• 8 Breakfast (B)
• 4 Dinner (D)

• See this incredible sight from a panoramic viewpoint
• Visit the Oamaru Penguins Conservation Centre

• Deluxe coach travel
• Selected hotel dinners
• 3-star stays

• Christchurch: Journey on the TranzAlpine, through tunnels and over viaducts
• Franz Josef: See this incredible sight from a panoramic viewpoint
• Queenstown: Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on a historic Steamship
• Milford Sound: Cruise on the breathtaking Sound
• Oamaru: Visit the Oamaru Penguins Conservation Centre

Discover New Zealand’s most celebrated rail journey as you join a scenic rail adventure on the TranzAlpine, tracking from the Canterbury Plains into Arthur’s Pass National Park. Wide picture windows frame snow-dusted Southern Alps, river gorges and tussock-clad high country as the train glides across viaducts and through mountain tunnels.

Hear the landscape shift from braided rivers to beech forest and alpine peaks, a route carved by ice and water over millennia. Photographers relish the misty river gorges and glacier-fed valleys that define this storied passage across Te Waipounamu, the South Island.

Explore the West Coast’s historic hub and wander the compact streets of Hokitika, where ocean air meets pioneer spirit. Step into small galleries and studios to see pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) displayed and crafted, a stone long prized by Maori as a taonga (treasure).

Absorb the coastal atmosphere and learn how West Coast gold and jade history shaped this frontier town. From driftwood-strewn beaches to artisan workshops, Hokitika offers a grounded slice of South Island culture between mountains and sea.

Visit the designated lookout to admire Franz Josef Glacier panoramic viewpoints, where rainforest meets ice in a dramatic collision of climates. Watch the fractured icefall and blue crevasses of Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere from safe vantage points, with interpretive signage bringing the landscape to life.

Gain insight into the glacier’s retreat and advance over recent centuries and hear how its Maori name carries a story of love and loss. The spectacle of serrated seracs and cloud-brushed peaks makes this a South Island essential.

Stroll the leafy avenues of Arrowtown heritage village, a charming settlement shaped by the 1860s Otago gold rush. Browse character-filled shopfronts and admire restored miners’ cottages set against the Arrow River, where prospectors once panned for fortune.

Absorb the preserved atmosphere of tree-lined streets and historic lanes, with interpretive displays revealing stories of grit and migration. In season, the town glows with autumn-hued avenues, a favourite palette for photographers and painters alike.

Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard the heritage TSS Earnslaw, a vintage coal-fired steamship launched in 1912. Glide past The Remarkables and alpine bays before disembarking at Walter Peak High Country Farm for a lakeside feast.

Savour a generous gourmet barbecue dinner showcasing local produce, paired with South Island hospitality and mountain views. The return sailing offers time on deck to take in the mirror-still lake and dusky peaks, a Queenstown classic that blends history, scenery and flavour.

Experience the drama of Fiordland as you cruise Milford Sound beneath sheer cliffs and thundering waterfalls. Sail alongside forested walls where rain creates silver veils and watch for playful dolphins and fur seals riding the bow wave.

Gaze up at sculpted peaks including the iconic Mitre Peak, rising almost straight from the water. This deep, glacially carved fiord is the soul of Fiordland National Park, delivering raw, elemental scenery that feels both intimate and monumental.

Explore a city shaped by creativity and resilience on a guided city sights tour. See the innovative Transitional Cathedral, crafted largely from cardboard, and the gold-clad Turanga central library, a striking symbol of renewal.

Trace Christchurch’s evolving urban story through public art, riverfront spaces and reimagined precincts that rose after the earthquakes. This thoughtful introduction reveals a fresh, confident cityscape grounded in heritage and forward-looking design.

Pause in the Cromwell Basin to sample regional stone fruit at the well-known Jones Family Fruit Stall. Seasonal apricots, cherries, peaches and nectarines thrive in Central Otago’s hot days and cool nights, delivering concentrated flavour and sweetness.

Chat with staff about varietals and growing conditions while you pick up road-trip treats. The orchards that stripe this valley reflect decades of horticultural heritage, where sunshine, schist soils and mountain breezes set the stage for exceptional produce.

Settle into the journey as you meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a friendly tour briefing and drinks. Get practical tips, local insights and suggestions to personalise your time across the South Island.

This relaxed introduction creates a warm, easygoing mood for the days ahead, with space to ask questions and compare notes. It’s a concise orientation that leaves you feeling prepared and inspired for the adventure to come.

Elevate your glacier experience with a scenic helicopter flight over the icefall, pinnacles and crevasses of the Southern Alps. If conditions permit, you’ll land on the glacier to step onto pristine snow and take in panoramic Southern Alps views.

Pilots share commentary on glacial geology and weather as the chopper traces ridgelines and valleys. This is an optional experience available at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather dependent.

Choose adrenaline with a high-octane jet boat ride through canyon narrows and braided river shallows. Skim past rock walls with tight spins and rapid bursts of speed, feeling the spray as the Southern Alps loom above.

Skippers deliver safety briefings and local stories between thrills, blending Queenstown’s pioneering spirit with modern engineering. This is an optional experience available at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Support conservation at a locally run sanctuary and visit Kiwi Park to see New Zealand’s iconic, nocturnal bird up close. Learn about breeding programmes and predator control while you observe the shy kiwi in purpose-built habitats.

Knowledgeable keepers share the stories of taonga species and their fragile ecosystems, offering a deeper appreciation of Aotearoa’s unique wildlife. This is an optional experience available at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Savour the cool-climate finesse of Central Otago as you sample regional wines in the dramatic Gibbston Valley. Expect perfumed pinot noir, vibrant pinot gris and crisp riesling shaped by alpine air and schist-laced soils.

Cellar-door hosts explain terroir, vintages and food pairings while you compare styles from this renowned subregion. This is an optional experience available at additional cost and bookable on tour; tasting fees may apply.

Step inside Larnach Castle, a 19th-century Gothic Revival mansion perched on the Otago Peninsula, to admire ornate interiors, New Zealand craftsmanship and harbour panoramas from the tower.

Manicured grounds and themed gardens reveal horticultural passion and seasonal colour, with stories of the Larnach family adding intrigue. This is an optional experience available at additional cost and bookable on tour; entry fees apply.

Venture along the peninsula’s wild headlands to spot fur seals and rare penguins against a backdrop of rolling dunes and basalt cliffs. Naturalist guides help you read the coastline and understand seasonal wildlife behaviour.

Learn how marine reserves and predator control protect fragile species, and pause at scenic lookouts to soak in the coastal atmosphere. This is an optional experience available at additional cost and bookable on tour.

AAT Kings

Visit the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony to learn about the world’s smallest penguin, the korora. Explore the Discovery Centre and view nesting areas from designated paths while hearing about habitat restoration and responsible viewing practices.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience supports conservation and community research, connecting your visit with meaningful action. Educators share insights into feeding, breeding and the challenges little blues face, ensuring an encounter that balances curiosity with care.