Southern Spectacular
Southern Spectacular
$5250
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Southern Spectacular" tour and explore the breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage of New Zealand. This adventure tour offers a unique blend of wildlife encounters, cultural immersion, and eco-conscious travel. Begin your journey in Christchurch, and traverse the stunning Canterbury Plains, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fiordland National Park, and experience the thrill of a jet boat ride on the Waiau River. Enjoy private airport transfers, city tours, and scenic drives, including a memorable TranzAlpine train journey. Stay in centrally located premium hotels and savor local flavors with a Be My Guest afternoon tea and a Highlight Dinner. Delve into the history of the West Coast Maori through storytelling in collaboration with Weta Workshop. With a specialist team of a Travel Director and Driver Guide, this tour promises an unforgettable exploration of New Zealand's natural wonders and cultural treasures. ...more ...less
Make Travel Matter
Delve into the history and culture of local West Coast Maori (Poutini Ngai Tahu). Embark on a unique self-guided journey, through extraordinary storytelling, in collaboration with Weta Workshop.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Christchurch
Location: Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
At once forward-thinking and fun, Christchurch is the kind of city you could lose yourself in for a week – or more. You have this afternoon, so make the most of it. Time to meet your fellow adventure-seekers over a couple of wines and local snacks at a Welcome Reception.
Day 2: Christchurch - Twizel
Location: Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Twizel
Accommodation Name: Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel Twizel
Meals Included: Breakfast
If you didn’t get your Christchurch bearings yesterday, you certainly will on today’s city tour, taking in the record-breaking Cardboard Cathedral – who knew you could build a church from cardboard? The buildings of the city fade into a patchwork of farms as you ease across the Canterbury Plains towards Lake Takapo. Here, retired farmers Angie and Stan Taylor welcome you to their home with a slap-up Be My Guest afternoon tea and tales about life on the land. And this land is truly dramatic, backdropped by powdery mountains and cut with turquoise lakes, none quite as pretty as Lake Tekapo, on its banks the stone-hewn Church of the Good Shepherd.
Day 3: Twizel - Dunedin
Location: Oamaru, Dunedin
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
Meals Included: Breakfast
Oamaru has a rich history and proud heritage, enriched by passionate and perhaps quirky locals. Explore the shops, galleries and traditional crafts within some of the Southern Hemisphere's most complete Victorian streetscapes. You’re en route to Dunedin, replete with rolling green meadows and a grand stone castle. It kind of feels like you’ve been transported to Scotland – small wonder it’s known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. Afternoon at your leisure, we recommend a visit to Speight’s Brewery – a New Zealand institution. And pretty much everything in between. There’s always that castle to explore… Larnach may not have the history of Scotland’s grand estates, but it’s just as pretty in our humble opinion. A NZ holiday must.
Day 4: Dunedin - Te Anau
Location: Dunedin, Fiordland National Park, Te Anau
Accommodation Name: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leave Dunedin’s pastoral sheep-farming countryside behind as you venture into World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park, a place of yawning gorges and gem-like glaciers, and azure lakes so large they have their own islands. Case in point Pomona Island, where a charitable trust of passionate volunteers works to restore flora and fauna on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. With your help. Take a thrilling jet boat ride down the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri and if that's not enough water for one day, you may choose to cruise to the iconic Glowworm Caves (own expense). Can we tempt you?
Day 5: Te Anau - Queenstown
Location: Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound, Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
Meals Included: Breakfast
Nature rules again today, from the moment you depart Te Anau and begin your journey deep into the heart of Fiordland National Park. Think native rainforests, beech forests, alluvial flats and meadows; Mirror Lakes perfectly reflecting mountain scenery; and precipitous lookouts holding guard over alpine rivers. And this is just the entrée. The main course is your Milford Sound/Piopiotahi tour, where you cruise in the company of fur seals that bask on the rocks, and gaze at misty escarpments so sheer they appear to cleave off the edge of the Earth. You’re in the company of a naturalist who knows every nook and cranny of this mighty cavern and will point out flora and fauna you would have never spotted on your own.
Day 6: Queenstown Free Time
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
Meals Included: Breakfast
Take today at your own pace. Like things fast and furious? Feel the wind in your hair on a high-octane jet boat ride, perhaps. Prefer wine to get your heart started? See why Central Otago makes some of the world’s most raved about cool-climate pinots on a cellar door tour. Wherever your daily wanderings take you, reunite with your companions come dusk to glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw, your barbecue Highlight Dinner served on the grounds of Walter Peak High Country Farm.
Day 7: Queenstown - Franz Josef/Waiau
Location: Queenstown, Arrowtown, Franz Josef/Waiau
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the shadow of the Remarkables, Queenstown is pretty spectacular. But it has some stiff good-looks competition from neighbouring Arrowtown, with its movie-set tree-lined avenues and 19th-century buildings that once housed gold-rush fortune-seekers. Things grow well in this verdant countryside, from cherries to pinot grapes and all manner of stone fruit. Prepare for a flavour explosion at a roadside stall run by the interminable Mrs Jones, a local institution. The next explosion is a visual one as you arrive in the town of Franz Josef/Waiau, home to Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Get some perspective of this immense ice fall on an optional helicopter flight – you may even get to land on it.
