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15 DAY DISCOVER THE SOUTH ISLAND IN DEPTH (AIRFARE INCLUDED)
SOUTH ISLAND TRIP
Explore the Beauty of the South Island.
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Start Location: Christchurch
End Location: Christchurch
TOP HIGHLIGHTS
- Dolphin watching cruise in Kaikoura
- Full day kayak and watching tour in Abel Tasman National Park
- Franz Josef Glacier valley walk
- Queenstown highlights tour
- Walter Peak evening cruise with dinner
- Milford Sound guided tour and cruise
- City tour of Dunedin
- Half day peninsula encounter tour
SAMPLE ITINERARY (CUSTOMIZABLE)
Day 1: Arrive Christchurch
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation.
Overnight: Christchurch
Day 2: Christchurch - Kaikoura (Rail)
Take the Coastal Pacific Train to Kaikoura.Take a whale watching tour, Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales, and Southern Right Whales. Orcas and Hector's dolphins are common sightings.
Overnight: Kaikoura
Day 3: Kaikoura - Blenheim - Nelson (Rail & Coach)
Continue your train trip to the top of the North Island and continue over to Nelson.
Overnight: Nelson
Day 4: Abel Tasman National Park
Welcome aboard the Vista cruising catamaran. Relax with comfortable seating around tables and panoramic views from open or enclosed viewing decks and enjoy the onboard cafe and bar. With your flexible cruise and walk day pass, choose to spend from three to eight hours exploring the spectacular granite coast. Stay on board or disembark at a golden beach fringed by lush forest and azure waters, ideal for swimming. Enjoy quality beach time with walking options up to four hours. Your friendly crew takes care of your comfort and safety with interpretative commentary and maps.
Overnight: Nelson
Day 5: Nelson - Punakaiki
Take a coach to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. You'll stay in an eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront. Enjoy dinner while watching the thundering surf at your doorstep!
Overnight: Punakaiki
Day 6: Punakaiki - Franz Josef
Visit the small town of Hokitika, the heritage and cultural centre of the West Coast, for a greenstone (jade) jewellery demonstration by a local carver. Then visit the West Coast's newest attraction, the Treetop Walkway through the canopy of this lush rainforest. Now you're off to the gold-mining town of Ross before arriving at Franz Josef.
Overnight: Franz Josef
Day 7: Franz Josef Sightseeing
Today enjoy an interpretive walk to the glacier to have the perfect opportunity to learn the role of the Franz Josef Glacier in shaping this remarkable landscape. After a short walk through the regenerating rainforest, the trip continues along the glacier valley with your guide calling stops to explain the unique features of the Franz Josef Glacier and its surroundings.With the emphasis more on geographical information and the glaciers history, you're able to venture beyond the public barriers and right up to the dramatic terminal face of this advancing glacier with your experienced and knowledgeable guide.
Overnight: Franz Josef
Day 8: Franz Josef - Queenstown
Your coach today will take you to the adventure capital of New Zealand - Queenstown.
Overnight: Queenstown
Day 9: Queenstown Sightseeing
Today you will be collected from your hotel by Limousine South for your Queenstown Highlights tour. Enjoy Queenstown's diverse attractions with your friendly, knowledgeable local guide. You will be captivated by the amazing views over Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range. Watch the fearless jumpers hurl themselves off AJ Hackett's original Bungy Bridge while learning about the history and excitement of bungy jumping. Enjoy a wine tasting tour at Gibbston Valley Winery savouring the flavours of fine local wines. You will also see where key scenes from Lord of the Rings were shot and re-live the 1860s gold rush at beautiful Arrowtown, where remnants of that fascinating era merge with modern, speciality shopping, before being dropped back off to your accommodation.
Overnight: Queenstown
Day 10: Milford Sound Tour & Cruise
Today you will travel by luxury coach on an unforgettable journey from Queenstown into Milford Sound. Located within the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, this region is rich with dense rainforest, lakes and waterfalls cascading from rugged mountain peaks. Travel through the Southern Alps via the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km tunnel drilled through a solid mountain of rock. Upon arrival at Milford Sound, board your vessel for a spectacular cruise on New Zealand's most famous waterway. At the end of the cruise you will return by coach to Queenstown.
