13 Day Ultimate Southern Highlights |
| Low Cost Escorted Coach Tour starting in Christchurch and finishing in Christchurch |
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Tour Type: Low Cost Escorted Tour
Duration: 13 Days
Tour Starts In: Christchurch
Tour Finishes In: Christchurch
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from NZ $3890 pp
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13 Day Ultimate Southern Highlights Touring Route:
Tour Description:
See the lower South Island of New Zealand at a leisurely pace on this 13 Day coach tour. Some of your holiday highlights include the world-famous Tranz Alpine train journey from Christchurch to Greymouth, a Traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony in Dunedin and a 3 night stop in New Zealand's adventure capital Queenstown.
For the more intrepid traveller we have the 3 day Hollyford Track Guided Walk as an option in lieu of the 3 night stay in Queenstown. During your tour you will have free time in Fox Glacier, Queenstown and Dunedin so you can take advantage of the many optional activities available.
Tour Highlights:
Back to top |
Day
1 |
Arrive Christchurch
Welcome you to New Zealand and Christchurch! You will be met with a smile and transferred to your hotel accommodation by a tour representative. En route you will see why Christchurch is aptly named "The Garden City" passing beautiful gardens and the impressive Hagley Park on the way to your hotel. Tonight meet your New Zealand Tour travelling companions at Welcome Drinks hosted by a tour representative. Stay: Pavilions Hotel |
Day
2 |
Christchurch – Greymouth
Join the TranzAlpine Train this morning, crossing the broad Canterbury Plains then following the Waimakariri River to Arthurs Pass. Continue through the Southern Alps to Otira, descending past Lake Brunner and through rainforest to Greymouth. On arrival you are transferred to Hotel Ashley with the remainder of the day at leisure. Stay: The Ashley Hotel |
Day
3 |
Greymouth – Fox Glacier
Your journey to Franz Josef is highlighted by remote farms, tiny landlocked lakes and dense native bush & forest dominated by the towering Southern Alps. Upon reaching the township, there is plenty of time to enjoy a guided walk to the glacier's terminal face, a half day glacier walk, or a glacier heli-hike. Or, to see the glacier from a different angle, we highly recommend a helicopter flight and snow landing. Alternatively you may choose to simply relax in the Glacier Hot Pools. Stay: Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier |
Day
4 |
Fox Glacier – Wanaka
Follow the rugged coastline then head inland across the Alps and the Haast Pass to the impressive bush land of the Aspiring National Park. At Wanaka you'll have a choice of two afternoon activities: a launch cruise across the lake to Stevensons Island nature reserve for a bush walk followed by refreshments. Look for the native Buff Weka, a small, flightless bird whose curiosity is likely to attract them close to you. Alternatively enjoy a thrilling jet boat excursion on the lake - full on exciting, leisurely scenic cruising or somewhere in between. Stay: Grand Mercure Oakridge Resort |
Day
5 |
Wanaka - Queenstown
Drive through a picturesque region that has a fascinating history of early settlement and gold mining for a late morning arrival into the ever-popular resort of Queenstown. Dinner tonight is at the spectacular Skyline Restaurant (entire group). You have 2 choices for the next three days and we enthusiastically recommend the Hollyford Track Guided Walk option (available on select departures). Stay: Rydges Hotel (3 nights) |
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3 Day Hollyford Track Walk Option
This 3 day/2 night walk is a spectacular
journey, which takes in diverse scenery
from dense forest to untouched beaches.
The highlights are the walking back in time
through beech forests, crossing Fiordlands
longest swing bridge, jet boating along the
Hollyford River before finishing with a scenic
flight into Milford Sound to rejoin your group
on Day 8.
Additional cost $NZ 1,580 per person, twin share. Read More> |
Day
6
&
7 |
Queenstown At Leisure
The next two days are at your leisure whilst in
the adventure capital. You can either sit back,
relax or your Coach Captain is available to assist
with any optional activities you would like to do.
