15 day South Island Natural Discovery self drive tour

This 15 day tour starts in Christchurch and finishes in Christchurch.

Explore and enjoy some of New Zealand's unique flora, fauna and scenery on this 15 day South Island tour.  You begin with an alpine guided walk in Mt Cook National Park, where Sir Edmund Hillary trained for his Everest adventure. In Dunedin you’ll enjoy a full day encounter with the unique marine life that inhabits the Otago Peninsula before heading south towards Fiordland National Park.  Experience the ‘Sound of Silence’ with an overnight cruise in the remote untouched wilderness of Doubtful Sound. No South Island trip is complete without time spent in the alpine playground of Queenstown then you continue to the beautiful West Coast.  Here you’ll marvel at the glaciers during your on-ice adventure, before crossing the Southern Alps on board the world famous Tranz Alpine Scenic Train back to Christchurch.  In the evenings you will relax in tranquil luxury lodges situated in secluded locations for the ultimate wilderness experience.

Included in this New Zealand tour package is:

Accommodation for 14 nights staying in Luxury Lodges & hotels.

Rental car hire: included for the duration of the tour package. See range of vehicles.

Rental car insurance included: Fully inclusive with variable excess/deductible.

Rental car inclusions: GPS navigation. unlimited kms,airport/ferry terminal fees, additional drivers.

Tour pack: Includes detailed driving instructions, maps, guide books and much more.

Includes: 6 dinners

Includes: All breakfasts

Includes: Private train station transfers

Includes: Private airport transfers

Includes: Tranz Alpine Train from Greymouth to Christchurch

Includes: Mount Cook Encounter Guided Walk

Includes: Glacier Explorers Tour, Mt Cook National Park

Includes: Wildlife cruise and Yellow eyed penguin colony

Includes: Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

Includes: Franz Josef Glacier heli-hike

Includes: Entry to Glacier Hot Pools

This tour package can be customised to suit your clients precisely - just request here.

Quick summary for: 15 day South Island Natural Discovery self drive tour

Day 1: Welcome to Christchurch City
Accommodation: The George Hotel, Christchurch

Day 2: Your rental car is delivered then travel south to Mt Cook National Park, A World Heritage Area
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium Plus

Day 3: Enjoy a guided exploration of Mt Cook National Park
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium Plus

Day 4: Travel to Twizel and visit the very rare Black Stilt visitor hide. Continue to Dunedin, the 'Edinburgh' of the South
Accommodation: Camp Estate at Larnach Castle

Day 5: Explore Dunedin Peninsula and visit one of the world's rarest birds, the Yellow Eyed Penguin
Accommodation: Camp Estate at Larnach Castle

Day 6: Drive through Southland farmland scenery to Te Anau, Gateway to Fiordland National Park.
Accommodation: Fiordland Lodge

Day 7: Today embark on a 24 hour adventure to Doubtful Sound. Explore the area and spend the night in this pristine wilderness
Accommodation: Fiordland Navigator, Doubtful Sound

Day 8: You return to Manapouri at midday then head north to Queenstown
Accommodation: Azur Lodge

Day 9: Explore and enjoy Queenstown at leisure today
Accommodation: Azur Lodge

Day 10: Queenstown to Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge
Accommodation: Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki

Day 11: Explore the flora and fauna of this unique West Coast Lodge
Accommodation: Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki

Day 12: Lake Moeraki to the West Coast Glaciers
Accommodation: Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Day 13: Explore Franz Josef and the glaciers with an exciting Ice Explorer tour
Accommodation: Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Day 14: Head north to Greymouth before catching the world famous Tranz Alpine Scenic Train across the Southern Alps to Christchurch
Accommodation: The George Hotel, Christchurch

Day 15: Depart Christchurch today