• 12 Breakfast (B)
• 4 Dinner (D)
• 1 Lunch (L)

• Medium level of fitness required.

• Day 1: Flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Christchurch AirportDay 13: Flights to depart after 2.00pm from Wellington Airport Airport to Hotel transfers are available to purchase on request. Flights to and from your tour are not included in the tour price.

• Comfortable walking shoes Warm layers Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Camera

Cruise Milford Sound/Piopiotahi through the heart of Fiordland National Park. From the water, look up at steep, forested cliffs and watch waterfalls spill down rock faces into the fiord. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the shoreline.

Carved by glaciers and shaped by heavy rainfall, Milford Sound has a dramatic scale best appreciated from a boat. The journey into Fiordland also reveals beech forest, clear rivers and alpine scenery that frame this remote corner of the South Island.

AAT Kings

Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over welcome drinks in Christchurch. The hosted gathering offers a relaxed introduction to the small group and a chance to ask questions about the journey.

Hear the tour briefing and get acquainted in a city known for its creative response to the 2010–11 earthquakes. Christchurch’s blend of historic streets and inventive new buildings provides a distinctive setting for the first group experience.

Visit Geraldine and Barker’s Store in this South Canterbury town, known for its locally made cheeses and treats. Browse the store’s range of fruit preserves and other regional produce while getting a feel for Geraldine’s country-town character.

Barker’s began as a family venture using fruit grown in the area and has become closely associated with New Zealand pantry staples. This stop puts the region’s food-making traditions alongside the town’s welcoming main-street atmosphere.

Explore the historic town of Clyde, where streets lined with preserved buildings recall Central Otago’s gold-rush years. Wander the compact town centre and see former commercial premises now occupied by cafés and shops.

Clyde grew during the nineteenth-century rush for gold along the nearby Clutha River. Its designated historic precinct retains the scale and character of a settlement built in that era, making it a rewarding place to pause and photograph the stone and timber streetscape.

Take a guided tour of Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill and explore a collection of more than 300 vehicles. See classic trucks alongside rare and unusual machines as the displays trace changing approaches to transport.

Bill Richardson began collecting old trucks in 1967, building a collection rooted in both engineering and personal enthusiasm. In a Southland city with a strong affection for motoring, the museum offers a tangible look at vehicles that helped move people and goods across New Zealand.

Meet a local farmer at Real Country for a hands-on introduction to rural South Island life. Watch demonstrations of horse communication and working sheepdogs mustering, and experience the practical skills behind the region’s farming traditions.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience connects visitors with the people and animals of the countryside. A donation is made for every guest to the Fairlight Foundation, which supports the advancement of women in agriculture.

Wander the historic streets of Arrowtown, a former gold-mining settlement near Queenstown. Explore at your own pace among tree-lined lanes, character-filled shops and buildings that preserve the village’s nineteenth-century appearance.

Gold discoveries drew prospectors to the Arrow River in the 1860s, leaving a lasting mark on Arrowtown’s streetscape. Its compact historic centre offers a quieter perspective on Central Otago’s past, with the surrounding hills providing a striking backdrop to the preserved village.

Visit the Jones Family fruit stall in Central Otago and browse its fresh local stone fruit. The stop offers a chance to see the seasonal produce for which this inland region is known.

Central Otago’s sunny days, cool nights and dry climate support orchards producing cherries, apricots, peaches and other fruit. The colourful displays bring that growing heritage into focus, offering a taste of the region beyond its mountain scenery and gold-rush towns.

View the Church of the Good Shepherd beside the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo. Take in the small stone church against the lake and the mountain landscape of the Mackenzie Basin.

Built in 1935 as a memorial to the district’s pioneers, the church uses local stone and has become one of the South Island’s most recognisable landmarks. Its modest scale and open alpine setting make this a particularly memorable scenic stop.

View Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes on the wild West Coast. Look across layered limestone formations and watch for spray where the Tasman Sea surges through openings in the rock.

