Price pp from:

$4,419
Sunset over mountains and lake with golden grass in foreground and purple-pink sky Credit: New Zealand Fine Touring
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The Southern Circuit Self Drive Tour

Christchurch

Christchurch

12 days, 11 nights

Road Trips

From: $4,419 pp

Trip overview

Begin your journey in Christchurch and travel along the foothills of the Southern Alps to the breathtaking Aoraki Mount Cook. Continue to Dunedin, where you'll have a full day to explore the unique wildlife of the Otago Peninsula. Head south to Te Anau and Milford Sound for an unforgettable scenic cruise, then make your way to Queenstown, the 'Adventure Capital of New Zealand', where you can immerse yourself in countless activities and the stunning natural beauty of the region. On your way back to Christchurch, travel along the West Coast, with highlights including the spectacular Franz Josef Glacier, which you can experience through an optional heli-hike or scenic flight. Conclude your adventure with a ride aboard the world-famous TranzAlpine Scenic Train, a fitting finale to an extraordinary journey.

Trip highlights & inclusions

12 days / 11 nights
1 lunch

Christchurch

Christchurch

Motels
Rental car included
  • Taieri Gorge Railway Scenic Train
  • Milford Sound Cruise - Lunch Included
  • Queenstown Skyline Gondola Ride

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Price pp from

$4,419

Why Discover New Zealand

  • Wānaka-based specialists planning your trip from inside New Zealand.
  • One travel specialist to plan and book every detail from start to finish.
  • 24/7 in-country support while you’re travelling, so help is close if plans change.

Trip itinerary

Welcome to Christchurch City

Welcome to Ōtautahi / Christchurch, the South Island’s garden city, where historic heritage meets contemporary urban design. Whether you’re exploring the Avon River, wandering through expansive botanical gardens, or discovering contemporary art galleries, Christchurch offers plenty to uncover. As the gateway to the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps, the city is also the perfect base for refined farm-to-table dining, scenic adventures, and alpine escapes

People sitting on concrete steps by a river with modern buildings and a blue tram in the background. Credit: New Zealand Fine Touring

Accommodation

Modern glass facade hotel building illuminated at night with trees and parked cars nearby. Credit: Quest on Cambridge
Quest on Cambridge

Activities

Trip highlights

An aerial, high-angle view of a long heritage passenger train with blue and yellow locomotives curving through a deep green valley alongside a winding river, flanked by rugged hills under a blue sky. Credit: Dunedin Railways Ltd

Taieri Gorge Railway Scenic Train

Cruise boat sailing through a mountain fjord with waterfalls and clouds above. Credit: Real Journeys

Milford Sound Cruise - Lunch Included

Two Skyline Queenstown gondola cabins travel along cables above a layer of low-lying clouds with the snow-dusted Remarkables in the background. Credit: Skyline Queenstown

Queenstown Skyline Gondola Ride

Aerial view of a KiwiRail train on a bridge over river with mountains and clouds at sunset. Credit: Kiwi Rail

TranzAlpine Scenic Train: Greymouth to Christchurch

Additional inclusions

Private Transfer Christchurch International Airport to Christchurch Accommodation

Shared Transfer from the Christchurch Train Station to Christchurch CBD Accommodation

Private Transfer from Christchurch Accommodation to Airport

24/7 support from the moment you arrive to the moment you depart

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