Your itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: Queenstown - Piopiotahi (Milford Sound)
Depart Queenstown and travel along the Devil’s Staircase to Te Anau, then through Fiordland National Park, passing lakes, alpine valleys and the Homer Tunnel before arriving at Piopiotahi (Milford Sound). Board the Milford Mariner for an overnight cruise, exploring by kayak or tender boat and dining on a three-course buffet.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Day 2: Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) - Wānaka
Cruise further through the fiord in the morning, then travel through Fiordland and Central Otago to Wānaka. The evening is free to relax and explore.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3
Day 3: Wānaka - Fox Glacier
Travel past Lake Hāwea and through Makarora, cross the Haast Pass and descend into the West Coast rainforest before arriving at Fox Glacier. An optional scenic flight over the glaciers is available.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Day 4: Fox Glacier - Christchurch
Continue along the West Coast to Hokitika, then travel inland toward the Southern Alps. Cross Arthur’s Pass before arriving in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), where the journey concludes.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Dining Summary
- 1 Dinner (D)
- 3 Breakfast (B)
Flight information
- Day 1: Flights to arrive prior to 12 noon into Queenstown AirportDay 4: Flights to depart after 7.00pm from Christchurch Airport Airport to Hotel transfers are available to purchase on request. Flights to and from your tour are not included in the tour price.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes Warm layers in cooler months Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Camera
Fitness Requirement
- Medium level of fitness required.
Operated By
AAT Kings
Fox Glacier Scenic Flight
Choose a scenic flight over the glaciers near Fox Glacier for an aerial perspective on the Southern Alps. From above, take in the scale of the ice and the steep mountain terrain that surrounds it, subject to flying conditions.
This optional experience offers a viewpoint distinct from the journey by road, revealing the relationship between the glaciers, peaks and West Coast landscape. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Fiordland National Park Scenic Journey
Travel from Queenstown toward Piopiotahi/Milford Sound through the Devil’s Staircase and Fiordland National Park. The route passes lakes, steep-sided alpine valleys and rainforest, with mountain scenery unfolding on the approach to the fiord.
Pass through the Homer Tunnel, cut through solid rock beneath the mountains. This scenic journey offers a close view of Fiordland’s remote terrain and a sense of the scale of the Southern Alps.
Piopiotahi/Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
Spend the night aboard the Milford Mariner on Piopiotahi/Milford Sound, cruising beneath sheer peaks and past waterfalls that descend into the fiord. Explore its shoreline by kayak or tender boat, with opportunities to watch for native wildlife against a backdrop of rainforest.
A three-course buffet dinner is served aboard. The quiet of the fiord at night and in the morning light makes this more than a brief sightseeing cruise, revealing different moods of Fiordland’s glacially carved landscape.
West Coast and Arthur’s Pass Scenic Journey
Travel along the rugged West Coast through Hokitika, a town associated with pounamu (greenstone) carving, before heading inland across the Southern Alps. The route through Arthur’s Pass brings dramatic peaks and high-country scenery into view.
Beyond the mountains, watch the landscape open toward the rolling plains around Christchurch. This cross-island journey showcases the marked contrast between the South Island’s rain-soaked western side and its broad eastern landscapes.
Lake Hawea and Haast Pass Scenic Journey
Discover the changing landscapes between Wanaka and the West Coast on a scenic journey past Lake Hawea and Makarora. Mountain-framed water and alpine valleys give way to the rugged terrain of Haast Pass, a route through the Southern Alps.
As the road descends, the scenery shifts from open mountain country to the lush rainforest of the West Coast. The contrast offers a vivid impression of how dramatically the South Island’s landscapes change across the alpine divide.
