Upper South Island 8 Days
Upper South Island 8 Days
South Island (Reversible)
The upper South Island is know for its beautiful coast line, wines, sea life and snowcapped mountains. This 8 day tour includes a journey on the world famous Tranzalpine Scenic Train.
Travel Style: Private driver I Self-drive
Accommodation Style: Motel I Hotel I Boutique Lodges
Talk to us today about planning all the details.
Day 1: Arrive Christchuch
Suggested activities for Christchurch
Explore: Christchurch
New Zealand's garden city is steadily being transformed into a vibrant urban destination. Encompassing a large green belt, it is known for its wide tree-lined avenues and lush gardens. A great way to explore is to take the double-decker hop on/hop off bus for an easy way to see the sights – or ride a historic tram across town to the renowned botanic gardens and the unique cardboard Transitional Cathedral.
Day 2: Christchurch to Greymouth
World Famous: The TranzAlpine Scenic Train
Considered one of the world's great train journeys, the TranzAlpine Scenic Train takes you from Greymouth to Christchurch. You'll travel across the South Island from the west to the east coast through Arthur's Pass National Park. From the comfort of your carriage see lush beech forest, deep river valleys, and the spectacular peaks of the Southern Alps. Descend to the windswept Canterbury Plains before arriving in the city of Christchurch.
Day 3: Greymouth to Nelson and the Able Tasman National Park
Suggested Activities
Nature: Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes
See nature’s power in full force. There’s a rugged beauty about Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes where an unrelenting drama plays out as the mighty Tasman Sea crashes into these iconic limestone formations.
The West Coast’s most visited natural attraction is a fascinating sensory spectacle and an incredible contrast with the sublime palm-filled glades and tranquil trails of surrounding Paparoa National Park. Prepare to be blown away (by the scenery).
History : Shantytown
A faithfully recreated 1900s pioneer town, born out of, and stimulated by, the great West Coast gold rushes of the 1860s. Shantytown, nestled amidst regenerative native rain forest provides a real sense of what it was like to live in New Zealand then and what it means to be a New Zealander now, by allowing you to be both participant and observer in this most dynamic period of its post-Maori colonisation.
Day 4 and 5: Nelson and the Able Tasman National Park
Suggested Activities
Nature: Explore Able Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman National Park is situated near the top of the South Island and is accessible by walking, cruising or kayak. The sheltered bays of the Park are perfect for sailing and sea kayaking, also offering opportunities to see the seals and dolphins who regularly play in these coastal waters. If you prefer to explore by land, the Abel Tasman Great Walk follows the coastline through native bush alongside limestone cliffs and along golden beaches.
Adventure: Waka Abel Tasman
Connect. Experience. Explore.
To travel across water is to connect across time and space. We feel the motion and te mauri o te wai, just as our tūpuna did. To do it in a group, connects you in a way nothing else does.
Food and Wine: Sounds Connection Gourmet Wine Tour
The ultimate food and wine experience, the Sounds Connection Gourmet Wine Tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at several renowned Marlborough wineries which may include Hans Herzog Estate, Wither Hills, Cloudy Bay, and Johanneshof Cellars, as well as a stop at the Makana Chocolate Factory. (Wineries visited on this tour can vary due to availability.) Meet the makers behind the wines and gain a fascinating insight into the wine-making process.
Day 6: Nelson to Kaikōura
Journey through Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine growing region, Crossing the ‘dry hills’ of the Marlborough ranges you head towards one of the most incredible coastlines of the South Island, the Kaikoura Coast. The road hugs the shore for around 50 kilometers and offers many chances to view the native wildlife such as seabirds and New Zealand fur seals. .
Suggested activity
History: The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre has combined a rare collection of WW1 and WW2 aircraft with creative display techniques to present a remarkable experience that captures the imagination. Omaka is a world-class destination for appreciating historic aircraft and sharing the stories of the men and women behind the machines.
Day 7: Kaikōura
Suggested activities
Nature: Whale Watching
Kaikōura is one of the few places in the world where Giant Sperm Whales can be seen year-round and close to shore. They congregate here because the 2km deep Kaikōura Canyon runs right up against the coast creating a rare system of sea currents that sustain an incredibly rich marine food chain.
Nature: Guided Seal Kayaking
This adventure around the beautiful coastal waters 100% guarantees seal viewing and takes in the breath-taking views of sheer cliff faces, craggy rocks and mountain ranges while searching for chance encounters with dusky dolphins and blue penguins.
Day 8: Kaikōura to Christchurch
Return to Christchurch for the end of your tour