14 Day 100% Pure South Island Package

Experience the highlights on a 14 day South Island holiday. Loop the island, from Christchurch to Christchurch, visiting diverse natural wonders along the way. Explore Queenstown, Fiordland, Lake Tekapo, Franz Josef Glacier, and Abel Tasman National Park.

This South Island holiday package is all-inclusive and perfect for couples, families, groups, and solo travellers.

Read on for more details on the 14 Day 100% Pure South Island Holiday Package.

14 Day 100% Pure South Island Holiday Package

Day 1 Arrive Christchurch

Arrive in Christchurch, New Zealand’s Garden City. Collect your rental car from the airport, discover the city or relax in your Christchurch accommodation.

Discover the vibrant and picturesque garden city, renowned for its natural beauty, lively entertainment scene, and strong cultural heritage. With its stunning botanical gardens and tree-lined avenues, Christchurch is both a sophisticated city and beautiful place to relax.

In Christchurch this evening, you might like to enjoy a unique city experience aboard the Tram Restaurant. Relax and unwind with a three-course gourmet meal and welcome drink while you journey around the city on a restored historic tram.

Stay 1 night in Christchurch.

Day 2 Lake Tekapo

Driving time Christchurch to Lake Tekapo 230 km / 143 miles, 3 hours

Depart Christchurch and travel south across the Canterbury Plains. Venture inland towards the Southern Alps to reach Lake Tekapo, an amazing turquoise lake. Tekapo presents many world-class attractions, from the famous Church of the Good Shepherd to the luxurious spa complex Tekapo Springs and of course Mt John Observatory.

In the afternoon, enjoy a spectacular scenic flightseeing tour of Mount Cook and Westland World Heritage National Parks. Explore the alpine wonderland of New Zealand’s highest mountains, mighty alpine glaciers and lush coastal rain forests. View turquoise glacial lakes, golden tussock lands & braided rivers of the Mackenzie basin plus remote High Country Sheep Stations. Highlights include Mount Cook, Tasman Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier & Fox Glacier! Every passenger has a window seat, all aircraft have wings-above for optimum viewing.

Stay 1 night in Lake Tekapo.

Day 3 Queenstown

Driving time Lake Tekapo to Queenstown 254 km / 158 miles, 3 hours

Travel through the dramatic Lindis Pass, which links the Mackenzie Basin to Central Otago. Arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital of the world.

In the evening, relive the elegance of turn-of-the-century travel with a cruise aboard a vintage steamship. The TSS Earnslaw is the only coal-fired passenger carrying vessel still operating in the southern hemisphere. Step aboard – watch the stokers fueling the fireboxes and hear the hiss of the steam engines working as the TSS Earnslaw takes you on a nostalgic cruise over beautiful Lake Wakatipu. Disembark at Walter Peak High Country Farm, where you will enjoy a stunning four-course meal. An entertaining after dinner farm show provides a glimpse into high country farming life. Then on your return cruise, relax with a drink from the bar or join a fun sing-along with the ship’s pianist.

Stay 3 nights in Queenstown.

Day 4 Queenstown > Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound is the next step up from Milford Sound! Enjoy a scenic coach journey through heartland New Zealand to reach Manapouri. In Manapouri, board your luxury catamaran and cruise across picturesque Lake Manapouri. After that, enjoy a trip across New Zealand’s most expensive road, Wilmot Pass. Pause along the way to experience the dense Fiordland rainforest and view Doubtful Sound glistening far below. In Doubtful Sound, you will board another catamaran for a three-hour cruise through this pristine fiord. During the cruise your knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will share with you their passion for the region through their commentary. They will answer questions, point out landmarks and provide you with information about the varied wildlife you may encounter like dolphins, fur seals and the rare Fiordland crested penguin. After your cruise relax while your coach drives through stunning scenery delivering you back to your Queenstown accommodation.

Day 5 Queenstown

Today you have the option to make a trip to Arrowtown. You’ll be enchanted by historic Arrowtown, a New Zealand treasure located 20 minutes from Queenstown. Arrowtown is charming and quirky – a delightful gold rush village nestled below the beautiful peaks that surround the sparkling Arrow River. The heart of its history is Buckingham Street, a procession of heritage buildings that stretches into a tree-lined avenue of tiny miner’s cottages. The buildings in this lovely precinct house shops, galleries, bars, and restaurants – many classy, most individual, and not one from an international chain.

You also have the option to add-on a must do Queenstown activity to really make the most of it, our top pick is Jet Boating.

Day 6 Wanaka

Driving time Queenstown to Wanaka 70 km / 43 miles, 1 hour

Drive over the beautiful Crown Range, one of New Zealand’s highest alpine roads, and admire the vistas from fantastic viewing points. Be sure to stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel for a refreshment before your arrival into Wanaka, an alpine town boasting panoramic views, a relaxed atmosphere and myriad walking tracks.

