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South Pacific Specialists
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Explore the very best of the South Island with our luxury New Zealand road trip. Discover hidden gems, from private beaches to luxury lodges. Discover our world of sophisticated splendor, incredible alpine scenery with unforgettable bespoke guided experiences. Scenic Glacier Flight, Franz Joseph Glacier, Tranz Alpine Rail Journey, Mt Cook, Tasman GlacierWalk, Cruise Milford Sound, Queenstown.
Duration: 10 Days
Starts: Christchurch
Finishes: Christchurch
‘Haere Mai’ and Welcome to New Zealand.
New Zealand’s second-largest city and the gateway to the South Island, Christchurch sits on the very edge of the Canterbury Plains and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. The city itself has bounced back after a series of major earthquakes..
Swanky new office buildings of steel and glass neighbour the neo-gothic Arts Centre, the picturesque Antigua Boat Sheds and the under-reconstruction Christ Church Cathedral. Dozens of new restaurants and bars line the Avon River, while fantastic boutique stores hide down super cool laneway precincts. Christchurch is a city transformed, and just waiting to be rediscovered.
1 Nights Accommodation at The George
This is a Fantasy Land of Ice and Rock. Mt Cook National Park is known for its exquisite alpine beauty.
Today head westwards through the Canterbury plains – you will find a superb location for some great photos at Lake Tekapo. Tekapo is one of three significant, neighboring lakes that border the Mackenzie Valley. Golden tussock grass carpets the surrounding hillside and rolls away into the distance where the Southern Alps frame the horizon. The charming ‘Church of the Good Shepherd’ sits alone on its shores and the views to, Aoraki Mt Cook are remarkable – this is a great place to stop fora picnic.
Mount Cook National Park
This is a Fantasy Land of Ice and Rock. Mt Cook National Park, known for its exquisite alpine beauty and is home to the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook. Its Maori name, ‘Aoraki’ means ‘cloud piercer’ and at 12,016ft (3,755m) it towers above the surrounding snow-covered peaks in the park. This magnificent mountain is surrounded by over 150 peaks along with countless glaciers, ice and snowfields, mountain lakes, and ranges.
2 Nights Accommodation at The Hermitage
Approximate Distance: 326 km | 233 m
Total Driving Time: 4 Hours
Offers the most spectacular of Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Southern Alps...
Hooker Valley Guided Hike: 5 Hours Walking
An ice-capped world of giant glaciers awaits as you embark on one of New Zealand’s finest short walks: the Hooker Valley Track.
This stunning 11 km (6.8 miles) trek leads you to the terminal lake of the Hooker Glacier. The trail winds through the Hooker Valley in the shadow of Aoraki /Mount Cook, crossing the mighty Hooker River on old-fashioned swing bridges. Reaching the lake, you are rewarded by unsurpassed vistas of Aoraki / Mount Cook’s south face and the surrounding glaciers.
Your knowledgeable guide brings the unique history, flora, and fauna to life as you wander.
The alpine resort of Queenstown is exciting, sophisticated, and fantastically scenic.
The drive to Queenstown is stunning, leading you over the rugged Crown Range on the highest main road in the country. Take your time and enjoy the scenic lookouts en route – your camera will get a workout.
The winding mountain road demands concentration & care, but more conservative drivers can take an alternative route along the Clutha River, Lake Dunstan, and the Shotover River. The vineyards of the Gibbston area and bungy jumpers at the Kawarau River Bridge are interesting distractions along the way.
The alpine resort of Queenstown is exciting, sophisticated, and fantastically scenic. It’s the place to source almost any kind of adventure including bungy jumping, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting, and river surfing. It’s also a destination for luxury experiences – gourmet food and wine, spa treatments, and leisurely games of golf.
Approximate Distance: 255 km | 159 miles
Total Driving Time: 3 Hours
For the most engaging way to experience the riches of Fiordland National Park.
For the most engaging way to experience the riches of Fiordland National Park. This option includes three modes of transport (land, sea & air) making this the ‘holy grail’ of combination tours.
