Book Your Vacation With Only A $500 PP Deposit!

The indicated prices are for 2025 only. For 2026 travel pricing, please inquire.

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

2025

Available Dates

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

From $5,143 per person

2026

Available Dates

For 2026 travel pricing,
please inquire

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.

"Fun in the Emerald Isle"

Sarah C.

Arizona

Took my mom for her 75th bday on a trip to Ireland. We did a lot of sightseeing and travel by car to all parts of Ireland. The travel plans were easy and had time for relaxation and exploration. I would recommend this service.

"We enjoy every second of our time in Italy"

Kelly R.

Wyoming

My mom's dream since she was a little girl was to go to Italy to see the Vatican and Pompeii. She's 82 and it was time to make it happen. The team at Authentic Vacations knocked the trip out of the park. The guides on our various tours were incredible. Every driver we booked was friendly and safe with immaculate vehicles. The hotels were in great locations, clean, roomy, and had great breakfast offerings. My mom enjoyed every second of our time in Rome and Florence as well as our two day trips to Pompeii and Siena. So glad to get to experience this with her thanks to Michaela and Authentic Vacations!

"Wonderful trip to Scotland"

Rebecca W.

Mequon, WI

Everything was quite wonderful! LOVED the Food tour. LOVED the handbag workshop. LOVED the Royal Mile tour (even though it was too windy for the castle entry -- next time!). The Rabbies tour to Kelpsies, Loch Lomond, and Stirling Castle was great (the castle tour guide inside was incredible!). The Scotland Showcase was good for tourists who know nothing about Scottish music and dance -- was a little underwhelming for us because we just spent 5 days at the RSCDS Winter School with the most amazing musicians and dancers! It is kind of our thing. All in all, it was great! THANKS!

"Trip of a lifetime in Australia"

Deborah R.

Ohio

I loved our trip—it really did exceed expectations. As far as the Australia part, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Authentic Vacations did a great job with the itinerary given the time constraints I had. All the transfers went smoothly and it was lovely not to have to find our own way to/from accommodations. My hope was to see a little part of Australia and especially the wildlife and I did—the trip certainly lived up to and exceeded expectations. I’m very happy with the itinerary and how everything went.

"Fabulous family vacation for clients"

Gwen C.

Anchorage

Authentic Vacations is wonderful to work with. As a travel professional who's clients were looking for a relaxed informative trip, Ellie at Authentic Vacations nailed it. So easy to work with and come up with fabulous trip for my travelers. Ellie is very knowledgeable about Ireland and the properties, driver and sights recommended along with way were fantastic!

Would definitely recommend Authentic Vacations and Ellie to anyone.

"Northern Lights in Norway"

Teresa T.

Texas

We had a wonderful time in Norway! The weather was very cooperative for all of our outdoor activities. We had the best night for viewing the Northern Lights of the whole week. We had a spectacular "show" at our first stop that our guide said he hadn't seen all season. It is absolutely enthralling! The dogsledding was a lot of fun and learning about the dog training through what happens when the dogs are retired was very interesting. The Northern Lights Dinner Cruise was not as expected but actually better. The reindeer sledding and Saami people experience was also well done. As far as feedback, we really appreciated how you kept us updated with any changes that occurred and were prepared to present us with alternatives. Thank you again for all your help. We had an amazing time and are so glad we went!

"Fabulous Anniversary in the UK"

Jones B.

Dublin, GA

Authentic Vacations tailored our trip exactly the way we wanted it. Fabulous accommodations and experiences in Glascow, Inverness, and London. Great drivers to and from our locations. This is the second trip AV has done for me, and it will not be the last. Thank you!

"Incredible Honeymoon in Ireland"

Kelsey F.

South Carolina

Where to begin? Our honeymoon was absolutely incredible, and we owe it all to Joleen! She was an absolute joy to work with throughout an entire year of planning. From our first phone call to organizing and answering our endless questions, to making adjustments and ensuring every detail was perfect, Joleen went above and beyond to make the process stress-free and enjoyable.


We spent 10 magical days in beautiful Ireland, and everything went off without a hitch. The hotels Joleen selected for us were lovely, our travel arrangements were seamless, and she managed to stick to our budget—something we didn’t think would even be possible for a trip this special.


Thanks to Joleen, our dream honeymoon became a reality, and we couldn’t be more grateful. We highly recommend Authentic Vacations, as the entire experience was fantastic. I have already recommended it to several friends! Their online portal is so user-friendly, and we loved the flexibility of being able to make payments on our trip whenever it suited us.


Thank you for everything, Joleen—we already miss emailing with you! You truly deserve a raise for the incredible service you provide!

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!