Travel On Over
✆: (828) 855-0730 | ✉:

New Zealand South Island Express

Tour, Escorted tour

Slideshow offer placeholder
New Zealand South Island Express

This is the New Zealand you’ve always heard about – endless lakes, snow-capped mountains and pristine glaciers. Spend nine days discovering the best of the South Island with a passionate local leader at the helm. Encounter creativity and resilience in Christchurch, gaze at out-of-this-world stars in Lake Tekapo, get your adrenaline pumping in Queenstown, take your time in postcard-pretty Wanaka and stand in awe of the Franz Josef Glacier. With thrilling activities available around every corner, this adventure is sure to get your heart racing (and that’s just from the views!). IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Accommodation on this trip is in mixed-gender multi-share dormitory style hostels with shared facilities. We are aware of a system functionality limitation incorrectly indicating "twin-share" when you manage your booking on our website.

Activities
  • Lake Tekapo - Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd
  • Christchurch - City Tour
  • Queenstown - Kawarau Gorge
  • Arrowtown - Village visit
  • West Coast - Haast Pass
  • West Coast - Lake Hawea Lookout
  • Franz Josef - Carve your own Pounamu Necklace
  • Hokitika - Mountain Jade Greenstone Factory
Highlights
  • Stand in awe of the epic Franz Josef glacier and visit a local gallery to learn about the significance of pounamu (greenstone) to Maori culture while carving your own pendant.
  • Calling all adventure seekers! Queenstown is overflowing with adrenaline-pumping activities, so dive straight in or sit back with a glass of world-class local wine.
  • Spend a night seeing the stars of Lake Tekapo – this gorgeous bright blue lake is also a designated Dark Sky Reserve and after sunset, the sky comes alive with stars. Maybe watch the sky change colours at the Church of Good Shepard for one of the most gorgeous backdrops!
  • Soak in the beauty of Wanaka – from its centrepiece lake to surrounding mountains, you’ll uncover all this pretty little spot has to offer, including the iconic Wanaka Tree.
  • Wander around Arrowtown – a heritage town and living historic settlement that’s perfect for exploring on foot. This town, surrounded by sometimes-snowy peaks, dates back to gold mining times and is now a popular spot with cute cafes, small shops and scenic landscapes.
Interests
  • Adventure and Active
8 Nights Starting At
December 20, 2025 through March 16, 2026
Book by:
March 12, 2026 7:00 PM
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
Itinerary Map
Itinerary Overview
Day 2
Lake Tekapo
Day 8
Hokitika / Christchurch
Loading Itinerary Content...
Dates & prices
Additional
Offers
Starting From Additional Details
8 Nights from $1,815.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
March 12, 2026 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,373.00 (USD) Per Person
Optional Enhanced experience avail
December 04, 2024 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,615.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
December 31, 2024 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,373.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
February 20, 2025 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,322.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
May 30, 2025 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,428.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
September 24, 2025 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,483.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
November 14, 2025 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,543.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
December 10, 2025 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,745.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
May 08, 2026 7:00 PM
8 Nights from $1,680.00 (USD) Per Person
Various departures, Optional Enhanced experience avail
August 24, 2026 7:00 PM
Additional
Offers










About Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel logo

We've been taking travellers around the globe and connecting people from all walks of life since 1989.

That's over 30 years of adventures, visiting new places and old friends, and countless, unforgettable moments. More than 30 years of changing the way people see the world on small group trips with like-minded explorers and a local leader to show you around.

But to us, it's about more than just seeing the world, it's about experiencing it. It's about feeling its pulse and the shared rhythms of Intrepid people all over the world. To be Intrepid is far more than a lust for travel, we're an antidote to loneliness. We connect people to the heartbeat of adventure and the soul of the planet.

Read More

About Intrepid Travel

We've been taking travellers around the globe and connecting people from all walks of life since 1989.

That's over 30 years of adventures, visiting new places and old friends, and countless, unforgettable moments. More than 30 years of changing the way people see the world on small group trips with like-minded explorers and a local leader to show you around.

But to us, it's about more than just seeing the world, it's about experiencing it. It's about feeling its pulse and the shared rhythms of Intrepid people all over the world. To be Intrepid is far more than a lust for travel, we're an antidote to loneliness. We connect people to the heartbeat of adventure and the soul of the planet.

Read More

Prices are per-person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted.