Top of the South Island. 6 Six days

TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND ROAD TOUR. 6 days/5 nights

Depart any sunday for minimum of 4 subject to availability of driver/guide.

This tour links from and to our BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND and BEST OF THE WEST COAST TOURS

THE RAIL CONNECTION. Travel from Auckland and Hamilton on our Mini Rail tour.. read more.. or travel Auckland/Hamilton to Wellington on the "Northern Explorer"  thursday for 2 nights and Interislander to Picton and 'Coastal Pacific" to Christchurch on saturday. Extra Cost $1,190 2 per room, $1,590 single room.

Day 1. Sunday.     CHRISTCHURCH - HANMER SPRINGS   

1pm. Depart Christchurch city. Pickup anywhere in the city prior.

1.30pm. Depart Christchurch airport.

Drive to Hanmer Springs for 1 night

Admission to the hot springs included and time for an alpine walk if you wish.

Day 2. Monday.       HANMER SPRINGS - WESTPORT - NELSON LAKES - GOLDEN BAY      (B)

Drive over Lewis Pass for a visit to Westport with a visit to the coal museum and drive through the Buller Gorge to the Nelson Lakes National Park and to the Golden Bay area for 2 nights accommodation.

Day 3. Tuesday.  GOLDEN BAY   (B)

Drive to Takaka and Visit the amazing Pupu Springs and on through Collingwood to visit  spectacular Wharariki beach for a 1 hour walk to enjoy the sea caves, seal pups, wind swept sand dunes, and coastal rock formations. A 30 minute walk to Pillar Point will give spectacular views of Farewell Spit and Golden Bay. Also visit Abel Tasman monument.

Day 4. Wednesday.   ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK - NELSON     (B) 
Transfer to Kaiteriteri and join your scenic cruise along the shores of the Abel Tasman National Park. Drop in to Tonga Quarry, Medlands Beach, Anchorage and Apple Tree Bay before returning to Kaiteriteri.You have the option to land at Tonga Quarry for a 2 hour walk over a forested saddle to Medlands Beach and cruise to Kaiteriteri. Transfer to Nelson for a short tour and overnight.

ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK GUIDED WALK WITH 2 NIGHTS AT PRIVATE LODGES IN THE PARK available. Stayover on wednesday and transfer to Nelson friday afternoon for 1 night finishing the tour in Nelson on Saturday. 

Day 5.   Thursday.. NELSON - PICTON       (B)

Drive to Picton and visit the "Edwin Fox" ship restoration project before boarding your cruise to travel down the Marlborough Sounds and stopover at Ship Cove where Captan Cook spent much time during two voyages. Overnight at Picton Yacht Club or Scenic Marlborough hotel in Blenheim.

Day 6.    Friday.      PICTON - BLENHEIM - KAIKOURA - CHRISTCHURCH

Visit Omaka and Peter Jackson's KNIGHTS OF THE SKY World War 1 and DANGEROUS SKIES World War 2 exhibitions and the Classic cars museum then down the coast to the charming seaside town of Kaikoura. Time for a whale watch cruise - extra cost $165  or 30 minute whale watch flight - extra cost $129 (subject to confirmation)  if you wish before returning to Christchurch arriving at the airport about 5pm and city about 5.30pm.

RAIL / ROAD TOUR.

TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND including Coastal Pacific and Tranz Alpine trains. 

This tour will travel as part of our GRAND RAIL TOUR from Wellington or Picton on the 29th February to Christchurch and the West Coast. Travel from Punakaiki to Nelson will be by Intercity coach and a local operator will take you to Golden Bay. Tour ends in Nelson.  

Day 1. Thursday.  29 February. WELLINGTON - PICTON      (B)

Transfer to the Interislander terminal and depart at 8.45am  for the 3 hour 30 minute cruise across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton arriving 12.30pm. This afternoon visit the "Edwin Fox" ship restoration project and enjoy a mail boat cruise of the Marlborough Sounds. Depart Picton at 1.30pm and return about 5.30pm. Cruise the Sounds delivering the mail to the local residents and learn the history from the skipper. Enjoy about 15 minutes at Ship Cove where Captain Cook spent much time. Overnight Picton Yacht Club, or Scenic Marlborough hotels. 

