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New Zealand's Southern Drift - Small Group - 20 Oct 2027 to 05 Apr 2028

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Operated by Trafalgar
Tripcode: LSCCM027
Overview
Destination:
New Zealand, 
Duration:9 days
Type:Group tour (max 45)
Travel Period
October 2027 - April 2028
See the south island of New Zealand unfold on this 9-day tour starting in Christchurch. With a Small Group of no more than 24 travellers, accompanied by a Travel Director and Driver, you’ll meet locals who bring each place to life including the Pavlova Queen of Lake Tekapo. You’ll cruise through majestic Milford Sound overnight, explore Highlands Motorsport Park Museum and travel through landscapes that feel almost unreal. This is the south island at its most varied, most beautiful and most unforgettable.
Sightseeing highlights
  • Explore Highlands Motorsport Park Museum Cromwell, home to rare, exclusive, and expensive vehicles
  • Discover Christchurch on a city sights tour
  • Visit The Pavlova Queen Angie at Lake Takapo, and historic Arrowtown
  • View Franz Josef Glacier from panoramic viewpoint
  • Scenic Cruise overnight on Milford Sound, and across Lake Wakatipu on historic steamship
Highlights:
Standard inclusions
  • 8 Breakfast (B)
  • 2 Dinner (D)
  • 1 Lunch (L)
  • 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Porterage where hotels provide this service
  • Must-see sightseeing
  • All land transport shown. All transfers shown
  • This trip is operated by our Australia and New Zealand Specialists at AAT Kings.
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Optional Experiences and free time
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Itinerary
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Welcome to Christchurch
Christchurch is a city that has reinvented itself with courage and resilience. This South Island city has some of New Zealand's most innovative architecture, not to mention forward-thinking restaurants and bars. Tonight, it's time to meet your Travel Director and travelling companions for a tour briefing and drinks.
Discover Christchurch and Lake Ōhau
Discover Christchurch’s city sights before heading into the Mackenzie Basin, where alpine scenery and brilliant blue lakes define the landscape. Stop at Lake Tekapo to see the Church of the Good Shepherd, one of the South Island’s most photographed landmarks. Then enjoy a special Be My Guest experience at the lakeside home of Angie and Stan Taylor. Over afternoon tea, Angie shares her legendary pavlova and her take on the famous trans-Tasman debate, while Stan reflects on a lifetime of farming in this remarkable region. Later, continue to Lake Ōhau Lodge, where wilderness surrounds you and a family-style dinner is served beside lake views and a cosy open fire.
Queenstown
Travel through Lindis Pass towards Cromwell, with wide open country and changing light guiding the way. Stop at the Jones Family fruit stall for fresh local produce before visiting Highlands Museum, where motoring history and innovation come together in a way that appeals to enthusiasts and first-timers alike. Continue to Arrowtown, a heritage village shaped by the gold rush, then arrive in Queenstown. Lunch is at your leisure, with the chance to visit cult favourite Fergburger, known for its generous gourmet burgers and lively atmosphere.
Queenstown, It's All Yours
Queenstown is yours to enjoy today. For those drawn to adrenaline, this is the place to lean in, perhaps with a thrilling jet boat ride at your own expense. If your pace is a little slower, you might choose to visit a wildlife centre and get closer to some of New Zealand’s unique birdlife, also at your own expense. However you spend it, Queenstown’s lakeside setting and mountain backdrop make every moment feel special.
Onwards Milford Sound
Travel south along the Devil’s Staircase, where the road curves beside Lake Wakatipu through landscapes that are dramatic even by New Zealand standards. Pass through Te Anau and into Fiordland National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense natural beauty. Along the way, see Mirror Lakes and travel through the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel before arriving in Milford Sound. Tonight, stay on board the Milford Mariner for an overnight cruise that reveals the fiord in a different light. With fewer crowds and more time on the water, you’ll take in waterfalls, rainforest, towering peaks and native wildlife with guidance from a specialist nature expert. There’s also the chance to explore by kayak or tender. On board, relax in the observation lounge, take in the views from the spacious decks and enjoy a three-course buffet dinner followed by a cooked breakfast in one of the world’s most extraordinary settings.
Explore Wānaka
Farewell Milford Sound and travel on to Wānaka, a town that blends natural beauty with an easygoing atmosphere. Set on the shores of Lake Wānaka beneath the Southern Alps, it’s a place where the scenery does a lot of the talking. Your hotel is centrally located, making it easy to explore the village and stroll down to the lakefront, with cafes and restaurants close by.
Fox Glacier Township
Leave Wānaka behind and travel past Lake Hāwea and the alpine settlement of Makarora, where river valleys and rainforest shape the landscape. Crossing Haast Pass, you’ll enter a region where mountains, forest and glaciers create one of the South Island’s most memorable journeys. Arrive in Fox Glacier Township, where you may wish to take an optional scenic flight over Fox and Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Weather permitting, there may even be the chance to land on the glacier, at your own expense.
Journey to Christchurch
This morning, there’s another chance to take to the skies on an optional scenic flight over Fox and Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere, weather permitting and at your own expense. Then begin your journey north along the West Coast, passing rainforest, wild beaches and the creative town of Hokitika, known for its greenstone and laid-back feel. From there, turn inland and travel through the Southern Alps. As you climb towards Arthur’s Pass, the scenery transforms from lush forest to rocky gorges, alpine peaks and open tussock country. Keep watch for kea along the way, the world’s only alpine parrot and one of New Zealand’s most playful native birds. Arrive back in Christchurch this evening and join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a farewell dinner to mark the end of your journey.
Farewell Christchurch
Your New Zealand adventure comes to a close today. From Māori culture and vineyard visits to alpine lakes, coastal wildlife and the majesty of Milford Sound, this has been a journey rich in contrasts and connections. Say farewell to Christchurch and take home memories of a country that leaves a deep impression long after you’ve returned home.
Dates

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Travellers

Operator
Trafalgar

The best of the world unlocked for you. Imagine unmissable experiences you’ve always dreamed of, getting to know the locals and having everything taken care of every step of the way.   Here's what you'll experience: Must-sees to local secrets: Visiting bucket list sites are a highlight of travelling, however, travelling on your own can make them hard work. Don’t queue with other sightseers for hours, with Trafalgar our experts unlock doors –  think exclusive access to the Vatican out of hours or a tour of Versailles and its grounds with an expert. This, coupled with the intimate glimpses and hidden gems our local specialists show you, are the life-changing experiences that make you feel like an insider, not a tourist. One-of-a-kind experiences: Thanks to our global network you’ll unlock local access to communities and people around the world. Our 100+ Be My Guest experiences are a signature Trafalgar exclusive, where you will enjoy the hospitality of locals as you are welcomed into their homes to hear their stories and learn about their cultures. In every destination, you’ll also enjoy unique “Stays with stories” accommodation: more than just a place to rest your head, they are part of the heritage and fabric of the communities you visit.  Responsible travel at heart: When you choose Trafalgar, you are choosing to make your travels a force for good and support our goal to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. We recognise our responsibility to ensure we make a positive impact on the planet we call home, the people we visit, and the rich wildlife we find. We ensure that the impacts of our business and your travels are positive in two ways: through our TreadRight Foundation, and our 5-year sustainability strategy How We Tread Right.

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Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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$6,610*
per person twin share
8 nights
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