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11-Nights The Southern Drift from $9,285
Luxury Gold
OFFER ID 1504322
The Southern Drift
Experience the best of the South Island of New Zealand on this 12-day guided tour. Travel on the Tranzalpine, one of the great train journeys of the world to the wild West Coast. Discover the Franz Josef Glacier on a guided walk with local experts. Journey along the Haast River in an enclosed jet boat, then travel to the picturesque mining village of Arrowtown. Take time to explore the charming town of Queenstown: here, you can choose a guided e-bike tour or join a boutique wine tour, then dine on exceptional fare at one of its most exclusive restaurants. Journey through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound, where you’ll enjoy a half-day guided walk along the famous Milford Track - the finest walk in the world. Travel to the Edinburgh of the south, Dunedin, to sample craft gin at Dunedin Craft Distillers. End your adventure in Christchurch, where you will toast to your travels during a celebration dinner.
Dining Summary
- 11 Breakfast (B)
- 7 Dinner (D)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- Queenstown: Ride the scenic Lake trail, visit hidden gems of the area and learn local history.
- Queenstown: Embark on a boutique wine tasting tour in the heart of the Central Otago wine region.
- Enjoy seamless personal assistance throughout your journey. From securing exclusive reservations, to organising transportation, your Travel Concierge ensures every aspect of your travel is tailored to your tastes and preferences.
- In select destinations, our network of Local Expert Guides will illuminate your journey on a deeper level.
- Included at all hotels.
- Hotel taxes, porterage and tips, as well as tips for included dining experiences, are included.
- Enjoy breakfast every morning, and an array of incredible dining options throughout your journey, infused with discovery and adventure.
- On days where a Relaxed Start (RS) is indicated, you can select to indulge in breakfast in bed.
- Enjoy complimentary hotel Wi-Fi. And, on select coaches, onboard Wi-Fi may also be available.
- Transfers are included on your journey start and end dates, and where additional accommodation has been booked in advance through Luxury Gold. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city as the itinerary, may be requested.
- Dunedin: Step into Parcels Restaurant at the Distinction Dunedin and taste their exquisite modern twist on traditional local dishes. Sip delicious wines as you look across to the First Church of Otago from the old post office building which houses the hotel.
- Christchurch: Say farewell to Christchurch with a final dinner. Let your tastebuds be delighted with a delicious meal and raise a glass to the health of your companions and your unforgettable journey.
- Franz Josef: Surrounded by pristine wilderness, Te Waonui Forest Retreat is a five-star haven of relaxation and impeccable luxury. With a natural, earthy ambience and attentive service, there’s no better place to take a deep breath and simply unwind.
- Dunedin: On this a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, sample exquisite botanical spirits made from surplus bread and bakery products in an effort to reduce landfill waste. Witness how owners, Jenny McDonald and Sue Stockwell, do it as they take you through the process of turning bread into spirits.
- Christchurch: Experience the striking natural landscape of the South Island as you travel on the TranzAlpine. Famous as one of the world’s great train journeys, you can enjoy the remarkable scenery from the ice-fed Waimakariri River to the magnificent Canterbury Plains.
- Hokitika: Visit the coastal town of Hokitika, where you’ll find stunning scenery and a cool, arty vibe. Join a Local Expert for a Hokitika History Walk and hear about the area's rich history - from the discovery of New Zealand jade through the many tales from the gold rush in the 1860s.
- Franz Josef: Experience the mighty natural wonder of the Franz Josef Glacier and what the ice age must have felt like. The sheer enormity of these giant ice puzzles will leave you spellbound as you explore the area with your Local Expert.
- Makarora: Visit Makarora, a great base point to explore the beauty of the Southern Alps. Your Travel Concierge will take you on an orientation of the town where you can admire remarkable scenery and hear more about its history.
- Haast River: Enjoy the unique blend of thrilling speed and calm comfort on a Haast River jet boat safari. Zip past untouched forests and snow-capped mountains in your fully enclosed cabin while you hear beguiling tales of the wilderness communities of the valley.
