New Zealand holiday, South Island
| country: | New Zealand |
| location: | South Island |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 18 Oct, 1 Nov, 29 Nov, 13 Dec, 27 Dec 2009: 10 Jan, 24 Jan, 7 Feb, 21 Feb, 7 Mar, 21 Mar, 4 Apr, 18 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 14 Nov, 28 Nov, 12 Dec, 26 Dec 2010: 9 Jan, 23 Jan, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 6 Mar, 20 Mar, 3 Apr |
| price: | From £1208 (15 days) excluding flights. Local payment NZ $300. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Christchurch, Mt Cook, Queenstown, Arrowtown, Milford Sound, lakes, glaciers, gold country, greenstone crafts, Southern Alps rail journey
Explore the best of the South Island's breathtaking scenery. From quaint Christchurch and picturesque Queenstown to rugged mountains and the inspiring Milford Sound, this trip makes the most of the South Island's adventurous spirit. Stay in the high country near Mount Cook, walk on a glacier, experience the wild west coast and finish with a spectacular rail journey over the Southern Alps mountain range.
Explore the best of the South Island's breathtaking scenery. From quaint Christchurch and picturesque Queenstown to rugged mountains and the inspiring Milford Sound, this trip makes the most of the South Island's adventurous spirit. Stay in the high country near Mount Cook, walk on a glacier, experience the wild west coast and finish with a spectacular rail journey over the Southern Alps mountain range.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Christchurch. Known as the 'garden city', Christchurch has a distinctly English ambience. Go punting on the River Avon, visit an art gallery or enjoy a stroll through Cathedral Square. |
| Day 2-3: | Mount Cook. The spectacular Aoraki ('Cloud Piercer' to the Maori) or Mt Cook stands at 3,754m. There are optional alpine walks in the area to suit all levels of fitness, all with a stunning backdrop of mountains, lakes, streams and glaciers. |
| Day 4-6: | Queenstown. Riding the Skyline Gondola for a postcard view of Lake Wakatipu is a must for any visitor. Others can hike by the lake, climb Queenstown Hill or seek an adrenaline rush with bungee jumping, jet boating or paragliding. |
| Day 7-8: | Milford Sound.Rudyard Kipling called it the Eighth Wonder of the World. You'll realise why as we kayak through the stunning fjords of this World Heritage-listed area. |
| Day 9-10: | Wanaka. Nestled between the Southern Alps and a pristine glacial lake, Wanaka is a haven for windsurfing, rafting and canyoning. For a quirky alternative, tackle the maze at Puzzling World. |
| Day 11-12: | Franz Josef Glacier. Clamp on some crampons for a walk on Franz Josef Glacier. There is also time to cycle, hike or simply relax against the forested backdrop of Westland National Park. |
| Day 13: | West Country Pub. Stock up on jade souvenirs at Hokitika before settling down to some New Zealand home-style cooking at the local pub. |
| Day 14-15: | Christchurch. Delve into local history at Arthur's Pass and the Otira Valley before boarding the Tranz Alpine railway, passing labyrinthine gorges and beech forests en route to Christchurch. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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While these trips cover the best sights the island has to offer, it's HOW we travel that makes such a difference. We use local accommodation where possible, and we stay in locally owned guesthouses, where we can genuinely integrate with the local communities we visit. Our travellers are encouraged to get moving and explore the stunning nature low impact style - from canoes, from bicycles and from their feet!
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Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |