Decidedly Southern 7 day South Island Tour NZ
6 Nights/7 Days: Christchurch – Mt Somers – Queenstown – Milford Sound – Wanaka – Franz Josef – Punakaiki – Christchurch
Decidedly Southern 7 Day New Zealand Tour
The ultimate way to see an untouched New Zealand is a 7 day New Zealand South Island tour. We cross plains, alpine basins and mountain passes. The landscapes are superb and the spaces wide open.experiences included in your tour cost
- All transport by comfortable, air conditioned coach (maximum of 16 travellers).
- Services of your experienced MoaTrek driver/guide.
- Join our hosts for lunch and country hospitality in a private farm homestead.
- Enjoy a scenic flight and 2.5 hour nature and wildlife cruise on Milford Sound.
- Visit Arrowtown Museum
- Wine taste at Central Otago's premier vineyards.
- Walk in the great outdoors Westland World Heritage Park, Mt Aspiring National Park.
- View the breath-taking Franz Josef Glacier.
- Travel from Punakaiki to Christchurch through the magnificent scenery of Arthur's Pass National Park.
- All breakfasts(B) are included.
- One lunch (L ) is included. Special lunch with the locals in a unique location.
- 2 dinners (D) are included at Stronechrubie and Punakaiki Resort Hotel.
experiences not included in your tour cost
Enjoy a range of optional activities from jet boat riding to kayaking and scenic flights.
Our travellers say...
Everyone's sentiments about MoaTrek are definitely the same as ours...we loved the interaction with the locals everywhere we went, it made our trip that much more interesting and enjoyable. Plus, the smaller coach is the only way to go! It’s So easy to travel with a smaller group. Loved getting off the beaten path, keep up the good work. You can bet that every chance we get, we mention MoaTrek to anyone interested going over to NZ. Miss you guys.
Carrie Johns - USA, Decidedly Southern Tour
Tour dates
- December 8 - December 14, 2010
- January 13 - January 19, 2011
- March 2 - March 8, 2011
- March 22 - March 28, 2011
- April 8 - April 14, 2011
- May 9 - May 15, 2011
- June 13 - June 19, 2011
- July 11 - July 17, 2011
- August 8 - August 14, 2011
- November 14 - November 20, 2011
- December 12 - December 18, 2011
- January 16 - January 22, 2012
- February 6 - February 12, 2012
- February 20 - February 26, 2012
- March 5 - March 11, 2012
- March 21 - March 27, 2012
- April 9 - April 15, 2012
Day 1: Christchurch - Mt Somers (L, D)
Your driver/guide meets you in Christchurch mid morning. After a special lunch at Akaunui Farm we drive over to the foothills of the Southern Alps and the small village of Mt Somers. We dine in Stronechrubie's acclaimed restaurant tonight.
Day 2: Mt Somers - Queenstown (B)
After Burkes Pass the landscape changes to the turquoise lakes and dramatic sweeping vistas of tussock grasses and mountains of the Mackenzie Basin. At Lake Tekapo the picturesque church and sheepdog statue are favourite photo stops. At the head of Lake Pukaki is Mt Cook at 3754 metres, New Zealand's highest mountain, known in Maori as Aoraki "the cloud piercer". The Lindis Pass leads to the rugged Kawarau Gorge and into Queenstown where we ride the Skyline Gondola. Your boutique hotel is just a few minutes walk above the town with views to the lake and Remarkables Range. There’s a wide range of restaurants and cafes in this famous tourist resort –and your driver/guide will let you know his favourites.
Day 3: Queenstown - Milford Sound - Nature Cruise - Queenstown (B)
This morning you are picked up from your hotel to fly to Milford Sound deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park. At Milford take a cruise down the sound, dominated by iconic Mitre Peak, out to the Tasman Sea. It’s a stunning fiord landscape of waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. Return to Queenstown by plane.
Day 4: Queenstown - Cardrona Valley - Wanaka (B)
The morning is free to further explore Queenstown. Perhaps cruise on the Tss Earnslaw or take an early morning jet boat ride on the spectacular Dart River in The Lord of the Rings country or a helicopter scenic flight before driving to Arrowtown, a picturesque goldmining village. Heading into tussock country, the road climbs up the Crown Range then down into the Cardrona Valley. We stop at quaint Cardrona Hotel, its history stretches back to the goldmining era then continue on to Wanaka amid a panorama of mountain peaks.
