The 9-day Southern Spotlight tour explores the wonderful scenery of the South Island. The city of Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Dunedin, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Franz Josef Glacier and you take the world-famous TranzAlpine train from Arthurs Pass to Christchurch. With lots of opportunities to enjoy the many great optional tours and activities, this is the ideal tour for those wishing to see the best of the South Island at a relaxing pace.
Guided Coach Touring
This suggested tour costs from NZD$4,510 per person (twin share, low season)
Starts in Christchurch, finishes in Christchurch
9 days/8 nights
Hotel 3 star
Pre and post tour options? YES
Viewed 89 times in the last 7 days
Day 1: Welcome to Christchurch
Day 2: Christchurch - Omarama
Day 3: Omarama - Dunedin
Day 4: Dunedin - Te Anau
Day 5: Te Anau - Queenstown
Day 6: Queenstown Free Time
Day 7: Queenstown - Franz Josef/Waiau
Day 8: Franz Josef/Waiau - Christchurch
Day 9: Farewell from Christchurch
Since its 2010/11 earthquakes, Christchurch has reinvented itself in more ways than one. It's time tonight to meet your travelling companions for a Welcome Reception.
Staying in:
Christchurch is not only rebuilding itself after the devastating 2010/11 earthquakes, but is changing the way architects think about design. Case in point the mind-bending Cathedral, made largely of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold clad central library. You will view these on your city tour. From here, your outlook is the Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd, snow-capped mountains and atmospheric towns. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.
Staying in:
Oamaru, with its Victorian heritage buildings, stands proud before you journey further south toward the Edinburgh of the South: Dunedin. It’s easy to while away the afternoon in the city’s atmospheric art-lined alleys. Or venture further afield to discover the wildlife that thrives in this pretty pocket of the country – fur seals among them. Thirsty? Visit Speight's Brewery, a New Zealand institution.
Staying in:
Dunedin’s Scottish ancestry is everywhere you look, from the manicured grounds of Otago University to the city’s main George Street. Rolling green hills dotted with doe-eyed sheep are replaced by soaring mountains as you weave your way into Fiordland National Park and the South Island’s biggest lake and the town of Te Anau. Soak up the serenity – it doesn’t get any better than this.
Staying in:
From the moment you step outside today, nature rules. Your route through Fiordland National Park is an intoxicating union of beech forests, alluvial flats, meadows and mirror-like lakes. Gin-clear rivers carve the countryside, with all roads leading to your Milford Sound/Piopiotahi tour. Cruising this World Heritage listed expanse will give you goosebumps, a string of waterfalls creating a misty curtain across sheer escarpments.
Staying in:
Take today at your own pace. Like things fast and furious? Feel the wind in your hair on the high-octane Skippers Jet, perhaps. There’s a reason why Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the country. Nature lover? Discover some of New Zealand’s feathered friends at a wildlife centre. Wherever you wander, make sure you’re back in time to glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue Highlight Dinner.
Staying in:
Try and keep count of today’s lakes. Leaving Lake Wakatipu behind, Arrowtown appears on the horizon. We know you’ll want to linger in the movie-set-like streets, lined with trees and character-filled boutiques. But Lake Dunstan awaits, as do its orchards. Pause to refuel on flavour-packed stone fruit. Then there’s Lake Hawea followed by Lake Wanaka, with its Instagrammable shoreline of poplars and willows. Over the Haast Pass to the town of Franz Josef, where, this afternoon you may choose to fly over Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere.
Staying in:
Swap snow for pounamu (native greenstone or jade) in Hokitika. Just when you thought your adventure couldn’t get any better, you’ll aboard the TranzAlpine train bound for Christchurch, through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys.
Staying in:
New Zealand’s South Island never fails to wow. We hope you find the words to describe this epic New Zealand tour to your family back home.
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Apr 27, 2025
(Sunday) |
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NZD$4,879
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NZD$4,654
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NZD$6,422
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NZD$6,197
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Sep 14, 2025
(Sunday) |
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Enquire Book |
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NZD$4,735
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NZD$4,510
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NZD$6,231
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NZD$6,006
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Sep 28, 2025
(Sunday) |
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NZD$5,013
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NZD$4,763
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NZD$6,597
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NZD$6,347
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Oct 19, 2025
(Sunday) |
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Enquire Book |
was
NZD$4,735
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NZD$4,510
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NZD$6,231
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NZD$6,006
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Nov 2, 2025
(Sunday) |
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Enquire Book |
was
NZD$4,735
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NZD$4,510
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was
NZD$6,231
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NZD$6,006
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Nov 16, 2025
(Sunday) |
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Enquire Book |
was
NZD$4,735
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NZD$4,510
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NZD$6,231
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NZD$6,006
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Dec 7, 2025
(Sunday) |
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departure date
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was
NZD$4,735
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NZD$4,510
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was
NZD$6,231
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NZD$6,006
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Dec 14, 2025
(Sunday) |
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NZD$4,735
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NZD$4,510
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was
NZD$6,231
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NZD$6,006
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Dec 28, 2025
(Sunday) |
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departure date
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Enquire Book |
was
NZD$4,735
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NZD$4,510
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was
NZD$6,231
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NZD$6,006
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Jan 18, 2026
(Sunday) |
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departure date
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Enquire Book |
was
NZD$4,879
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NZD$4,654
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was
NZD$6,422
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NZD$6,197
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Feb 1, 2026
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NZD$4,879
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NZD$4,654
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NZD$6,422
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NZD$6,197
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Feb 15, 2026
(Sunday) |
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NZD$4,879
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NZD$4,604
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NZD$6,422
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NZD$6,147
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Mar 1, 2026
(Sunday) |
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departure date
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Enquire Book |
was
NZD$4,879
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NZD$4,654
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was
NZD$6,422
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NZD$6,197
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Mar 15, 2026
(Sunday) |
Guaranteed
departure date
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Enquire Book |
was
NZD$4,879
now
NZD$4,654
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was
NZD$6,422
now
NZD$6,197
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Mar 29, 2026
(Sunday) |
Guaranteed
departure date
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Enquire Book |
was
NZD$4,879
now
NZD$4,654
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was
NZD$6,422
now
NZD$6,197
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