South Island Grand Tour. 17 Days

                   SOUTH ISLAND GRAND TOUR
 

Day 1. Saturday 24 February.      ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH  

Arrive Christchurch. You will be met and transferred to your accommodation.

Day 2.  Sunday. 25 February.  CHRISTCHURCH - MOUNT COOK    (B)

Pickup from your hotel or home anywhere in metro Christchurch.  Drive across the fertile Canterbury Plains and over Burke's Pass to Lake Tekapo. See the sheep dog monument and Church of the Good Shepherd. Travel along the shores of Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. Free time for alpine walks, visit the National Park headquarters, or take a ski plane or helicopter flight to land on the snows of the glaciers - extra expense and weather permitting. Accommodation at the Hermitage in Mt Cook view rooms.

Day 3.  Monday. 26 February.      MOUNT COOK - OAMARU - DUNEDIN   (B) 

We highly recommend the cruise among the icebergs on the lake at the base of the Tasman Glacier in summer - extra expense.
Drive down the Waitaki River Valley with a visit to the Benmore Hydro dam, the historic centre of Oamaru, and enjoy some beach time to explore the unique Moeraki Boulders. Accommodation in Dunedin for 2 nights.

Day 4. Tuesday.  27 February.                   DUNEDIN                                 (B) 

Visit historic "Olveston House", Dunedin Chinese Garden, Knox Church, The Octagon, and the world's steepest street. This afternoon tour the Otago Peninsula including Larnachs Castle, Royal Albatross Centre, and see the local wildlife including seals, and Yellow Eyed penguins.

Day 5. Wednesday. 28 February.    DUNEDIN - CATLINS - INVERCARGILL.  (B) 

Enjoy a scenic drive through the Catlins. one of New Zealand's most beautiful and unspoiled wilderness areas. See the wildlife, waterfalls,and beautiful coastal scenery and visit Nugget Point lighthouse, petrified forest (available low tide only), and Curio Bay. Two nights at Kelvin Hotel in the centre of the  city.

Day 6. Thursday.  29 February    INVERCARGILL - Stewart Island option.     (B)

Visit Bluff Hill and the famous Stirling Point lighthouse, Bill Richardsons Transport World, World's fastest Indian display, Gardens and  Museum and you have time to explore the city. Optional visit to Mandeville Tiger Moth reconstruction centre- extra cost $100.

Stewart Island (Rekohu). We strongly recommend a visit to our Southernmost inhabited island by ferry or air.

Day tours:

1. FERRY:  including transfers to and from Bluff, return ferry from Bluff to Oban, 1 hour tour of Oban, guided tour of Ulva Island. picnic lunch - extra cost $370 

2. AIR: 20 minute flight each way from Invercargill airport plus 3.5-4 hour cruise of Paterson Inlet including Harolds Bay stone ottage, Ackers Point, Ulva Island, wildlife, Marine Farms, The Neck and historic whalers base. Extra cost $390. (cruise January - April only)

3. OVERNIGHT - 1 or 2 nights on Stewart Island to really enjoy the ambience. Accommodation is very scarce and early bookings are esential

Ulva Island Lodge: Wake up to the Kereru and Tui visiting in front of the Lodge and enjoy a guided one hour tour of Oban before cruising Patterson Inlet for a guided walk through the Ulva island wildlife sanctuary.  Cruise back to Bluff for a photo stop at the famous Stirling Point signpost and return to Invercargill. Extra cost per person per night $150 including continental breakfast. Dinner not included but available at the hotel or local restaurant. Stay 2 nights if you wish departing Stewart Island 8am friday arriving Bluff 9am to join your vehicle to Te Anau.             

Alternative accommodation is available. Go to www.stewartisland.co.nz or Booking.com for options. Arrange your own and deduct $140 per person per night for unused accommodation at Kelvin Hotel.

Timetable and fares - subject to confirmation when you reserve. (extra sailings and flights may operate January-March)

Ferries depart Bluff at 9.45am, 1.45pm and 5.15pm and depart Stewart Island at 8am, 12.15, and 3.30pm in summer. Fare $110 each way

Flights depart Invercargill airport 8am, 1pm and 5pm and depart Stewart Island 8.30, 1.30, and 5.30pm in summer. Fare $140 one way, $240 return. 

Day 7. Friday.  01 March      INVERCARGILL - TE ANAU (B)

We take the scenic back roads via Riverton with a guided tour of the Te Hikoi Museum with film and learn the early history of settlement in the area and visit the beach. Continue through Tuatapere to Te Anau. Accommodation at Luxmore Hotel or similar. 

