Day No | Time | Day Title | Itinerary | Meal Plan | Night Halt |
1 | 00:00 Hrs | Arrival in Auckland | Welcome to your Southern Travels Spectacular New Zealand tour. On arrival you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your Hotel, Arrival in Auckland international airport. Transfer to your hotel [normal check in @ 15:00). Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, set between two harbours with gentle sandy shores on the east coast and black sand, wild surf beaches on the west coast. Home to sheltered, sparkling blue waters dotted with beautiful emerald islands, we recommend getting out on the water when you are here.
Overnight in Auckland.
| | Auckland |
2 | 00:00 Hrs | Auckland - Hobbiton - Rotorua | Today’s coach tour takes you through the rolling green hills to the iconic Hobbiton Movie Set, one of New Zealand’s ‘must-see’ destinations. See where The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were filmed as your tour guide shares behind-the-scenes tales. You’ll see sights like Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and The Green Dragon Inn, and learn how farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth. After exploring Hobbiton, tuck into a delicious lunch (cost not included) before continuing to Rotorua.
Overnight in Rotorua.
| Breakfast | Rotorua |
3 | 00:00 Hrs | Rotorua | Rotorua is surrounded by a fascinating geothermal landscape with its unique steam vents, spouting geysers and bubbling mud pool set alongside freshwater lakes and majestic native forests. It is also a region immersed in fascinating Maori myths and legends.
This afternoon you will be transported to Te Puia for a guided tour through the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, the Kiwi Conservation Centre and the geothermal valley. Then enjoy a Hangi Dinner overlooking the valley and geyser, followed by a 40 minute cultural performance. The evening culminates with hot chocolate and pudding on the geyser terrace.
Overnight in Rotorua.
| Breakfast | Rotorua |
4 | 00:00 Hrs | Rotorua - Christchurch | Depart on your domestic flight to Christchurch. (Airfare is NOT included). Christchurch is set between the deep blue Pacific Ocean and the mighty snow-capped Southern Alps. This is a vibrant, ever-changing city with inner city parks and gardens delightfully interwoven by the meandering Avon River. Overnight in Christchurch. | Breakfast | Christchurch |
5 | 00:00 Hrs | Christchurch – Greymouth | You will be transported to the Christchurch Railway Station for the Tranz Alpine train crossing the vast expanses of the Canterbury Plains, through the dramatic gorge of the Waimakariri River to Arthur’s Pass National Park. On arrival in Greymouth, you will be met and transferred to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes for a short self-guided walk to view the fascinating pancake-shaped rock formations before being delivered to your accommodation.
Overnight in Greymouth
| Breakfast | Greymouth |
6 | 00:00 Hrs | Greymouth - Glacier Region | This morning, you’ll be transferred to Shantytown Heritage Park for a sense of what it was like to live in New Zealand during the gold rush before returning to Greymouth for your transfer to Glacier Country. The temperate climate at a low altitude makes Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers among the most convenient to visit in the world. Steep valleys bear scars from where glaciers have retreated and advanced over millennia and here, the ice age is still underway.
Overnight in Glacier Region.
| Breakfast | Glacier Region. |
7 | 00:00 Hrs | Glacier Region - Queenstown | Start the day with a short walk to experience the rainforest with the glacier in the background and its shattered, glacier formed landscape. Then your guided tour heads south to the mighty Haast River Valley and the landscape dramatically changes again from dense rain forest to the drier tussock lands of Otago. Skirt the headwaters of Lake Wanaka and follow the shoreline of Lake Hawea and, time permitting, explore the quaint old gold mining village of Arrowtown before arriving in Queenstown where you’ll say farewell to your guide. Includes morning or afternoon tea and café lunch.
Overnight in Queenstown.
| Breakfast | Queenstown |
8 | 00:00 Hrs | Queenstown | Magnificent vistas and majestic mountains dominate this compact alpine resort town and with such an expansive natural physical environment it is not surprising that Queenstown has been described as the Adventure Capital of the World.
Today is a free day to add some of the endless optional activities on offer. Overnight in Queenstown.
| Breakfast | Queenstown |
9 | 00:00 Hrs | Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown | Fiordland is one of the world’s last great wildernesses. Today's stunning tour takes you past mirror lakes and waterfalls into Milford Sound, carved by ice age glaciers and famously described as the eighth wonder of the world. On arrival, board your vessel for a cruise of the fiord surrounded by towering mountains and cliffs that plunge into the sea. Feel the refreshing spray of a waterfall as you cruise close to sheer rock faces before returning to shore. After a big day out, reflect on memories of a lifetime on your coach return to downtown Queenstown. Lunch is included. Overnight in Queenstown. | Breakfast | Queenstown |
10 | 00:00 Hrs | Queenstown - Mt Cook/Tekapo - Christchurch | Departing Queenstown, your passionate driver guide will bring todays journey to life, sharing stories and rich background knowledge. Pass through the stunning Kawarau Gorge, fruit and wine growing region of Cromwell, following beautiful Lake Dunstan and through the dramatic Lindis Pass. Travel the vast plains of the Mackenzie district alongside magnificent turquoise blue lake framed by Aoraki Mt Cook and the spectacular Southern Alps to Mt Cook Village where you have some free time. Leaving Mt Cook it’s not hard to see why many Lord of the Rings scenes were filmed nearby. Your driver guide will point them out on the journey to Lake Tekapo where you will make a stop close to the popular Church of the Good Shepherd before continuing on through the amazing countryside to Christchurch. Overnight in Christchurch. | Breakfast | Christchurch |
11 | 00:00 Hrs | Final Departure | Today you will be transferred to Airport for your flight back home. We trust that you enjoyed your Vacation. Please do give us your valuable suggestions on feedback@southerntravels.in. | Breakfast | Tour Concludes Here... |