Coach: Board a luxury coach for a journey into beautiful Fiordland. The Road to Milford is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. The first part is relatively mild farmland, and then you’ll ease into a beech forest near the entrance to the Fiordland National Park. Look for the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Mirror Lakes and through the rough-hewn Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound.
Cruise: Enjoy a scenic cruise of the entire length of Milford Sound viewing the spectacular waterfalls and famous Mitre Peak. Grand, brooding, serene and wild, Milford Sound draws visitors from all over the globe to cruise its length. The purpose-built cruise boat offers excellent viewing of waterfalls, rainforest, mountains, and wildlife with large windows, spacious decks, and comfortable lounges.
Fly: Experience the “Absolutely Stunning” scenery as you fly over Sutherland Falls and over beautiful Milford Sound and lakes Te Anau and Lake Manapouri on your way back to Queenstown.
Discover the unique eco-sanctuary of Mou Waho Island in Lake Wanaka
Mou Waho, one of only five islands to be found in the vastness of Lake Wanaka. Accessible only by a 35-minute boat cruise, Mou Waho is an island nature reserve with a difference. With no predators or pests roaming here, New Zealand’s rare & endangered species can live in peace, giving you the opportunity to observe them up close. Walking with a long-time local guide, the well-formed track leads you through the native bush to Tyrwhitt Peak.
Here you will find Arethusa Pool, a beautiful miniature lake with small islands within it. Impress your friends by telling them you have visited an island in a lake, inside an island in a lake, inside an island in the ocean! From Tyrwhitt Peak, you’ll be spellbound by the 360-degree views of Lake Wanaka surrounding you, and the mountains beyond. Don’t forget your swimwear: on a hot day, it’s hard to resist a swim in Mou Waho’s cool clear waters.
1 Night Accommodation at Tin Tub Luxury Lodge
Approximate Distance: 70 km | 44 miles
Total Driving Time: 1 hour 10 mins
The Wild West Coast - Tai Poutini National Park Westland
Be transported to the South Island’s wild West Coast today on one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking scenic drives. The views are impressive all the way, and once over the Haast Pass they change dramatically. There’s beauty around every bend, with woodland walks and dramatic waterfalls along the route — perfect for picnic stops.
When the ancient forests and mountain passes give way to coastal views, you’ll soon be nearing glacier country. Nestled in a rainforest clearing, Franz Josef Glacier lies at the heart of the Westland National Park.
Welcome to one of the most diverse and beautiful areas of New Zealand.
2 Night at Te Waonui Forest Retreat
Approximate Distance: 350 km | 217 miles
Total Driving Time: 4 hours 40 Minutes
Exploring these majestic rivers of frozen ice is a must. Located near the Main Divide the views of the Southern Alps are second to none.
Fly over Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier on a spectacular helicopter tour that includes a landing right on the snow. Seeing both glaciers on a single helicopter flight offers an incredible perspective and understanding of New Zealand’s massive ice sheets, and you touch down on one of the glaciers to snap up-close photographs of the frozen terrain.
Take one of the world's great train journeys
Today travel to Greymouth where you will return your rental car. The TranzAlpine is one of the world’s great train journeys covering 223 kilometres (139 miles) one-way, taking just under 5 hours. You’ll traverse the majestic Canterbury Plains, to the backdrop of the mighty Southern Alps – the journey of a lifetime.
1 night at The George
Approximate Distance: 171 km
Total Driving Time: 2 hours 10 mins
Return to Christchurch airport for your onward journey
With 10 days visiting the scenic South Island, you will have made enduring memories and fondness of your time in New Zealand. Stay in touch and let us create more South Pacific dream trips.
“The untouched beauty of World Heritage National Parks and outstanding accommodations make this relaxing holiday seem longer than it is. The hero of this journey is the majestic grandeur of the Southern Alps, tusscok highlands and rainforest that sweep gracefully alongside the lowlands.”
Ready to find out more? Talk to one of our friendly travel designers about his tour. We guarantee you it will be the experience of a lifetime!
