8 Day Southern Crossing Small Group Tour

5.0
(3 reviews)

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8 days (approximately)
Offered in: English

Spectacular scenery and lots of opportunity for adventure, this 8 day South Island adventure starts and finishes in the diverse city of Christchurch. Turquoise lakes, majestic glaciers, dramatic mountain peaks and the picture-perfect towns of Queenstown, Wanaka and Franz Josef are all a part of this epic road trip. With accommodation and some activities included (see below), our all-inclusive tours are hassle-free, authentic experiences for those short on time.

What's Included

All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Breakfast (Optional[7])
Breakfast
Accommodation (8 nights)

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 8 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    CHRISTCHURCH ARRIVAL

    1 stop
  • 1

    Welcome to Christchurch - the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the start of your Southern Crossing tour. Ōtautahi (Christchurch) is a vibrant city alive with everything from art, exhibitions, history, and hidden gems. Check out the Riverside Markets for a coffee, beverage or bite to eat or stroll through the botanical gardens. This evening at 6pm you'll meet your Kiwi Experience Driver Guide and the rest of your new tour companions on a Christchurch Street Art Tour (included), a journey of street art, murals and graffiti art of all sizes, explaining the history of urban art, and the city's emergence as an urban art destination.

    4 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 2

    CHRISTCHURCH TO FRANZ JOSEF

    2 stops
  • 2

    Today we travel from coast to coast right over the Southern Alps passing through the Arthur’s Pass National Park, one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand. Arthurs Pass is a landscape of two halves, along the eastern side we’ll venture through riverbeds and beech forest, and on the western side deeply gorged rivers and dense rainforest.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 3

    Along this road, we will stop off at the Devil’s Punch Bowl and the breath-taking Castle Hill.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 3

    FRANZ JOSEF FREE DAY

    1 stop
  • 4

    Incredible Franz Josef sits in the world heritage area, and the combination of alpine scenery and west coast rainforest makes for an epic setting for your free day. Immerse yourself in a unique opportunity today - carving your own Pounamu (Greenstone) jewellery (included). You’ll learn more about the cultural significance of pounamu as you engage in this authentic cultural experience and depart with your own special piece of Aotearoa New Zealand. You’ll then get to explore the Franz Josef glacier, an ever-changing landscape of ice. Opt for the Heli-Hike adventure, allowing you to walk on top of the glacier itself. For a free option, walk through the rainforest to a viewing area where the icy wonderland lies just 750m away.

    12 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 4

    FRANZ JOSEF TO LAKE HAWEA

    3 stops
  • 5
    Franz Josef Glacier

    We start the day off with a trip to the Franz Josef wildlife centre (included) where you can see the largest kiwi incubation and hatching facility on the South Island. You are guaranteed to see a live kiwi inside the open nocturnal house, as well as Tuatara, a reptitle only found in New Zealand.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 6

    we head to Lake Matheson for a refreshing walk around the lake known for its perfect mirror reflection of Aoraki Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. The waters of Lake Matheson are dark brown, so on a calm day they create the ideal reflective surface, and by a happy coincidence, the mountains to the east are perfectly positioned to reflect in the lake.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 7

    We'll then cruise up the last stretch of Highway 6, stopping at popular scenic spots along the way, and onwards to Lake Hawea. Lake Hawea is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise and a great place to swim, kite surf, kayak, bike, walk or just laze about on the lake’s edge.

    5 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 5

    LAKE HAWEA TO QUEENSTOWN VIA WANAKA

    2 stops
  • 8

    a resort town set on the southern end of its namesake lake with views of snowcapped mountains. It's the gateway to the Southern Alps' Mount Aspiring National Park, a wilderness of glaciers, beech forests and alpine lakes. Make sure to check out #ThatWanakaTree and snap a pic of one of the most photographed tree in the world!

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 9

    Visit the world’s first commercial bungy site – The Kawarau Bridge. Only the bravest travellers will dare to sign up for this iconic bucket list bungy!

    4 hours • Admission ticket not included
    • Day 6

    QUEENSTOWN FREE DAY

    1 stop
  • 10
    Queenstown

    Queenstown has something for everyone; here, you can seek adrenaline-fueled adventures or enjoy a more leisurely exploration of the natural playground. Each season offers its own unique vibe, and most activities can be accessed all year round. If you’re looking for adrenaline, bungy jumping, jetboating, white water rafting and sky diving are all available. If a more relaxed pace is calling, hire a bike, take a stroll, enjoy a boat cruise, relax at a spa, or enjoy one of the many vineyards in the area.

    12 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 7

    MILFORD SOUND DAY TOUR

    1 stop
  • 11
    Milford Sound

    A trip to the South Island would only be complete with a trip to Piopiotahi, Milford Sound. As we venture from Queenstown bright and early, we make time to stop for breakfast and coffee in the quaint town of Te Anau before continuing the breathtaking drive towards Milford Sound with scheduled photo stops along the way. Milford Sound is nestled within Fiordland National Park, known for its pristine wildlife, which marvels at any time of year and in any weather; Milford Sound is rich in geological formations, captivating waterfalls and, unsurprisingly, one of the most amazing scenic day trips to do in New Zealand. Enjoy a two-hour (Included) scenic boat cruise through the inky blackwater; keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, fur seals, and an abundance of birdlife; if you’re really lucky, you’ll spot the endangered Fiordland Crested Penguin. After your cruise, we return to Queenstown for the evening.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 8

    QUEENSTOWN TO CHRISTCHURCH VIA LAKE TEKAPO

    2 stops
  • 12

    breathtakingly blue waters of the lake framed with colourful lupins

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 13
    The Church of the Good Shepherd

    Visit the The Church of the Good Shepherd; situated on the shores of Lake Tekapō amongst the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Kiwi Experience

Tags

Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Likely to Sell Out
DSA non-compliant

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 3 3 reviews
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