Southern Crossing - Small Group Tour

Welcome to Christchurch - the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. Your accommodation for this evening is included and will be staying at Hotel Give, located at 12 Hereford Street, Christchurch Central. You'll be able to check into your accommodation from 2pm onwards. This evening at 7pm, meet your Kiwi Experience Driver Guide and the rest of your tour companions at a local bar for a couple of drinks (included).

Today we travel from coast to coast right over the Southern Alps passing through the Arthur’s Pass National Park, a landscape of 2 halves. Ascending the eastern side, we’ll venture through shingle-filled riverbeds and vast swaths of beech forest, over deeply gorged rivers to dense rainforest on the western side. Along this road, we will stop off at the Devil’s Punch Bowl and the breath-taking Castle Hill (included).

Incredible Franz Josef sits in the world heritage area, the combination of alpine scenery and west coast rainforest makes for an epic setting for your free day. You can experience a Heli-Hike on the glacier or you can explore this lush corner of New Zealand (for free) on foot; hitting up the many walking trails in the area.

In the morning we head to Lake Matheson where you can catch the perfect mirror reflection of Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. Afterwards, we then cruise up the last stretch of Highway 6, stopping at popular scenic spots along the way, and onwards to Lake Hawea.

Today we head to Queenstown; known as the adrenaline capital of New Zealand. There is so much to see and do here for everyone, you will not be dissapointed. But before we get to Queenstown, we'll first stop in Wanaka; a resort town set on the southern end of its namesake lake with views of snowcapped mountains. It's the gateway to the Southern Alps' Mount Aspiring National Park, a wilderness of glaciers, beech forests and alpine lakes.

Queenstown has something for everyone; here, you can seek adrenaline-fueled adventures or enjoy a more leisurely exploration of the natural playground. Each season offers its own unique vibe, and most activities can be accessed all year round. If you’re looking for adrenaline, bungy jumping, jetboating, white water rafting and sky diving are all available. If a more relaxed pace is calling, hire a bike, take a stroll, enjoy a boat cruise, relax at a spa, or enjoy one of the many vineyards in the area.

A trip to the South Island would only be complete with a trip to Piopiotahi, Milford Sound. As we venture from Queenstown bright and early, we make time to stop for breakfast and coffee in the quaint town of Te Anau before continuing the breathtaking drive towards Milford Sound with scheduled photo stops along the way. Milford South is nestled within Fiordland National Park, known for its pristine wildlife, which marvels at any time of year and in any weather; Milford Sound is rich in geological formations, captivating waterfalls and, unsurprisingly, one of the most amazing scenic day trips to do in New Zealand. Enjoy a two-hour (Included) scenic boat cruise through the inky blackwater; keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, fur seals, and an abundance of birdlife; if you’re really lucky, you’ll spot the endangered Fiordland Crested Penguin.

We drive on through the stunning Lindis Pass and into the magnificent Mackenzie Country, home to Lake Tekapo. Here we will visit the charming stone Church of the Good Shepherd (included), sat next to the breathtakingly blue waters of the lake framed with colourful lupins. Afterwards we head to Christchurch for one last hurrah before the tour ends.