• 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.

• 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.
• Wanaka: A lake town with views for days, surrounded by beech forests, alpine lakes, and wilderness glaciers.
• 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.
• 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.
• Arrowtown: A historic gold mining town, Arrowtown is known as one of the cutest towns in New Zealand, so see for yourself on a walking tour that covers all the best things to see in Arrowtown.
• 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.

Walk the tree-lined Buckingham Street and riverside trails of this historic gold mining town, where restored cottages and shopfronts evoke the 1860s Otago Gold Rush. Stroll to the evocative Chinese Settlement and hear the stories of prospectors who carved lives along the Arrow River.

Absorb the alpine village charm, from schist stone buildings to seasonal colours that sweep the valley. Local insights bring the town’s boom-and-bust fortunes to life, pairing postcard scenery with rich social history.

Capture the milky-turquoise sheen of turquoise, glacier-fed lakes framed by the Southern Alps. Visit Tekapo’s stone Church of the Good Shepherd, then take in Lake Pukaki’s sweeping views toward Aoraki/Mt Cook—a perfect canvas for wide-angle photography.

Discover how finely ground “glacial flour” creates these vivid hues, and why the region’s International Dark Sky Reserve status makes nights here so star-filled. It’s a masterclass in Southern Alps scenery, distilled into two unforgettable vantage points.

Lift off over ancient ice to trace crevasses and seracs by helicopter, gaining a rare perspective on the Franz Josef Glacier flowing from the Southern Alps toward the Tasman Sea. Weather permitting, a snow landing lets you step out into a high-alpine world of blue ice and wind-sculpted snow.

This experience reveals the scale and dynamism of a living glacier, with commentary on geology and climate shaping the landscape. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Craft your own keepsake as you work alongside a Maori master carver, shaping pounamu into a toki, koru or heart pendant. Learn safe techniques, smoothing and polishing until the silky green stone catches the light.

Hear how designs embody whakapapa (ancestry) and protection, and why gifting and wearing pounamu carries deep meaning. You’ll leave with a personal taonga and the story behind it. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Channel pure adrenaline as you leap from the Kawarau Bridge, the world’s original commercial bungy site founded by AJ Hackett Bungy in 1988. Plunge 43 metres toward the Kawarau River, with options for a water touch and pro photos to relive the moment.

Set in a dramatic schist gorge, the historic suspension bridge makes a spectacular viewing spot for friends who’d rather cheer than jump. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Glide up to Bob’s Peak as you ride the Skyline Gondola for commanding views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Settle in for a showcase of New Zealand flavours as you dine at Stratosfare, with seasonal produce and a panorama that shifts with evening light.

Toast sunset hues sliding across the lake, then step onto the terrace for night-sparkled city views. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Fly through native forest canopy as you zipline through beech trees on a guided eco-adventure above Queenstown. Multiple lines build confidence and speed, delivering fresh angles on Lake Wakatipu and alpine peaks with every launch.

Learn about conservation and local ecology from engaging guides while tackling elevated platforms and forest trails. Thrill and education meet in one seamless glide. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore the southernmost wine region on guided tastings that sample regional wines at boutique cellar doors. Discover why Central Otago Pinot Noir thrives in schist soils and big diurnal temperature swings, with options to pair cheeses and artisan bites.

Vineyard vistas in Gibbston and Bannockburn set a sublime backdrop as hosts share harvest stories and terroir insights. Spit, sip or savour—your choice. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Skim the Waiau River on a high-speed ride that jets into Fiordland National Park, carving gentle spins and sweeping arcs en route to Lake Manapouri. Mountain silhouettes, braided shallows and birdlife frame the journey.

Your driver interweaves natural history with river lore as the scenery slides by at water level—an invigorating way to feel the scale of Fiordland’s waterways. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Venture underground by foot and small boat to glide into a glowworm grotto, where thousands of pinpricks form luminescent ceilings over an active limestone stream. The hush is broken only by subterranean waterfalls.

Guides explain the glowworms’ delicate lifecycle and the cave’s formation as you navigate narrow passages. Emerging into daylight feels magical after the bioluminescent night-sky below. This is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Swap sneakers for skis as you carve wide groomers or hit the terrain parks at Cardrona Alpine Resort, set between Queenstown and Wanaka. Rentals, lift passes and lessons are available for all levels, from first turns to confident cruisers.

Soak up alpine vistas on sunny terraces between laps, with dependable snow and friendly Kiwi hospitality. Operates on select winter departures; this is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit a working high-country station to learn how the Fairlight Foundation equips women in agriculture with practical skills. Meet trainees, step inside shearing sheds, and hear how modern animal husbandry and land management shape life on the edge of Fiordland.

Understand the rhythms of seasonal work, from lambing to pasture care, and how regenerative practices protect waterways and soils. Contiki makes a contribution on your behalf, ensuring this hands-on education keeps opening doors for future farmers.

Cruise the fiord beneath sheer granite cliffs to witness Mitre Peak, rainforest hanging from vertical walls, and thundering waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen. Keep watch for seals and dolphins as the boat noses close to the spray for exhilarating photos.

Formed by ancient glaciers, Piopiotahi sits within a UNESCO World Heritage site. The region’s frequent mists amplify the drama—fleeting rainbows, drifting cloud veils and the inky calm of deep waters create an atmosphere you’ll want to pause and savour.

Contiki

Discover the West Coast’s living taonga as you meet a local Maori guide in Hokitika to learn about pounamu (greenstone). Follow stories of the Arahura River and the stone’s journey from alpine source to sea, and hear how communities identify, respect and work with this treasured material.

Gain insight into why the South Island is called Te Waipounamu and how customary guardianship kaitiakitanga protects waterways and quarry sites. Your visit supports local stewardship projects that keep these sacred places healthy for future generations.

Soak up mountain panoramas on the lakeside promenade and frame your shot of #ThatWanakaTree, a photogenic willow rising from the shallows. The glassy waters reflect the Southern Alps, with the gateway peaks of Mt Aspiring National Park shaping a dramatic skyline.

Learn how glaciers sculpted this valley and why the local microclimate produces such luminous light. Cafés and galleries add a relaxed edge, while gentle shoreline paths invite you to pause and breathe in the alpine air.