Small Group Tour
Small Group Tour
8 Day South Island Tour
Start: Christchurch
Finish: Christchurch
Spectacular scenery and lots of opportunity for adventure, this 8 day South Island adventure starts and finishes in the diverse city of Christchurch. Turquoise lakes, majestic glaciers, dramatic mountain peaks and the picture-perfect towns of Queenstown, Wanaka and Franz Josef are all a part of this epic road trip. With accommodation and some activities included (see below), our all-inclusive tours are hassle-free, authentic experiences for those short on time.
This tour departs at 9am from All Stars Inn Christchurch (263 Bealey Ave, Christchurch Central), where your accommodation has been booked for the night before departure.
Give us a call to secure your spot with a 10% deposit.
NZ $1260
Day 1Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Saying goodbye to Christchurch, we’ll hit the road and cruise 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. As night falls, we will visit the Dark Sky Project situated among the UNESCO Dark Sky reserve (included).
Accommodation
- Lakefront Lodge Tekapo
Included Experiences
- Dark Sky Project, Lake Tekapo
- The Church of the Good Shepherd
Day 2Lake Tekapo to Wanaka
Cruising past the ‘powerade factory’ Lake Pukaki (you’ll know what we mean when you see it) we head for Mount Cook village where we will hike the Hooker Valley Walk (included) which has breath-taking views which will break your internet and blow your mind. Here you will have the opportunity to experience the Tasman Glacier by helicopter or take a scenic flight through the Mt Cook National Park (Aoraki). From mid-morning, we will continue to cruise through the National Park, through the stunning Lindis Pass through to Wanaka.
Accommodation
- YHA Wanaka
Included Experiences
- Hooker Valley Walkway, Mt Cook
- Roys Peak hike shuttle
Day 3Wanaka To Queenstown
Here in Wanaka, we will have the morning to hike the famous Roys Peak (included), snap ‘That Wanaka Tree’ or climb Mount Iron (included). For the more daring in the group, there’s the option to experience a via Ferrata ‘Wild Wire’ or hit up the lakeside trails on a mountain bike. Late afternoon, you can catch your breath in the back of the bus as we cruise through the Crown ranges and head for the adrenaline fuelled Queenstown. We’ll end the day heading up the Gondola (included) for a tasty dinner at the ‘Skyline’ overlooking Queenstown.
Day 4Queenstown
Carrying on the adrenaline-pumping theme, you have a full day to fill with activities that suit all budgets and appetites for adventure. Try your hand at activities such as white water rafting, bungy jumping, skydiving, jet-boating or canyon swinging… if you dream it, it probably exists here in Queenstown. Speak to your Driver Guide who will be able to point you in the right direction.
Accommodation
- Nomads Queenstown
Day 5Queenstown
Today we will head out into the heartlands of Otago to the picturesque town of Glenorchy to experience a scenic landscape brimming with southern charm.
Accommodation
- Nomads Queenstown
Included Experiences
- Glenorchy & Lake Wakatipu tour
Day 6Queenstown to Franz Josef
Leaving bright and early we leave behind Queenstown and set off for Franz Josef. This is one of the most scenic drives of your tour. We’ll cruise by the breath-taking Lake Hawea, past the aptly named ‘Blue Pools’ and visit the pounding Thunder Creek Falls before visiting Lake Matheson; a spot that makes a mockery of Instagram filters. We’ll then arrive in Franz Josef where we’ll retire to a wilderness hostel deep in the rainforest itself.
Day 7Franz Josef
Today we have a free day in Franz Josef where you have the opportunity to experience a Heli-Hike to New Zealand’s most famous Franz Josef Glacier or you can explore this lush corner of New Zealand (for free) on foot; hitting up the many walking trails in the area. For those wanting something a little more special to take home with them; passengers can carve their own greenstone necklaces (pounamu).
Accommodation
- Rainforest Retreat
Included Experiences
- Greenstone carving
- Glacier valley walk in Franz Josef
Day 8Franz Josef to Christchurch
On your final day, we will cruise through the Arthur’s Pass National Park, a landscape of two halves. On the eastern side, you'll see wide, shingle-filled riverbeds and vast swathes of beech forest. Descend the western side and you venture through dense rainforest alongside and over deeply gorged rivers. Along this road, we will stop off at the Devil’s Punch Bowl and the breath-taking Castle Hill (included). Your tour will end back in Christchurch.
What's Included
- Wine tasting in the Marlborough region
- Kaikoura Seal colony
- Christchurch city street art trail
- Dark Sky Project, Lake Tekapo
- The Church of the Good Shepherd
- Hooker Valley Walkway, Mt Cook
- Roys Peak hike shuttle
- Skyline Gondola & Buffet
- Glenorchy & Lake Wakatipu tour
- Thunder Creek Falls
- Lake Matheson
- Greenstone carving
- Glacier valley walk in Franz Josef
- Scenic hikes across Arthurs Pass
- Devils Punchbowl and Castle Hill
Optional Extras
Our Small Group Tours offer a fixed itinerary, with a few bucket list items included. There are plenty of additional activities you can add on to your experience as you travel.
What our passengers think
Best experience ever!
First I was worried if there would be too many very young people. But it’s a perfect mix of younger (18+) and older (up to 33) travelers. You see many nice spots in NZ, meet many travelers, party together (if you are up to) and simply have a great time.
It was a perfect way to spend a quick tour in the South Island
I was a bit hesitant about joining a group tour because I was alone (and introverted) and don't know anything, and there were some not-so-good reviews. But i dint really wanna spend so much renting a car alone (plus it'd be tiring to drive alone) so I opted to book it. It was a very pleasant experience from day 1 to finish. I met the group in Christchurch, although they have already started the tour from north island. They were mostly solo travelers as well, and everyone was respectful of each other. I actually made good friends with some after the trip (and was a bit sad when we parted).
Faq's
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I’m a solo traveller... will I meet other solo travellers?
Absolutely! The majority of our passengers are travelling solo. Kiwi Experience is a social experience guaranteed to leave with new friends from across the globe.
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Am I too old/young for Kiwi Experience?
We welcome the young, and the young at heart aboard our buses, there is no upper limit! There is however a lower limit; you’ll need to be 18 at the time of travel.
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What visas do I need?
Luckily, many nationalities are able to visit New Zealand for less than 3 months without a visa. However, if you are not from one of these countries, obtaining your own visa is your own responsibility. We ask that you check out the Immigration New Zealand website before booking your Kiwi Experience trip.
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Do I need travel insurance?
While not mandatory, travel insurance is recommended and should be taken out when travelling with us. As well as making sure your expensive stuff is covered, you should also get comprehensive travel insurance (covering you for all medical expenses you could incur while travelling).
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How much should I budget for each day?
We recommend you budget between $70 - $100 per day to cover food and super fun times. From time to time, it may be worth putting a little more aside to pay for the really crazy stuff like skydiving.
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How much luggage am I allowed to bring?
Passengers are allowed one 23kg suitcase/backpack and one day bag, as there are strict weight restrictions on our buses.
