5 Day Scenic South Island
Day 1 - ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH Haere mai - welcome to New Zealand! After being met at Christchurch International Airport, transfer to your accommodation, Remainder of day to explore Christchurch. The city has emerged revitalized following the earthquake that devastated much of the Canterbury region in February 2011. The destruction of several landmark historic buildings has led to the development of new city plans, a bold public art programme and innovative use of space.
Day 2 - CHRISTCHURCH / MT COOK / QUEENSTOWN A day for spectacular sights as you farewell Christchurch and travel through Ashburton, Geraldine and Fairlie, over Burke’s Pass and into the vast Mackenzie Basin to the magnificent turquoise blue waters of Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki. Continue to Mount Cook Village, in the Mt Cook Aoraki National Park, home to New Zealand’s tallest mountain. At the southern end of the Mackenzie Country the road climbs through bleak rugged hills to the summit of the Lindis Pass before descending into Central Otago. Follow the rugged Kawarau River into Queenstown – New Zealand’s four season alpine resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains and set on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, the natural beauty and the unique energy of the Queenstown region create the perfect backdrop for a holiday full of adventure, exploration or relaxation. As well as the proclaimed ‘adventure capital of NZ’, the resort town of Queenstown is sophisticated and fantastically scenic. Its lake and mountain landscape is suited to almost any kind of adventure; but Queenstown is just as well known as a place for indulgence, for wine and cuisine and for gold-mining history.
Day 3 - MILFORD SOUND DAY EXCURSION Today depart Queenstown on an unforgettable full-day journey to Milford Sound. Located within the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, this region is rich with dense rainforest, lakes and waterfalls cascading from rugged mountain peaks. Journey through the Southern Alps via the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km tunnel drilled through a solid mountain of rock. Upon arrival at Milford Sound, board a comfortable vessel for a spectacular cruise where you will see the wonders of Mitre Peak, glacier scarred rock walls that rise 1,200m vertically from the sea, and waterfalls that tumble from hanging valleys and crash into the fiord far below. At the conclusion of your cruise retrace your journey back to Queenstown.
Day 4 - QUEENSTOWN Today is at leisure. Queenstown has a plethora of optional sightseeing activities available from jet-boating on the thrilling Shotover Jet; a jet-boat excursion along the scenic and remote Dart River; winery tours to the premier Central Otago wineries; 4WD tours into unforgettable Skippers Canyon; scenic flights; fly-fishing or if you dare – bungy jumping or tandem sky-diving!
Day 5 - DEPART QUEENSTOWN Farewell from New Zealand - transfer to Queenstown Airport for your departure flight and leave New Zealand with fantastic memories of a friendly and scenically diverse country.
Day 2 - CHRISTCHURCH / MT COOK / QUEENSTOWN A day for spectacular sights as you farewell Christchurch and travel through Ashburton, Geraldine and Fairlie, over Burke’s Pass and into the vast Mackenzie Basin to the magnificent turquoise blue waters of Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki. Continue to Mount Cook Village, in the Mt Cook Aoraki National Park, home to New Zealand’s tallest mountain. At the southern end of the Mackenzie Country the road climbs through bleak rugged hills to the summit of the Lindis Pass before descending into Central Otago. Follow the rugged Kawarau River into Queenstown – New Zealand’s four season alpine resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains and set on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, the natural beauty and the unique energy of the Queenstown region create the perfect backdrop for a holiday full of adventure, exploration or relaxation. As well as the proclaimed ‘adventure capital of NZ’, the resort town of Queenstown is sophisticated and fantastically scenic. Its lake and mountain landscape is suited to almost any kind of adventure; but Queenstown is just as well known as a place for indulgence, for wine and cuisine and for gold-mining history.
Day 3 - MILFORD SOUND DAY EXCURSION Today depart Queenstown on an unforgettable full-day journey to Milford Sound. Located within the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, this region is rich with dense rainforest, lakes and waterfalls cascading from rugged mountain peaks. Journey through the Southern Alps via the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km tunnel drilled through a solid mountain of rock. Upon arrival at Milford Sound, board a comfortable vessel for a spectacular cruise where you will see the wonders of Mitre Peak, glacier scarred rock walls that rise 1,200m vertically from the sea, and waterfalls that tumble from hanging valleys and crash into the fiord far below. At the conclusion of your cruise retrace your journey back to Queenstown.
Day 4 - QUEENSTOWN Today is at leisure. Queenstown has a plethora of optional sightseeing activities available from jet-boating on the thrilling Shotover Jet; a jet-boat excursion along the scenic and remote Dart River; winery tours to the premier Central Otago wineries; 4WD tours into unforgettable Skippers Canyon; scenic flights; fly-fishing or if you dare – bungy jumping or tandem sky-diving!
Day 5 - DEPART QUEENSTOWN Farewell from New Zealand - transfer to Queenstown Airport for your departure flight and leave New Zealand with fantastic memories of a friendly and scenically diverse country.
