NewZealand (South Island)

The Adventure Capital & Fiordland (5 Nights)

Experience high-altitude thrills, dramatic movie-set scenery, and the towering peaks of the deep south.

Day 1: Arrival & The Skyline Luge

• Afternoon: Arrive at Queenstown Airport, collect your rental vehicle, and check into your lakefront resort.

• Late Afternoon: Head straight to the Skyline Gondola to ascend Bob’s Peak. Board the high-velocity Skyline Luge to race down purpose-built tracks framed perfectly by panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range.

• Evening: Stroll the vibrant, lively waterfront of downtown Queenstown.

• Overnight: Queenstown.

Day 2: Extreme Adrenaline & Historic Gold Towns

• Morning: Experience the ultimate South Island thrill by booking a tandem Skydiving experience, leaping from 15,000 feet directly over the snow-capped southern Alps.

• Afternoon: Take a short 20-minute drive to the historic gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown. Stroll down Buckingham Street to view beautifully preserved 19th-century miners’ cottages and explore the heritage goldfields.

• Evening: Unwind from the day’s adrenaline with a scenic evening cruise across the lake on the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship.

• Overnight: Queenstown.

Day 3: The Untamed Wilderness of Glenorchy

• Morning: Take the breath-taking, winding lakeside drive north from Queenstown to Glenorchy. This route offers unmatched photographic viewpoints where sheer mountains plunge straight into the deep blue water.

• Afternoon: Embark on an alpine Trekking excursion along the start of the famous Routeburn Track, or explore the dramatic, pristine beech forests used as iconic filming locations for The Lord of the Rings.

• Evening: Return to Queenstown for a cozy evening overlooking the harbor lights.

• Overnight: Queenstown.

Day 4: The Monumental Milford Sound

• Day: Dedicate today to a bucket-list journey to Milford Sound. Drive through the engineering marvel of the Homer Tunnel into the heart of Fiordland National Park. Board a scenic nature cruise to sail directly beneath the colossal sheer cliffs of Mitre Peak and feel the mist from waterfalls tumbling down from glacier-carved hanging valleys.

• Overnight: Queenstown.

Day 5: High-Altitude Gliding

• Morning: Head down to the valley to experience a silent, high-altitude Gliding flight, soaring thermals high above the dramatic ridges, braided rivers, and deep valleys of the Southern Alps.

• Afternoon: Spend a relaxed afternoon wandering the botanical paths of Queenstown Gardens or trying out the local lakefront walking trails.

• Overnight: Queenstown.

Glassy Lakes & Coastal Marine Life (4 Nights)

Drive through pristine alpine passes to stargaze under dark skies before heading to the eastern coast for world-class marine wildlife encounters.

Day 6: Cardrona Pass & Lake Wanaka to Tekapo

• Morning: Check out of Queenstown and drive over the spectacular Crown Range Road. Stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel before arriving at the pristine shores of Lake Wanaka. Take a short walk along the waterfront to photograph the famous lonely Wanaka Tree growing right out of the water.

• Afternoon: Continue your road trip through the Lindis Pass, winding into the Mackenzie Basin. Arrive at Lake Tekapo, checking into your lakeside chalet. Marvel at the vibrant, turquoise color of the glacial water and visit the historic stone Church of the Good Shepherd.

• Overnight: Lake Tekapo.

Day 7: Southern Dark Skies & Mount Cook Views

• Morning: Take a short, scenic drive along the edge of Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook Village to view the monumental peak of Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain.

• Afternoon: Return to Tekapo and relax at the local lakeside hot springs.

• Evening: Experience the world-famous Stargazing at the Mount John Observatory. Located inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, this experience offers exceptionally clear, unpolluted night views of the Southern Cross and the Milky Way galaxy.

• Overnight: Lake Tekapo.

Day 8: Journey to the Garden City (Heading North)

• Morning: Check out and drive north through the rolling green pastoral farmlands of the Canterbury Plains.

• Afternoon: Arrive in Christchurch, checking into your city hotel. Explore the beautifully restored historic city center by riding the vintage Christchurch Tram, and view the stunning architecture of the Transitional “Cardboard” Cathedral.

• Evening: Enjoy a peaceful evening stroll along the tranquil banks of the Avon River.

• Overnight: Christchurch.

Day 9: Day Trip to the Marine Haven of Kaikoura

• Morning: Take a scenic 2.5-hour drive north along the rugged Pacific coastline to the coastal town of Kaikoura.

• Afternoon: Board a world-class Whale Watching vessel or boat tour. Kaikoura’s unique deep-sea canyon system attracts giant Sperm Whales year-round, alongside pods of acrobatic Dusky Dolphins and fur seal colonies sunning themselves on the rocky coastal shelves.

• Evening: Return south to Christchurch for your final evening dinner in the city.

• Overnight: Christchurch.

Day 10: Departure

• Morning: Transfer your rental vehicle back to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) for your flight home.