Overnight: Queenstown
Day 11: Queenstown at leisure
Enjoy a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm onboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw. On disembarking at Walter Peak, you are welcomed and escorted through the lakeside gardens to the Colonel's Homestead where you are seated for dinner. The Gourmet BBQ menu, designed by Kiwi Celebrity Chef Josh Emett, incorporates fresh seasonal produce and locally hunted game and seafood so famous in the Central Otago region. All meat and seafood is cooked on the outdoor BBQ and rotisserie, in front of you and served immediately. A locally influenced wine list and other beverages are also available to purchase at the bar. Following dinner, you have the option of a brief farm show or relaxing at the bar before returning onboard the TSS Earnslaw to Queenstown. A tradition is the TSS Earnslaw's sing-along around the piano on the return journey.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Dinner
Day 12: Queenstown - Dunedin (Rail & Coach)
Travel South to Dunedin
Overnight: Dunedin
Day 13: Dunedin Sightseeing
Start the day with a one hour city tour of Dunedin, before departing for the Otago Peninsula to see the Yellow eyed & Blue Penguins.
Overnight: Dunedin
Day 14: Dunedin - Christchurch
Travel by Coach back to Christchurch.
Overnight: Christchurch
Day 15: Package ends
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
DATES & PRICES
Availability:
AVAILABLE ALL YEAR
ACCOMMODATION
START PLACE
END PLACE
PRICE FROM
Moderate Accommodation (Airfare included from Vancouver or Los Angeles)
Christchurch
Christchurch
$4,100 USD
Superior Accommodation (Airfare included from Vancouver or Los Angeles)
Christchurch
Christchurch
$4,560 USD
All prices are per person based on double occupancy and subject to local taxes - GST, PST or HST.
This itinerary is an independent package, it can be adjusted to suit your travel interests, time frame and budget. Please do not hesitate to call one of our travel specialists for a customized package.
This itinerary is an independent package, it can be adjusted to suit your travel interests, time frame and budget. Please do not hesitate to call one of our travel specialists for a customized package.
Applicable taxes vary depending on travel destination and are not included. Please ask your sales agent what extra taxes will be payable for your tour.
WHY CHOOSE ANDERSON VACATIONS?
Anderson Vacations
Other Companies
Independent Travel
See what you want, where you want, how you want. Solo, with a friend, or with a group of friends.Canadian Travel Experts
With at least 30 years of experience.Min. 95% Satisfaction Rate
From past guests.Accreditation and Consumer Protection
Feel confident booking because of a membership in all the following organizations:
Sustainability
Planting one tree for every passenger that travels with us.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 14 nights of accommodation
- Airport transfers throughout
- Coastal Pacific train Christchurch to Blenheim
- Coach service Blenheim to Nelson
- Coach service Nelson to Punakaiki
- Coach service Punakaiki to Franz Josef
- Coach service Franz Josef to Queenstown
- Coach and train service from Queenstown to Dunedin
- Coach service Dunedin to Christchurch
- Sightseeing and attractions as listed
EXCLUSIONS
- Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
- Taxes as applicable
- Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
- Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
- Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
- Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary
Why Take A Custom Tour?
Private & Customizable
You can see what you want, when you want, how you want. A trip that's perfectly timed and well organized.
Unique Experience
Experiences that help you take in the region in a different way. Can combine your trip with our group tours. Advice to help you get the most out of your trip.
Freedom to Explore
Time to enjoy and take in each place. Add days in places you want to explore. Do only the activities you want to do.
Can't find what you're looking for?
Our specialists can take away the stress and create a custom trip tailored to your exact interests and budget.
Get A Custom Quote
OR CALL
1.866.814.7378
Custom Trip Plans
You can see what you want, when you want, how you want.
Unique Experiences
Experiences that help you take in the region in a different way.
Freedom To Explore
Time to take in each place with only the tours you want to do.
Booking & Flight Questions
Do you arrange airport transfers?
Yes! We can certainly assist with booking airport transfers for you! Some tours have airport transfers included already. Please inquire for further information and pricing.
Can you assist with booking additional accommodation?
Yes! We can certainly assist with booking additional nights of accommodation for you before and/or after your fully escorted tour! Please inquire for further information and pricing.
Can you assist with booking flights?
Yes! We can certainly assist with booking your flights for you! We do not recommend you book any flights until you receive your booking confirmation directly from Anderson Vacations Tours, as some tours are not pre-guaranteed. Please inquire for further information and pricing.
Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?
Yes, it is possible to book triple share accommodations on select trips. Please inquire about this option, as pricing may also vary and it will be subject to availability.
Can we book this tour with our exclusive group?
Anderson Vacations Tours can work with private groups to customize a tour to your needs. Please inquire for further information and pricing.
Tour Questions
What is the average age of passengers for this tour?
