New Zealand: Sweet as South | Westbound | Oct 2027 - Oct 2028 - Contiki Tour
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Contiki Guided Tour

New Zealand: Sweet as South | Westbound | Oct 2027 - Oct 2028

9 Days 50 Departures
From $1,800 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
Departures50 in 2027–2028
Starting From$1,800 pp

Tour Route

Map of your 9-day journey

New Zealand: Sweet as South | Westbound | Oct 2027 - Oct 2028 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

50 departures available

Departure DateEnd DateStatusPrice Per Person
Oct 16, 2027 Oct 24, 2027 Available $1,810per person Get Quote
Oct 24, 2027 Nov 1, 2027 Available $1,810per person Get Quote
Nov 1, 2027 Nov 9, 2027 Available $1,810per person Get Quote
Nov 9, 2027 Nov 17, 2027 Available $1,810per person Get Quote
Nov 17, 2027 Nov 25, 2027 Available $1,810per person Get Quote
Nov 25, 2027 Dec 3, 2027 Available $1,810per person Get Quote
Dec 3, 2027 Dec 11, 2027 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Dec 11, 2027 Dec 19, 2027 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Dec 19, 2027 Dec 27, 2027 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Dec 27, 2027 Jan 4, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Jan 4, 2028 Jan 12, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Jan 8, 2028 Jan 16, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Jan 12, 2028 Jan 20, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Jan 16, 2028 Jan 24, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Jan 20, 2028 Jan 28, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Jan 24, 2028 Feb 1, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Jan 28, 2028 Feb 5, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Feb 1, 2028 Feb 9, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Feb 5, 2028 Feb 13, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Feb 9, 2028 Feb 17, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Feb 13, 2028 Feb 21, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Feb 21, 2028 Feb 29, 2028 Available $1,850per person Get Quote
Feb 29, 2028 Mar 8, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Mar 8, 2028 Mar 16, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Mar 24, 2028 Apr 1, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Apr 9, 2028 Apr 17, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Apr 25, 2028 May 3, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
May 11, 2028 May 19, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
May 27, 2028 Jun 4, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jun 12, 2028 Jun 20, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jun 22, 2028 Jun 30, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jun 27, 2028 Jul 5, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jul 6, 2028 Jul 14, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jul 11, 2028 Jul 19, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jul 13, 2028 Jul 21, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jul 18, 2028 Jul 26, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jul 20, 2028 Jul 28, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jul 25, 2028 Aug 2, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Jul 27, 2028 Aug 4, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Aug 1, 2028 Aug 9, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Aug 3, 2028 Aug 11, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Aug 8, 2028 Aug 16, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Aug 10, 2028 Aug 18, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Aug 22, 2028 Aug 30, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Aug 24, 2028 Sep 1, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Sep 5, 2028 Sep 13, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Sep 7, 2028 Sep 15, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Sep 19, 2028 Sep 27, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Sep 21, 2028 Sep 29, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote
Oct 5, 2028 Oct 13, 2028 Available $1,800per person Get Quote

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