New Zealand holiday, South Island

country:	New Zealand
location:	South Island
trip type:	A small group adventure
departures:	2009: 28 Nov, 12 Dec 2010: 9 Jan, 23 Jan, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 20 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 1 May, 15 May, 2 Oct, 16 Oct, 30 Oct, 13 Nov, 27 Nov, 11 Dec, 25 Dec
price:	From £1345 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK.
vouchers:	Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

New Zealand holidays here

South Island holidays here

the amazing things you'll be doing

From quaint Christchurch and picturesque Queenstown to the rugged mountains of the Southern Alps and the inspiring Milford Sound, this trip makes the most of the South Island's adventurous spirit. Stay in the high country near Mt Cook, walk on a glacier, experience the beauty of the west coast and soak up the spectacular scenery on a rail journey through the mountains.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Christchurch. Be sure to arrive early and discover why Christchurch is known as the 'Garden City'. Visit Cathedral Square, enjoy a picnic in the leafy surrounds of Hagley Park or hire a punt and glide down the Avon River.
Days 2-3:	Mt Cook. Traverse a patchwork farm landscape. Be dwarfed by spectacular Aoraki (Cloud Piercer) Mt Cook at 3,754 m (12,316 ft). Explore meadows, lakes, streams and glaciers that shelter the world's only alpine parrot, the kea. Spend some time at the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and be inspired by the adventures of this great New Zealand hero. In spring and summer, spot the Mt Cook lily, the world's largest buttercup.
Days 4-6:	Queenstown. Enjoy the adrenalin rush of bungee jumping, a gentle ride on an historic steamboat on Lake Wakatipu, or a postcard vista from the Skyline Gondola.
Days 7-8:	Te Anau/Milford Sound. Travel to Te Anau, gateway to New Zealand's spectacular Fiordland National Park. Head to Milford Sound and explore stunning fjords by kayak. Search out bottlenose dolphins, seals and crested penguins. There's plenty of free time to explore the region's other wonders. Visit nearby glow-worm caves, scuba dive or take a scenic flight.
Days 9-10:	Wanaka. Nestled between the Southern Alps and a pristine glacial lake, Wanaka is a haven for watersports. Get another kind of buzz with a visit to Wanaka Beerworks to sample some of the microbrewery's prizewinning ales. For a quirky alternative, tackle the maze at Puzzling World - best done before touring Beerworks.
Days 11-12:	Franz Josef Glacier. Clamp on some crampons for a guided hike across ancient ice and rock. Kayak, quad bike or simply relax near the Westland National Park.
Day 13:	West Coast Pub. Buy jade souvenirs at the artisan town of Hokitika before exploring the Paparoa National Park, home to the famed Pancake Rocks. Hang out with the locals at a West Coast Pub and tuck into New Zealand home-style cooking. It's the perfect opportunity to learn some Kiwi vernacular - it's choice, bro.
Days 14-15:	Christchurch. Delve into local West Coast history and charm with a visit to the local brewery or an exploration of old gold mining tunnels. Board 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

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!

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.