Day 5: Wanaka - Haast Pass - Franz Josef (B)
Drive beside Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka before heading into superb mountain and river scenery of the Haast Pass in Mt Aspiring National Park. There are several great short walks on well-maintained tracks through native beech forests to waterfalls and blue pools where trout lurk. Leaving the mountains, the road winds along the edge of the river to Haast where the Department of Conservation Centre documents the region’s colourful history, flora and fauna. Continue north through the lush, primeval rainforest of Westland World Heritage Park, stopping at Ship Creek for a stroll on the beach to the dune lake and through swampland rainforest. At Franz Josef Glacier short walks take you to vantage points to view the advancing glacier.
Day 6: Franz Josef - Hokitika - Punakaiki (B, D)
Early this morning you may choose to take an optional flight over the glaciers and Mt Cook and enjoy the thrill of landing on a glacier. We visit Okarito’s lovely lagoon where there is an opportunity to kayak.It is also possible to take a jet boat ride to the home of the rare kotuku, white heron. Travel on up the coast passing mirror lakes, boulder-laden rivers and catching glimpses of the Southern Alps. At Hokitika there are a host of craft galleries – Pounamu (greenstone) carving, glass blowing, wood and copper artisans. A beautiful coastal road following part of the ancient Greenstone Trails used by Maori for centuries in search of Pounamu leads to your hotel on the coast at Punakaiki. A little further up the road is the leading local attraction – the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, sculpted sea stacks and towering cliffs. If the tide is right, blowholes spread clouds of spray. Dine this evening in your hotel’s Waterline restaurant.
Day 7: Punakaiki - Arthur's Pass -Christchurch (B)
Sit back and enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery of rugged Otira Gorge and Arthur’s Pass National Park. Crossing the Canterbury Plains to reach Christchurch in the late afternoon. You are delivered to your accommodation in this English style city of stone buildings, large parks and stunning gardens.
Stronechrubie Chalets
Stronechrubie offers chalet accommodation and fine dining in the beauty of the high country. The chalets are set in trees around the lodge restaurant where host Sean Brown, an award-winning chef, presents classic, locally sourced, cuisine.
Brown's Boutique Hotel
A four star plus boutique hotel in the heart of Queenstown in a quiet location, two minutes walk to town. From each bedroom French doors open onto Juliet balconies with views of Queenstown and The Remarkables mountain range.
Te Wanaka Lodge
Te Wanaka is a four star contemporary lodge in Wanaka village. All lodge rooms have a private balcony. A convenient short stroll to the lakefront cafes, restaurants and boutique shops.
Punga Grove
Punga Grove’s four star plus luxury studios are in the heart of Franz Josef Glacier village in a beautiful rainforest setting feature, tucked away in native fernery at the rear of the property.
Punakaiki Resort
Flanked by the Tasman Sea and the rainforests, your four star accommodation is almost on the wild Punakaiki Beach just 50m from the high tide mark and 300m south of the Pancake Rocks & Blowholes.
Booking enquiries
To make an enquiry or booking with MoaTrek fill in the form below and use the submit button - this will generate an email to MoaTrek New Zealand Ltd. We'll answer your query promptly.
Contact details
Booking conditions
- A payment of 10% of your tour cost to your travel agent or MoaTrek New Zealand Ltd (MoaTrek) confirms your booking and acknowledges your agreement to our terms and conditions.
- The balance of your fare is due 40 days before your tour departs.
- Tour reservations can of course, be made within 40 days provided full payment is made at time of booking.
- All prices are in $NZ and include New Zealand Goods & Services tax (GST) of 12.5%.
Cancellations and amendments
Cancellation fees depend on when we receive written notification of a cancellation.
- Bookings cancelled more than 40 days before departure incur loss of deposit.
- Between 40 days & 14 days 25% of tour cost.
- Within 14 days of departure 50% of tour cost.
- Bookings cancelled within seven days of the departure date are subject to 100% of tour cost.
- No refunds will be made after travel has commenced.
Booking Conditions, the fine print.
