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2026

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2027

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2028

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The Southern Drift (Small Groups)

12 days
Start and end in Christchurch
4.3 (32 reviews)
The Southern Drift (Small Groups) - Luxury Gold

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Plan your adventure:
City & Culture
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 20 - 40
All Ages Welcome
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Intro

    Introduction

  2. Day 1

    Christchurch

    Christchurch
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Hotel Montreal, Christchurch.)

    Included Activities

    • Visit to Christchurch Botanic Gardens (optional)
    • Christchurch Tram ride (optional)
    • Meet with Travel Concierge

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Christchurch Botanic Gardens
    • Ride the Christchurch Tram
    Landmarks
    North Hagley Park
    Christchurch Botanic Gardens
  3. Day 2

    Christchurch to Dunedin

    Christchurch to Dunedin
    Meals
    Dinner (Dinner at Parcels Restaurant featuring surf and turf, braised lamb, catch of the day, or modern twists on traditional local dishes)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Distinction Dunedin Hotel.)

    Included Activities

    • Travel along the coast through Timaru and Oamaru
    • Visit Dunedin Railway Station
    • Dinner at Parcels Restaurant
    Landmarks
    Dunedin Railway Station
    Itinerary Image 1
  4. Day 3

    Dunedin

    Dunedin
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Distinction Dunedin Hotel.)

    Included Activities

    • Guided Bread to Bottle tour at Dunedin Craft Distillers
    • Chocolate tasting journey at OCHO Chocolate with 10-sample bean-to-bar tasting

    Optional Activities

    • Wildlife cruise of the Otago Peninsula
    • Visit Larnach Castle
    Landmarks
    Dunedin Craft Distillers
    OCHO Chocolate
    Otago Peninsula
    Larnach Castle
  5. Day 4

    Dunedin to Doubtful Sound

    Dunedin to Doubtful Sound
    Meals
    Lunch (Rustic lunch at a local farm with landowner Chris, including interaction with farm animals)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Fiordland Navigator)

    Included Activities

    • Travel to Manapouri
    • Catamaran and coach transfer to Doubtful Sound
    • Overnight nature cruise on Fiordland Navigator with onboard naturalist, activities, and lectures
    • Locally sourced cuisine onboard
    Landmarks
    Doubtful Sound
    Fiordland National Park
  6. Day 5

    Doubtful Sound to Queenstown

    Doubtful Sound to Queenstown
    Meals
    Lunch (Rustic lunch at a local farm with landowner Chris and farm animals)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (The Rees Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • Morning exploration of Doubtful Sound's hidden coves
    • Rustic lunch at local farm with landowner Chris
    • Farm animal interaction
    Landmarks
    Doubtful Sound
  7. Day 6

    Queenstown

    Queenstown
    Meals
    Dinner (Dinner at The Bathhouse featuring locally grown, foraged and farmed produce, local and international wines, against the spectacular lakefront backdrop of Lake Wakatipu)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (The Rees Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • Lake Wakatipu scenic cruise aboard TSS Earnslaw
    • Walter Peak High Country farm Eco Experience
    • Dinner at The Bathhouse

    Optional Activities

    • Guided e-bike scenic ride along the lake
    Landmarks
    Lake Wakatipu
    TSS Earnslaw
    Walter Peak High Country
  8. Day 7

    Queenstown to Wanaka

    Queenstown to Wanaka
    Meals
    Lunch (Lunch and wine tasting in Gibbston Valley at Kinross)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Edgewater Wānaka Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • Visit Arrowtown historic gold mining village
    • Lunch and wine tasting in Gibbston Valley at Kinross
    • Highlands Motorsport Museum
    • Visit Mrs Jones Orchard for fruit ice-cream and stone fruit
    • Walk through Wānaka Lavender Farm flower fields
    Landmarks
    Arrowtown
    Gibbston Valley
    Kinross
    Highlands Motorsport Museum
    Mrs Jones Orchard
    Wānaka Lavender Farm
    Lake Wānaka
  9. Day 8

    Wānaka

    Wānaka
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Edgewater Wānaka Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • Lake Wānaka cruise
    • Afternoon nature walk
    Landmarks
    Lake Wānaka
  10. Day 9

    Wānaka to Franz Josef

    Wānaka to Franz Josef
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef.)

    Included Activities

    • Haast River jet boat safari in fully enclosed cabin
    • Expert guide commentary on glacial valley and wilderness
    Landmarks
    Haast River
    Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area
    Itinerary Image 1
  11. Day 10

    Franz Josef

    Franz Josef
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Exquisite dining experience at Te Waonui Rainforest Retreat, featuring locally sourced cuisine paired with fine wines, set against the backdrop of an ancient rainforest)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef.)

    Included Activities

    • Private vessel cruise on Lake Mapourika
    • Guided rainforest walk with Local Expert
    Landmarks
    Lake Mapourika
    Franz Josef Rainforest
  12. Day 11

    Franz Josef to Christchurch

    Franz Josef to Christchurch
    Meals
    Dinner (Service dinner onboard TranzAlpine train with exclusive drinks and dining service throughout the journey with a Paddock to Plate regionally inspired food menu and Paired drinks menu)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Hotel Montreal, Christchurch.)

    Included Activities

    • Guided Hokitika History Walk with Local Expert
    • TranzAlpine scenic train journey in Scenic Plus premium carriage
    • Service dinner onboard with Paddock to Plate regionally inspired food menu
    • Paired drinks service throughout journey
    Landmarks
    Hokitika
    Arthurs Pass
    Southern Alps
    Waimakariri River
    Canterbury Plains
  13. Day 12

    Christchurch

    Christchurch
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Landmarks
    Christchurch International Airport

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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Operated by

Luxury Gold

Gold Operator
Response time
10 hours
Response rate
100%
Cancellation policy

Reviews About This Operator

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Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Upcoming departures
Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!
Ends on 23 Sep, 2026
  • From Wednesday
    2 Dec, 2026
    To Sunday
    13 Dec, 2026
    This departure date is not available or sold out
    Sold out
    From:
    US$9,277 per person
  • From Wednesday
    20 Jan, 2027
    To Sunday
    31 Jan, 2027
    This departure date is not available or sold out
    Sold out
    From:
    US$9,277 per person
  • From Wednesday
    17 Feb, 2027
    To Sunday
    28 Feb, 2027
    This departure date is not available or sold out
    Sold out
    From:
    US$9,277 per person
  • From Wednesday
    10 Mar, 2027
    To Sunday
    21 Mar, 2027
    This departure date is not available or sold out
    Sold out
    From:
    US$9,277 per person
  • 3 Other Unavailable Departures

Want to read it later?

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No departure dates available

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Good to Know

Tour ID: 134955

  • Currency
    $
    New Zealand Dollar
    New Zealand
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type I.

    Type I
    New Zealand
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before December 22nd, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after December 22nd, 2026, a minimum payment of $350 is required to confirm your booking with Luxury Gold. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 95 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Luxury Gold will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Luxury Gold" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Insurance

    Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.

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  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

Videos

  • A World of Exceptional Dining - Luxury Gold Vacations
  • 2021-2022 Worldwide Collection
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A World of Exceptional Dining - Luxury Gold Vacations

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec