Tour Type: Premium Escorted Tour
Duration: 10 Days
Tour Starts In: Christchurch
Tour Finishes In: Christchurch
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from NZ $3735 pp
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10 Day Southern Experience Touring Route:
Tour Inclusions:
- Professional Tour Director
- Professional Luxury Coach Driver
- Admissions Outlined in the Itinerary
- Full Buffet Breakfasts (9) (B)
- 'You are invited' Lunch (1) (L)
- Exciting Highlight Dinner (1) (HD)
- Hotel Dinners (6) (D)
- Welcome Drink
- Travel Wallet and Map
- Airport Transfers (Day 1 from Christchurch Airport – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm; Day 10 to Christchurch Airport – flights anytime)
- Hotel Porterage Included
Included Tour Highlights:
- Experience the Scottish heritage of Dunedin at Larnach Castle
- Discover the sights of Christchurch on the Christchurch Tram
- Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd
- View mighty Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak
- Cruise on the spectacular Milford Sound
- Enjoy a day at leisure in Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital
- See Bowen Falls and Mitre Peak
- View magnificent Franz Josef Glacier
- Cruise on the TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station
- See the Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki
- Discover the beauty of the Southern Alps on-board the TranzAlpine Train
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Day
1 |
Arrive Christchurch
We meet and transfer you from the airport to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure to explore Christchurch. Tonight enjoy a welcome drink with your Tour Director and fellow travelling companions. Stay: Novotel, Christchurch |
Day
2 |
Mt Cook
Discover the sights of Christchurch this morning on the Christchurch Tram. Visit Morelea Farm, a typical working sheep farm to discover an authentic taste of New Zealand Country life. You are welcomed into the home of your hosts Angie and Stan to enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch on their 300 hectare garden and gain an insight into the day to day operation of farm life. Later enjoy views of Christchurch's colourful patchwork plains, then visit beautiful Lake Tekapo and see the Church of the Good Shepherd. We also take in the scenery of Mt Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's highest mountain and you have the chance to take a spectacular optional scenic flight (weather permitting). Stay: MacKenzie Country Inn - Deluxe Rooms, Twizel (B/D) |
Day
3 |
Dunedin
On our way to Dunedin we see the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme, Benmore Dam and the famous white limestone buildings of Oamaru. At Dunedin we tour the city, then you’ve got the afternoon to yourself. Take a Wildlife Cruise to see Penguins and the Royal Albatross, visit the Cadbury Factory or ride the historic Taieri Gorge Railway. Stay: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Dunedin (B/D) |
Day
4 |
Dunedin – Te Anau
This morning enjoy a guided tour of New Zealand’s only castle - Larnach Castle and its gardens. Then we head to Te Anau across
fertile farming land to the shores of Lake
Te Anau, the largest lake in the South
Island. Tonight, if you choose to, you can
see the Te Anau Glowworm Caves. Stay: Distinction Hotel, Te Anau (B/D) |
Day
5 |
Milford Sound
Today is a feast for the senses. Be wowed
and awestruck by the beauty of the World
Heritage Fiordland National Park. Keep
your camera close by as we see Mirror
Lakes, Pop’s Lookout, Cleddau Valley, The
Chasm, the hand-made Homer Tunnel,
Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls and stunningly
photogenic Milford Sound. The Devils Stair
Case and Lake Wakatipu pass us by. We
arrive at Queenstown for an orientation
tour and group photo. The dinner option (own expense)
tonight is the Skyline Restaurant on Bob’s
Peak – sensational views over Queenstown
and a bonus Kiwi Haka Maori Show,
plus you’ll ride the steepest Gondola in the
Southern Hemisphere just to get there!
A top night. Stay: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown (2 nights) (B) |
Day
6 |
Queenstown
Explore Queenstown at your leisure today. You could take an exhilarating jet boat ride or go white water rafting. For the less adventurous there are wine
and garden tours. Tonight board the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station where you experience an entertaining sheep shearing demonstration, some friendly Kiwi hospitality and a sumptuous carvery dinner. (B)(HD) |
Day
7 |
Queenstown – Franz Josef
Colourful Arrowtown is our first stop today to discover the rich gold mining history and browse through the delightful shops. See the Kawarau Gorge before stopping in Cromwell for the opportunity to taste fresh stone fruit. Later pass Lake Dunstan, New Zealand's largest man made lake before views of Lakes Hawea and Lake Wanaka. Travel over the Haast Pass to the West Coast. View the mighty Thunder Creek falls and take a short bush walk. Enjoy the scenery of the towering mountains and the sparkling Tasman Sea along the coastal road to Franz Josef Glacier - the world’s most accessible glacier. Stay: Te Waonui Forest Retreat (B/D) |
Day
8 |
Franz Josef – Punakaiki
Explore Franz Josef Glacier – take an optional flight (weather permitting) or a glacier hike! Then we depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. It’s on to Punakaiki where we’ll view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. We overnight at our exclusive eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront. Stay: Punakaiki Resort, Punakaiki (B/D) |
Day
9 |
TranzAlpine - Christchurch
Enjoy time at leisure before travelling via Greymouth to Arthur's Pass where we climb aboard the TranzAlpine – one of the top 6 train journeys in the world – and travel through the picturesque Southern Alps to Christchurch. From our carriage we enjoy views of lush beech rainforest before descending over spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. We travel through sixteen tunnels and five viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing 73 metres. Stay: Novotel, Christchurch (B/D) |
Day
10 |
Depart Christchurch
Today is yours, take your time exploring Christchurch – the Garden City – famous for its gardens and being the most English city outside of England. It’s your last chance to experience New Zealand before you are transferred to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight. (B) |
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Click on the icon to download the 10 Day Southern Experience tour in pdf format. |
from NZ $3,735
10 Day Southern Experience
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3.5
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10 Day Southern Experience Reviews
Tour reviews from past clients of Relaxing Journeys for the 10 Day Southern Experience. |
Excellent tour with very nice accommodations, food and included tours. We did optional tours nearly every day and they were always fun and worth doing. The South Island is gorgeous and the Kiwis as friendly and welcoming as ever. Highly recommend this trip.
Jim & Christine Cassidy (United States)
Tour Date 13/02/2011 |
Everything was great. The tour leaders were very professional and both Jenny and I had a wonderful time.
Chris & Jenny Lang (Australia)
Tour Date 26/09/2010 |
Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
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EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
2012 Season Sale! Save up to $175 per person off the brochure price for this tour. Exclusive to Relaxing Journeys. Deposit this month to qualify!
Valid for bookings made with Relaxing Journeys between 1 February 2012 and 29 February 2012
. Subject to availability at time of booking. |
Tour
Starts |
Tour
Finishes |
Tour
Status |
Brochure
Price |
OUR
SPECIAL |
OUR
PRICE |
| 19 Feb 2012 |
28 Feb 2012 |
G |
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 11 Mar 2012 |
20 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 18 Mar 2012 |
27 Mar 2012 |
|
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 15 Apr 2012 |
24 Apr 2012 |
|
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
*Tour Status: 'G' Tours are guaranteed to depart.
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Tour Discounts & Supplements:
Optional extras, single traveller supplement & multiple traveller discounts. |
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| Single Supplement: |
Add |
NZ $1,000 |
| Child Discount: |
Save |
NZ $780 |
| Frequent Traveller: |
Save |
NZ $195 |
| Triple Discount: |
Save |
NZ $195 |
| Concession Cards: |
Save |
NZ $55 |
*Terms & Conditions apply to any discounts and/or specials above. Your designated tour consultant will apply the appropriate discounts automatically to your quote and detail any currently applicable 'Exclusive Specials'. |
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