• 3 Dinner (D)
• 8 Breakfast (B)

• Christchurch: The only difference between the trips is that they travel in different directions. Everything else is the same. On an Eastbound trip, you’ll depart from Christchurch and see Lake Ohau before the Franz Josef.  For Westbound, you’ll depart from Christchurch and travel to Franz Josef glacier before visiting Lake Ohau.
• Sydney: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Christchurch: Yes, all outdoor adventure activities will only be available weather permitting for your safety. Some Free Time Add-Ons may still be available according to the company policies and health & safety protocols. Your Trip Manager will be in touch with all suppliers in case weather conditions disrupt any bookings.
• Christchurch: Yep, you’ll be able to book a private twin-share room as an add-on supplement if you’re travelling together with another person.

• Lake Ohau: Looking out at the peaks of Mt Cook across the glacial waters of Lake Ohau… It was once a dream, but today we’ll make it your reality. (You’re welcome.)
• Lake Tekapo: See the church on the shores of Lake Tekapo with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks – and get that iconic Insta pic too!
• Lake Tekapo: We’ll stop at Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and Geraldine… and watch happily on as NZ’s astonishing natural beauty takes your breath away.
• Lake Ohau: Drive through one of the South Island’s most iconic landscapes as you cross the Lindis Pass. Linking Central and North Otago, this high-country route is known for its rolling golden tussock hills, wide-open views and dramatic alpine scenery. Camera rolls at the ready.
• Te Anau: Today we’ll visit a local farm in Te Anau to support the Fairlight Foundation, which works to advance women in Agriculture. We’ll learn all about farming, as well as the Fairlight Foundation and the work that they do.
• Milford Sound: Cruise along the glassy waters and get the kind of view people write poems about. You’ll soon see why it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Queenstown: Tuck into an all-you-can-eat pizza feast at Winnies — Queenstown’s iconic spot with ski-lodge vibes, a cosy fireplace, and a roof that opens whether it’s sunny or snowing.
• Queenstown: Check out the epic views of the valley from the world’s first ever (and some would say most famous) bungy jump bridge. You might even witness some epic bungy jumps!
• Wanaka: A lake town with views for days, surrounded by beech forests, alpine lakes, and wilderness glaciers.
• Haast: Ready for some incredible views? We’ll drive through the gorgeous mountains of the Gates of Haast and catch once-in-a-lifetime views of the river below. Seems like Mother nature does have a favourite!
• Hokitika: The South Island is home to Pounamu (greenstone) – so special the island’s even named Te Wai Pounamu, the greenstone waters. In Hokitika, we’ll meet a local Maori guide from the region, who’ll share the history, sacred sites and cultural significance of this treasured stone. Then it’s off to see if we can spot some Pounamu. All of this, while supporting the local trust that keeps the river healthy.

Gather in the heart of town for an all-you-can-eat pizza feast at Winnies, the alpine pizzeria known for its quirky opening roof. Settle into ski-lodge ambience as platters emerge hot from the oven.

Between slices, trade stories from the road and toast to Queenstown’s vibrant food scene. The convivial rhythm here captures alpine-town conviviality—easy, welcoming and full of chatter.

Lift off for a landing on the ice, then follow guides on a heli-hike on Franz Josef Glacier. Navigate blue ice caves and seracs, with crampons and specialist gear provided for secure footing on the frozen terrain.

Learn how this fast-moving glacier is shaped by snowfall and climate while carving otherworldly formations. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather permitting.

Meet passionate locals as you visit a working high-country farm supported by the Fairlight Foundation, an initiative advancing women in agriculture. Learn how trainees gain hands-on agricultural skills and insight into station life in this rugged landscape.

From animal husbandry to land stewardship, discover how the program helps break barriers for women in agriculture while preserving rural knowledge. Your visit directly supports these efforts, adding purpose and people-to-people connection to the journey.

Glide beneath sheer cliffs and waterfalls as you join a Milford Sound scenic cruise. Feel ocean spray near Stirling Falls, admire the iconic silhouette of Mitre Peak, and keep watch for fur seals or dolphins in the inky fiord.

Part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, Piopiotahi reveals ancient geology shaped by ice. The mood shifts with the weather—mist veils, shafts of sun, or brooding clouds—each casting a different spell on this legendary landscape.

Stroll the compact centre on a Queenstown orientation walk, taking in the Lake Wakatipu waterfront, Steamer Wharf and boutique-lined laneways. Soak in alpine energy and note the cafes, bars and activity bases you might return to later.

Local tips point out viewpoints, public art and trails with sightlines to the Remarkables range. This short, insightful walk helps you navigate the adventure capital’s buzz while keeping its mountain-and-lake setting firmly in view.

Stand at the birthplace of modern bungy on the Kawarau Bungy Bridge, the world’s first commercial bungy site. Watch jumpers launch toward the emerald Kawarau River as the gorge channels wind and applause ricochets off the schist walls.

Learn how AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch turned a daring idea into an icon of Queenstown. Even non-jumpers feel the pulse here—equal parts spectacle, engineering and alpine theatre.

Trace the wild West Coast as you drive through the Gates of Haast, where rivers carve chasms and spray mists the roadside ferns. This route threads ancient beech rainforest, glacier-fed streams and tumbling cascades.