Day 8: Franz Josef/Waiau - Punakaiki
Location: Franz Josef/Waiau, Hokitika, Punakaiki
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore the small but lively Franz Josef/Waiau village before venturing to Hokitika, home of New Zealand's native jade greenstone. Then soak in the natural surroundings as you head to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, where waves thunder through cracks in the Earth. This is the soundtrack that lulls you to sleep at tonight’s eco-resort.
Day 9: Punakaiki - Christchurch
Location: Punakaiki, Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wine may steal the scene across much of New Zealand, but at legendary Monteith’s Brewery, beer rules. Sip your way through a tasting paddle of XPA, IPA, lager and pale ale because, hey, you’re not driving to the station where your TranzAlpine train awaits. Just as well lunch is included. This is one of those experiences where the journey matters just as much as the destination, as you sweep through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys. What a way to end a day.
Day 10: Farewell from Christchurch
Location: Christchurch
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wait, the last 10 days flew by. Return home with new friends, a full SD card on your camera – and even more memories.
What's Included
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Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
The tour includes a specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide.
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1 UNESCO World Heritage Site – Fiordland National Park
The tour includes a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fiordland National Park.
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Arrival and departure private airport transfers
Private airport transfers for arrival and departure are included.
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Transport
Enjoy private airport transfers, city tours, and scenic drives across New Zealand, including a thrilling jet boat ride and a TranzAlpine train journey with panoramic views.
What's Not Included
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Optional activities
Optional activities such as the cruise to the Glowworm Caves and helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier are not included.
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Meals
Meals are not included unless specified in the itinerary.
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Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional snacks, and drinks are not included.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and should be arranged separately.
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Flights
Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price.
Mode of Transport
Enjoy private airport transfers, city tours, and scenic drives across New Zealand, including a thrilling jet boat ride and a TranzAlpine train journey with panoramic views.
Accommodation
Stay in centrally located premium hotels including Distinction Christchurch Hotel, Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel Twizel, Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas, Millennium Hotel Queenstown, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, and Scenic Hotel Punakaiki.
Dining Summary
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- 5 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 1 Be My Guest Afternoon Tea (BGT)
- 1 Highlight Dinner (HD)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Cultural Immersion
- Farming is a big deal in New Zealand, as you’ll fast discover at Walter Peak Station. Sit down to a barbecue dinner before being immersed in a farm show.
Fitness Requirement
- Low level of fitness required
Flight information
- Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day 1 – flights to arrive by 4.00pm into Christchurch AirportDay 10 – flights to depart any time from Christchurch Airport Return arrival and departure airport to hotel transfers are included.
Local Connection
- Visit retired sheep farmers, Angie and Stan Taylor, who serve up a mean afternoon tea at their home on the edge of Lake Tekapo and tell you about life on the land.
What to Bring
- Warm layers in cooler months Camera Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle
World Class Nature
- Snow-capped mountains, a mirror-like lake, white-water rivers and vine-laced fields. Queenstown is blessed with natural assets.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of cultural experiences can I expect on the Southern Spectacular tour?
The tour offers a cultural immersion experience with a visit to retired sheep farmers Angie and Stan Taylor, who will serve afternoon tea and share stories about life on the land. Additionally, you will delve into the history and culture of local West Coast Māori through storytelling in collaboration with Wētā Workshop. ...more ...less
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What kind of transportation is included in the Southern Spectacular tour?
The tour includes private airport transfers, city tours, and scenic drives across New Zealand. You will also experience a thrilling jet boat ride and a TranzAlpine train journey with panoramic views.
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Are meals included in the Southern Spectacular tour?
The tour includes 9 breakfasts, 5 dinners with wine, 1 Be My Guest afternoon tea, 1 highlight dinner, 1 lunch, and 1 farewell dinner. Meals are not included unless specified in the itinerary.
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What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
Accommodation is provided in centrally located premium hotels, including Distinction Christchurch Hotel, Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel Twizel, Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas, Millennium Hotel Queenstown, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, and Scenic Hotel Punakaiki. ...more ...less
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What optional activities are available during the tour?
Optional activities include a cruise to the Glowworm Caves and a helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier, which are not included in the tour price.
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What is the fitness requirement for the Southern Spectacular tour?
A low level of fitness is required for the tour.
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What should I bring on the Southern Spectacular tour?
It is recommended to bring warm layers in cooler months, a camera, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
Southern Spectacular
10 Days Starting and ending in Christchurch, New Zealand
Visiting: Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Twizel, Oamaru, Dunedin, Fiordland National Park, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Arrowtown, Franz Josef/Waiau, Hokitika, Punakaiki ...more ...less
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ZCQRF25
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
5-99