Essence of South Island

Your trip starts from Christchurch in the early morning. At appointed time, the driver will pick you up from your hotel and then travel through the Canterbury Plains to Tekapo. Upon arrival, you will explore Lake Tekapo and Church of the Good Shepherd. Then head to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, which is home to New Zealand's highest mountain and longest glacier. At noon you will have lunch at the Hermitage Hotel in the nearby village. After lunch, you may walk around and enjoy the village scenery. Afterwards, you will continue this tour, passing through Lake Pukaki and Mackenzie Country, making a short stop in the small village of Omarama, and finally arrive in Queenstown for overnight stay. Overnight stay in this small village.

Accommodation: Blue Peaks Lodge

As one of the most famous places to visit in the South Island of New Zealand, Queenstown not only boasts stunning natural scenery, but also attracts many tourists for its exciting extreme sports and outdoor activities. Today you will have a whole free day to explore it on your own. It is suggested that you try some extreme sports such as parachute jump and bungee jumping. In addition, you may nearby gold rush town Arrowtown, or take a leisurely walk along the lake.

After breakfast, the driver will transfer you from Queenstown to Milford Sound, taking about 4 hours. On the way, stop at Te Anau for tea break. There will also be occasional stops along the way for you to take photos. Located on the west coast of the South Island, Milford Fjords is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". It is a fully guided tour in Milford Sound today. You will be guided to sail on the fjord by cruise and see the beautiful natural scenery, as well as to encounter wildlife such as seals and penguins. After that, return to your hotel in Queenstown.

Meals: Lunch

Today you're going to visit the Franz Josef Glacier, one of the a few glaciers in the world that can be reached on foot. On the way there from Queenstown, we will pass by Lake Dunstan, Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. About 5 hours later, you will arrive at Franz Josef Village and check into the hotel. Then the representative from Franz Josef Glacier scenic area will pick you up at the hotel to reach the scenic spot by Glacier Shuttles. You may also try hiking some distance to further appreciate the glacier's charm. After the visit, send you back to your hotel.

Accommodation: Punga Grove Motel & Suites

Your New Zealand south island tour package will end today. The driver will send you to Greymouth, where you can take the train back to Christchurch. The journey from Franz Josef Glacier to Greymouth offers stunning views of the West Coast. Stop at Hokitika for lunch break. Then take the Tranzalpine Scenic Train from Greymouth to Christchurch. Along the way you can enjoy dense forests, farmland, and the grandeur of the majestic Southern Alps. Upon arrival in Christchurch, our driver will send you back to your hotel and our service ends here. Hope you enjoyed this trip with us.