- Milford Sound: Immerse yourself in nature with a guided walk along a stunning section of Milford Track, one of the most breathtaking walks in the world. Learn about its wildlife and heritage while you traverse beach forest and bubbling rivers as you pass along its route.
- Fiordland National Park: Embark on a serene cruise on Lake Manapouri where you can marvel at plummeting waterfalls and see countless coves and beaches dotted along its shore. See the magnificent scenery of the Fiordland National Park with its forest-clad mountains and islands.
- Queenstown: Ride the scenic Lake trail, visit hidden gems of the area and learn local history.
- Queenstown: Embark on a boutique wine tasting tour in the heart of the Central Otago wine region.
11 nights from $9,285 per person
Luxury Gold: The Southern Drift
Day 1 - Welcome to Christchurch
Your New Zealand luxury tour begins by private car to your boutique hotel located in the heart of Christchurch and just minutes from North Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens. Pay a visit to the blooms at the Botanic Gardens or ride the Christchurch Tram before meeting your Travel Concierge where you’ll raise a glass to a grand journey.
Accommodations: Hotel Montreal, Christchurch.
Day 2 - Christchurch to Franz Josef
Embark on one of the world's great scenic railway journeys aboard the TranzAlpine train to the small village of Arthur's Pass. Along your journey, view the stunning scenery just outside your massive windows as you traverse the Canterbury Plains through the dramatic Southern Alps passing the ice fed Waimakariri River and native beech forest. From Arthur's Pass continue by coach to the charming town of Hokitika, the cultural centre of the West Coast. You will have time to stretch your legs and stroll along the quiet streets lined with gem shops where artisans work with the local Pounamu, jade or greenstone. In the town of Franz Josef, your eco friendly retreat nestled in the wilderness welcomes with natural ambience paired with impeccable luxury, inviting you to enjoy the view from your private balcony.
Accommodations: Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - The Mighty Franz Josef Glacier
Immerse yourself in the grand natural surroundings traversing the brilliant blue ice and deep crevasses of Franz Josef Glacier on a valley walk with a Local Expert. Learn about this uniquely accessible glacier with only a seven-mile descent from the Southern Alps and less than 1,000 feet above sea level. Take in its majesty surrounded by distant rainforest, mountain tops, waterfalls and the upper glacier. Further your discovery of Franz Josef village luxuriating in panoramic viewpoints, taking a bike ride to the nearby beach where the Waiho river meets the Tasman Sea, or treating yourself to a massage at your hotel’s on-site Amaia Luxury Spa for a Lomi-Lomi or Hot Stone Massage.
Accommodations: Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Travel from Franz Josef to Queenstown
Cruise down the Haast River in a purpose-built, fully enclosed jet boat past snow-capped mountains contrasting with sub-tropical, untouched rainforest basking in the beauty of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. Your guide is eager to share their expert knowledge of this glacial valley as the sunlight pours across the wilderness or the waterfalls tumble down in a light, misty rain. Stop for lunch in the hikers’ hub of Makarora before arriving in the historic gold-mining village of Arrowtown to indulge in artisan shops and cafés. Your destination is your hotel in Queenstown for expansive views across Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkable mountain range.
Accommodations: The Rees Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Queenstown at Leisure
Queenstown’s adventure culture is yours to experience, getting an adrenaline rush on an optional jet boat ride down the mighty Shotover River, or taking a scenic cruise on the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station. Or simply relax in your decadent hotel sipping a cocktail in the Bordeau Lounge bar as you drink in the majestic mountains right outside the window.
Accommodations: The Rees Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Explore Queenstown
Customise your time in the adventure hub of Queenstown by taking a scenic bike ride on the Arrow River Trail across suspension bridges offering stunning views. Cross the Kawaru suspension bridge, home to the world's first Bungy jump, as water rushes below and past quaint cottages perched on the banks of the river as if right out of a storybook. Or, taste the bounty of this fertile area sampling the Central Otago region's best Pinot Noir, aromatic Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and crisp Sauvignon Blanc on a boutique wine tour. In the evening, dine at one of Queenstown’s exclusive restaurants.
