BRAND NEW FOR 2027: Expedition Cruises!

A New Zealand South Island vacation is a delicious banquet of mountain peaks, rain forests, rich farmlands, fjords, and eclectic towns. Uncrowded and adventurous, this may be the New Zealand of your dreams. Begin your travels in Christchurch. Constantly evolving, it is one of the most unique destinations in the world. Your scenic drive to Lake Tekapo is breathtaking, and the lodging here is lakeside. In the evening, fall under the spell of your Dark Sky Stargazing tour at the Mt. John Night Observatory.

Your next two nights are spent in Wanaka, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wanaka has a stunning mountain and lakeside setting, as well as great shops, excellent cuisine, award-winning wineries, and cool galleries. We’ve arranged a full-day glacier discovery tour for you, by helicopter. One of New Zealand’s highest peaks, this is a fantasy of glaciers, alpine lakes, and deep river valleys.

The last leg of your South Island road trip takes you to Queenstown, a city surrounded by unrivaled natural beauty. Consider heading to Bob’s Peak on a gondola for views of Queenstown and magnificent Lake Wakatipu, riding in a luge, or ziplining! There are also easy walks in the city itself. Your time in Queenstown features a full-day wilderness experience, including a jet-boat ride and track walk. You’ll also delight in a small boat cruise of Milford Sound and a visit to the underwater observatory. The South Island may be your authentic New Zealand travel fantasy. 

PLAN AND BOOK

Included Unique Activities

  • Join An Experienced Guide to Gaze at the Skies From the Most Southern Research Observatory in the World
  • Scenic Helicopter Flight Through the Southern Alps to the Isobel Glacier, Followed by a Guided Hike to the Iconic Rob Roy Glacier
  • Dart River Jet Safari and Guided Mount Aspiring National Park Adventure
  • Discover Milford Sound's Varied Geography by Glass Roof Coach, Nature Cruise, and at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory
Dark Sky-Stargazing at Mt John Night Observatory

Dark Sky-Stargazing at Mt John Night Observatory

Full Day Glacier Discovery Tour

Full Day Glacier Discovery Tour

Full Day Aspiring Wilderness Experience

Full Day Aspiring Wilderness Experience

Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, & Fly Tour

Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, & Fly Tour

Accommodations

1 Night

Stylish Contemporary Hotel

1 Night

Luxury Lakeside Resort

2 Nights

Lakeside View Hotel

3 Nights

5-Star Boutique Hotel

Transportation and Guides

  • Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Christchurch
  • Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in Queenstown
  • Rental Car with Automatic Transmission for 4 Days

Meals Included

  • 7 Full Breakfasts
  • 3 Picnic Lunches; In Mt Aspiring National Park, on the Shores of Lake Sylvan, and on the Banks of Milford Sound

Points of Interest

  • Christchurch
  • Canterbury Museum
  • Lake Tekapo
  • Mt John Observatory
  • Lake Wanaka
  • Mt Aspiring National Park
  • Isobel Glacier
  • Rob Roy Glacier
  • Queenstown
  • Milford Sound

Bob's Peak and Skyline Gondola, South Island

Lake Wakatipu, South Island

Milford Sound, South Island

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2026

Available Dates

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

From $5,657 per person

2027

Available Dates

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

From $6,223 per person

Your Price Includes

ACCOMMODATION

  • 7 Nights in Authentic Superior Hotels

TRANSPORTATION

  • Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Christchurch
  • Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in Queenstown
  • Rental Car with Automatic Transmission for 4 Days

DINING OPTIONS INCLUDED

  • 7 Full Breakfasts
  • 3 Picnic Lunches; In Mt Aspiring National Park, on the Shores of Lake Sylvan, and on the Banks of Milford Sound

INCLUDED UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

  • Join An Experienced Guide to Gaze at the Skies From the Most Southern Research Observatory in the World
  • Scenic Helicopter Flight Through the Southern Alps to the Isobel Glacier, Followed by a Guided Hike to the Iconic Rob Roy Glacier
  • Dart River Jet Safari and Guided Mount Aspiring National Park Adventure
  • Discover Milford Sound's Varied Geography by Glass Roof Coach, Nature Cruise, and at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory

POINTS OF INTEREST

  • Christchurch
  • Canterbury Museum
  • Lake Tekapo
  • Mt John Observatory
  • Lake Wanaka
  • Mt Aspiring National Park
  • Isobel Glacier
  • Rob Roy Glacier
  • Queenstown
  • Milford Sound
Prices Based On
  • All Taxes & Fees Included
  • Prices are Per Person based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room.
  • Traveling Alone? No Problem. Just Ask Us for a Single Supplement Price.

"Italy anniversary trip"

Jan Pepe

GA

Ellie did a fabulous job helping me put together the perfect trip for my clients. She paid such great attention to the details I sent her, and my clients said the trip was AMAZING! Thank you Ellie!!!

