7-Night South Island Explorer

Day 2

Accommodation

Luxury Lakeside Resort - Lake Tekapo, South Island

Check in policies:

Check-in time is 2 PM to 10 PM on your day of arrival. Check-out before 10 AM.

Included Unique Activities

Dark Sky-Stargazing at Mt John Night Observatory

Join your experienced guide to gaze at the skies from the most southern research observatory in the world. With the use of powerful telescopes, you can view planets, star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies. Should there be a cloudy evening, you will be offered an 'Observatory Tour', where your guide will escort you through this working research observatory to learn about the projects being undertaken using New Zealand's largest telescope, the MOA. Then, with the aid of a large screen, your guide will explain the features seen in the night sky using images taken from the observatory and provide interesting facts and figures that will intrigue you.

Departs From: Earth and Sky Office, Main Highway 8, Lake Tekapo Village

What to Wear: Warm Jacket, Hat, Comfortable walking shoes

Equipment Provided:
- "US Antarctic Expedition" jackets that really went to Antarctica!
- Solar-charged LED flashlight, for you to keep at the end of the tour
- Hot chocolate to warm up your hands

Overnight Location

Lake Tekapo, South Island

On the Map: Lake Tekapo is a small village situated on the southern end of Lake Tekapo. The village is roughly 256 km (160 miles) northeast of Queenstown and 228 km (142 miles) southwest of Christchurch. 

Beautifully situated on the shores of the turquoise blue Lake Tekapo and with the Southern Alps in the distance, Lake Tekapo Village offers one of the most stunning panoramas. On the shores of Lake Tekapo, you will find the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, built as both a place of worship and a memorial for Mackenzie's pioneering families. For more panoramic views, take a short drive, or opt for the scenic walk, to the summit of Mount John, where the world-famous Earth & Sky Observatory and Astro Cafe are located. Lake Tekapo is also situated in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Light pollution is strictly controlled in this area which makes it one of the best places for stargazing in the world!

Day 3

Accommodation

Lakeside View Hotel - Wanaka, South Island

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2 PM on your day of arrival. Check-out before 10 AM.

Overnight Location

Wanaka, South Island

On the Map: Wanaka is a resort town on New Zealand’s South Island. The town is roughly 67 km (41 miles) northeast of Queenstown and 428 km (266 miles) southwest of Christchurch. 

Wanaka is a popular tourist resort on the southern shores of Lake Wanaka. The Cardrona Valley, near Wanaka, was the scene of a small goldrush in 1862. Prior to 1940 the settlement of Wanaka, the town was known as Pembroke and it has retained the flavour of a typical New Zealand holiday town, in comparison to Queenstown which has become an international resort. Wanaka is now mainly a tourist resort surrounded by mountain scenery and a ski resort in winter. The town features four distinct seasons, meaning it is the perfect year-round destination. In the summer, take advantage of the hot weather and take part in water sports, hiking, and biking. In the winter, take advantage of the snow and visit one of the area’s numerous ski areas. While springtime is perfect for exploring the lakeside tracks and trails, the vibrant colors of the fall are perfect for those photographers looking to catch some lakeside magic. No matter which season you decide to visit, Wanaka has something for everyone. 

Day 4

Accommodation

Lakeside View Hotel - Wanaka, South Island

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2 PM on your day of arrival. Check-out before 10 AM.

Included Unique Activities

Full Day Glacier Discovery Tour

Begin your day with a scenic drive around Lake Wanaka & up the Matukituki Valley to your Helicopter. Fly to the majestic into Southern Alps and land on the Isobel Glacier, featuring stunning views of Mt Aspiring and the World Heritage Mt Aspiring National Park. Your helicopter then whisks you away to your waiting guide at Raspberry Hut to begin your walk up the Rob Roy Track to view the stunning Rob Roy Glacier. From Raspberry Hut, the guided walk brings you through farmland dotted with sheep and cattle, across a swing bridge, and into the alpine rainforest to emerge above the treeline into the alpine herb fields opposite four glacier faces – a perfect lunch spot. Swing bridge, waterfalls, rainforest, crystal clear mountain streams and glaciers – the Rob Roy Glacier guided Walk has it all! Following lunch, the walk is all downhill back to the car park. A moderate level of fitness is required for this tour. Walking distance is 10 kilometres return, approximately 4 hours walking time.

Inclusions:
Hotel pick up/drop off
Lunch and refreshments are included

Additional Information:
Grade: Moderate Fitness
Actual walking distance: 10 kms return
Actual walking time: 4 hours return
Altitudes: lowest 377m & highest 780m
Departure: 9 AM (Wanaka), return 5.30 PM (Wanaka)
Season: all year but weather dependent

Requirements:
Comfortable & strong walking shoes/boots, suitable layers of clothing, waterproof jacket. Bring a day pack and water bottle
 

Overnight Location

Wanaka, South Island

On the Map: Wanaka is a resort town on New Zealand’s South Island. The town is roughly 67 km (41 miles) northeast of Queenstown and 428 km (266 miles) southwest of Christchurch. 