Stay 2 nights in Wanaka.

Day 7 Wanaka

Relax and explore Wanaka – you may want to visit Puzzling World, Wanaka’s illusional attraction, or the National Toy and Transport Museum. Other options include strolling along one of Wanaka’s stunning walking tracks, relaxing on the lake’s edge or browsing through Wanaka’s boutique shops.

You could also visit Rippon Vineyard and Tasting Room to sample local wines; or catch a film at Cinema Paradiso, Wanaka’s quirky local theatre.

Day 8 Franz Josef – Glacier Country

Driving time Wanaka to Franz Josef 285 km / 177 miles, 4 hours

Carry on up the West Coast to reach Franz Josef – there are many short walks / viewing points to take in along the Haast Pass Highway to break the journey. Continuing along the West Coast, you may like to visit to Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier, where you can take a 20 minute walk (one-way) to the jetty, to admire the reflected views of the Southern Alps on the surface of the lake. Continue through stunning thick rainforest to reach Franz Josef.

Option to add-on a highly recommended scenic helicopter flight to view and land on Franz Josef Glacier.

Stay 1 night in Franz Josef.

Day 9 Hokitika

Driving time Franz Josef to Hokitika 138 km / 86 miles, 2 hours

Enjoy your journey along the West Coast, stopping at point of interest such as the Whataroa River, before continuing on to Hokitika, famous for its arts and crafts. Watch a masterpiece being crafted from gold, molten glass, paua or bone, or carve your own creation from wood or jade “pounamu.” Take in Hokitika’s natural beauty, enjoy its expansive beach or one of the many walking and mountain bike tracks.

Stay 1 night in Hokitika.

Day 10 Nelson

Driving time Hokitika to Nelson 325 km / 201 miles, 4.5 hours

Journey towards Nelson a picturesque city offering beaches, wineries and boutique breweries. If you like food, wine and beer you will love Nelson! Nelson also enjoys New Zealand’s highest sunshine hours and has a creative population with many artists, so while there you can browse through galleries and be sure to visit the fantastic craft market which is on every Saturday.

Stay 2 nights in Nelson.

Day 11 Abel Tasman

Driving time Nelson to Kaiteriteri 60 km / 37 miles, 1 hour (each way)

It is time to explore the Abel Tasman, an area renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, unmodified estuaries and the world-famous Abel Tasman Coast Track.

Enjoy a boat cruise into the Abel Tasman National Park where you can relax on the hot golden sand, enjoy a day walk or simply enjoy a return boat cruise without having to leave the boat. This trip allows you to explore sections of the Abel Tasman Coast Track; the boat will stop at scenic points along the way where you can get off and walk a section of the track, the boat will then collect you later in the day. Or you may just want to pack a picnic lunch, beach towels and laze on the beach for the day.

Day 12 Hanmer Springs

Driving time Nelson to Hanmer Springs 308 km / 191 miles, 3.5 hours

Travel on to Hanmer Springs, a year–round holiday destination offering a variety of outdoor activities, great cafés and of course the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa. As a natural spa destination, visitors have been travelling to bathe in the rejuvenating hot mineral pools for over 120 years! Relax in open-air thermal public and private pools and de-stress with spa therapies.

Stay 2 nights in Hanmer Springs.

Day 13 Hanmer Springs

Today relax in Hanmer Springs plus experience the adrenaline rush of going 80 km per hour, skimming the river below with Thrillseekers Jet! Cut corners as turquoise snow melt churns out behind you and experience 360° spins while you travel up the stunning Waiau Gorge.

Day 14 Christchurch

Driving time Hanmer Springs to Christchurch 145 km / 90 miles, 2 hours

Travel to Christchurch at your leisure. There are an array of must do visitor attractions on offer in Christchurch City to top your holiday off. Soar above the suburbs on the Christchurch Gondola, explore the city on the Christchurch Tram, Punt on the Avon River.

Stay 1 night in Christchurch.

Day 15 Depart Christchurch

It’s time to wave goodbye, taking photos and memories with you. Drop off your rental car at Christchurch Airport and depart Christchurch.

Plan a South Island Holiday

This South Island holiday package offers a fantastic overview of the South Island. The itinerary is fully customisable, so your travel consultant will work with you to tailor it to suit. Let us know if you have any special interests, specific requirements, or must-see destinations.

We will work with you through every step of the holiday planning process, from designing your itinerary through to booking each component. In addition, we are located here in New Zealand and ready to help if you need any assistance during your travels.

Contact New Zealand Travel Organiser today to begin planning your unforgettable South Island holiday!