New Zealand: Sweet as South | Westbound | Oct 2026 - Oct 2027 - Contiki Tour
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Contiki Guided Tour

New Zealand: Sweet as South | Westbound | Oct 2026 - Oct 2027

9 Days 49 Departures
From $1,700 per person

Tour Overview

Experience the best of Southern New Zealand! From Christchurch to Queenstown to Lake Ōhau, it’s an adventure you won’t ever want to end. In Franz Josef you’ll hike a glacier, then it’s on to Queenstown, the adventure Capital of the World. Take the leap on a bungy, canyon swinging - the possibilities are endless. Maybe take a day break to Milford Sound cruise past stunning waterfalls or a scenic flight over Mt. Cook!

Tour Summary

Duration9 Days / 8 Nights
OperatorContiki
Departures49 in 2026–2027
Starting From$1,700 pp

Tour Route

Map of your 9-day journey

New Zealand: Sweet as South | Westbound | Oct 2026 - Oct 2027 route map

Day-by-Day Itinerary

9 days through your journey

Day 1

Christchurch to Franz Josef via Arthur's Pass and Hokitika

Christchurch (Ōtautahi) what's up? New Zealand's South Island is the home to adventure, adrenaline and good times and we're here to take it all on. Take in the beautiful scenery as we wind our way across the highest and most spectacular mountain pass across the Southern Alps. In the gold rush town of Hokitika, we'll meet with a local Māori guide who’ll teach us all about pounamu on a unique tour. We’ll learn about the history of the illustrious green stones (which the South Island is named after) and its connection with the Māori people. Back on the coach, we're coastline bound to one of the island’s most jaw-droppingly beautiful spots (and that’s saying something). We'll pull up for the night in glorious Franz Josef (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere), probably one of the most beautiful places you'll ever of clapped eyes on. A bold statement we know, but well deserved.
Day 2

Franz Josef

This morning we take to the ice of Franz Josef Glacier. We've got a heli ride over the glacier up for grabs, or the opportunity to carve your own Pounamu (jade) pendant, under the tuition of a Māori mastercraftsman. Pounamu is sacred to the Māori people, and this is a great way to learn about its cultural significance, while also creating a beautiful please of jewellery.
Day 3

Franz Josef to Queenstown via Haast and Wānaka

With a new appreciation for frozen water, we'll hop on the coach & continue to Queenstown, with a few cheeky stops along the way.Our first piece of NZ eye-candy comes in the form of Haast Pass (Tioripatea), beautified by ancient rainforests, small glaciers and waterfalls. Note how the scenery changes as we roll towards Queenstown through the Southern Alps and region of Otago.We'll stop for lunch in Wānaka, a pretty ski resort town situated on a lake front and dwarfed by mountains. This town is fast becoming one of NZ's most popular spots, and a trip to the 'Dough Bin' for a luscious pie should be high on the list.Welcome to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown (Tāhuna)! First stop is the legendary Kawarau Bungy Bridge, get your adrenaline hit with a heart pounding jump. Tonight you can choose to jump on a gondola and to wine & dine atop of the highest restaurant in Queenstown, Skyline. Rest up tonight - the next few days are going to be BIG. Please Note: The Free Time Add-Ons which take place in Queenstown can be booked for any day you are there. Just let your Trip Manager know, and they'll arrange this for you.
Day 4

Queenstown

Today is yours to get acquainted with Queenstown and check out the activities up for grabs in the next two days. Take a stroll around beautiful this stunning town, nestled in the Southern Alps that has so much to offer.
Day 5

Queenstown

It's times like this that you really start to work out what sort of traveller you are. And human for that matter. You might be the one trailing through wine country and exploring wine cellars and caves, or you may be that guy that crams in a bungy jump and ziplining & still craves more. It's your holiday - run wild as you see fit. Please note: If you're here during ski season, you can opt for an exclusive Ski day-trip to Cardrona. Check out ‘Dates & Pricing’ to see these "Special Departures".
Day 6

Queenstown

With our last day in adrenalin city edging closer, this is the time to push yourself to the limits and jump over any mental barriers you've put up around yourself. Embrace the spirit of adventure and conquer those niggling fears once and for all. For those who did their dash yesterday, a day staying mellow and enjoying this beautiful region will prove more than sufficient.
Day 7

