Twenty Day Grand Tour of the South Island (Small Group, Carbon Neutral)

This grand journey around the South Island is full of majestic mountains, lush countryside, picture-perfect beaches, and simply spectacular scenery. A dreamscape that is now your reality. You will experience lavish rainforests and the dramatic wild side of New Zealand. Some of the places we will visit on this trip include Mt Cook, Akaroa, The Catlins, Milford Sound, and Able Tasman just to name a few, this will be a wonderful trip to do with your mates. The perfect way to see the South Island and all the gems it has to offer. 

We have sorted all the finer details, with breakfast and shared dorm accommodation included, couples will get a free upgrade to a private room. We also have additional upgrades with all meals included and upgrade to a private 3-Star or 5-Star hotel for your accommodation. 

You will be driven in comfort in our modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras to make your journey that bit easier. Led by our fun and knowledgeable and passionate tour guides, this journey will come to life in a new way for you. 

Highlights

·      Akaroa

·      Mt Cook

·      The Catlins

·      Able Tasman National Park

·      Franz Josef Glacier

·      Milford Sound

Itinerary 

DAY 1

·      Christchurch – We start in the Garden City- We start by exploring the rich history within our central city including the Bridge of Remembrance, spending some time going through the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. Then we head over the hills to Akaroa – the most French town in New Zealand. As we head over the peninsular, there are multiple lookout points once we reach the summit, perfect for taking photos.

·      Akaroa -  Once there, make sure you have a walk around the township and check out the local gift shops, and you can’t leave before trying the handmade fudge – it is delightful! We end the day with dinner and drink at a local pub (included) 

DAY 2

·      Akaroa – We start the day in this beautiful town, make sure you fuel up on breakfast before we make our way to Mt Cook! 

·      Aoraki/Mt Cook – Time to head to Mt Cook – this is the mountain that prepared Sir Edmund Hillary for his conquest of Everest, and is the tallest mountain in New Zealand. Plus lunch is at the simply stunning Hermitage in the Mount Cook National Park, what a better place to eat with a view!

·      Mt Cook Information Centre – We will take in the beauty that is Aoraki/Mount Cook. Weather dependant, we will be able to get some amazing photos and videos of the mountain itself. At 3724m, Aoraki/Mt Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak, however, the mountain can be viewed without any acclimatisation whatsoever from the village which is just 750m above sea level. 

DAY 3

·      Aoraki/Mt Cook – We leave this majestic mountain and make our way down south to the historic and beautiful town of Oamaru. This town boasts the country’s oldest public gardens, stunning Victorian architecture in the Historic Victorian Precinct,  and penguin colonies which we will visit. 

·      Oamaru  – We arrive in Oamaru and we will visit the beautiful blue penguin colony. These penguins are coming in from a day’s work fishing and back into their colony for the night. There will be a commentary while this is happening which will inform you all about these blue penguins. 

DAY 4

·      Oamaru  – We depart Oamaru for Dunedin – one of the first three cities in New Zealand, and was built on the riches of the gold rush. The legacy of how this city started lives on through one of the best Edwardian and Victorian architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. 

·      Dunedin – We arrive in this city which is full of bustling cafes, boutique shopping and fantastic street art, and is also home to Larnach Castle – New Zealand’s only castle. There is so much to see and do here in this Southern City – from the outstanding Olveston House and Gardens to the Albatrosses living high on the Otago Peninsula, there is something for everyone here.  

DAY 5

·      Dunedin – Time for us to leave Dunedin and head further south to the enchanted world of the Catlins. This leafy, wooded and wild coastal corner is something of a masterpiece of New Zealand. The journey down there will leave you in awe of how spectacular the scenery is. 

·      Catlins – We arrive in this beauty of New Zealand, ready to explore this wild and lush paradise. Fun fact for you, did you know the Catlins also have a Niagara Falls? However our one isn’t as big its namesake, this one only falls less than a metre. (it was named by a surveyor with a sense of humour) 

DAY 6

·      Catlins  – We spend the day exploring this lavish part of the country where waterfalls abound, wildlife live, and the land will rise sharply to the inland ranges, where you will be beyond captivated by what lies ahead. You will be spoilt for choice at what you will discover, from walking up Nugget Point for a stunning view of the ocean to one of the most photographed waterfalls - The Purakaunui Falls which cascade 20 metres in three tiers, and the Catlins River Wisp Loop Walk through beautiful beech forest, and so much more. This day will be one of the memory books! 

