Fiords Pinot & Glaciers Short Break

South Island: Invercargill to Christchurch

8 days

 

 

This tour departs from Invercargill and heads to the pristine lakes, carved fiords, and towering mountains blanketed in beech forest and that make up Fiordland. Walk amongst the beech trees, with the soft spongy leaf litter underfoot and green moss dripping from the undergrowth, to a viewpoint affording stunning views of Lake Manapouri and the rugged Kepler Mountains beyond. Enjoy the spectacular journey as we descend into Milford Sound, stopping for another walk in the beautiful Hollyford Valley en-route. Arrive in the Sound in the late afternoon, when most of the crowds have departed for the day, and board your vessel for an overnight cruise on the Sound. Accompany your nature guide in the naiad to look for the local wildlife - Fiordland Crested penguins, seals and dolphins can all be found here. Back on land, we travel through the rolling hills of Southland to Lake Wakatipu and the lovely village of Arrowtown. Relax in the shade of the iconic oak trees, or join the adrenalin vibe in Queenstown. Sample local pinot noir and other award winning wines. Cross the main divide to the west coast and experience a remote and untouched wilderness on an informative and exhilarating jet boat ride. Walk the wild west coast beaches and hidden lakes, and feel the power of the mighty rivers of ice in glacier country. Take a boat trip on the serene waters of Okarito Lagoon. Enjoy the transition from lush bush to the dry plains of Canterbury on our journey over Arthur's Pass to Christchurch, where your tour comes to an end.

See the complete itinerary below...

 

Day 1 Invercargill – Te Anau

You will be met at the Invercargill aiport or your central city accommodation at around 9:30am. We drive inland to Fiordland and Lake Manapouri, one of the prettiest and deepest lakes in the country, flanked by high mountain ranges and fringed with native beech forest. After a picnic lunch by the lake, we do a superb hike through the cool cover of the beech forest with springy leaf litter underfoot on the Kepler Track, one of our country's ‘Great Walks' [2hrs; Grade 2]. We continue a short distance to our accommodation in the sleepy town of Te Anau. (L/D)

 

Day 2 Te Anau – Milford Sound

Today we take the time to explore the amazing Milford Road on the way into Milford Sound, stopping to admire the many small lakes and viewpoints along the way. We do a remarkable hike [4hrs; Grade 3] up through moss covered goblin-like beech trees to a great viewpoint of a hanging lake high in the mountains, or alternative a lovely walk into a river valley [3hrs; Grade 1]. In the evening when most of the tourists have departed for the day, we board our vessel which takes us out into the sound. Seals, penguins, dolphins and an array of birds are commonly seen as dusk falls, as we spend the evening on board the vessel. There is the option of sea kayaking in the sound to appreciate the nature at a closer level. (B/L/D)

 

Day 3 Milford Sound – Arrowtown

Disembarking from our overnight cruise, we make our way to the lovely quiet village of Arrowtown, via the famous Kawarau Suspension Bridge to view Queenstown’s most famous pursuit – the bungy jump, where any adventure vacation junkies are invited to make a jump! We spend the next two evenings in a lovely cottage a stones throw from Arrowtown's restaurants and cafes. (B/D)

 

Day 4 Arrowtown/Queenstown

Today you can explore the area at your own pace. Arrowtown is a mere 20 minutes from Queenstown and there is the option of visiting the hustle and bustle of the 'adrenalin capital of the world' for the day. There are many adventure activities at hand to invigorate the body and soul such as mountain biking, horseriding, and paragliding to name but a few. Alternatively you can relax in idyllic Arrowtown where there are plenty of cafes and shops to keep you occupied, or even some pleasant short and long hiking trails. (B)

 

Day 5 Arrowtown – Haast

We tackle the spectacular Crown Range road (NZ’s highest highway) and head into the beautiful lakeside town of Wanaka. After a quick chance to explore and a latte, we continue to the mystical Haast Pass where you can stretch your legs and walk the final few kilometres to the top on the old bridle path [1hr; Grade 2]. This trail follows a gentle stream through mountain beech forest, and there are many of our native birds singing out along the way. We continue in the bus on to one of the country's most remote towns, Haast, nestled by the roaring sea in the World Heritage Park. In the afternoon we experience one of New Zealand’s greatest inventions, a jet boat ride. This exhilarating ride takes us up a remote and beautiful river as our guide provides us with excellent information about the local area whilst negotiating rapids and submerged logs. We eat out at a local restaurant. (B/L)

 

Day 6 Haast – Franz Josef

We do a short walk [Grade 1] to explore a rugged driftwood strewn beach at the forest edge on our way up the coast to the mighty glaciers. At Fox Glacier, remarkable in that it snakes right down into a temperate rain forest, you can opt to do the additional activities of a guided walk on the ice [Grade 3], or perhaps a helihike where you explore the upper reaches of the glacier after first viewing the river of ice from a helicopter. Alternatively, we can take you on another hike to a hidden viewpoint of the glacier [2hrs; Grade 3], or around a forest fringed lake offering unparallel photo opportunities on a clear day [1.5hrs; Grade 1]. We stay in the alpine village of Franz Josef. (B/L/D)

 

Day 7 Franz Josef – Hokitika

We visit a tiny seaside settlement of Okarito. Here we do a guided kayak trip that takes us deep into the Okarito Lagoon, a huge unmodified wetland full of birds including the elusive Kotuku or White Heron, where we learn about the amazing history of the area and appreciate the large variety of wading birds. On clear days the view of the Southern Alps from the across the lagoon are second to none. In the afternoon we enjoy a walk [3hrs; Grade 2] in the hills behind the village, featuring more great views. We then head up the coast to our final stopover of Hokitika. Eat out at a local restaurant. (B/L)

 

 

Day 8 Hokitika – Christchurch

Explore the town of Hokitika and visit a pounamu (greenstone) workshop where we learn about the history and significance of pounamu to Maori from this region and indeed the whole of the country. Then we drive over the spectacular Arthur’s Pass, stopping for a short walk through mountain beech forest [1hr; Grade 2] to stretch our legs on the way back to Christchurch and the end of the tour. We will be back in Christchurch by approximately 5 pm. (B/L)

 

Included in the tour package:

All prices are in New Zealand dollars and include GST of 12.5%. The fare includes just about everything including: 7 nights accommodation; 5 evening meals, 6 lunches, 7 breakfasts and plenty of healthy snacks in between [as indicated on the itinerary]; 2 guides; a Milford Sound overnight cruise and kayak; a West Coast jetboat ride; an Okarito Lagoon guided kayak birdwatching tour; and all transport and guided hikes.

Not included in the tour price are 2 evening meals; 2 lunches; wine and beer [you are welcome to BYO], and any other adventure activities you would like to do along the way, such as a scenic flight. We have indicated just some of the options in the itinerary, but the possibilities are endless! Prices quoted are approximate. If you choose not to participate in any optional activities we will always have walking options available so you don't need to spend a lot of money to have a great experience.

*Single supplement does not include Milford Sound overnight cruise.