TRAVEL ADVICE

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. 

GET A QUOTE

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

Accommodation

1 Night

Stylish Contemporary Hotel

1 Night

Luxury Lakeside Resort

2 Nights

Lakeside View Hotel

3 Nights

5-Star Boutique Hotel

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

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

Lake Wakatipu, South Island

Bob's Peak and Skyline Gondola, South Island

Milford Sound, South Island

2023

Available Tour Dates

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

From $4,898 per person

2024

Available Tour Dates

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

From $4,898 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.

"Sisters Trip"

Jannette

Montana

Jolene was wonderful! She’s a friendly and professional trip advisor and arranger. She put together a 12-day tour of the Wild Atlantic Way in southwest Ireland for us. We’re happy to say that everything went smoothly and to plan, including picking up the rental car, the hotel reservations, the ticket vouchers for tours, the highlights to see along the way and returning the car. Jolene promptly followed up on emails, questions and phone calls before our trip and made sure everything was set up and in place. She made sure to cover all the “what if” questions before we left but we didn’t need any further assistance once in Ireland. My family and I would not hesitate to recommend Authentic Vacations because of the attention to detail and great customer service, especially from Jolene!

"Couples Vacation"

DeLane

Alabama

Lauren was wonderful to work with and helped us plan a perfect vacation in Ireland. Everything from our flights, rental car, and every BNB was outstanding! We've used Authentic Vacations for 3 trips to Ireland …...here's to planning the 4th in the near future! Thanks Lauren!

"Wonderful Ireland"

Chris

Florida

Amber, Ireland is wonderful, and we’re having a ball. We got in to Kinsale late this afternoon and are taking a breather now to overcome some jet lag. When the town wakes up tomorrow, we’ll see it and shop a bit before going on to Killarney and Muckross.  By the way, The Irish House Party was perfect. Fun, not loud and crass but classy and friendly, entertainment. We recommend it highly. Thank you for all you did to help us put this trip together.

"Amore Italy"

Jill

PA

I am a travel advisor that uses Authentic Vacations and my client just got back from Italy and can't say enough about the Italy tour we booked for her.  It was a Rome add on for cruise clients - it was a 3 night behind the scenes of agent Rome, and they LOVED it!!  Thank you, Ellie. The hotels, tours everything was great.  My clients want to go back to Italy again and I will use Ellie and Authentic Vacations in a heartbeat!!

"Ireland Holiday"

Tina and Pat

Michiagn

Jorie, well, we have returned from a most amazing holiday in Ireland.  The car rental worked out wonderfully.   Pick up and Drop off were a breeze.  Driving to Clifden, we added Downpatrick Head as a site to see. It's BEAUTIFUL.  Drove the Doo Lough Pass....Breathtaking! The trip was absolutely amazing. We absolutely LOVED our vacation and will definitely recommend Authentic Vacations to friends and family.

"Amazing Scotland"

Malissa & Rachel

Florida

Hi Lauren, I just wanted to take the time to tell you that Rachel and I had an AMAZING TIME!! Scotland was worth the wait, and I hope to be back soon. Every place we stayed at was very courteous and so kind., even with the last-minute changes we made. I will get in touch soon to book another vacation. Please keep me posted if there's any deals around. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

"Perfect Italy Honeymoon"

Claire & Kendall

Arkansas

Our trip was phenomenal!!! We loved every second of it. Joleen, thank you so much for organizing it for us. We are SO grateful for your help and everything that the company did to make our trip memorable and carefree! It was the perfect honeymoon experience, and we will definitely look into using you all again in the future.

"Family Vacation Ireland & Scotland"

Lisa

KY

We recently returned from a dream trip in Scotland and Ireland. We worked with Lonna and she is incredible. Lonna answered all my questions with care and kindness and worked on our trip to make sure I got to see everything I had dreamed about. I can’t say enough great things about her, she really does care about her clients. Thanks Lonna

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!