ENQUIRELike what you see? Contact us today to find out more about our exclusive itineraries. Each Absolute tour is tailored to who you are and what you want to do.
Our team has access to the most unique accommodation, superb activities, and flight specials. Contact us for a personalised experience.
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The George hotel in Christchurch typifies luxury at every level. Extensive facilities, comprehensive service, excellent quality and attention to detail. Experience our signature style and consistent personalised service. The George restaurant – the award-winning 50 Bistro offers a beautiful setting overlooking Hagley Park, event spaces offer natural light, seclusion and all the modern conveniences while the accommodation offers 5-star comfort.
Proudly New Zealand & family owned, the Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook is an iconic hotel with a rich history spanning over 130 years.
The Hermitage is the perfect base to explore the natural wonders of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, with a variety of accommodation options, a collection of dining establishments & unique activities whilst providing genuine kiwi hospitality.
Eichardt’s Private Hotel is a Queenstown icon providing fine accommodation in seven luxurious Lake View Suites, four comfortably appointed Lakefront Apartments, The Residence and The Penthouse, all situated on premium lakefront positions in the heart of Queenstown. Eichardt’s opulent suites invite guests to soak up a sense of quiet before exploring one of the world’s truly remarkable locations. The hotel suites all feature a super-king bed, fireplace and mini-bar, a dressing room and bathroom.
The lodge sits high on a ridge overlooking Wanaka with breathtaking views over Lake Wanaka and the mountains beyond. The perfect base for skiing, tramping, biking, or just relaxing around the lodge with its stunning views over Lake Wanaka. On-site are a tennis court, swimming pool (heated in summer), sauna and gym, and mountain bikes. Sleep in the silence of the countryside and wake to a leisurely breakfast before setting out on another day of adventure.
At one with nature, Te Waonui Forest Retreat is the ultimate coming together of luxury escape and environmental awareness. Great care has been taken to ensure this exceptional forest retreat steps lightly upon the earth, from the organic cotton bedspreads to its recycled local building materials. Discerning travellers will appreciate the hotel’s attention to detail, which starts with attentive personal service upon arrival, and continues throughout all the hotel facilities and every aspect of your stay.
The George hotel in Christchurch typifies luxury at every level. Extensive facilities, comprehensive service, excellent quality and attention to detail. Experience our signature style and consistent personalised service. The George restaurant – the award-winning 50 Bistro offers a beautiful setting overlooking Hagley Park, event spaces offer natural light, seclusion and all the modern conveniences while the accommodation offers 5-star comfort.
Hooker Valley Guided Hike: 5 Hours Walking
An ice-capped world of giant glaciers awaits as you embark on one of New Zealand’s finest short walks: the Hooker Valley Track.
This stunning 11 km (6.8 miles) trek leads you to the terminal lake of the Hooker Glacier. The trail winds through the Hooker Valley in the shadow of Aoraki /Mount Cook, crossing the mighty Hooker River on old-fashioned swing bridges. Reaching the lake, you are rewarded by unsurpassed vistas of Aoraki / Mount Cook’s south face and the surrounding glaciers.
Your knowledgeable guide brings the unique history, flora, and fauna to life as you wander.
Soar over secluded alpine lakes, dramatic waterfalls, snow-covered mountain peaks, pristine glaciers and native beech forest. And just when you think the scenery can’t get any better; Milford Sound and Mitre Peak appear from over the rise.
Add a boat cruise along the fjord, an alpine landing or extended flying time to your scenic helicopter flight for the full Milford Sound experience.
Mou Waho, one of only five islands to be found in the vastness of Lake Wanaka. Accessible only by a 35-minute boat cruise, Mou Waho is an island nature reserve with a difference. With no predators or pests roaming here, New Zealand’s rare & endangered species can live in peace, giving you the opportunity to observe them up close. Walking with a long-time local guide, the well-formed track leads you through the native bush to Tyrwhitt Peak.
