South Island Odyssey

Overview

From stunning Milford Sound/Piopiotahi to Kaikoura's dazzling coast, discover the beauty of New Zealand's South Island.

Inclusions

• Experiences in 11 destinations
• Experiences in eight destinations
• 11 nights in hand-picked accommodation
• Locally inspired dining - a total of 21 meals
• Services of an expert APT Tour Director and driver, plus local guides
• Freedom of choice inclusions in two destinations
• Return airport transfers and porterage
• Delve into Maori culture during a Pounamu Pathway immersive storytelling experience in Greymouth

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Christchurch

Be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Later, meet your APT Tour Director and fellow guests at a welcome dinner.

Stay: Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Daily :Dinner

Day 2

Kaikoura 

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE – Dolphin Encounter

Travel out to sea aboard a purpose-built privately chartered vessel (subject to minimum numbers) for an extraordinary encounter with Kaikoura’s dusky dolphins. Marvel at the opportunity to witness one of the most incredible dolphin shows in the world, as these energetic creatures put on a thrilling display of jumps, leaps, tail slapping and somersaults.

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE – Crayfish Dinner

The name Kaikoura translates from Maori language to ‘eat crayfish’, so no visit would be complete without tasting the town’s namesake delicacy. During a special dinner this evening, savour fresh crayfish along with other local produce.

Travel north to the coastal town of Kaikoura. Explore the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, renowned for its magnificent ocean views and incredible marine wildlife. Visit the local seal colony, which lives on the rocky shoreline. Then, enjoy the opportunity to spot dolphins on an unforgettable Signature Experience. In the evening, another fantastic Signature Experience awaits.

Stay: Sudima Kaikoura

Daily :Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

Blenheim 

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE – Allan Scott Family Winemakers

Allan Scott Family Winemakers is a family-owned winery nestled in the heart of the Marlborough region’s famed ‘Golden Mile’ on Jacksons Road, which stretches from Rapaura to Renwick. Enjoy a wine tasting followed by a shared banquet lunch, then relish time to wander through the spectacular gardens that surround the cellar door.

Continue north into the Marlborough wine region, stopping at Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre for a guided tour of the one of the world’s largest private collections of WW1 aircraft and artefacts. Here, dramatic sets created by WingNut Films and mannequins from award-winning film effects company Weta Workshop bring the stories of aviation in the Great War to life. Afterwards, enjoy your Signature Experience.

Stay: Blenheim, Scenic Hotel Marlborough

Daily :Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4

Westport, Punakaiki

Today, travel over to the South Island’s rugged West Coast. Stop at the town of Westport for lunch and perhaps swing by the West Coast Pie Company to try one of the award-winning pies (own expense). Afterwards, continue south to the small village of Punakaiki, nestled on the edge of the Paparoa National Park. Embark on an incredible walk to see Punakaiki’s famous pancake rocks and blowholes before settling into your hotel, which is perfectly positioned right on the beach and hosts amazing sunset views.

Stay: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

Daily :Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5

Greymouth, Hokitika, Franz Josef/Waiau 

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE – Franz Josef/Waiau

Drive through Westland Tai Poutini National Park and see the dramatic surrounds of the Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere. This evening, you’ll stay at the luxurious Te Waonui Forest Retreat, located on the edge of the Franz Josef/Waiau village. Relax and unwind amid the lush rainforest and breathtaking scenery before enjoying a four-course degustation fine dining experience.

Travel along The Great Coast Road, widely recognised as one of the top coastal drives in the world. In Greymouth, explore the Pounamu Pathway project, an immersive storytelling experience crafted by Weta Workshop that brings Maori legends, settlements and history to life. Continue to Hokitika, which is also known as ‘Jade Country’. Pounamu, or nephrite jade, is plentiful here and holds great cultural significance for the Maori people. Then, a Signature Experience awaits.

Stay: Franz Josef/Waiau, Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Daily :Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6

Queenstown 

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™

Walter Peak
Cruise aboard a vintage steamer to Walter Peak High Country Farm to enjoy a lavish BBQ dinner featuring succulent meats expertly prepared on the rotisserie and grill, vegetables, a selection of salads, and bread. And be sure to leave room for dessert.

Stratosfare Restaurant
Take a magical gondola ride up to the Stratosfare Restaurant on Bob's Peak overlooking Queenstown. Feast on an extensive range of New Zealand and international cuisines while enjoying uninterrupted views over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.

Fergburger
This cult burger house achieved worldwide fame in 2015 when its burgers were crowned the world's best in a travel article on the website of news giant CNN. The best burgers in New Zealand, no doubt. The world? You be the judge.

Finz Restaurant
Finz Seafood & Grill offers casual, relaxed waterfront dining right in the heart of Queenstown. Finz is a bustling bistro, where you can enjoy fresh seafood daily and other dishes in a fabulous location.

Your Hotel Restaurant
Enjoy a contemporary fusion of local and international cuisine at your hotel.

