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.
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
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Dark Sky-Stargazing at Mt John Night Observatory
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Full Day Glacier Discovery Tour
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Full Day Aspiring Wilderness Experience
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Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, & Fly Tour
Accommodations
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1 Night
Stylish Contemporary Hotel.jpg)
1 Night
Luxury Lakeside Resort.jpg)
2 Nights
Lakeside View Hotel.jpg)
3 Nights
5-Star Boutique HotelTransportation 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"
Jun 18, 2026GA
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"
Jun 11, 2026Ireland
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"
Jun 2, 2026Montague 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"
May 31, 2026Minneapolis, 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"
May 28, 2026Wisconsin
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"
May 21, 2026New 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"
May 20, 2026Illinois
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"
May 19, 2026Fort 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!
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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
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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!

