As the landscape shifts from arid ranges to lush temperate forest, learn how tectonics and ice shaped this frontier. Occasional stops reveal deep-blue pools and thunderous waterfalls, with the drama of Mount Aspiring National Park never far from view.

Climb into the backbone of the South Island through Arthur’s Pass National Park, where braided rivers, scree slopes and snow-touched peaks create epic mountain theatre. Scan the ridgelines for kea alpine parrots, famed for curiosity and character.

Learn how engineering tamed steep gradients via alpine viaducts and river gorges, linking the West Coast to the Canterbury Plains. The scenery unfurls in grand scale—glaciated valleys giving way to vast, sunlit lowlands.

Skim across pristine waters on a high-speed jet boat adventure linking Te Anau to the Waiau River and Lake Manapouri. Revel in spray, spins and sweeping views as forested slopes crowd the shoreline.

Guides share Fiordland lore and conservation stories inside Fiordland National Park, a realm of deep lakes and steep-sided valleys. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather permitting.

Venture by launch and walkway into the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, where a subterranean river threads limestone passages. In the darkness, ceilings ignite with galaxies of glowworms casting pinprick constellations overhead.

Hear how time and water carved this underworld and why the glow’s blue-green light is part of a delicate life cycle. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Summon your courage and take the plunge at one of Queenstown’s legendary sites—choose the original Kawarau Bridge (43 m) or go big on the Nevis (134 m). The countdown, the leap and the rebound deliver pure alpine adrenaline.

Staff brief you on technique and safety in the home of AJ Hackett innovation. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Fly tree to tree on a zipline canopy tour with views over the lake and town. Glide above native beech on the flanks of Bob’s Peak, linking platforms by cable and forest trail.

Eco-guides share stories of reforestation and birdlife as you pick up speed between trees. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Journey into the sun-warmed valleys to sample Central Otago pinot noir and vibrant aromatics. Visit boutique cellar doors in the Gibbston ‘Valley of the Vines’ or nearby sub-regions, learning how altitude and schist soils shape flavour.

Swirl, sip and compare vintages during cellar-door tastings, often with winemaker insights and vineyard views. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Slow the pace with a lakeside sauna session and bracing cold plunge, gazing across Lake Wakatipu to The Remarkables. Alternate heat and cool for a restorative reset amid spectacular alpine scenery.

Hosts guide best practice for breathwork and recovery so you emerge refreshed and clear-headed. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Ascend Bob’s Peak as you ride the Skyline Gondola, watching the lake and mountains fall away below. Dine at altitude on a panoramic dinner where picture windows frame shifting light and ranges.

As evening settles, capture sunset over Lake Wakatipu and the twinkle of town lights far beneath. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Shape stone into meaning as you carve your own pounamu pendant, guided by a Maori master carver. Choose a form, learn traditional techniques and polish your taonga to a soft sheen.

Hear about pounamu’s cultural significance—a treasure carried for protection, connection and memory—before wearing your creation home. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Discover the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and pause at the stone-built Church of the Good Shepherd, framed by snow-dusted peaks. Wander the lakefront and capture the clarity of the Mackenzie Basin light before continuing to the lookouts above the glacial-blue Lake Pukaki, famed for mirror-like reflections.

Gain sweeping views to Aoraki/Mt Cook on clear days and learn why this high country forms part of an International Dark Sky Reserve. The contrasting hues, alpine air and wide horizons make this a standout South Island scenic moment.

Travel through a sweep of ochre ridgelines as you cross the Lindis Pass, one of the South Island’s most dramatic alpine corridors. The landscape of golden tussock high country rolls to the horizon, punctuated by river valleys and distant peaks.

Hear how this high, wind-brushed saddle links Otakou/Otago and the Mackenzie Basin, with views to the Southern Alps shifting as the light changes. It’s a photographer’s delight and a quintessential South Island road scene.

Contiki

Settle beside an alpine shoreline for lakeside Kiwi family-style dinner, where hearty dishes and warm hospitality pair with mountain silhouettes. As evening draws in, the sky deepens over the Mackenzie Basin, inviting slow moments and shared stories.

Gaze across to Aoraki/Mt Cook when conditions allow, and linger under an alpine starscape often crisp and brilliant here. This convivial shared table experience captures the relaxed cadence of New Zealand high-country life.

Pause along the crystal-clear Lake Wanaka shoreline at Roys Bay, where apricot-hued hills meet reflective water. Photograph the scene and, time permitting, seek out the famous lakeside willow that has become a symbol of the town’s serene mood.

With cafes, galleries and mountain backdrops, Wanaka blends outdoorsy energy with small-town charm. Clear days reveal distant glaciers and crags—classic Southern Lakes scenery distilled into one effortless stop.

In coastal Hokitika, meet a local Maori guide to explore the stories and sites linked to pounamu (greenstone). Hear how the Arahura and other rivers are protected, and why these stones are treasured for strength, beauty and lineage.

Discover tikanga, carving traditions and the practice of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) that sustains river health. This encounter supports community-led initiatives and deepens your connection to Te Tai o Poutini, the West Coast.