Day 2. Friday.  01 March.   BLENHEIM - KAIKOURA   (B)

Visit the Marlborough Museum, Aviation Heritage Museum, and a winery for some wine tasting. Join  the "Coastal Pacific" train at Blenheim departing at 2.05pm for the scenic ride down the Kaikoura Coast to Kaikoura  arriving 4.25pm. Transfer to our accommodation. Note: some tours may use mini bus or coach from Blenheim to Kaikoura with more en route sightseeing.

Day 3.  Saturday.  02 March. KAIKOURA - CHRISTCHURCH.  (B)

Free morning to explore and enjoy Kaikoura and visit the seal colony. Optional whale watch cruise or flight or Dolphin cruise. Depart Kaikoura 4.25pm aboard the "Coastal Pacific"  to continue our journey south to Christchurch arriving at 7.30pm.

Day 4. Sunday.  03 March. CHRISTCHURCH. (B)

We have left today free for your own activities. Your hotel is in the centre of the city. Optional tours are available of the city, Port Hills, Hanmer Springs, Akaroa, etc. We recommend a visit to the Orana Wildlife Park and Antarctic Centre and ride the tram. Optional visit to Ferrymead's collection of trams and trains.

Day 5.  Monday. 04 March.          CHRISTCHURCH - HOKITIKA

Transfer to the rail station.

8.15am.  Depart Christchurch railway station aboard the  "Tranz Alpine" express for one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world across the Canterbury Plains climbing through the foothills of the Southern Alps criss crossing the Waimakariri River on the way to Arthurs Pass for a brief break. Travel through the Otira tunnel and descend into the rainforest of the West Coast. Pass Lake Brunner and the Grey River and arrive Greymouth 1.05pm.   

You will be met by your local guide  and visit Shantytown. Ride the train, pan for gold, and recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era. On to Hokitika and catch up on Hokitika in its prime during the gold rush era.

Two nights accommodation and breakfast at the Beachfront Hotel, Hokitika.

Day 6. Tuesday.  05 March.  HOKITIKA                  (B)  

This morning we go back to nature at the Hokitika Gorge for a short walk among the breathtaking scenery.  Enjoy  a leisurely Eco boat cruise on the Lake Mahinapua waterways originally used by pioneers, gold diggers, and early explorers. Drive south to the West Coast Treetop Walkway for an exhilirating treetop adventure  high in the ancient Rimu and Kamahi trees with great views (weather permitting) of Lake Mahinapua, the Southern Alps, and Tasman Sea.

Day 7.   Wednesday.   06 March.    HOKITIKA - REEFTON - DENNISTON - WESTPORT - PUNAKAIKI     (B)

Drive north to Reefton. Visit the Reefton Distillery Co with a little tasting and the Bearded Mining Company for a visit to a recreated miners hut and cup of billy tea. Drive to the Denniston lookout and on to Denniston to see the famous incline and discover the history of the area,. See the Banbury Drystone Arch and the historic mine workshop. Visit the Westport coal museum and Cape Foulwind seal colony before arriving at the Scenic Punakaiki Hotel.

Day 8.  Thursday.    07 March          PUNAKAIKI -  NELSON.  (B)

We visit the historic gold mining town of Charleston for a ride on the Nile River railway through the rainforest. Explore the Punakaiki Rocks and Paparoa National Park. 

This afternoon travel from Punakaiki to Nelson by Intercity coach.

Day 9. Friday.  GOLDEN BAY. 08 March.   (B)

Drive to Takaka and Visit the amazing Pupu Springs and on through Collingwood to visit  spectacular Wharariki beach for a 1 hour walk to enjoy the sea caves, seal pups, wind swept sand dunes, and coastal rock formations. A 30 minute walk to Pillar Point will give spectacular views of Farewell Spit and Golden Bay. Also visit Abel Tasman monument.

Day 10.  Saturday.   ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK - NELSON     (B) 
Transfer to Kaiteriteri and join your scenic cruise along the shores of the Abel Tasman National Park. Drop in to Tonga Quarry, Medlands Beach, Anchorage and Apple Tree Bay before returning to Kaiteriteri.You have the option to land at Tonga Quarry for a 2 hour walk over a forested saddle to Medlands Beach and cruise to Kaiteriteri. Transfer to Nelson for a short tour and overnight.

ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK GUIDED WALK WITH 2 NIGHTS AT PRIVATE LODGES IN THE PARK available. Stayover on wednesday and transfer to Nelson friday afternoon for 1 night finishing the tour in Nelson on Saturday. 

Day 11.  Sunday.. NELSON DEPART     (B).

Free day until transfer to the airport.

Tour cost per person

2 per room $3,700.   Single room $4,990