DAY 7

·      Catlins  – We say goodbye to this wild and woody world and make our way to Riverton, an eclectic and quirky town surrounded by natural beauty. 

·      Riverton – We arrive at this quirky wee town in a picturesque location framed by the sweeping coastline. You will feel as though you have stepped back in time with the quaint, and old-fashioned shop fronts of the main street. The surrounding beaches and estuaries are popular with swimmers, and you might even see dolphins travelling up the estuary for feeding. 

DAY 8

·      Riverton – We depart from this eclectic and quirky town and start to make our way to a landscape that is simply stunning. But before we get there we stop at Te Anau – the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland first. 

·      Te Anau – We arrive at this picture-perfect town nestled on the edge of a lake, ready for a beautiful day visiting the Milford Sound tomorrow!  

DAY 9

·      Te Anau – Today we head down to the magnificent Milford Sounds, famously described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world this trip will leave you speechless and full of wonder. The journey down there is one of the most scenic experiences you can have on four wheels, and there will be stops along the way to experience the majesty of it all, this trip is breathtakingly beautiful in any weather. 

·      Milford Sound – We arrive at this natural beauty and set sail on the inky dark waters to see the plunging cliffs and thundering waterfalls, in the rain these waterfalls can multiply with massive effect. This will be a day where you get to see the wild side of New Zealand at its best. 

·      Queenstown – We leave the dramatic landscape of Milford Sound and make our way to the adventure capital of New Zealand, this is a city that is filled to the brim with activities and knows how to have fun!

DAY 10

·      Queenstown – We are halfway through our tour, and we have the next two full days in Queenstown for you to tick of some of those activities you would like to do. Being a hub of adventure, there is something for everyone here from bungy jumping, to boutique shopping and so much more, also our friendly guide will be happy to share their favourite things. We will end the day by visiting the Ice Bar which offers an elevated take on the classic Ice Bar experience in one of the most picturesque cities in the world. A cocktail lounge crafted out of 25 tonnes of hand-carved ice, producing a crystal-clear architecture - this will be an experience like none other! 

DAY 11

·      Queenstown – We have another full day here in Queenstown, for you to explore and enjoy! Why not take an iconic Queenstown experience and take the Queenstown Gondola which goes up 45 metres to Bob’s Peak, once at the top enjoy panoramic views of the aptly named The Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu, or if you are up for an adventure, try the Queenstown Luge, and zoom down the course of banked corners, tunnels and dippers. We end the day with dinner, discussing all the adventures you had before we embark on our next leg of the journey tomorrow. 

DAY 12

·      Queenstown – Time to head to Wanaka, a town known for its outdoor activities, and of course the famous “Wanaka Tree” in the middle of the lake! As it is in close proximity to Mt Aspiring National Park, this town is the perfect place to tempt every person who loves the outdoors. 

·      Wanaka – Once we have arrived, there are many walks and activities that you could do. If you are an experienced hiker, there is the Roys Peak track that winds itself through alpine meadows and tussock grasslands, to the summit for breath-taking views of Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring and surrounding peaks. Or why not check out the famous “Wanaka Tree, by taking a walk around the lake. Nearby is the Mt Aspiring National Park, straddling the great Southern Alps. Filled to the brim with wildlife habitats, glaciers, snowfields, valleys and beech forests with birdsong, and waterfalls. 

DAY 13

·      Wanaka – We start the day heading to Makarora to visit the beautiful blue pools. Nestled in beech and podocarp forest, these deep and clear pools are natural wonders with pure glacial gathered from the mountains. 

·      Franz Josef – We say goodbye to the blue pools and we make our way to Franz Josef. This is another stunner of a journey in New Zealand. We will make a stop at Lake Hawea one of the most popular lakeside lookout spots, for a few photos before getting on the road again. There will be plenty of beautiful Kiwi scenery to look at on the way. Once arrived we visit and walk the incredible World Heritage Site - Franz Josef Glacier. This glacier finds its origins high up in the Southern Alps and descends into the native rainforest of Westland’s National Park, the descent from 3000m to 500m above sea level makes this glacier one of the steepest in the country and results in incredible glacial features. 