Ian Mackenzie’s grandfather came to Akaunui just after World War 11. Ian and Di Mackenzie now farm 1200 acres, mostly arable farming with 2000 ewes and about 100 head of cattle. The homestead sits in park-like grounds looked after by Di, a passionate gardener. The house is just over 100 years old, built from bricks made at the local kiln and finished with rimu native timber
Meet Chef Sean Brown in his kitchen as he prepares your evening meal. Sean, an award-winning Chef de Cuisine, has extensive experience in the industry with a menu that presents diners with a classic New Zealand cuisine, featuring locally sourced ingredients including lamb, beef, salmon and venison. All dishes are prepared in the kitchen, including desserts, ensuring freshness and the highest class of presentation.
Catch the Gondola to the Skyline Chalet. You'll be on top of the world surrounded by stunning views of lakes and mountains. Reputed to be the steepest lift in the Southern Hemisphere, the gondola carries visitors high above Queenstown to the Skyline complex on Bob's Peak. 
Enjoy a scenic flight to the stunning and dramatic scenery of Milford Sound. Whatever the fiord's mood, teeming with rain or with sun glistening on deep water, it will inspire you. Luxuriant rain forest clings to sheer rock walls washed with waterfalls. Iconic Mitre Peak dominates the skyline.
Catch the coal fired, vintage steamship tss Earnslaw to cruise down the lake. On the 10am, 12pm, 2pm cruise there is the option to stop off at Walter Peak Station for a farm tour. Operating since 1912, the tss Earnslaw is the best way to take in the magnificent scenery. Every cruise allows you plenty of time to explore the ship’s decks and bridge, view the engine room and historic displays and even join a sing-along with the ship's pianist!
Drive the beautiful Wakatipu lakeside road to the small settlement of Glenorchy to join the Dart River safari. Jet boat in the spectacular scenery of the Dart River valley and walk in the beech forests with your guide in the heart of The Lord of the Rings country. 
Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters offer a range of scenic flights from 10 minutes to several hours in duration. The flights encompass the Queenstown region, Milford Sound and the Fiordland World Heritage Park. Glacier landings are a speciality.
Enjoy a drink on MoaTrek. Nestled in the rolling hills of the Cardrona Valley, the Cardrona Hotel opened in 1863 and is one of New Zealand's oldest hotels. This tranquil rural setting boasts a hotel steeped in history from the gold rush era. While dry tussock gently ripples in the breeze, enjoy a drink and browse the hotel's impressive collection of local memorabilia from years gone by.
The Franz Josef Glacier is a unique relic of the last Ice Age. Spectacular views of this dramatic landscape are gained from a short valley walk to the Franz Josef Glacier terminal face
Fox and Franz Josef glaciers Mount Cook Ski Planes offer spectacular alpine scenic flights. Their aircraft take you directly into the heart of the Southern Alps including Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak at over 3750m and the Tasman Glacier, one of the longest glaciers in the world. After an awe inspiring flight through breathtaking scenery your ski equipped aircraft lands on one of the glaciers in the Mount Cook or Westland National Park, where you are able to experience the "natural quiet" of the mountains. It really is an ever-lasting experience. Scenic flights on the West Coast vary in price depending on the length of flight and whether you land on the glaciers. Fixed wing flights from with glacier landing and for a scenic flight without landing.
Okarito Lagoon covers more than 3240 hectares of shallow open water is well known for its birdlife. The lagoon is a common feeding ground for kotuku (white heron) and royal spoonbill, both breed in the nearby Waitangiroto Nature reserve. 
The jet boat ride is a gentle 20 minutes each way. From the jetty it is just a short boardwalk (500 metres) to where you can stay for 30 to 40 minutes to watch the birds. All tours are accompanied by a nature guide. 
Get a close up view of the glass blower’s art at the designer glass studio created by owners Barry and Judy Wilson and their two sons.
At Punakaiki take the short board walk through native bush out to the limestone “pancake” rocks and blowholes. If the tide is right blowholes will be spreading clouds of spray. 
The award winning Waterline Restaurant provides the perfect setting to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the restaurant for true beach-front dining above this rugged West Coast beach. Alternatively, you can dine al fresco on the balcony, only metres from the crashing waves.
Lake Tekapo is a favourite photo stop 
Stroll in picturesque Arrowtown 
View breathtaking Franz Josef Glacier 
Pancake Rocks Punakaiki 
Travel Arthur's Pass National Park