Tour 301 SOUTHERN ICONS. 6 days/5 nights
Christchurch (1 night) - Tekapo - Mount Cook (1 night) - Queenstown (3 nights). Milford Sound and/or Doubtful Sound options.
Commence Christchurch (Southbound) and Queenstown (Northbound) DAILY year round for minimum of 1.
Please Note: To keep our costs and carbon footprint as low as possible while providing the best possible service we use the Great Sights tour coach which operates daily between Christchurch, Tekapo, Mt Cook, and Queenstown.
This tour can be extended at any point.
Optional 4 day/3 night West Coast extension through Franz Josef Glacier, Hokitika, and "Tranz Alpine" to Christchurch or vv OR Queenstown - Dunedin - Christchurch
For more extended small group driver escorted sightseeing see our BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND tour - Combine our SOUTH ISLAND MINI TOUR and FABULOUS FIORDLAND tours including Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound cruises!)
Day 1. ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH
Arrive Christchurch and you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
Day 2. CHRISTCHURCH - TEKAPO - MOUNT COOK (B)
Depart Christchurch 7.30am. Drive across the fertile Canterbury Plains and over Burke's Pass to Lake Tekapo. See the sheep dog monument and Church of the Good Shepherd. Continue along the shores of Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook arriving Mt Cook 11.50am. New Zealand's highest mountain. Accommodation in Mt Cook View Rooms at the Hermitage. (Rooms limited and very heavily booked in summer - book early). Free afternoon for alpine walks, or visit the National Park headquarters. Free afternoon at Mt Cook for glacier cruise, scenic ski plane flights to land on the glacier etc.
Highly recommended options:
Glacier Explorer cruise. 2.5 hours from hotel to hotel including coach, 1.5km walk on stony path and approximately 1 hour cruise on th ]e lake at bottom of the Tasman Glacier. Operates until the lake freezes over, usually late June - extra cost $195
Scenic flights by ski plane or helicopter. A must do to appreciate the majesty of the Southern Alps. Tasman Taster 25 Minutes $349, 45 minutes $499, Grand Circle covering Tasman, Fox, and Franz Glaciers $729. Ultimate Experience - Helicopter one way, ski plane the other 45 minutes $499
Stargazing - $145
Day 3. MOUNT COOK - QUEENSTOWN (B)
Free morning to continue enjoying Mt Cook.
2.25pm. Depart Mount Cook and drive through the Mckenzie Country and over the Lindis Pass to Lake Dunstan and the fruit growing region of Cromwell and on through the Kawarau Gorge arriving Queenstown 6.30pm. Accommodation at Millennium or Copthorne Lakefront usually.
Day 4. QUEENSTOWN - options (B)
Free day for you to plan and enjoy the beauty of Queenstown and the many activities available. We recommend a Shotover Jet boat ride, Skyline gondola and luge, and a cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to the Walter Peak sheep station. Maybe take a journey along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to beautiful Glenorchy ($189). All activities today are extra expense.
"Earnslaw" cruise and barbecue at Walter Peak. Lunch cruise 12pm - 3.45pm. $175............ Dinner cruise 5pm - 9pm , or 6pm-10pm. $189
Day 5. MILFORD SOUND EXCURSION (BL)
Drive to Te Anau and enjoy a day of magnificent scenery driving through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys and Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Visit the Mirror Lakes and Roaring chasm en route. Enjoy a leisurely cruise to the head of the Sound under majestic Mitre Peak and see the Bowen as well as many other waterfalls. Picnic lunch included. Return to Queenstown mid evening.
Doubtful Sound option - Drive to Manapouri and cruise across the bush fringed Lake Manapouri to West Arm then drive over the Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound. Cruise the length of the Sound to the Tasman Sea and return to Manapouri and Queenstown. Picnic lunch included. 6.55am - 7.30pm. Extra cost $240
Overnight cruises: Summer depart Queenstown most days 9am - return 3.30pm next day. DOUBTFUL SOUND. $899 - $999 twin. $1299 - $1899 single. MILFORD SOUND. $809 - $859 twin. $2385 single.
May 2025 special with 2 night cruise on Doubtful Sound. Depart Queenstown May 02, 04, 9, 11, 18, 23, 25.
These cruises are very heavily booked during summer. Early booking is esential.