Wanaka is a popular tourist resort on the southern shores of Lake Wanaka. The Cardrona Valley, near Wanaka, was the scene of a small goldrush in 1862. Prior to 1940 the settlement of Wanaka, the town was known as Pembroke and it has retained the flavour of a typical New Zealand holiday town, in comparison to Queenstown which has become an international resort. Wanaka is now mainly a tourist resort surrounded by mountain scenery and a ski resort in winter. The town features four distinct seasons, meaning it is the perfect year-round destination. In the summer, take advantage of the hot weather and take part in water sports, hiking, and biking. In the winter, take advantage of the snow and visit one of the area’s numerous ski areas. While springtime is perfect for exploring the lakeside tracks and trails, the vibrant colors of the fall are perfect for those photographers looking to catch some lakeside magic. No matter which season you decide to visit, Wanaka has something for everyone. 

Day 5

Accommodation

5-Star Boutique Hotel - Queenstown, South Island

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2 PM on your day of arrival. Check-out before 11 AM.

Suggested Sightseeing

Bob's Peak and Skyline Gondola, South Island

On the map: Take a scenic ride in the iconic Skyline Gondola, a Queenstown must. Be amazed by the stunning views as you experience the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere. You’ll ride 150-feet above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob's Peak, where you’ll thrill to a spectacular panorama with breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter and Cecil Peak and, of course, Queenstown. After you reach the summit, you may want to relax with a drink and sumptuous meal at the Stratosphere Restaurant. Top it all off with a Stargazing tour of the Southern skies—the stars are different here. Count them!

Lake Wakatipu, South Island

On the map: Lake Wakatipu fills a deep, glacier-carved valley and is surrounded on all sides by mountains, the highest being Mount Earnslaw at 9,300 ft. This is what we call Real Mountains! The views are impressive. (Sometimes it seems there’s a magnificent vista around every corner in Queenstown.) Because the lake has an unusual Z-shape, carved out 15,000 years ago, there’s a standing wave which causes the water to rise and fall every twenty-five minutes or so. According to Māori tradition, this is caused by the heartbeat of a huge monster, Matau, who sleeps at the bottom of Wakatipu. The longest lake in New Zealand, it holds legends and secrets all but lost in the mists of time. Its name in Māori, Whakatipu wai-māori, means ‘bay of spirits.’ The first European to sail Wakatipu was a Scot who found a reed raft and used his gray wool blanket as a sail. He was in search of farmland. The gent was pummeled by snow and wind, but he had tales of an extraordinary adventure. Take in the wonder that’s Wakatipu.

Overnight Location

Queenstown, South Island

On the map: Queenstown is a small lakeside town located on New Zealand’s South Island. The town is roughly 171 km (106 miles) northeast of Te Anau and 483 km (300 miles) southwest of Christchurch. 

Queenstown is a year-round alpine resort nestled amid steep mountain ranges and pockets of native bush with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables Range rising from Lake Wakatipu. The lake was created by glacial action thousands of years ago. A mysterious phenomenon causes the lake to vary several inches in depth every few minutes, giving credence to a Maori legend of an ancient Taniwha (demon) still breathing beneath the surface. The town is compact enough to travel around on foot and features a great range of restaurants, bars and boutique stores. If spectacular views and action-packed activities are on your travel bucket list, look no further than Bob’s Peak. Sitting just above Queenstown, Bob’s Peak can be reached via gondola or by the Tiki Trail. Once at the top, you will be rewarded with stunning vistas, a delicious restaurant, and a full day of adventure. Try the Skyline Luge (a gravity-fueled ride down one of two tracks in a luge cart), bungy jumping, paragliding, or mountain biking - all available at Bob’s Peak. For those who prefer to stay lakeside, take a stroll to the Queenstown Gardens, or take a guided ½ day nature walk through native Beech Forest. You can even take a cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the steamship TSS Earnslaw and visit a high country sheep station for a farm tour. If the steamship is too slow for your taste, take a ride on a jetboat that brings you up narrow river chasms. However you choose to spend your days here, Queenstown is sure to bring you lifelong memories.

Day 6

Accommodation

5-Star Boutique Hotel - Queenstown, South Island

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2 PM on your day of arrival. Check-out before 11 AM.