Our tours are suitable for all age demographics. The average age of travelers is typically 45+
I am a solo traveler. Is there a single surcharge?
There are options for single travelers to join most tours. Solo Travelers can choose to pay the single supplement and have their own room throughout the tour. For those willing to share, we also have a Twin Share option that is offered for the majority of our tours. This means you will be sharing the hotel rooms with another single, same gender traveller who also books the Twin Share option. If this is the case, there will be no single supplement charged to either of you. If we are unable to match you with another Twin Share traveler, there may be a single surcharge applied to cover the full cost of the rooms on some of our longer tours. Please enquire before finalizing your booking for full details.
How physically demanding is this tour? Are you able to accommodate people with mobility restrictions/limitations?
This tour has a low level of physical demand, although there may be some activities or sightseeing tours that require walking short distances. Please inquire if you have any mobility restrictions before completing your booking to ensure this tour is right for you.
How much luggage should I bring?
Each passenger may bring one large suitcase and one carry-on bag. The weight limit for this suitcase is 32 kilograms/60 pounds. Baggage handling is provided at the hotels in our tour packages. Please advise our reservations staff if you will be bringing additional items such as a cane, walker or wheelchair. You may also bring one small soft-sided carry-on bag, which should easily fit into the overhead shelf of the coach. Each person is responsible for his/her own carryon luggage. Remember to check your airline baggage restrictions if you are flying, as they may differ from Anderson Vacations Tours guidelines.
What is your recommended spending amount for non-included meals?
The suggested allowance for non-included meals is $40.00 — $60.00 CAD per day (includes tipping).
Can you accommodate passengers with dietary restrictions (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian etc.)?
Yes! There are many meals included on our fully escorted tours. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so we can ensure there are alternative meal choices and arrangements made for you.
Are gratuities included in the tour cost?
For your convenience, gratuities for local guides and meals stated on the itinerary are included in the price of the tour. For meals not included in your tour package please remember that it is customary to tip your server 15-20% in North America. Gratuities for your Motorcoach Driver and Tour Director are left to your discretion. We recommend $4.00 - $5.00 CAD per person, per day for your Motorcoach Driver and $6.00 - $7.00 CAD per person, per day for your Tour Director. if you can't find your
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Ready? Have More Questions?
Over 25 years offering custom trips and small group tours.
INQUIRE ABOUT THIS TRIP
OR CALL
1.866.814.7378
Seasoned Tour Guides
Get a deeper understanding with storytelling tailored to your interests.
Space To Breathe
We never max out buses even if we use the same size bus as the competition.
All Inclusive
No hidden expenses along the way. Competitors offer activities as an extra - we don't
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Tour Code
15SI
15 Day Discover The South Island in Depth (Airfare Included)
15 days
Created On: 22 Dec 2024
Highlights
- Dolphin watching cruise in Kaikoura
- Full day kayak and watching tour in Abel Tasman National Park
- Franz Josef Glacier valley walk
- Queenstown highlights tour
- Walter Peak evening cruise with dinner
- Milford Sound guided tour and cruise
- City tour of Dunedin
- Half day peninsula encounter tour
Inclusions
- 14 nights of accommodation
- Airport transfers throughout
- Coastal Pacific train Christchurch to Blenheim
- Coach service Blenheim to Nelson
- Coach service Nelson to Punakaiki
- Coach service Punakaiki to Franz Josef
- Coach service Franz Josef to Queenstown
- Coach and train service from Queenstown to Dunedin
- Coach service Dunedin to Christchurch
- Sightseeing and attractions as listed
Exclusions
- Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
- Taxes as applicable
- Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
- Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
- Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
- Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary
Dates & Prices
ACCOMODATION
START PLACE
END PLACE
PRICE FROM
Moderate Accommodation (Airfare included from Vancouver or Los Angeles)
Christchurch
Christchurch
$4,100 USD
Superior Accommodation (Airfare included from Vancouver or Los Angeles)
Christchurch
Christchurch
$4,560 USD
All prices are per person based on double occupancy and subject to local taxes - GST, PST or HST.
* This itinerary is an independent package, it can be adjusted to suit your travel interests, time frame and budget. Please do not hesitate to call one of our travel specialists for a customized package.
* This itinerary is an independent package, it can be adjusted to suit your travel interests, time frame and budget. Please do not hesitate to call one of our travel specialists for a customized package.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Christchurch
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation.
Overnight: Christchurch
Day 2: Christchurch - Kaikoura (Rail)
Take the Coastal Pacific Train to Kaikoura.Take a whale watching tour, Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales, and Southern Right Whales. Orcas and Hector's dolphins are common sightings.