Day 6. QUEENSTOWN DEPART (B)
We will transfer you to the airport for departure. Why not spend longer in Queenstown to enjoy it more or explore the West Coast or enjoy our Invercargill, Stewart island, Catlins, and Dunedin package - Read more:
Tour cost per person 2025/26
March/April. 2 per room $1,890. Single room $2,750
June-September. 2 per room $1,790. Single room $2,450
October 01 - December 20, 2 per room $1,990. Single room $ $2,950
December 21 - January 20. 2 per room $2,450. Single room $3,700
January 21 - March 31. 2 per room $2,190. Single room $3,430
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TEKAPO STOPOVER
We are flexible! You may stayover at Tekapo Bluewater Resort instead Mt Cook Hermitage if you wish - no change in price. You will still get 1.5 hours at Mt Cook next day. Great Sights coach arrives Tekapo 11am and departs at 11.30am. You are welcome to depart Christchurch earlier (Great Sights operate daily or shorten your stay in Queenstown, and stayover for a night or two however breaking the journey does increase travel costs by $200 per person. You can arrange your own accommodation through Booking.com, or direct. We do recommend a visit to the Dark Skies project and Mt John observatory but unfortunately we cannot guarantee clear skies!! Book your experience at www.darkskyproject.co.nz
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WEST COAST FREEDOM TOURS
These tours use Intercity coaches and "Tranz Alpine" which do not have daily departures and have limited photostops and commentary. Operating days
Northbound:
Queenstown - Franz Josef Glacier. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Depart 8.10am - arrive 4.15pm
Franz Josef - Glacier - Hokitika - Greymouth - "Tranz Alpine" to Christchurch OR Intercity to Nelson
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. Depart Franz Josef 9.15am, arrive Hokitika 11.45am - depart 12.20pm, arrive Greymouth 1.15pm. "Tranz Alpine" departs 2.05pm arrives Christchurch 7pm. Intercity departs Greymouth 1.30pm, stops at Punakaiki, and arrives Nelson at 7.15pm.
'"Tranz Alpine" operates Christchurch - Greymouth - Christchurch Friday - Monday 07 May - 19 September and daily from 22 September during summer. (Occasionally closed for track maintenance).
Southbound:
Christchurch or Nelson to Franz Josef Glacier
Christchurch - Greymouth. "Tranz Alpine" departs 8.15am and arrives Greymouth 1.10pm.
Nelson - Greymouth. Intercity departs Nelson 7.15am - arrives Greymouth 1.15pm Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday..
Greymouth - Hokitika - Franz Josef Glacier
Intercity coach departs Greymouth 1.30pm arriving Hokitika 2.10pm departing at 3.00pm arriving Franz Josef at 5.05pm.Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Franz Josef Glacier - Queenstown.
Intercity coach departs 7.35am arriving Queenstown at 4.30pm. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
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DUNEDIN FREEDOM TOUR
Northbound: Queenstown - Dunedin - Christchurch
Intercity departs Queenstown 7.45am arriving Dunedin at 12.45pm daily
Intercity departs Dunedin 7.30am arriving Christchurch 1.50pm daily and 1.15pm arriving Christchurch 7.40pm daily except saturday
Southbound: Christchurch - Dunedin - Queenstown
Intercity departs Christchurch 7.45am arriving Dunedin 1.50pm daily and departs Christchurch 2.25pm arriivng Dunedin 8.20pm daily except
Intercity departs Dunedin 2.30pm daily except saturday arriving Queenstown 7.13pm.
WEST COAST SMALL GROUP DRIVER ESCORTED TOUR departs Queenstown every wednesday for minimum of 4.
Day 1. QUEENSTOWN - WANAKA - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER.
Depart 9am to the historic gold mining centre of Arrowtown. Visit the remains of the Chinese village and you have time to visit the museum and shops before continuing north to Lake Wanaka for a brief stop (optional admission to Puzzling World - own expense) before heading over the Haast Pass to the rainforest of the West Coast. Continue north with amazing vistas of the coastline and a photo stop at Knights Point. Continue to Fox Glacier and visit beautiful Lake Matheson then on to the Franz Josef Glacier lookout car park and it is about a 30 minute return hike to the glacier lookout (limited views). Shorter walks available. Optional scenic helicopter flights whihc is now really the only way to see Franz Josef Glacier. Overnight Scenic Franz Josef Hotel.
3 Star. Scenic Franz Josef Hotel - Graham Wing
4 star. Scenic Franz Josef Hotel - Douglas Wing
Day 6. Thursday. FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER – HOKITIKA (B)
Drive north to Treetops for an exciting walk above the forest canopy and enjoy an eco cruise on the Lake Mahinapua waterways. Continue to Hokitika. Usually jade carvers and maybe a glass blower will be at work. Optional scenic flights to land on the glacier if you were unable to do them at Mt Cook. (Accommodation Beachfront Hotel in Hokitika or some groups may stay at Punakaiki Resort)
Day 7. Friday. HOKITIKA - PUNAKAIKI - CHRISTCHURCH. (B)
Drive north to the beautiful Punakaiki Pancake Rocks. Explore the area before returning to Greymouth for a short tour and visit the recreated gold mining village of Shantytown to ride the steam train and pan for gold. Drive over spectacular Arthurs and Porters Passes and the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. Arrive Christchurch airport about 5.00pm and Christchurch city about 5.30pm with drop off at any city accommodation.
Option to travel on the "Tranz Alpine" train if you wish from Greymouth to Christchurch departing Greymouth 2.05pm and arriving Christchurch 7.00pm. For best fares book on www greatjourneysofnz.co.nz web site.
Tour cost $1,690 2 per room, $1,950 single room.
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