Today, admire the breathtaking scenery as you travel along the Haast River Valley to Queenstown. This evening, choose where to enjoy dinner with a range of Freedom of Choice dining options available to you.

Stay: Three Nights, Crowne Plaza Queenstown

Daily :Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7

Queenstown, Milford Sound/Piopiotahi 

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE – Milford Sound/Piopiotahi Cruise

A cruise through Milford Sound/Piopiotahi draws you into a magical world of snow-dusted mountains, breathtaking scenery and engaging wildlife. Edge close to tumbling waterfalls and colonies of seals and penguins, all beneath the ramparts of mighty peaks that rise sheer from the water as they stretch to the vast sky above.

Embark on a scenic drive today as you journey along the Milford Road and into the heart of Fiordland National Park. Wind down the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys and drive through the Homer Tunnel to be met by the sight of Mitre Peak – the iconic backdrop to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. Continue to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, where you will enjoy a Signature Experience. Afterwards, return to Queenstown.

Daily :Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8

Queenstown 

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™

'The Lord of the Rings’ 4WD Safari
Discover why this beautiful landscape was chosen to portray Middle-earth in 'The Lord of the Rings' on this sensational 4WD safari. Visit several breathtaking locations where the iconic motion picture trilogy was filmed.

Wine Tour
Embark on a personalised sightseeing tour of New Zealand’s southernmost wine region, as you indulge in tastings from various wineries.

Skippers Canyon
Enjoy an exciting 4WD adventure following the Shotover River Valley. Admire rocky cliffs, sheer drops and breathtaking river gorges along the way.

Million Dollar Cruise
Glide across the mystical waters of Lake Wakatipu, keeping your eyes peeled for local bird life as well as enormous trout, which are plentiful here.

Dart River Wilderness Jet
A wilderness jet boat journey on the glacier-fed Dart River takes you deep into Mount Aspiring National Park, which is part of the larger World Heritage Site of Te Wahipounamu. Here, your guide will share fascinating insights into the area’s rich history.

Best of Queenstown
Gaze in wonder at the beauty of New Zealand’s adventure capital on this spectacular tour. Take in panoramic views of Queenstown, visit the charming township of Arrowtown and explore Gibbston, home to the world’s first commercial bungy jump location. Enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery and to top it all off, relax during a scenic boat cruise on Lake Wakatipu.

Enjoy flexibility in how to spend your day with a range of Freedom of Choice activities on offer.

Daily :Breakfast

Day 9

Dunedin

Journey through Southland’s rugged countryside as you travel to Dunedin, a city known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. Enjoy a city sights tour before travelling along the Otago Peninsula. Embark on a memorable wildlife cruise, where you can sit back and relax as you listen to a commentary on the local wildlife, history and geology of the region.

Stay: Distinction Dunedin Hotel

Daily :Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10

Dunedin, Aoraki/Mount Cook    

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE – Aoraki/Mount Cook

Journey into Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, a bewildering landscape of towering mountain peaks, alpine herb fields and epic glaciers. See New Zealand’s tallest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook, and stay at the iconic Hermitage Hotel. Dine at the hotel’s Alpine Restaurant this evening, indulging in a delicious seasonal menu that incorporates the finest local ingredients.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre

Visit the state-of-the-art Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and discover the history of the iconic surrounding region. The museum is dedicated to the achievements of the famous mountaineer and explorer Sir Edmund Hillary and his affiliation with Aoraki/Mount Cook.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Stargazing

Learn all about the stars of the southern sky with an expert astronomer.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Glacier Explorer Cruise

Step aboard a MAC boat for an up-close encounter with stunning icebergs on the terminal lake of the Tasman Glacier (summer months only).

Drive north and stop to view the Moeraki Boulders/Kaihinaki on Koekohe Beach. A geological marvel, these gigantic calcite spheres were formed an estimated 65 million years ago. Continue to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, where you will enjoy a Signature Experience as well as your preferred Freedom of Choice activity.

Stay: Aoraki/Mount Cook, The Hermitage Hotel, in a room with alpine views

Daily :Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11

Aoraki/Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo/Takapo, Christchurch 

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE – Riverside Kitchen at Riverside Market

An immersive dining experience awaits this evening at Riverside Kitchen, nestled above Christchurch’s famed Riverside Market. Be greeted with a welcome cocktail before watching a cooking demonstration, showcasing delicious local produce from the market and New Zealand cuisine. Then, savour a sumptuous three-course farewell dinner where each meal is paired with a local wine.

Travel to the picturesque township of Lake Tekapo/Takapo. Here, take in the rugged beauty of the Southern Alps and the namesake lake’s distinctive milky-turquoise hue. Pay a visit to the charming Church of the Good Shepherd, which features in many photographs thanks to its beautiful backdrop and surrounds. In the evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner during your Signature Experience.

Stay: Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Daily :Breakfast, Dinner

Day12

Depart Christchurch

Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Daily :Breakfast