Here you will find Arethusa Pool, a beautiful miniature lake with small islands within it. Impress your friends by telling them you have visited an island in a lake, inside an island in a lake, inside an island in the ocean! From Tyrwhitt Peak, you’ll be spellbound by the 360-degree views of Lake Wanaka surrounding you, and the mountains beyond. Don’t forget your swimwear: on a hot day, it’s hard to resist a swim in Mou Waho’s cool clear waters.
Fly over Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier on a spectacular helicopter tour that includes a landing right on the snow. Seeing both glaciers on a single helicopter flight offers an incredible perspective and understanding of New Zealand’s massive ice sheets, and you touch down on one of the glaciers to snap up-close photographs of the frozen terrain.
The TranzAlpine is one of the world’s great train journeys covering 223 kilometres (139 miles) one-way, taking just under 5 hours. You’ll traverse the majestic Canterbury Plains, to the backdrop of the mighty Southern Alps – the journey of a lifetime.
Christchurch is the city of exploration, where urban regeneration and heritage thrive. The city is constantly evolving, always giving locals and visitors something new to explore. Expect street art and innovative projects, a bustling hospitality scene and established green spaces. Christchurch is the newest city in the world, and it’s time the world rediscovered its secrets.The central city is filled with cutting-edge architecture alongside some of the oldest buildings in New Zealand. The Avon River intersects the city, bringing a natural landscape to the urban environment.
MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK
Mt Cook National Park is known for its exquisite alpine beauty and is home to the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook. Its Maori name, ‘Aoraki’ means ‘cloud piercer’ and at 12,016ft (3,755m) it towers above the surrounding snow-covered peaks in the park. A third of the park is covered in permanent ice and snow and the mighty Tasman Glacier is the longest glacier outside of the polar regions. This is the very heart and soul of a World Heritage and National Park wilderness playground. Ice, snow, hidden valleys, lakes and glaciers offer golden opportunities for discovery, relaxation and adventure.
Queenstown, located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps, is New Zealand’s most celebrated destination. Offering a wealth of accommodation to suit all travellers, there is huge diversity in the experiences to be enjoyed – from adrenaline activities such as bungee jumps and sky diving, adventurous excursions like jet-boating and hiking through to superb golf, gourmet food and wine tours, alpine tours and hiking.
Moody Dramatic and Stunning – Milford Sound is simply stunning. Milford Sound offers what is probably the most spectacular fiord scenery in the southern hemisphere, and the well-known and striking views of Mitre Peak from the head of the fiord form the subject of innumerable paintings, postcards, posters, and pictorial postage stamps. Whatever the fiord’s mood, teeming with rain or with sun glistening on deep water, it will inspire you.
Wanaka Town is located on the southern shores of Lake Wanaka, embraced by the Southern Alps, Wanaka is Otago’s second resort town after Queenstown. The crystal-clear waters of Lake Wanaka, New Zealand’s fourth largest lake, reflect the snow-capped peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. Here you can absorb the unstoppable beauty of pristine wilderness and know that it will be easy to find a great restaurant for dinner. The township of Wanaka is a magnet for visitors who want to find the perfect combination of outdoor adventure and indoor luxury.
Franz Josef village is small (only 500 locals) and is located only ten minutes from the Glacier. The Franz Josef is a glacier located in Westland National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km to the south it is a unique in the fact that it descends from the Southern Alps to just 200 metres above sea level amidst the greenery and lushness of a temperate rainforest. The glacier is currently 12 kilometres long and terminates 19 km from the Tasman Sea. The glacier exhibits a cyclic pattern of advance and retreat, driven by differences between the volume of meltwater at the foot of the glacier and volume of snowfall feeding the neve.
Greymouth is the West Coast’s largest town and it is a central location for exploring the area which is famous for its spectacular scenery and adventure activities including ‘black water’ rafting (through caves) white water rafting, jet boating, caving, hiking, fishing and much more. The coastal waters off Greymouth are well known for Hectors Dolphins, seabirds and NZ fur seals Once the site of a major Maori pa (fort) in pre-European times Maori passed through Greymouth on their travels to find greenstone or ‘pounamu’ (a type of jade) and built major Maori pa (fort), Greenstone is a popular local product.