Accommodations: The Rees Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Queenstown to Milford Sound
Journey to Milford Sound through the rainforests, flats, alpine ranges and meadows of Fiordland National Park, part of the greater UNESCO World Heritage site of Te Wahipounamu. View mountains reflected in Mirror Lakes and make your way through the hand-hewn 75-mile Homer Tunnel. Enjoy one of the world's most dramatic alpine drives through Cleddau Valley en route to the dramatic Chasm framed by towering peaks. Arriving in the heart of Fiordland National Park at Milford Sound Lodge, breathtaking, natural beauty of the tumbling Cleddau River awaits right outside your floor-to-ceiling windows.
Accommodations: Milford Sound Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Milford Track Walk and Milford Sound Cruise
Join a Local Expert on a section of the famous 32-mile Milford Track trail for an easy-paced, half-day guided walk through pristine lakes, sky-scraping mountain peaks, glaciers and deep valleys. As your guide enlightens you on the area’s unique flora and fauna, cross suspension bridges and boardwalks through alpine and fiord scenery steeped in history. Then go from land to sea, sitting back and enjoying a cruise aboard a comfortable catamaran uncovering the natural wonders of Milford Sound with the insights from your Specialist Nature Guide. This evening, dine on locally sourced produce paired with Fiordland wild venison tenderloin or local Blue Cod at your hotel’s Pio Pio Restaurant.
Accommodations: Milford Sound Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Milford Sound to Dunedin
Take a scenic journey from Fiordland National Park through the rolling green pastures of South Otago and lakeside Te Anau — home to an indigenous flightless bird, Kaka, and endangered native parrots — before arriving in Dunedin, New Zealand’s southernmost city. Your heritage hotel, the Distinction Dunedin Hotel, is situated in the city's original Chief Post Office dating back to 1937 and welcomes you with a cosy atmosphere in the city center. Dine on favourites such as surf and turf, braised lamb, catch of the day, or other modern twists on traditional local dishes at Parcels Restaurant.
Accommodations: Distinction Dunedin Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Distillery Tour and Dunedin at Leisure
Enjoy a relaxed start this morning before taking a guided tour at Dunedin Craft Distillers, the first distillery in Aotearoa New Zealand and one of only a handful worldwide, to produce botanical spirits from surplus bread and bakery products that would otherwise go to landfill. Discover on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, how owners, Jenny McDonald and Sue Stockwell do it in a ‘Bread to Bottle Tour’ which takes you through the process used to turn bread into spirits. Venture just next door for a special Chocolate tasting journey at OCHO Chocolate covering the history of chocolate in Dunedin, OCHO's genesis, how 'real' chocolate is made and a 10-sample bean to bar tasting. Relax or continue exploring Dunedin as you wish. Perhaps take a wildlife cruise of the Otago Peninsula or visit the iconic Larnach Castle.
Accommodations: Distinction Dunedin Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Dunedin to Christchurch
Travel up the coast through the towns of Oamaru and Timaru to Christchurch to uncover the city’s highlights on a fascinating sightseeing tour. On arrival in Christchurch embark on a sightseeing tour of the city to learn about its rebirth after the devastating 2011 earthquake. View historic landmarks including Canterbury Museum built in the late 1800s and New Regent Street’s Spanish Mission architectural style and quirky boutiques. Sample the best of Christchurch over dinner at Montreal Bar and Restaurant, highlighting seasonal ingredients with sophistication.
Accommodations: Hotel Montreal, Christchurch.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 - Farewell from Christchurch
Bid farewell to your fellow travellers after breakfast, as your journey comes to an end with a transfer to Christchurch International Airport for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
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Willamette Tours & Cruises
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