Overnight: Kaikoura
Day 3: Kaikoura - Blenheim - Nelson (Rail & Coach)
Continue your train trip to the top of the North Island and continue over to Nelson.
Overnight: Nelson
Day 4: Abel Tasman National Park
Welcome aboard the Vista cruising catamaran. Relax with comfortable seating around tables and panoramic views from open or enclosed viewing decks and enjoy the onboard cafe and bar. With your flexible cruise and walk day pass, choose to spend from three to eight hours exploring the spectacular granite coast. Stay on board or disembark at a golden beach fringed by lush forest and azure waters, ideal for swimming. Enjoy quality beach time with walking options up to four hours. Your friendly crew takes care of your comfort and safety with interpretative commentary and maps.
Overnight: Nelson
Day 5: Nelson - Punakaiki
Take a coach to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. You'll stay in an eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront. Enjoy dinner while watching the thundering surf at your doorstep!
Overnight: Punakaiki
Day 6: Punakaiki - Franz Josef
Visit the small town of Hokitika, the heritage and cultural centre of the West Coast, for a greenstone (jade) jewellery demonstration by a local carver. Then visit the West Coast's newest attraction, the Treetop Walkway through the canopy of this lush rainforest. Now you're off to the gold-mining town of Ross before arriving at Franz Josef.
Overnight: Franz Josef
Day 7: Franz Josef Sightseeing
Today enjoy an interpretive walk to the glacier to have the perfect opportunity to learn the role of the Franz Josef Glacier in shaping this remarkable landscape. After a short walk through the regenerating rainforest, the trip continues along the glacier valley with your guide calling stops to explain the unique features of the Franz Josef Glacier and its surroundings.With the emphasis more on geographical information and the glaciers history, you're able to venture beyond the public barriers and right up to the dramatic terminal face of this advancing glacier with your experienced and knowledgeable guide.
Overnight: Franz Josef
Day 8: Franz Josef - Queenstown
Your coach today will take you to the adventure capital of New Zealand - Queenstown.
Overnight: Queenstown
Day 9: Queenstown Sightseeing
Today you will be collected from your hotel by Limousine South for your Queenstown Highlights tour. Enjoy Queenstown's diverse attractions with your friendly, knowledgeable local guide. You will be captivated by the amazing views over Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range. Watch the fearless jumpers hurl themselves off AJ Hackett's original Bungy Bridge while learning about the history and excitement of bungy jumping. Enjoy a wine tasting tour at Gibbston Valley Winery savouring the flavours of fine local wines. You will also see where key scenes from Lord of the Rings were shot and re-live the 1860s gold rush at beautiful Arrowtown, where remnants of that fascinating era merge with modern, speciality shopping, before being dropped back off to your accommodation.
Overnight: Queenstown
Day 10: Milford Sound Tour & Cruise
Today you will travel by luxury coach on an unforgettable journey from Queenstown into Milford Sound. Located within the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, this region is rich with dense rainforest, lakes and waterfalls cascading from rugged mountain peaks. Travel through the Southern Alps via the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km tunnel drilled through a solid mountain of rock. Upon arrival at Milford Sound, board your vessel for a spectacular cruise on New Zealand's most famous waterway. At the end of the cruise you will return by coach to Queenstown.
Overnight: Queenstown
Day 11: Queenstown at leisure
Enjoy a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm onboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw. On disembarking at Walter Peak, you are welcomed and escorted through the lakeside gardens to the Colonel's Homestead where you are seated for dinner. The Gourmet BBQ menu, designed by Kiwi Celebrity Chef Josh Emett, incorporates fresh seasonal produce and locally hunted game and seafood so famous in the Central Otago region. All meat and seafood is cooked on the outdoor BBQ and rotisserie, in front of you and served immediately. A locally influenced wine list and other beverages are also available to purchase at the bar. Following dinner, you have the option of a brief farm show or relaxing at the bar before returning onboard the TSS Earnslaw to Queenstown. A tradition is the TSS Earnslaw's sing-along around the piano on the return journey.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Dinner
Day 12: Queenstown - Dunedin (Rail & Coach)
Travel South to Dunedin
Overnight: Dunedin
Day 13: Dunedin Sightseeing
Start the day with a one hour city tour of Dunedin, before departing for the Otago Peninsula to see the Yellow eyed & Blue Penguins.
Overnight: Dunedin
Day 14: Dunedin - Christchurch
Travel by Coach back to Christchurch.
Overnight: Christchurch
Day 15: Package ends
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