Queenstown to Te Anau via Milford Sound

Alright, it's time to return our adrenaline levels to a normal level and make tracks to the spectacular natural wonder of Milford Sound. Welcome to New Zealand's most stunning attraction, with a magical combination of mountain peaks, forest-clad cliffs and deep dark waters. We take an included cruise of the fiord and experience the beauty of this pristine destination by boat, the best way to see Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) in all its glory. Arriving in the stunning lakeside town of Te Anau, why not opt to take a guided jet boat trip to explore the Fiordland National Park. From Te Anau through Lake Manapouri, it's a pretty exhilirating way to soak up the scenery. Prefer to keep you feet on dry land. You can also take a trip to the ethereal glow worm caves (woaahhh) or simply cycle the gorgeous trails through native bush.
Day 8

Te Anau to Lake Ōhau via Kingston and Arrowtown

So long, Te Anau. It's been fun. Our first stop today is Kingston (Takerehaka) for an authentic and important NZ farm experience. Where a charity helps local girls to learn practical farming skills and gain qualifications. Contiki makes a donation on behalf of every traveller who visits the farm, so you can help more NZ women and girls plough through barriers and get ahead in their ‘field’ just by turning up. We make a quick stop for lunch in the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown (Kā Muriwai) before heading onto Lake Ōhau. For our last night, we'll go out with a bang. Or perhaps a splash. Sketchbooks at the ready folks - we'll spend our final night by Lake Ōhau (Ōhau), with a spectacular view of Mt Cook in the distance!
Day 9

Lake Ōhau to Christchurch via Lake Tekapo

We're moving on to Christchurch but not before one final stop.We’ll kick off our final day with a visit to glacier-fed Lake Tekapo (Takapō), taking in the crystal-clear water and those unreal surrounding peaks. A last lakeside moment to lock in the memories before the trip wraps up.And then the adventure ends in Christchurch. Sure, there'll be some sadness, but that's normal when awesome things end. And this has been more than awesome. On a brighter note, the memories will put a smile on your face for years to come.

Departure Dates & Pricing

49 departures available

Departure DateEnd DateStatusPrice Per Person
Oct 18, 2026 Oct 26, 2026 Available $1,825per person Get Quote
Nov 3, 2026 Nov 11, 2026 Available $1,825per person Get Quote
Nov 11, 2026 Nov 19, 2026 Available $1,825per person Get Quote
Nov 19, 2026 Nov 27, 2026 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Nov 27, 2026 Dec 5, 2026 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Dec 5, 2026 Dec 13, 2026 Available $1,975per person Get Quote
Dec 13, 2026 Dec 21, 2026 Available $1,925per person Get Quote
Dec 29, 2026 Jan 6, 2027 Available $1,975per person Get Quote
Jan 6, 2027 Jan 14, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jan 10, 2027 Jan 18, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jan 14, 2027 Jan 22, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jan 18, 2027 Jan 26, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jan 22, 2027 Jan 30, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jan 26, 2027 Feb 3, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Feb 3, 2027 Feb 11, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Feb 11, 2027 Feb 19, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Feb 15, 2027 Feb 23, 2027 Available $1,795per person Get Quote
Feb 19, 2027 Feb 27, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Feb 27, 2027 Mar 7, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Mar 11, 2027 Mar 19, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Mar 19, 2027 Mar 27, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Apr 4, 2027 Apr 12, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Apr 20, 2027 Apr 28, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
May 6, 2027 May 14, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
May 22, 2027 May 30, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jun 7, 2027 Jun 15, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jun 8, 2027 Jun 16, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jun 17, 2027 Jun 25, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jun 22, 2027 Jun 30, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jun 29, 2027 Jul 7, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jul 1, 2027 Jul 9, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jul 6, 2027 Jul 14, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jul 8, 2027 Jul 16, 2027 Available $1,750per person Get Quote
Jul 13, 2027 Jul 21, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Jul 15, 2027 Jul 23, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Jul 20, 2027 Jul 28, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Jul 22, 2027 Jul 30, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Jul 27, 2027 Aug 4, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Jul 29, 2027 Aug 6, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Aug 5, 2027 Aug 13, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Aug 10, 2027 Aug 18, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Aug 12, 2027 Aug 20, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Aug 24, 2027 Sep 1, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Aug 26, 2027 Sep 3, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Sep 7, 2027 Sep 15, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Sep 9, 2027 Sep 17, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Sep 21, 2027 Sep 29, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Sep 23, 2027 Oct 1, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote
Oct 7, 2027 Oct 15, 2027 Available $1,700per person Get Quote

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