A 16 day/15 night Adventure based from Christchurch. Your tour heads into the remarkable fjord country of deep South, the wild West Coast, takes in the Alpine resort of Queenstown and the rugged and beautiful scenery of Otago.

Have a look at the free offers and Spare Seat Travel Deals page as there may be discounted seats available on the days that you are visiting.

Highlights:

Trekking tour of the Routeburn Track, guided walk on an advancing Glacier, Tranz-Alpine Train Journey, Dragons Cave Rafting, White Water Rafting on the Wanganui River, overnight camp at Alpine Thermal Hot Pools, cruise on the Milford Sound, Penguin Nature Watch, Rainforest Ecology Tour, Paparoa Limestone National Park visit and rainforest walk.

Itinerary:

Day One
Day Two
Day three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Six
Day Seven
Day Eight

Day Nine
Day Ten
Day Eleven
Day Twelve
Day Thirteen
Day Fourteen
Day Fifteen
Day Sixteen

Make a Booking

Day 1

Arrive Christchurch, our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation in Christchurch and give you all your travel vouchers and tickets. Relax with your own free time for the rest of the day in New Zealand’s Garden City.
Accommodation: Christchurch.

Day 2

Tranz-Alpine Train Journey---To our Wild West Coast. Leaving from Christchurch, crossing the huge and fertile patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains, the Tranz-Alpine winds its way over massive viaducts, through spectacular gorges and river valleys, before tracking across the country’s greatest mountain range, the Southern Alps. Following rivers and skirting lakes, it descends through lush rainforest to the Tasman Sea and the town of Greymouth. You will be met at the Greymouth Railway Station for a tour into the Paparoa Limestone National Park with its Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

An all inclusive nature scenic tour that visits the fascinating limestone formations of the Paparoa National Park. Your tour follows the scenic coastline north of Greymouth. Watch for the dolphins and other wildlife often seen here. Included is the opportunity to visit the rainforest by horse or take a paddle by canoe up the tranquil Pororari Gorge between spectacular limestone cliffs. Accommodation: Punakaiki.

Day 3 - Daywalk through rainforest and limestone canyons. Optional Overnight campout, cave visits, with glow-worms. Overnight in the hauntingly beautiful limestone canyon country of the Paparoa National Park. Enjoy an easy two hour walk into awe inspiring canyons amongst New Zealand’s untouched rainforest. You are heading for a massive cathedral like cavern where we camp the night. Your meals will be cooked over an open fire under the stars. You will be able to explore this magnificent limestone area. Your guide will teach you about many fascinating aspects of life in this, the world’s finest wilderness. Learn (and taste) of the foods and medicines found in the rainforest. Accommodation: Campout.

Day 4 - Dragons Cave Rafting Tour. The Dragons Cave Rafting starts with a 30 minute rainforest walk to the Taniwha Caves. Take a leisurely walk down the main chambers to examine the enchanting limestone formations and get a close view of glow-worms with their silken threads; or take a more adventurous route and gear up into wet suits, helmets and headlamps to float through passages. Experience the splendour and roar as you slide down underground waterfalls and tackle subterranean lakes lit only by the sparkle of hundreds of glow-worms. Like floating through the milky-way galaxy. This living cave offers opportunities for a look down “The Throat” or cuddle through the “Love Tunnel” and a wild ride down the Natural Rock Hydroslide.

Day 5

Four-wheel Drive Safari - Visit historic goldmine. Pan for gold. Meet one of the Wild West’s local gold prospectors who will take you into the outback to some of his gold claims. He “claims” to have gold in your pan within one hour! Enjoy a short bush walk and negotiate the ancient Chinese gold-diggers maze. View incredible glow-worms at the Deviation Mine. Learn about the Native Beech Forest ecosystem found in abundance here. On the way, step back in time to make your “fortune” at the 1860’s Wild West Gold Mine. This historic, underground mine was opened in 1866 and is worked from time to tome by a local prospector. Experience the Wild West’s living heritage as you pan for the elusive gold flakes and red garnets. See how the old timers did it - for there’s gold in them thar hills!

Day 6

Jade Boulder Gallery Tour - Bushman’s Centre Tour - Visit to Shantytown, an 1860’s gold town with steam train.

Thermal Bush Camp and Hot Rock Rafting. At the Thermal River near Hari Hari (55 minutes drive north of Franz Josef Glacier). This is an Alpine River Valley which starts in the heart of NZ’s spectacular Southern Alps. It winds it’s way through some of this countries most scenic Alpine areas skirting places such as the Garden of Eden and one of our world heritage areas with its vistas of massive peaks and glaciers. In doing so it crossed the Alpine Fault Line revealing a country of fire and ice! Below the snow fields and sparkling glaciers is to be found a hidden world of steamy spas and natural thermal springs.

