whether it adrenalin, wine, food, golf or action you want its all here today for you. There is so much to do in and around Queenstown that you are spoilt for choice today. Choose from one of our suggested optional tours, take it easy and enjoy the town or talk to your consultant about the myriads of fun on offer in this extraordinary destination.

Located close to your accommodation, head to Gibbston Valley Wines for a 30 minute Wine Cave Tour – with tasting of 3 wines. Informative and fun, visiting the wine cave is a must-do activity to experience wine in Central Otago. Starting in the iconic Home Block vineyard, the tour gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the region’s rich winemaking history. Afterwards, head into the cave for wine tasting.

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.