Arrive Queenstown
“Haere Mai” Welcome to Queenstown – the beautiful alpine resort regarded as New Zealand’s premier holiday destination. On completion of formalities, pick up your rental car and travel onto your accommodation. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore. Stay: Copthorne Queenstown Lakeviews
Day 2
Queenstown to Milford Sound and Te Anau
This morning depart Queenstown for your journey to Milford Sound. The road from Te Anau to Milford is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. The first part is relatively mild farmland, then you’ll ease into beech forest near the entrance to the Fiordland National Park. Look for the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Mirror Lakes. Then the rough hewn Homer Tunnel brings you into Milford Sound, an amazing 22km-long fiord dominated by Mitre Peak. Make sure you allow for plenty of time to stop at the numerous viewing points or short walking opportunities en route. At Milford Sound, board your boat for a spectacular cruise in New Zealand’s most famous waterway, a dramatic 22 kilometre fiord carved by glaciers during the last ice age. After your cruise make your way back to Te Anau. For an additional cost, you can substitute a cruise on Doubtful Sound from Manapouri. Stay: Distinction Luxmore Hotel (L)
Day 3
Te Anau to Queenstown
Spend the morning in Te Anau. You may like to take an excursion across the lake to visit the Te Anau Caves, take a walk along the side of Lake Te Anau, or catch the local movie Ata Whenua – Shadowland. This is a locally produced 32 minute film which explores Fiordland by helicopter and is highly recommended. After lunch in one of the local cafes, retrace your steps to Queenstown. Stay: Copthorne Queenstown Lakeviews (2 nights)
Day 4
Queenstown at leisure
Enjoy a full day to experience this magnificent resort town. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure & leisure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Here you can take a thrilling jet boat ride on the Shotover Jet or Dart River Safari, pan for gold inarrowtown, board the TSS Earnslaw and take a nostalgic cruise of beautiful Lake Wakatipu, play golf or experience Queenstown's sheer canyons by 4WD.
Day 5
Queenstown – Arrowtown – Wanaka
Set beneath the rugged Crown Range is Arrowtown, a fascinating collection of mining cottages with an atmosphere straight out of last century. Enjoy some time to stroll through this historic village, once a haven for the gold prospectors of the 1860’s. The shortest route to Wanaka is over the Crown Range Road. It’s a challenging drive, but the views are amazing. More conservative drivers can take the route that runs beside the Shotover River, Lake Dunstan and the Clutha River. The vineyards of the Gibbston area and bungy jumpers at the Kawarau River Bridge are interesting distractions along the way. The lakeside resort town of Wanaka can provide you with an appealing mix of fine living, family fun and adventure. It has a high concentration of cafes, restaurants and interesting shops. You’ll also find some unique attractions, like the 3D maze and Puzzling World. Stay: Grand Mercure Oakridge Resort
Day 6
Wanaka – Franz Josef Glacier
Lake Hawea is the first scenic highlight of your journey north today, followed closely by the northern end of Lake Wanaka. The famous ‘bra fence’ is impossible to miss – it started as a joke, but it’s become a local legend. At the wilderness town of Makarora you can fuel up and refresh before you take on the dramatic twists and turns of the Haast Pass. Enjoy waterfalls and river scenery as you arrive in rainforest country. Stay: Punga Grove (2 nights)
Day 7
Franz Josef Glacier
Endless opportunities exist to allow you to take in the beauty of this special part of the South Island’s West Coast. Take a guided walk or heli-hike to explore the spectacular ice formations; experience the thrill of a scenic flight and place your footprints onto a high alpine snowfield; visit New Zealand’s only White Heron (Kotuku) nesting colony; take in the scenery as you kayak the stunning Okarito lagoon or visit Lake Matheson, renowned for its mirror images of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman, New Zealand’s highest peaks.
Day 8
Glaciers – Christchurch
Travel north along the narrow, bush clad, coastal plain through Hokitika to Greymouth then turn inland to travel over the beautiful Arthur’s Pass. Along the way you’ll see the awesome engineering feats of the Otira Viaduct and Tunnel. You’ll have time to stop and look around before descending through some fantastic alpine scenery and on down to the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch.
Relaxing Journeys also provides you with the option (additonal cost) of dropping off your car in Greymouth and heading to Christchurch on the TranzAlpine Train.
The TranzAlpine scenic train journey travels from one coast of New Zealand to the other. From your carriage you’ll see lush beech rainforest, lakes, mountains and tunnels as you ascend towards Arthur’s Pass at 737m above sea level. All carriages include both one way seating and tabled group seating allowing you to experience the amazing views while enjoying the company of other passengers on-board. An open air viewing carriage allows you to get even closer to the stunning scenery and provides many opportunities to photograph your favourite spots. On arrival in Christchurch you will be transferred to your central city accommodation. Stay: Pavilions
Day 9
Depart Christchurch
Sadly your holiday is at an end and you will return your rental car to Christchurch airport today for your onward flight. Here, we bid you a fond farewell and hope you leave with many happy memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Note:This self drive tour can be completed in reverse order, the tour cost remains the same.To view tour prices or to make an enquiry, please click on the Tabs at the top of this itinerary.Top
2012/13 Season Sale! Save 10% off the prices shown on our website, for 01 May to 31 Aug 2012 departures. Save 5% on all other departures. Deposit this month to qualify!
*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'.
Self Drive Tour Notes
Prices above are per person & valid till September 2013.
International flights to & from New Zealand are not included.
Breakfasts are optional for mid range self drive tours, please select your preference when requesting a quote.
Mixed accommodation pricing is available on request.
For families we can also price our mid range self drive tours using self catering apartments.
If a property listed on our itinerary is unavailable at the time of booking we will replace it with a equivalent accommodation, and let you know, to ensure it is to your satisfaction.
Please note this itinerary was last amended 5 April 2012.