"mom and daughter trip"

Tracy Layton

Ireland

What an amazing trip! I chose Authentic because the itinerary sounded exactly what we wanted to see. But what made this the trip of a lifetime was our driver/guide, Colm Dunlea. He was absolutely incredible. The stories he told, the little side trips he took us on, the tips he gave us as we arrived in each of the towns/cities, the pictures he took and all of the extras he gave us were just so very much appreciated. I am forever grateful to Colm Dunlea for all he did. He was BRILLIANT!!!

"85th birthday gift celebration"

Patricia Slota

Montague Michigan

Our trip to Ireland was beyond amazing. Each day brought new vistas filling us all with the heart of this beautiful land, The accomadations were just magical and each one had a lovely history of its own. The tour itinerary was well designed to teach us about Irelands different areas and history. Special praise to our ProCar chauffer / guide, Mr. Declan Cummins for going way above to care for each traveler . ( We were a varied group.) He is a huge asset to your company, We all grew very fond of him by weeks end. Thank you all for creating this wonderful adventure. I'd do it over again in a heartbeat!

"Denmark Vacation"

Eric Jensen

Minneapolis, MN

My clients' 'Denmark in the Spring' trip exceeded expectations — from the seamless logistics to the curated experiences in both Copenhagen and Aarhus, every detail was thoughtfully arranged. Their drivers and guides were exceptional, bringing the destinations to life in ways they couldn't have discovered on their own. They returned home already dreaming of their next trip.

"Mom and daughter trip"

Jill Loveless

Wisconsin

My client and her mother contacted me about travel to Ireland. They wanted something private and special. I met my Authentic Vacations' sales rep the night before and decided to send in a request. Best decision ever! Lauren L. received my request and immediately sent me an email with a few ideas, we talked on the phone and within 2 days I had a winning itinerary.

Fast forward. My client emailed me on arrival day and was very pleased with the service. She emailed me again on the last day and raved about their driver Colm Dunlea.

Working with Authentic Vacations was effortless. I highly recommend them and plan to use their service again.

"Family Vacation"

Denise Ferraro

New York

As a travel advisor, this was the first Ireland trip I entrusted to Authentic Vacations, and they knocked it out of the park. The clients loved having a private driver, thought the hotels were ideal, and a castle stay was the perfect ending to the trip.

"Birthday Family Trip"

Joan Cook

Illinois

My group of 10 returned from a week in Ireland where I hired a driver through Authentic Vacations. Delcan went above and beyond as I had 2 80+ women in the group that could not walk long distances. He found wheelchairs at every venue. My clients said he was very kind and friendly. Thank you to Jennifer at Authentic Vacations who made this experience a memory of a lifetime.

"Family Adventure"

Loryl Haggard

Fort Thomas, KY

Amber M. does the best job bringing my ideas to life for my clients. She truly builds the best curated trips and makes me look like a rockstar. From start to finish - she is there every step of the way. Having her and Authentic's support is awesome! Thank you for another excellent adventure!

1. Click the “GET QUOTE” Button Above.

Complete our inquiry form by selecting your departure date, and all other relevant fields. Be sure to let us know if you're traveling for a special occasion! We can adjust most of our vacation packages to suit your needs, based on the details you provide.

2. Online Account & Quote Created

Your request will be forwarded to our team of Destination Experts, and a price quote will be prepared, based on your submitted preferences and criteria. A free Authentic Vacations online account will also be created, allowing you to view and request changes to your quote at any time. Log into your account via “LOGIN” at the top of any of our webpages.

3. Fine-Tune Your Tour Quote

Work with your assigned Destination Expert to tweak your quote in any way you wish. Our customers continually tell us that our flexibility in this regard is exceptional – your Destination Expert’s sole brief is to create the perfect tour for you!

4. Reserve & Pay Online

Once your quote is 100% to your liking, you can pay for your package with your credit card via your Authentic Vacations online account. We also accept payment by personal check and wire transfer. We only require a 20% deposit to secure your vacation, and our Risk-Free Cancellation Policy provides you with complete peace of mind.

5. Print Your Travel Documents & Go!

Once your vacation has been paid in full, you will be able to print your travel documents directly from your online account. You’re ready to embark on your ideal, authentic vacation!!

Questions?

If you would prefer to discuss your perfect vacation on the phone, we would be delighted to hear from you! Our Destination Experts are standing-by and looking forward to speaking with you at any time during our business hours listed below. We also operate a very responsive and efficient Live Chat service on our website…instant gratification awaits!

Toll-free from the US and Canada: 1-888-443-5259 Rest of World: +1-707-687-0191

Hours of Business:

Monday – Thursday: 7:00am – 5:00pm PST

Friday: 7:00am – 4:00pm PST

Saturday: 6:00am – 3:00pm PST

Sunday: 6:00am – 3:00pm PST

With offices in Scottsdale, San Francisco, London, Dublin, Copenhagen and Edinburgh, we can offer you unrivaled support while you are abroad. We truly believe all our clients deserve an extraordinary, authentic experience!