Sea to Sky (South Island only)
| From Christchurch to Christchurch |
10 days |
View Prices |
Highlights:
- Spectacular mountains on the TranzAlpine train journey
- The ancient West Coast rainforests
- Franz Josef and Fox glaciers
- Wanaka & Queenstown, NZ's premier alpine resorts
- Optional country farmstay on a traditional sheep farm
- Iconic Milford or Doubtful Sounds
- Aoraki Mount Cook, NZ's highest peak
- Christchurch city's parks and gardens
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Your tour will be organised over the dates you require.
All tour itineraries may be amended for any duration to suit you.
Tours are suitable for 1-4 persons and children 12 years and over.
We will help you have the best self drive vacation possible!
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrive Christchurch
Welcome to the 'Garden City'.
You will be met by our representative on arrival and receive your travel documents before transferring to your central city accommodation.
The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is exceptionally beautiful with its stunning parks and gardens, the Avon River meandering through the city centre and its dramatic harbour within the flooded crater of an extinct volcano.
Take a punt ride, enjoy walks around the city, visit the Arts Centre boutique craft shops, experience life on the southern continent at the International Antarctic Centre and be entertained at the Court Theatre or brilliant Art Gallery.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 - Christchurch - Greymouth - Hokitika
(approx 5:00 hours train & driving time)
This morning following your transfer to the railway station, your adventure will commence on the TranzAlpine train journey.
Regarded as ‘one of the top six rail journeys in the world’ the TranzAlpine rises almost imperceptibly across the fertile Canterbury Plains before crossing impressive viaducts over river gorges and carving through canyons and tunnels high into New Zealand’s southern alps.
There's a brief stop at the alpine village of Arthur’s Pass before descending through the long Otira mountain tunnel, to emerge in the verdant West Coast rainforest.
On arrival in Greymouth pick up your rental vehicle for the short drive to Hokitika.
Formerly an 1860's gold rush settlement, Hokitika still has the feel of a frontier town, where you can find your own treasures of gold and jewellery in the cheerful shops.
Prior to travelling to Hokitika, you may wish to make a short detour north to explore the pancake rocks and blow holes at Punakaiki.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 3 - Hokitika - Glacier Country
(approx 3:00 hours driving time)
The scenery is dramatic and ever changing as you travel through spectacular forests, across racing torrents and past serene, bush clad lakes.
Nestled between the sea and the high alps, the huge ice-age glaciers Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier descend right into the forests allowing you to take a guided walk or helicopter landing flight on the rivers of ice.
Nearby at Lake Matheson, you may experience the classical reflections of New Zealand's two highest peaks in the mirrored waters.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 - Glacier Country - Wanaka
(approx 4:00 hours driving time)
Your journey continues through the South Westland World Heritage Area, a place of incredible beauty and natural value, over Haast Pass to Wanaka, popular for fishing and boating and snow sports in winter.
Explore Mount Aspiring National Park, enjoy a lake cruise, visit the famous Wanaka Warbirds Museum or challenge yourself at Puzzling World. Wanaka offers an appealing mix of outdoor activities, family fun and fine living.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 5 - Wanaka - optional Country Farmstay or Te Anau
(approx 4:00 hours driving time)
Take in the magnificent landscape enroute to your optional country farmstay or the township of Te Anau, picturesquely sited on Lake Te Anau.
A country farmstay will allow you the opportunity to enjoy traditional New Zealand hospitality and experience life on a typical South Island farm.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 6 - optional Country Farmstay - Te Anau - Milford - Te Anau
(approx 5:30 hours driving time)
Te Anau is within easy reach of the delights of the Fiordland National Park.
Travel via the Eglinton Valley, the Homer Tunnel and down the Cleddau Canyon to Milford Sound deep in the Park, to board a cruise and view captivating wildlife surrounded by sheer mile-high mountain walls before returning to Te Anau.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 7 - Te Anau - Queenstown
(approx 2:45 hours driving time)
At the head of Lake Wakatipu look out for the historic train - the Kingston Flyer, before following the lake shore below the jagged Remarkable Mountains into Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world.
This alpine town offers an amazing range of attractions including canyon jet boat rides, mountain biking, bungy jumping, helicopter flights, horse treks and 4WD expeditions.
There are also more passive pastimes - wilderness safaris, historic steamer lake cruises, gondola cableway, superb golf courses and gardens as well as uncovering gold-mining artifacts in the quaint town of Arrowtown.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 8 - Queenstown
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 9 - Queenstown - Lake Tekapo - Christchurch
(approx 7:15 hours driving time)
Driving through the centre of the South Island towards Christchurch, you follow the spectacular backbone of the Southern Alps. Huge glacial lakes have been connected by a series of man-made canals to produce hydro-electricity for the nation.
At Lake Pukaki, if the weather is kind, you will see the most stunning view of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook. Lake Tekapo provides great photo opportunites with its Church of the Good Shepherd and sheepdog statue.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 10 - Christchurch
Spend your last day in 'The Garden City' shopping for those last minute gifts and unique New Zealand products before you return your rental vehicle and catch your departure flight.
Tour Price (per person)
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| Style |
Quality |
Superior |
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Share Twin
(NZ$) |
Single
(NZ$) |
Share Twin
(NZ$) |
Single
(NZ$) |
| Car - Compact |
POA |
$3967 |
POA |
$5684 |
| Car - Intermediate |
$2195 |
$4060 |
$3099 |
$5777 |
| Car - Full Size |
$2348 |
POA |
$3252 |
POA |
| 4WD - Intermediate |
$2374 |
POA |
$3278 |
POA |
Prices are valid to 31 May 2011.
Whats Included:
- Meet & Greet and transfer to hotel on arrival
- Transfer to railway station
- TranzAlpine train journey
- Automatic compact, intermediate, full size car or intermediate 4WD
- Quality style - Quality Bed & Breakfasts/mid-range hotels
- Superior style - Superior Bed & Breakfasts/superior class hotels
- Optional country farmstay
- New Zealand touring information - distances, times and directions, map
Prices are in New Zealand dollars and include 15% GST (Government Goods & Services Tax). Click Here for an online currency converter to convert prices to your own currency (approximate only).
POA - Price on application.
Prices are available for three and four persons travelling together in an automatic full size car, intermediate 4WD or people mover/minivan. Please enquire.
A revision fee of NZ$40 per amended itinerary day is charged for any part of the itinerary which you require to be changed. Additional days in the arrival and departure cities do not incurr a revision fee.
Optional country farmstay dinner - NZ$60 per person, additional charge.
1 June 2011 - 31 May 2012 prices provided on request.
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View More Meet New Zealand Self Drive Tour Selections
North & South Island - Auckland to Christchurch
South & North Island - Christchurch to Auckland
North Island Only
South Island Only
Road & Rail Combo - incl Tranz Alpine train journey
Special Interest
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