7-Day New Zealand
South Island Tour
Experience the Heart of New Zealand’s South Island
From the turquoise lakes and alpine landscapes of Aoraki / Mount Cook to Queenstown and the dramatic beauty of Milford Sound, this seven-day itinerary brings together some of the South Island’s most memorable places.
Travelling by private vehicle or self-drive, you will enjoy scenic touring, carefully selected experiences and time to explore each destination at a comfortable pace.
Tour at a Glance
📅 7 Days
A scenic journey through the central South Island
🚐 Private Tour
Private driver or self-drive option
🛏️ Tailored Accommodation
Quality hotels with premium upgrades available
🗺️ South Island
Christchurch to Queenstown via Milford Sound
Experience New Zealand your way with a custom private itinerary designed around your interests, pace and travel style. From private driver-guides and premium accommodation to scenic touring, activities and local support, we create seamless journeys across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Queenstown-Based Luxury Travel Specialists | TIA Member | 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist | Local Support
Your South Island Journey
Follow the journey from Christchurch through Aoraki / Mount Cook and Queenstown to the dramatic wilderness of Milford Sound.
Tour Highlights
From alpine lakes and high-country landscapes to stargazing, scenic flights and an overnight fiord cruise, this journey showcases the very best of the central South Island.
Christchurch | Lake Tekapo | Lake Pukaki | Aoraki / Mount Cook
Hooker Valley | Glacier Explorers | Dark Sky Stargazing
Queenstown | TSS Earnslaw | Walter Peak | Milford Sound
Milford Road | Scenic Flights | Central Otago
A Real Client Experience
“We can’t say enough about the exceptional experience we had using Kathy and Wayne to help plan and orchestrate our magical trip to New Zealand! Kathy helped us curate a plan for the South Island that included Milford Sound, Mount Cook, a helicopter ride to a hanging glacier in Earnslaw Burn, complete with wine and cheese picnic lunch, a haunted hotel, lake Wanaka and SO MUCH MORE! Wayne was our driver and tour guide extraordinaire, with unique and fascinating stops along the way, and an entertaining flow of puns and dad jokes that honestly were the icing on the cake. So glad that after trying to plan the trip ourselves, we turned it over to them for such a well planned, well spent itinerary. They are both fantastic, and worth their weight in gold in our book!”
Mariam DePriest
Is This Tour Right for You?
Ideal for travellers wanting a comfortable, well-planned South Island escape.
✓ Private touring or self-drive flexibility
✓ Christchurch, Mount Cook and Queenstown
✓ Milford Sound and the Milford Road
✓ Scenic flights, stargazing and alpine experiences
✓ Accommodation, activities and transfers arranged
✓ Flexible to suit your interests and travel style
Is This Tour Right for You?
This seven-day South Island itinerary is ideal for travellers who want to experience some of New Zealand’s most iconic alpine landscapes without the stress of planning every detail themselves. It combines private touring or self-drive flexibility, carefully chosen activities, comfortable accommodation and time to enjoy each destination at a relaxed pace.
It is a great fit if you want:
A well-planned journey through Christchurch, Aoraki / Mount Cook, Queenstown and Milford Sound.
The choice of private touring, self-drive travel or a combination of both.
Memorable experiences such as scenic flights, stargazing, alpine walks and an overnight Milford Sound cruise.
Help selecting accommodation, activities, transfers and the most suitable route.
A comfortable itinerary that balances scenic travel, guided experiences and free time.
The flexibility to adjust the journey around your interests, preferred pace and accommodation style.
Your 7-Day South Island Itinerary
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Explore: Christchurch
Arrive in Christchurch and settle into your accommodation.
Known as New Zealand’s Garden City, Christchurch combines beautiful parks, historic architecture, riverside spaces and a lively dining scene.
Spend the remainder of the day exploring at your own pace. You may wish to visit the Botanic Gardens, Riverside Market, the central city or take a punt along the Avon River.
Optional experiences:
Christchurch Tram
Avon River punting
Botanic Gardens tour
International Antarctic Centre -
Depart Christchurch and travel across the Canterbury Plains toward the Southern Alps.
Pause in the rural town of Geraldine before continuing through Fairlie and over Burkes Pass to Lake Tekapo.
Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and enjoy views across the turquoise lake before continuing beside Lake Pukaki, where Aoraki / Mount Cook rises above the surrounding Southern Alps on a clear day.
Follow the lake to Mount Cook Village for a two-night stay.
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Spend the day discovering the alpine landscapes of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.
Choose from a range of scenic and nature-based experiences depending on your interests, fitness and the weather.
