5-Day Great Southern Circle Tour by Canterbury Leisure Tours

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Duration: 5d
Location: Queenstown, New Zealand | Queenstown, New Zealand


Category: Multi-Day & Extended

Highlights:
5 full days to explore the South Island's natural splendors
Sights include Lake Pukaki, Mount Cook & the Kawarau Gorge
Cruising beneath Mitre Peak on world-famous Milford Sound
Franz Josef Glacier in UNESCO-listed Westland National Park
Free time in Queenstown & alpine train ride from Greymouth

Inclusions:
5-day guided tour of the South Island
National Park entrance fees
Admission fees
Guided cruise on Milford Sound
Overnight accommodations
Lunch on Day 2
Train ticket from Greymouth to Christchurch
Roundtrip transportation to and from your Christchurch hotel
Live tour commentary provided in English

Description:

Glacier-carved fjords, snow-capped peaks, shimmering alpine lakes—it's no wonder New Zealand is nicknamed God's Own Country. Spend 5 full days immersing yourself in the natural splendor and breathtaking scenery of the South Island on this comprehensive tour.

Day 1
From Christchurch, ride through the Canterbury Plains and the foothills of the Southern Alps. Cross over Burkes Pass, and wind down to the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo. From the old stone Church of the Good Shepherd, continue along the western side of milky blue, glacier-fed Lake Pukaki. Stop at Mount Cook—New Zealand's highest peak—and then ride above the Kawarau Gorge to arrive in Queenstown and settle into your hotel.

Day 2
The Remarkables are your backdrop as you travel beside the cobalt waters of Lake Wakatipu. In the aptly named Fjordland National Park, see the pristine mirror lakes and waterfalls of the Eglinton Valley and emerge from the Homer Tunnel into the Cleddau Valley, where the stunning expanse of Milford Sound stretches out before you. Enjoy a picnic lunch aboard a cruise boat, motoring across the calm waters in the shadow of Mitre Peak and 4,000-foot (1,200-m) rock walls rising vertically from the sea.

Day 3
The day is yours to explore Queenstown at your leisure.

Day 4
Depart Queenstown and ride through the UNESCO-listed Westland National Park to the Fox and Franz Glaciers. Seven miles (11 km) long and more than 7,000 years old, the massive Franz Josef Glacier inches forward a tiny bit each day, and an icy river emerges from a yawning cave at the glacier's mouth. Admire this incredible frozen mass before settling into your hotel.

Day 5
On your final day, continue up the west coast to Shantytown, a faithful reconstruction of a Gold Rush village. Learn about the gold strikes of the 1860s in Greymouth, and then board the Tranzalpine train, chugging over the Southern Alps to return to Christchurch via Arthurs Pass.