Classic South Island Explorer - 16 Day Self Drive

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• Day 1: Depart The UK For New Zealand Arrival Day

  

  Today you'll board your flight to New Zealand for the holiday of a lifetime. Enjoy the flight and upon arrival you'll pick up your hire care.

• Day 2: Arrive Christchurch

  

  Arrive into Christchurch and collect your rental vehicle before making the short drive into the city. Known as the “Garden City”, Christchurch blends English heritage with a creative, revitalised urban scene. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the Botanic Gardens, riverside precinct or local cafés, or simply relax after your journey.

  Driving time: • Airport to city: approx. 20 minutes

  Accommodation: • The Classic Villa, Christchurch – 4★ Boutique Hotel

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Rental car collection

  Optional activities: • Christchurch city sightseeing • Punting on the Avon River • Christchurch Gondola

• Day 3: Christchurch to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

  

  Today you drive south through the Canterbury Plains and into the Southern Alps. Pass turquoise Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki before arriving in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand’s highest peak. The scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as glaciers, alpine rivers and snow-capped mountains dominate the landscape.

  Driving time: • Approx. 4.5–5 hours

  Accommodation: • The Hermitage Hotel, Mount Cook – 4★ Scenic Alpine Hotel (Mount Cook View Room)

  Meals included: • Breakfast

  Included activities: • Scenic self-drive through Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki

  Optional activities: • Tasman Glacier Boat Tour • Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre • Big Sky Stargazing

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 4: Mount Cook National Park

  

  A full day to explore one of New Zealand’s most spectacular national parks. Choose from gentle alpine walks, glacier viewpoints or optional guided experiences. With some of the darkest skies in the world, Mount Cook is also a haven for stargazing.

  Driving time: • Minimal / at leisure

  Accommodation: • The Hermitage Hotel, Mount Cook – 4★

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Free time for walking tracks and viewpoints

  Optional activities: • Guided day hikes • Glacier Explorer boat tour • Scenic helicopter flights

• Day 5: Mount Cook to Te Anau

  

  Depart the alpine region and travel south via Lake Ohau and the Mackenzie Basin before reaching Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Set on the edge of Lake Te Anau, this charming lakeside town is the perfect base for exploring Milford Sound.

  Driving time: • Approx. 4.5–5 hours

  Accommodation: • Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas – 4★ Lake View Room

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Scenic self-drive

  Optional activities: • Te Anau Glowworm Caves • Lakeside walks

• Day 6: Milford Sound Day Trip

  

  Sit back and relax on a small-group coach journey into Fiordland National Park, stopping frequently for short walks and photo opportunities. Cruise through Milford Sound beneath towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls, enjoying onboard commentary and a packed lunch. Weather enhances the experience – sunshine or rain both create unforgettable scenery.

  Driving time: • None (coach excursion)

  Accommodation: • Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas – 4★

  Meals included: • Packed lunch

  Included activities: • Milford Sound coach tour • Milford Sound scenic cruise

  Optional activities: • None

  Meals: Lunch

• Day 7: Te Anau to Queenstown

  

  Drive through rolling countryside and along Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital. This evening, enjoy a memorable lake cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet BBQ dinner in a stunning lakeside setting.

  Driving time: • Approx. 2 hours

  Accommodation: • Browns Boutique Hotel, Queenstown – 4★ Boutique Hotel

  Meals included: • Dinner (Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ)

  Included activities: • TSS Earnslaw cruise • Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ dinner

  Optional activities: • Skyline Gondola • Wine tasting tours

  Meals: Dinner

• Day 8: Queenstown

  

  Enjoy a full free day in Queenstown. Whether you prefer relaxation or adrenaline, the choice is yours. Explore the lakeside, take a scenic cruise, enjoy boutique shopping or sample one of the region’s many wineries.

  Driving time: • Minimal / at leisure

  Accommodation: • Browns Boutique Hotel, Queenstown – 4★

  Meals included: • Breakfast

  Included activities: • Free time

  Optional activities: • Jet boating • Bungy jumping • Arrowtown visit • Central Otago wine tour

  Meals: Breakfast

• Day 9: Queenstown to Wanaka

  

  Travel over the Crown Range, New Zealand’s highest sealed road, with breathtaking alpine views. Arrive in Wanaka, a laid-back lakeside town known for its relaxed atmosphere and spectacular scenery.

  Driving time: • Approx. 1.5 hours

  Accommodation: • Edgewater Resort, Wanaka – 4★ Lakeside Resort

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Scenic mountain drive

  Optional activities: • Lake Wanaka cruise • Short walks around the lake

• Day 10: Wanaka to Franz Josef Glacier

  

  Journey west through changing landscapes as dry alpine terrain gives way to lush rainforest. Cross the Haast Pass before reaching Franz Josef Glacier village on the wild West Coast.

  Driving time: • Approx. 4.5 hours

  Accommodation: • Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef – 4★ Deluxe Tree Lodge

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Scenic self-drive via Haast Pass

  Optional activities: • Glacier viewpoints • Hot pools

• Day 11: Franz Josef Glacier

  

  Today’s highlight is an unforgettable heli-hike experience. Fly by helicopter onto the glacier and explore dramatic ice formations on a guided hike, surrounded by towering peaks and vivid blue ice.

  Driving time: • Minimal

  Accommodation: • Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef – 4★

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike

  Optional activities: • Scenic helicopter flights • West Coast wildlife tours

• Day 12: Franz Josef to Punakaiki

  

  Continue north along the rugged West Coast, passing coastal scenery and rainforest before reaching Punakaiki. Visit the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes, best viewed at high tide.

  Driving time: • Approx. 3.5–4 hours

  Accommodation: • Scenic Hotel Punakaiki – 4★ Beachview Studio

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Pancake Rocks & Blowholes walk

  Optional activities: • Coastal walks • Paparoa National Park trails

• Day 13: Punakaiki to Nelson

  

  Travel north through remote West Coast landscapes before crossing into the sunny Nelson region. Known for its beaches, wineries and creative arts scene, Nelson is a relaxed and vibrant destination.

  Driving time: • Approx. 4.5–5 hours

  Accommodation: • The Sails Nelson – 4★ Studio Suite

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Scenic self-drive

  Optional activities: • Nelson wineries • Local art galleries

• Day 14: Abel Tasman National Park

  

  Enjoy a flexible cruise-and-walk experience in Abel Tasman National Park. Choose how far you wish to walk along golden beaches and turquoise bays, rejoining the boat later in the day.

  Driving time: • Nelson to Kaiteriteri: approx. 1 hour

  Accommodation: • The Sails Nelson – 4★

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Abel Tasman Cruise & Walk Open Day Pass

  Optional activities: • Sea kayaking • Extended coastal walks

• Day 15: Nelson Departure

  

  Your journey concludes today. Depending on your onward travel plans, you may return your vehicle in Nelson or continue your New Zealand adventure.

  Driving time: • Nelson to airport: approx. 15 minutes

  Accommodation: • None

  Meals included: • None

  Included activities: • Rental car return

  Optional activities: • Additional nights in Nelson • Extension to the North Island