Suggested Experiences
Glacier Explorers
Cruise across Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake and learn about the changing glacier landscape while viewing floating ice formations and the surrounding mountains.
Hooker Valley Track
Walk one of New Zealand’s best-known alpine trails, crossing swing bridges and travelling through glacier-carved valleys toward views of Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Shorter walking options are also available.
Scenic Flight
Fly above the Southern Alps, Tasman Glacier and surrounding peaks by helicopter or ski plane, with selected flights including an alpine snow landing.
Big Sky Stargazing
Discover the night sky within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve during a guided stargazing experience.
All flights, glacier activities and stargazing experiences are weather dependent.
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Included: Private Scenic Tour or Self-Drive Journey
Leave Mount Cook and travel through the Mackenzie Basin toward Central Otago.
Pass Twizel and Omarama before crossing the Lindis Pass, surrounded by wide tussock-covered hills and high-country scenery.
Continue through Tarras and Cromwell before following the Kawarau Gorge toward Queenstown.
Along the way, you may stop at the historic Kawarau Bungy Bridge, visit a local vineyard or explore one of Central Otago’s former gold-mining settlements.
Arrive in Queenstown, set beside Lake Wakatipu beneath the Remarkables mountain range.
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Day 5: Queenstown
Enjoy a full day to explore Queenstown and its surrounding landscapes.
Queenstown offers much more than adventure activities, with historic villages, lake cruises, wineries, alpine viewpoints and excellent dining.
Suggested Experiences
TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak
Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak High Country Farm.
Enjoy a gourmet BBQ meal and farm demonstration before returning to Queenstown.
Everything Queenstown Private Tour
Explore Arrowtown, Lake Hayes, the Kawarau Bungy Bridge and selected scenic viewpoints with a local private guide.
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Depart Queenstown and travel beside Lake Wakatipu toward Te Anau and Fiordland National Park.
Continue along the Milford Road, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenic routes.
Depending on conditions and available time, stops may include the Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, mountain viewpoints, rainforest walks and cascading waterfalls.
On arrival at Milford Sound, board your overnight cruise.
Travel through the fiord toward the Tasman Sea, surrounded by towering cliffs, rainforest and waterfalls.
Once the vessel anchors in a sheltered cove, you may have the opportunity to explore by tender boat or kayak, join the onboard nature guide or simply relax and enjoy the scenery.
Dinner and overnight accommodation are provided onboard.
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Wake surrounded by the mountains and waterfalls of Milford Sound before enjoying breakfast onboard.
After the vessel returns to the terminal, begin the scenic journey back toward Queenstown.
Travel again through Fiordland National Park and Te Anau before crossing the rural landscapes of Southland and returning beside Lake Wakatipu.
Your seven-day Spirit of the South journey concludes on arrival in Queenstown.
A scenic flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown may be available as an alternative to the return road journey, subject to weather and availability.
Want to adjust the pace?
This itinerary is only a starting point. We can add extra nights, upgrade accommodation, adjust activities, or slow the journey down to suit your travel style.
FAQs
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This itinerary is a starting point and can be customised to suit your travel dates, pace, interests and accommodation style. We can adjust the route, add extra nights, upgrade accommodation, include more private touring, or change activities depending on what you would most like to experience.
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This tour is ideal for travellers who want to experience the heart of the South Island in one well-planned week, without having to organise every detail themselves. It suits couples, families, small groups and travellers wanting a personalised journey with local guidance.
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As a general guide, this tour starts from around NZD $6,000 per person, based on two people travelling and staying in quality accommodation.
The final price will depend on your travel dates, accommodation style, number of travellers, transport style, private touring and the activities or special experiences you would like included.
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Accommodation is flexible and selected to suit your preferences and budget. We can include quality hotels, boutique stays, premium lodges or luxury upgrades, depending on the style of journey you would like.
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This tour can include private guided touring, private transfers, self-drive sections and selected local experiences. We will shape the travel style around your comfort level, budget and how much guidance you would like along the way.
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We take care of the planning so the journey flows properly. This includes your route, accommodation, transfers, touring days, activities and timing between each location. With our local South Island knowledge, we help create a smoother, more personal holiday than simply booking separate pieces online.
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Yes. Extra nights can be added if you would like more time in places such as Queenstown, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Christchurch, Milford Sound or Wānaka.
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Get in touch with us and we will start with a relaxed conversation about your travel dates, interests, accommodation preferences and the experiences you would like to include. From there, we can prepare a personalised itinerary and quote for your South Island holiday.