After leaving your coach you will enjoy an hours easy escorted walk up the Thermal River Valley through tussock river flats and ancient fern covered forest. We are heading for The Thermal Bush Camp. After a short ferry trip across the river by raft we reach a riverside terrace set beside a small gorge carved through the rock by centuries of water. Luckily for us this has revealed a group of natural alpine hot springs bubbling through the rock at the base of the terrace. This hidden site will be your home for the night. Imagine relaxing with a glass of wine in one hand and some of NZ’s excellent food in the other as you soak up the heat bubbling from the ground while gazing at the hauntingly beautiful scenery. This is the place where friends are made for a lifetime!

Your camp site consists of a large communal dining and lounge tent surrounded by a series of smaller sleeping tents set amongst the ferns and tussock of the river terrace. Sleeping tents range in size from two to four persons and come equipped with camp beds and mattresses, sleeping bags and lighting. Tents are also set up to suit couples with double bedding and sleeping bags whilst being set back in their own private slice of heaven. Meals are cooked over the open fire and enjoyed under the stars or in the hot pools. It’s not uncommon here to find yourself relaxed out at two o’clock in the morning asking someone through the steam to push over the float board so you can help yourself to another glass of wine from the cask that is resting invitingly upon it. But finally to bed for tomorrow finds us amongst the fun and excitement of Southern white-water!

Day 7

This morning take a Grade 3 white-water rafting trip back to the road to continue your travels to the Glacier. Arrive at Fox Glacier and take a half day guided glacier walk. The famous West Coast Glacier is accessible to visitors, with a walkway to within metres of the imposing ice face. Take in the spectacular view of the ice masses, as they crawl down the mountains towards the lush fringes of native forest. Visit one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, Lake Matheson which mirrors the stunning scenery surrounding it, reflecting the peaks of Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman in its tranquil waters.

Day 8

Travel on through the spectacular West Coast scenery. This is a land of contrasts with majestic mountains on one side of the road and a rugged untamed coast on the other. View penguins and seals that are resident to this coast line. Visit thundering waterfalls at the Haast Pass area. Finish the day in Queenstown.

Day 9

A free day in the Alpine resort town of Queenstown. The town is situated next to Lake Wakatipu which provides stunning backdrops to a town with everything you could ever need from a holiday destination. Queenstown is a compact leisure paradise with all activities in easy reach of the town centre. It has a reputation as an adventure capital with a huge selection of breathtaking activities. Whether it’s jumping off bridges, flying from mountains, surfing the boiling rapids or powering through canyons by high-speed jet boat there’s plenty on offer to use up that excess adrenaline. Beautiful long walks, interesting cultural history and back-country four-wheel drive treks. Activities done today are at your own extra expense. Queenstown has a great night life with many night clubs and local bars.

Day 10

Transfer to the start of the Routeburn Track, a 3 day/2 night walk. The Routeburn is one of the most superb walking areas in the world. Dense rain forest with excellent tracks, sparkling lakes, mighty peaks and remote passes supply a sense of challenge and achievement.

Day 11

Routeburn.

Day 12

Routeburn. Half day to walk out (approximately 4 hours). Pick up and transfer to the dramatic beauty of the Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park and today take a cruise on Milford Sound amongst some of the world’s most awe inspiring scenery. Bring a raincoat because you will actually float under a waterfall! Grand, brooding, serene and wild, Milford Sound draws visitors from all over the globe to cruise its length - and wonder. Luxuriant rain forest clings to sheer rock walls washed with waterfalls. In the foreground Mitre Peak stands, a majestic presence dominating the skyline. Visit the underwater viewing facility where you can see rare species of corals and marine life adapted to the unusual phenonomon of layers of salt and sea water found only in the worlds fjords. Transfer to Lake Te Anau where you will stay the night.

Day 13

Travel on through the rugged and beautiful scenery of Otago to Dunedin. The “Edinburgh of the South” as Dunedin is sometimes called, was settled by Scots who created their home away from home with grand buildings, museums, a university, parks and gardens.

Day 14

Dunedin. Nature Discovery activities Visit Dunedins Albatross Colony, Penguin conservation programme and Marine Aquarium, see a seal colony & take a boat cruise.

Day 15

Travel back to Christchurch up the East Coast of the South Island.

Day 16

Visit the Antarctic Centre. Experience the wonder of how life survives in this region. Build a snowman, explore a snowcave, experience the sub-zero temperatures of the Antarctic. Your tour finishes today on arrival at Christchurch Airport.

This tour departs daily from Christchurch.

Price:

Cost In N.Z. Dollars including government tax is $5201 for 16 day tour with a minimum of two people per booking. Bookings can be made for one person but has some low season exclusions and incurs a single supplement if you want your own room. If you are travelling by yourself please enquire as we can still arrange an itinerary and quote for you.

Cancellations: Tours paid for and cancelled within 30 days of or during travel will not be refunded under any circumstances. We recommend you have travel insurance & can arrange this for you.

Includes: