7 Day Decidedly Southern Tour

Christchurch is the nation’s second largest city and because of its extensive gardens and the Avon River meandering though, it is regarded as the most English of New Zealand cities “The Garden City”. Residents and visitors alike love the city's vibrant nightlife, award-winning restaurants and cafes, fashion precincts, heritage architecture and of course its gardens and wide open spaces for which the city is internationally renowned. This is a city of contrasts, a place where its residents continue to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle amidst a natural environment it is world-renowned for. It really is the 'city that shines'.

Your driver/guide meets you in Christchurch mid morning. After a special lunch at Akaunui Farm we drive over to the foothills of the Southern Alps and the small village of Mt Somers. We dine in Stronechrubie's acclaimed restaurant tonight.

Some sightseeing and activity options available:

One Nights Accommodation at Stronechrubie Chalets. Stronechrubie High Country Cuisine & Chalets. Nestled in the township of Mt Somers, one hour's drive from Christchurch, we are located near Mt Hutt ski field and Mt Sunday, the location of Edoras in 'Lord of the Rings'.

After Burkes Pass the landscape changes to the turquoise lakes and dramatic sweeping vistas of tussock grasses and mountains of the Mackenzie Basin. At Lake Tekapo the picturesque church and sheepdog statue are favourite photo stops. At the head of Lake Pukaki is Mt Cook at 3754 metres, New Zealand's highest mountain, known in Maori as Aoraki "the cloud piercer". The Lindis Pass leads to the rugged Kawarau Gorge and into Queenstown where we ride the Skyline Gondola. Your boutique hotel is just a few minutes walk above the town with views to the lake and Remarkables Range. There’s a wide range of restaurants and cafes in this famous tourist resort –and your driver/guide will let you know his favourites.

Two Nights Accommodation at Brown's Boutique Hotel. This stylish European inspired Queenstown hotel is Superbly situated in central Queenstown, Browns Boutique Hotel is like a “best kept secret”, tucked away on a quiet street, over looking the town and by using our own private path it is an easy 2 minute walk to the Queenstown shops and restaurants.

This morning you are picked up from your hotel to fly to Milford Sound deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park.

Grand, brooding, serene and wild, Milford Sound draws visitors from all over the globe to cruise its length – and wonder. Luxuriant rain forest clings to sheer rock walls washed with waterfalls. In the foreground stands Mitre Peak, a majestic presence dominating the skyline.

The Milford Sound Nature Cruise takes you out  to the Tasman Sea. It’s a stunning fiord landscape of waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife.  You Return to Queenstown by plane.

The morning is free to further explore Queenstown. Perhaps cruise on the Tss Earnslaw or take an early morning jet boat ride on the spectacular Dart River in The Lord of the Rings country or a helicopter scenic flight before driving to Arrowtown, a picturesque goldmining village.

Here is a selection of the many options available:

Heading into tussock country, the road climbs up the Crown Range then down into the Cardrona Valley. We stop at quaint Cardrona Hotel, its history stretches back to the goldmining era then continue on to Wanaka amid a panorama of mountain peaks.

One Nights Accommodation at Te Wanaka Lodge. This contemporary lodge is situated in the picturesc village of Wanaka. All the lodge rooms have private balcony's . A convenient short stroll will  get you to the lakefront cafes, restaurants and boutique shops

Drive beside Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka before heading into superb mountain and river scenery of the Haast Pass in Mt Aspiring National Park. There are several great short walks on well-maintained tracks through native beech forests to waterfalls and blue pools where trout lurk. Leaving the mountains, the road winds along the edge of the river to Haast where the Department of Conservation Centre documents the region’s colourful history, flora and fauna. Continue north through the lush, primeval rainforest of Westland World Heritage Park, stopping at Ship Creek for a stroll on the beach to the dune lake and through swampland rainforest. At Franz Josef Glacier short walks take you to vantage points to view the advancing glacier.

One Nights Accommodation at Punga Grove in Franz Josef. These luxury studios are in the heart of Franz Josef Glacier village in a beautiful rainforest setting feature, tucked away in native fernery at the rear of the property.

Early this morning you may choose to take an optional flight over the glaciers and Mt Cook and enjoy the thrill of landing on a glacier.

Some  alternative sightseeing and activity options available:

We visit Okarito’s lovely lagoon where there is an opportunity to kayak.It is also possible to take a jet boat ride to the home of the rare kotuku, white heron. Travel on up the coast passing mirror lakes, boulder-laden rivers and catching glimpses of the Southern Alps. At Hokitika there are a host of craft galleries – Pounamu (greenstone) carving, glass blowing, wood and copper artisans. A beautiful coastal road following part of the ancient Greenstone Trails used by Maori for centuries in search of Pounamu leads to your hotel on the coast at Punakaiki. A little further up the road is the leading local attraction – the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, sculpted sea stacks and towering cliffs. If the tide is right, blowholes spread clouds of spray. Dine this evening in your hotel’s Waterline restaurant.

One Nights Accommodation at Punakaiki Resort in Punakaiki. Flanked by the Tasman Sea and the rainforests, your four star accommodation is almost on the wild Punakaiki Beach just 50m from the high tide mark and 300m south of the Pancake Rocks & Blowholes.

Sit back and enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery of rugged Otira Gorge and Arthur’s Pass National Park. Crossing the Canterbury Plains to reach Christchurch in the late afternoon. You are delivered to your accommodation in this English style city of stone buildings, large parks and stunning gardens.

Please take the time to view our “Virtual Tour” for the 7 Day Decidedly Southern tour or download or print the detailed “Tour Dossier”. Both can be found on the right hand column of this page. Alternatively you can simply contact us. For a comprehensive  list of  all activities available in each location featured in this tour, please refer to the "Destination Guide" found at the top of this page.