South of the South including Stewart Island. Nine days

Tour 305.     SOUTH OF THE SOUTH INCLUDING STEWART ISLAND    

Day 1. Tuesday.            DUNEDIN ARRIVE. 

Arrive Dunedin this morning and transfer to your accommodation. Accommodation in Dunedin for 2 nights. 

Day 2. Wednesday.                       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 3. Thursday.    DUNEDIN - CATLINS - STEWART ISLAND (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 and the petrified forest (available low tide only). Continue to Bluff, southernmost town in New Zealand and cruise across Foveaux Strait to Stewart island for 1 night accommodation.  

Optional evening Wild Kiwi Encounter with a high chance of seeing our iconic native birds on the beach - extra expense.

Day 4. Friday.  STEWART ISLAND - INVERCARGILL     (B)

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 and overnight in Invercargill at the Kelvin Hotel or similar.                 

Day 5. Saturday.    INVERCARGILL - MILFORD SOUND  - TE ANAU.   (B)
We take the scenic back roads via Riverton and Tuatapere to Te Anau and enjoy the  magnificent scenery as we drive through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys. Visit the Mirror Lakes and Roaring Chasm and drive through the Homer tunnel before  arriving in Milford Sound. Board your cruise to travel the length of Milford Sound under majestic Mitre Peak. See the seal colony and Bowen Falls before retracing our steps to Te Anau for overnight.  

Day 6. Sunday.   TE ANAU - DOUBTFUL SOUND OVERNIGHT CRUISE  (BLD) 

Free time this morning to enjoy Te Anau and maybe take an optional cruise to the cave of rushing waters. Late morning drive to Manapouri to join your scenic cruise across bush clad Lake Manapouri to West Arm. Join your coach to drive across Wilmot Pass through the lush rainforest to Doubtful Sound and join your overnight  cruise exploring Doubtful Sound to the Tasman Sea. Anchor overnight in a quiet bay and you have the opportunity to kayak up to the massive cliffs or take a cruise in the ships tender. A picnic lunch is included as you cross Lake Manapouri and dinner on board tonight. 

Day 7. Monday.    DOUBTFUL SOUND - MANAPOURI - QUEENSTOWN       (B)   

Disembark after breakfast and retrace your steps across Wilmot Pass and Lake Manapouri and drive to Queenstown arriving mid afternoon.

Day 8.  Tuesday.                QUEENSTOWN                           (B) 
Free day with many optional activities available. We strongly recommend the exhilirating Shotover jet boat ride and more placid evening cruise across the lake on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to the Walter peak for a barbecue dinner at the Colonels homestead..(Please note your driver is not available today).

Day 9.  Wednesday           QUEENSTOWN DEPART             (B)

You will be transferred to the airport for departrure. 

You are welcome to stay in Queenstown as long as you like or continue on our MAGNIFICENT SOUTH ISLAND TOUR to Wanaka, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, Hokitika and Chirstchurch