South Island Adventure 2 April 2024

DAY 1 CHRISTCHURCH

Kia ora and welcome to ‘Te Wai Pounamu’; New Zealand’s South Island! Our tour kicks off with a fun evening as we meet our fellow travelling crew and friendly Tour Manager and Tour Assistants.

 

Tonight, we have our first home-cooked meal; a delicious duo of dinner and dessert and then discuss the exciting days ahead!

 

Includes: First group dinner | Discuss the exciting days ahead | Meet your crew

 

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DAY 2 CHRISTCHURCH - KAIKOURA

Christchurch is our largest city in the South Island and following the 2010-11 earthquakes, this city has re-emerged as a vibrant, ever changing city.

 

This morning starts off with a city tour to see the devastation that hit Christchurch and what enormous efforts are going ahead to rebuild this amazing city.  

 

After lunch, we drive north to the coastal township of Kaikoura and visit one of our special NZET spots where we get to see a seal colony up close and personal!

Tonight, head to the beach for some games or relax in the spa and get ready for another delicious dinner.

 

Includes: Breakfast | Christchurch city tour | Visit a seal colony |  Dinner

 

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DAY 3 KAIKOURA - MOTUEKA

Kaikoura is well known for its abundance of marine life and this morning you have an opportunity to experience the unforgettable sight of whales or go swimming with dolphins.

 

If you don’t feel like getting wet, there is also an optional boat trip to view these incredible marine mammals instead.

This afternoon we make our way to Motueka, home for our next two nights and situated beside the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park.

 

Includes: Breakfast | Optional Swimming with Dolphins | Optional Whale Watching |  Dinner

 

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DAY 4 MOTUEKA

We rise bright and early to take advantage of this paradise!

We enjoy the ultimate sea kayaking experience and explore the beautiful golden beaches, peaceful coves and lagoons, offshore islands, wildlife and the native forest.

Stopping at our secluded beach, we have a picnic lunch and enjoy some free time to relax and go swimming before our trek back to the mainland.

 

Includes: Breakfast | Hiking | Sea Kayaking | Picnic lunch |  Dinner

 

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DAY 5 MOTUEKA - FRANZ JOSEF

Have your cameras ready as our drive takes us through the Buller Gorge and the spectacular West Coast. We visit the famous Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks) and have time to explore the rocks and blowholes before making our way to Hokitika.

 

Our next stop is visiting a Greenstone Factory and watching experts carve beautiful Pounamu (Greenstone) while we learn about the history and tradition of this special craft.

From here we travel to Franz Josef where we stay overnight. You may wish to take a Scenic Helicopter (at a very special NZET price) and experience the awe-inspiring scenery of Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers as you climb to 6000ft.

Tonight, a pizza dinner before we head out to find the bright lights of the glowworms. 

 

Includes: Breakfast | Pancake Rocks | Greenstone carving demo | Glowworms | lunch |  dinner

 

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DAY 6 FRANZ JOSEF - WANAKA

Get out your cameras as this morning we travel through three National Parks and even more awesome scenery.

Today the weather will predict where we visit. At Fox Glacier we walk to the base for a close and personal look at the frozen glacier river that was formed thousands of years ago. If this is not possible we will take a walk around Lake Matheson where we will get stunning views of Aoraki Mt Cook .

From here we head to Wanaka, a place of breathtaking lakes and mountains. We stop at Puzzling World, the world’s first modern-style maze and a deceptive, frustrating, confusing and definitely out of the ordinary experience! Then for all of our adrenaline junkies, you have the chance to go skydiving this afternoon.

Dinner tonight is your choice.

 

Includes: Breakfast | Lake Matheson | Ships Cove I Haast Pass I Puzzling World 

 

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DAY 7 WANAKA - DOUBTFUL SOUND

Today we experience the ultimate Doubtful Sound experience, spend the night on the boat and wake up in one of the most beautiful places on earth. This is one of our exclusive and very special tour highlights.

We start with a drive into the mystical wilderness of Fiordland National Park then cruise over Lake Manapouri before boarding the Fiordland Navigator for an overnight experience.

We have plenty of time to view the spectacular waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife and also go exploring in kayaks or simply go swimming in this amazing place (if you’re brave enough!).

As night falls, we enjoy a delicious buffet dinner then relax while doing some star gazing.

 

Includes: Breakfast | Doubtful Sound Overnight Experience | Kayaking in Fiordland | Buffet Dinner

 

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DAY 8 DOUBTFUL SOUND - QUEENSTOWN

Kia ora Queenstown - the 'Adventure Capital' of New Zealand and home to the latest and greatest adventure activities from bungy jumping and jet boating to whitewater rafting, river surfing and canyon swinging.

 

Our first stop is the famous AJ Hackett base, the birthplace of bungy and one of the most famous attractions in Queenstown. We watch the secrets of bungy and then for those of you who dare... you have time for an optional 43m bungy off Kawarau Bridge! It's then time to capture our awesome crew with a professional group photo before our short drive into the heart of Queenstown.

 

Includes: Breakfast | AJ Hackett Secrets of Bungy movie | Group Photo

 

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DAY 9 QUEENSTOWN

Today is a free day and time to make the most of the adventure activities on offer! With special NZET prices, try a Canyon Swing, Nevis Bungy, River Rafting, Gondola & Luge or any of the other thrilling activities.

Do you feel like dangling on a high wire cable 134 metres over the valley floor? Then try the Nevis.

If jumping or being released from 109 metres into a canyon with over 70 different jumpstyles, try the Canyon Swing.

 

This afternoon you will see the best views in Queenstown on the Skyline Gondola which carries you 450 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob's Peak followed by three thrilling luge rides down.

(Remember, as long as we have your natural parent's permission for the activities on offer, we will organise all of these activities for you while on tour).

 

Includes: Breakfast | Free day for Optional Activities | Dinner |  Gondola and Luge

 

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DAY 10 QUEENSTOWN - TEKAPO

Our morning starts off with a spectacular jet boat ride on the mighty Shotover River. We speed over water as shallow as 10cm, experiencing 360-degree spins along this famous river and deep into the spectacular Shotover Canyons. 

We then have a stunning scenic drive as we travel through the Mackenzie Country to Lake Pukaki for spectacular views of Mount Cook - New Zealand’s highest Mountain. From here to beautiful Lake Tekapo. We visit the famous ‘Church of the Good Shepherd' followed by the Collie Dog Memorial. Time for a swim in the Tekapo Thermal Hot Pools 750m above sea level with the best view of any hot pools in New Zealand. 

Tonight is our final night of the tour and a very a special evening. We have some final night fun with a mix of games, presentations and dinner party. Bring your tissues because tonight is full of laughs but also tears as you realise we have to say good bye tomorrow.

 

Includes: Breakfast | Shotover Jet boat ride | Church of the Good Shepherd | Thermal Hot Pools|  Final night dinner and celebration

 

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DAY 10 TEKAPO - CHRISTCHURCH - HOME

Our last morning takes us from Tekapo back to Christchurch where we are dropped off at Christchurch Airport with an amazing bunch of new friends and ‘ferntastic’ memories.

 

Includes: Breakfast | Farewell with great memories and new friends

 

We are happy to book your flights to and from the tour and will always try and find the best priced flights available.

The cost of these flights are NOT included in the tour price and are an additional cost along with a $20.00 booking fee.

*Please note, at our discretion, the itinerary is subject to change in the case of unforeseen circumstances.