(B/D) (Dinner on Day 6 is not included allowing
the opportunity to dine at a restaurant of your
choice.) |
Day
8 |
Queenstown – Milford Sound
Follow the lake to Kingston, across fertile farmlands to Fiordland. Visit moody Lake Manapouri then Lake Te Anau. Follow the Eglinton Valley, native forests, lakes, waterfalls and towering mountains. At The Divide collect the Greenstone Trek group and travel through the Hollyford Valley and Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Board the Milford Mariner for an overnight cruise – an undoubted highlight. Stay: Milford Mariner |
Day
9 |
Milford Sound – Dunedin
Wake to the sounds of silence in a pristine world
with a glimpse every so often of a passing seal
or penguin. You return to shore to follow the
rugged and remote mountains as they change to
lush green countryside as you approach Dunedin,
the ‘Edinburgh of the South.’ Tonight prior
to dinner you will be treated to a traditional
Scottish Haggis Ceremony. Stay: Cargills Hotel (2 nights) |
Day
10 |
Dunedin
A day to enjoy at your leisure with a multitude of optional activities available. A Monarch Wildlife Cruise, Natures Wonders Tour (both featuring penguins, seals and birdlife), the Taieri Gorge Railway, a Citibus Newtons Tour, fascinating Larnach Castle or Tour the Cadbury Factory or Speights Brewery. Have fun! |
Day
11 |
Dunedin – Mt Cook
This morning visit Olveston House, Dunedin’s
majestic historic home. Travel north stopping to
view the unusual Moeraki Boulders then explore
Oamaru. Follow the Waitaki Valley, passing the
hydro lakes until you reach Mt Cook National
Park and village, amidst New Zealand’s highest
mountains. This afternoon visit the Tasman
Glacier where you will be amazed by the floating
icebergs in the nearby lake. Stay: Hermitage Hotel |
Day
12 |
Mt Cook – Christchurch
Visiting Lake Tekapo, view the Church of the Good
Shepherd and Collie Dog memorial. Continue
onto Burkes Pass to the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch for a city and surrounds tour. Stay: Pavilions Hotel |
Day
13 |
Depart Christchurch
Today is goodbye to all your new found friends before you make your homeward journey. You will be transferred to Christchurch International Airport to join your flight home. |
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Click on the icon to download the 13 Day Ultimate Southern Highlights tour in pdf format. |
from NZ $3,890
13 Day Ultimate Southern Highlights
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4.7
5
13 Day Ultimate Southern Highlights Reviews
Tour reviews from past clients of Relaxing Journeys for the 13 Day Ultimate Southern Highlights. |
A well organised tour with every attention to detail. The standard of the accommodation and the quality of the food in the hotels and on the boat were excellent. We were everywhere treated with courtesy and nothing was too much trouble. Gordon, the bus Captain, kept us informed and often amused. A font of knowledge. Certainly he was a major asset to our enjoyment of the tour. We were initially disappointed that we were not to visit Milford Sound, as shown in the itinerary. In the event Doubtful Sound proved a wonderful experience which I understand is equal if not superior to Milford. The only area that might be improved is the information on attractions. On several occasions we and some fellow travellers were a little confused as to what was available. In the event all became clear but perhaps an information pack and time to absorb it might be useful. But really this in no way seriously detracted from our enjoyment of our first and almost certainly not our last coach tour. Congratulations to everyone concerned. A job very well done.
Eric & Valerie Phillips (Australia)
Tour Date 14/02/2011 |
Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the optional Hollyford Track was exceptional. Everything was very well organised and John our guide was informative and very obliging. The only small issue we had was that at the hotel in Greymouth it was not possible to get as much as a sandwich or a bowl of soup at lunchtime. This would not normally be a problem as you had provided a voucher for a taxi but we arrived on an extremely wet day and would have liked a rest before meeting the rest of the tour group. Otherwise everything was very enjoyable and I would certainly recommend Relaxing Journeys to anybody visiting New Zealand.
Garry & Marilyn Liddy (Ireland)
Tour Date 17/01/2011 |
My daughter booked this tour for my husband and I as a way to see as much of the South Island as we could in the time we had available. We both thoroughly enjoyed it and the staff were second to none. It proved to be an excellent way to see the majestic features of the South Island. We were met at the airport and taken back to the airport at the end of the trip by friendly staff. I would recommend touring with this company to anyone.
Sydney & Esther McConnell (United Kingdom)
Tour Date 18/03/2009 |
Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
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EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
2012 Season Hot Seat Deals! Unbeatable Savings Exclusive to Relaxing Journeys!
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 |
| 13 Feb 2012 |
25 Feb 2012 |
G |
NZ $4050 |
Save $160 |
NZ $3890 |
| 27 Feb 2012 |
10 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $4050 |
Save $160 |
NZ $3890 |
| 05 Mar 2012 |
17 Mar 2012 |
|
NZ $4050 |
Save $160 |
NZ $3890 |
| 26 Mar 2012 |
07 Apr 2012 |
G |
NZ $4050 |
Save $160 |
NZ $3890 |
Note: Tour Status: 'G' Tours are guaranteed to depart. The majority of departures above will proceed. We will confirm the status of your preferred departure date in your quote along with all applicable discounts and specials.
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Tour Options & Single Supplement:
Optional extras & single traveller supplement. |
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| Single Room Supplement: |
Add |
NZ $1,410 |
| Abel Tasman Day Walk |
Add |
NZ $140 |
| Hollyford Track Walk |
Add |
NZ $1,580 |
*Optional extra prices above are based on twin share.
*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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