Weathering and erosion have sculpted the limestone into stacks that resemble piled pancakes. The sight and sound of the surf give this coastal viewpoint much of its character; blowhole activity varies with the tide and sea conditions, so every visit has a slightly different feel.

Cruise from Picton towards Wellington, travelling through Queen Charlotte Sound and Tory Channel before crossing Cook Strait. From the water, see the sheltered arms and wooded shorelines of the Marlborough Sounds give way to the open strait.

This sea crossing links New Zealand’s South and North Islands, but its changing scenery makes it more than a transfer. The intricate inlets offer a close view of the Sounds’ coastal landscape, while the approach to Wellington introduces the harbour setting of the capital.

Join a Wellington city sights tour for an introduction to New Zealand’s compact capital. Explore its harbour setting and get your bearings among the streets and landmarks of this energetic city.

Wellington’s steep hills and waterfront give it a distinctive shape, while its role as the seat of government sits alongside a well-established café and arts culture. The tour provides a guided overview for travellers who want to understand the capital beyond its arrival point.

Ride a jet boat on Queenstown’s Shotover River for a fast-paced encounter with the region’s river scenery. Feel the wind and spray as the boat twists through the water on a high-energy outing.

Jet boating is closely associated with New Zealand adventure travel, and the Shotover’s river setting makes this a distinctive choice for thrill-seekers. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask your Travel Director about available departures.

Explore vineyards around Queenstown on an optional wine experience. Spend time among the region’s cellar doors and discover wines grown in Central Otago’s dramatic inland landscape.

Central Otago is particularly known for Pinot Noir, shaped by a climate of sunny days and cool nights. A vineyard outing offers a different perspective on the area beyond its adventure activities. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; the itinerary does not specify the vineyards or tasting inclusions.

Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Take in the mountain scenery from the vessel before enjoying a gourmet barbecue dinner at the lakeside property.

Launched in 1912, the TSS Earnslaw is a long-standing part of Queenstown’s lake heritage. The combination of a heritage cruise and high-country dining makes this a distinctive evening outing. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore Christchurch on guided city sights tours, taking in the landmarks of New Zealand’s Garden City. See the innovative Cardboard Cathedral, built as a transitional place of worship following the earthquakes, and discover more of the city’s major sights.

Christchurch pairs its English-inspired parks and heritage buildings with contemporary architecture shaped by rebuilding. The tours offer a closer look at how resilience and design continue to define the city’s streetscape.

Tour Templeton Flax Mill in Southland with curator Nathan Templeton, the founder’s grandson. Hear his presentation on the mill and learn how flax processing contributed to the region’s economy.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience preserves a working connection to New Zealand’s industrial heritage. The mill operates as a living museum, and proceeds from the visit go directly towards its upkeep, helping keep its machinery and family story accessible to future visitors.

Sample Queenstown’s famous Fergburger at the town’s lively burger spot. Choose from its gourmet burger menu and take in the buzz around an eatery that has become a destination in its own right.

Fergburger’s reputation has travelled well beyond Queenstown, but the experience remains firmly tied to the town’s casual food scene. It is an informal way to enjoy a local favourite amid the energy of New Zealand’s adventure capital.

Travel aboard the TranzAlpine from Christchurch towards Arthur’s Pass, crossing the Southern Alps by rail. Watch from the train as the route passes through tunnels and over viaducts, with views of braided rivers, gorges, beech forest and mountain peaks.

The railway reveals landscapes that feel far removed from the Canterbury Plains. On the 18 March 2027 departure, the train is unavailable because of track maintenance; travel through the Southern Alps is by road instead.

Head from Nelson to Abel Tasman National Park on an optional excursion to the South Island’s northern coast. Discover a landscape of golden beaches, sculpted granite cliffs and sheltered bays.

New Zealand’s smallest national park is celebrated for its coastal scenery and the contrast between pale sand, blue water and forested headlands. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; the itinerary does not specify the excursion’s route or activities, so ask your Travel Director for details.