The Southern Sprint

Your journey begins in the largest city in the South Island, Christchurch. Travel through the lush farmland of the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo, and onward through the Southern Alps into Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, the home of the tallest mountain in New Zealand. Free time allows you to explore the region, consider purchasing a scenic flight to experience the dramatic alpine and glacier scenery. Then, continue to Queenstown via the scenic Lindis Pass. A restful night in Queenstown prepares you for the following days adventure. Enjoy a relaxing trip along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, through the rolling countryside to Te Anau, before continuing on to the spectacular Milford Road. On reaching Milford Sound, you'll board the modern and spacious vessel for a leisurely cruise through the famous fiord. Enjoy the waterfalls, lush rainforest, dramatic mountains and playful wildlife before disembarking, and beginning the journey back to Queenstown. Day three sees you departing Queenstown, past Lake Wanaka and Hawea, through the Haast Pass, through the beech forests of the Southern Alps before emerging on the West Coast. This remote area is ruggedly beautiful, boasting vast rainforests, gushing waterfalls, and snow-capped mountains. After arriving in the small village of Franz Josef, the rest of the day is yours to explore the famous Franz Josef Glacier. The following morning, travel north along the West Coast from Franz Josef to Greymouth, where you will board the famous TranzAlpine Scenic Train. You'll travel across Arthurs Pass National Park, and from the comfort of your carriage, witness the stunning scenery of the area. You'll descend to the windswept Canterbury Plains before arriving where you began, in the city of Christchurch.