Day 8.   Saturday.  02 March      TE ANAU - DOUBTFUL SOUND       (B)                               

Day cruise - Transfer to Manapouri and cruise across the bush clad Lake Manapouri to the West Arm. Drive across Wilmot Pass, and join our cruise ship. Doubtful Sound is much more extensive than Milford Sound. Explore the fiords and travel to the entrance with the Tasman Sea. See the seals and often dolphins and other wildlife are to be seen. Picnic lunch included. Return to Te Anau for accommodation

Overnight cruise - extra cost $100 per person. Transfer to Doubtful Sound and board your overnight cruise. Dinner included on board. Comfortable 'compact' cabins with private shower/toilet. Anchor overnight in a quiet bay. Optional evening exploring by kayak or ships tender to get up close and personal with the Fiords. Return to Manapouri Sunday midday and transfer to Queenstown. Those doing the overnight cruise do not visit Milford Sound 

Overnight cruises are very popular. Book early

Day 9.  Sunday.       03 March          TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN   (BL)  

People on Manapouri day cruise saturday travel to Milford Sound for cruise with picnic lunch and drive to Queenstown arriving early evening. 

Day 10. Monday.  04 March                                            QUEENSTOWN   (BD)

Free day with many optional activities available

This evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to Walter Peak for dinner.

Day 11. Tuesday.        05 March.     QUEENSTOWN - WANAKA - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER        (B)
Drive to the historic gold mining centre of Arrowtown. Explore the town and the remains of the Chinese village and continue through the Kawarau Gorge or over the Crown Range to  Wanaka for a brief stop with optional (own expense) visit to amazing Puzzling World. Continue through Makarora and over the Haast Pass into the rainforest and spectacular coastline of the West Coast. Visit Shipwreck Beach, and beautiful Lake Matheson. Overnight Scenic Franz Josef Hotel.

Day 12. Wednesday. 06 March       FRANZ JOSEF  - HOKITIKA  OR PUNAKAIKI    (B)
Visit the Franz Josef Glacier lookout with time for a helicopter or ski plane flight or heli hike on the glacier (extra expense and weather permitting) or bush walk. Drive north to enjoy the Treetops walk overlooking Lake Mahinapua. Enjoy the wetlands eco cruise and see jade carvers  at work. Overnight Beachfront Hotel, Hokitika or Scenic Punakaiki Hotel.

Day 13. Thursday. 07 March. HOKITIKA - PUNAKAIKI - GOLDEN BAY   (B)    
Visit the recreated gold mining village of Shantytown to pan for gold and ride the train into the forest and the site of an old saw mill. After a short tour of Greymouth continue to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks in the Paparoa National Park. Explore the area before coninuing north to Cape Foulwind and a visit to Westport with a visit to the coal museum and drive through the Buller Gorge to the Nelson Lakes National Park and to the Golden Bay area for 2 nights accommodation.

Day 14.  Friday. 08 March. GOLDEN BAY   (B)

Drive to Takaka and Visit the amazing Pupu Springs and on through Collingwood to visit  spectacular Wharariki beach for a 1 hour walk to enjoy the sea caves, seal pups,wind swept sand dunes, and coastal rock formations. A 30 minute walk to Pillar Point will give spectacular views of Farewell Spit and Golden Bay. Also visit Abel Tasman monument.

Day 15. Saturday. 09 March.  ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK - NELSON     (B) 
Transfer to Kaiteriteri and join your scenic cruise along the shores of the Abel Tasman National Park. Drop in to Tonga Quarry, Medlands Beach, Anchorage and Apple Tree Bay before returning to Kaiteriteri.You have the option to land at Tonga Quarry for a 2 hour walk over a forested saddle to Medlands Beach and cruise to Kaiteriteri. Transfer to Nelson for a short tour and overnight.

Day 16.   Sunday. 10 March. NELSON - PICTON       (B)

Drive to Picton and visit the "Edwin Fox" ship restoration project before boarding your cruise to travel down the Marlborough Sounds and stopover at Ship Cove where Captan Cook spent much time during two voyages. Overnight at Picton Yacht Club or Scenic Marlborough hotel in Blenheim.

Day 17.    Monday.   11 March.    PICTON - BLENHEIM - KAIKOURA - CHRISTCHURCH

Visit Omaka and Peter Jackson's KNIGHTS OF THE SKY World War 1 and DANGEROUS SKIES World War 2 exhibitions and the Classic cars museum then down the coast to the charming seaside town of Kaikoura. Time for a whale watch cruise or flight if you wish before returning to Christchurch arriving at the airport about 5pm and city about 5.30pm.