Included Unique Activities

Full Day Aspiring Wilderness Experience

Combine walking through ancient beech forest in Mount Aspiring National Park with the Dart River Jet Safari. Today's full day adventure begins as you travel to the start of your guided walk through one of the most scenic high mountain big river valleys in New Zealand. The only way to master the shallow glacial waters of the Southern Alps is by the Kiwi innovation that revolutionized high-country transport - the jet boat! Enjoy this unique journey complete with frequent stops where your jet boat driver will explain the geology and lore of the ancient and unspoiled lands. Two fascinating hours and 35 kilometres later, your guide will meet you at a secret spot on the banks of the Dart River and lead you on a gentle ascent under a canopy of native beech forest, where birdsong supplies an unrivaled, natural soundtrack. Stop for a delicious picnic lunch on the shores of Lake Sylvan, joined by local birdlife such as Bush Robins, Fantails and Tomtits. Lake Sylvan teems with native trout and the most attractive species of geese and ducks when in season. Winding back from the lake the track ambles through to the Routeburn, flowing down the very edge of the forest where you will join your vehicle for your transfer back to Queenstown.

Inclusions:
- City hotel pick up
- Dart River Jet
- Lunch and Refreshments

Highlights:
- Spectacular snow-capped mountain and lake views.
- Variety of bird life, mosses, lichens and ferns, ancient native beech forest which only Guided Walks NZ is permitted to guide through.

Overnight Location

Queenstown, South Island

On the map: Queenstown is a small lakeside town located on New Zealand’s South Island. The town is roughly 171 km (106 miles) northeast of Te Anau and 483 km (300 miles) southwest of Christchurch. 

Queenstown is a year-round alpine resort nestled amid steep mountain ranges and pockets of native bush with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables Range rising from Lake Wakatipu. The lake was created by glacial action thousands of years ago. A mysterious phenomenon causes the lake to vary several inches in depth every few minutes, giving credence to a Maori legend of an ancient Taniwha (demon) still breathing beneath the surface. The town is compact enough to travel around on foot and features a great range of restaurants, bars and boutique stores. If spectacular views and action-packed activities are on your travel bucket list, look no further than Bob’s Peak. Sitting just above Queenstown, Bob’s Peak can be reached via gondola or by the Tiki Trail. Once at the top, you will be rewarded with stunning vistas, a delicious restaurant, and a full day of adventure. Try the Skyline Luge (a gravity-fueled ride down one of two tracks in a luge cart), bungy jumping, paragliding, or mountain biking - all available at Bob’s Peak. For those who prefer to stay lakeside, take a stroll to the Queenstown Gardens, or take a guided ½ day nature walk through native Beech Forest. You can even take a cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the steamship TSS Earnslaw and visit a high country sheep station for a farm tour. If the steamship is too slow for your taste, take a ride on a jetboat that brings you up narrow river chasms. However you choose to spend your days here, Queenstown is sure to bring you lifelong memories.

Day 7

Accommodation

5-Star Boutique Hotel - Queenstown, South Island

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2 PM on your day of arrival. Check-out before 11 AM.

Included Unique Activities

Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, & Fly Tour

Travel alongside Lake Wakatipu in a glass roof coach and through farming country to Te Anau for a short rest stop. The overland journey to Milford Sound is a showcase of sheer mountains and towering cliffs, rugged valleys and native rainforest surrounded by teeming waterfalls and glacial lakes. Enjoy the short walks and photo opportunities along the way. On arrival, board a small Nature Cruise for an interactive and personal experience offering spectacular scenery and wildlife including seals, dolphins, and penguins when in season. Following the cruise and a picnic lunch, visit the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory for a journey through the natural history, geology and conservation efforts of this unique marine reserve. Descend 10 metres down 64 steps beneath the water into a spacious viewing chamber with uninterrupted 360-degree views of the undersea world to see rare black coral and colourful sea creatures. Return to Milford wharf and transfer to Milford airport for the 40-minute flight to Queenstown (weather permitting). Fly over untouched wilderness and stunning alpine scenery with breath-taking views of Milford Sound and the Southern Alps. On arrival at Queenstown airport, transfers are provided to your accommodation.

Suggested Sightseeing

Milford Sound, South Island

On the map: Known for its stunning landscapes, Milford Sound is a fiord in New Zealand’s South Island. The fiord can be reached via route 94 and is roughly 118 km (73 miles) north of Te Anau. 

Known for its stunning landscapes and described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, Milford Sound is a must-see for anyone traveling to New Zealand. This stunning fiord was carved by glaciers during the ice ages and offers breathtaking views in any weather. With steep cliffs rising from dark waters and powerful waterfalls cascading down from the tops of mountains, Milford Sound is truly a magnificent sight to behold. For those seeking adventure, take in all the views from a kayak or from the sky (in a prearranged helicopter or small plane ride). If hiking or trekking is more your style, try out the Milford Track, beginning at the northern end of Lake Te Anau and ending at Sandfly Point where you will take a boat to the Milford Sound Wharf. Of course there are always day boat trips available for those just wanting to cruise around the fiord. For those interested in marine life, head to the underwater observatory at Harrison Cove to marvel at black coral, 11-legged sea stars, and elegant anemones. 

Day 8

Depart From

Depart from Queenstown Airport, South Island

Return to Queenstown Airport at least two hours prior to your flight's scheduled departure. This will allow ample time to check in for your flight home.