DAY 14

·      Franz Josef – Time for us to leave this beautiful ice landscape and head towards the rural charm and natural beauty of Murchison. Before we get there, we will make a couple of stops at Hokitika and visit the pancake rocks (not made out of actual pancakes)

·      Hokitika – We stop in Hokitika also known as Cool Little Town to stretch our legs, and grab something to eat. Make sure you visit the beach and get a photo in front of the famous “Hokitika Sign” made out of driftwood before we head towards Punakaiki on our second stop of the day. 

·      Punakaiki – We arrive at what looks like rocks resembling an impressive stack of hotcakes, but it is actually nature, and the all-important wind and rain create this wonderous work for us. There is a well-maintained walkway that will lead us through native forest, emerging onto coastal flax and scrub. There are magnificent views of not only the main attraction the pancake rocks and blow holes but of the inland mountains and the rugged coastline. 

·      Murchison – We make our way to Murchison for the evening to relax and recharge. This is a rural town away from the hustle and bustle of our main centres, with no fast food chain restaurants just quiet and relaxing rural charm.

DAY 15

·      Murchison -  We leave this charming and quant town and make our way to Able Tasman, New Zealand’s smallest national park but perfectly formed for adventure, proving that small can still be spectacular. The scenery only gets better as we make our way north, and we will stop along the way to grab some supplies before we arrive. 

·      Able Tasman Park – Welcome to the gateway to crystal clear waters,  serene lagoons, dreamy beaches and the wildlife residents that live there, you won’t want to leave! 

DAY 16

·      Able Tasman Park – We spend today enjoying and taking this beauty all in, unplugging from the world and enjoying the reality of peace and tranquillity of this park. You might want to hike part of the Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand’s great walks, or if spending the day relaxing is more your thing – pick a beach and make yourself at home – the choice is yours. 

DAY 17

·      Able Tasman Park – We say goodbye to this dreamscape and make our way back to Nelson – one of the sunniest cities in New Zealand. This city buzzes with creative energy and is full of activities. 

·      Nelson – We arrive in sunny Nelson, where you can visit the geographical centre of New Zealand – how cool is that! The view from the lookout is simply amazing, you will be able to see the city port, Tasman Bay and the surrounding mountains! Make sure you enjoy the botanical gardens at the base of the centre of New Zealand. Nelson is also the perfect place to appreciate New Zealand art, as the city has attracted creative people who work with all sorts of materials such as glass, metal, stone, paper, fabric and so much more! 

DAY 18

·      Nelson –  Today we make our way to the heart of the Marlborough Sounds – Picton. As always on this drive, you will see the classic kiwi countryside, plus also as we are entering the Marlborough wine region you will see a few vineyards as we drive past.

·      Picton – We arrive at this postcard picturesque port town, which is home to wonderful cafes, galleries, restaurants and speciality shops. There is also a floating maritime museum and an aquarium. 

DAY 19

·      Picton – We depart this pretty port town and head down the coast to the seaside village of Kaikoura (the name Kaikoura literally means “eat crayfish”) The drive down the coast is beautifully rugged with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the mountains on the other, you will be spoiled for choice with stunning scenery on all sides. 

·      Kaikoura – The environment here is truly one of a kind! With the village surrounded by mountains and the sea, it really is where the magnificent mountains meet the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean. Plus in winter the mountain caps will be covered in snow, only adding to the drama of it all. We have the option of meeting the locals with Whale Watch, or even swimming with the dolphins! If you just want to take it easy, have a walk around the seaside, and take in the dramatic landscape. Make sure you visit some of the local shops, cafes and restaurants!

DAY 20

·      Kaikoura – Today is the last day of our wonderous and grand tour of the South Island, and start the trek back to where it all started in the Garden City. We stop along the way for lunch and a wine tasting where we can exchange photos and all our wonderful stories, what a special way to end a fantastic tour! The drive back is full of rugged coastlines contrasted with the picture-perfect Canterbury Plains. 

·      Christchurch – We arrive back in the Garden City, we say our goodbyes and part ways with hearts full and memories made.

Inclusions:

·      Small Group

·      Ice Bar

·      Wine Tasting 

·      Carbon Neutral

·      Some meals

·      Accommodation

·      Bottled Water 

·      Local kiwi snacks

·      Commentary

·      Wi-Fi

·      USB charging 

·      100% Kiwi as experience

We at Cheeky Kea Tours believe that it’s in the small things, the hidden surprises, and the secret stops that make your adventure one to remember. With comfortable and specially designed vehicles, and individually packaged refreshments will ensure you enjoy the journey with us!

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