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2026

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Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Southern Highlights - 9 Day Self Drive Tour

9 days
Start and end in Christchurch
5.0
2 traveler reviews

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:
Active
Thrilling adventures designed to keep you moving
Self-guided
Independent exploration, backed by expert advice and support
Guided in English
All Ages Welcome
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Christchurch

    Start point
    Christchurch Airport, Christchurch, Canterbury Region, New Zealand (Our private transfer company will pick you up from the airport upon arrival)

    Included Activities

    • Private transfer from Christchurch airport to accommodation

    Optional Activities

    • Hop on/hop off bus sightseeing tour
    • Historic tram ride to botanic gardens
    • Visit Transitional Cathedral
    Landmarks
    Christchurch Botanic Gardens
    Transitional Cathedral
    Itinerary Image 1
  2. Day 2

    Christchurch to Mt. Cook National Park

    Included Activities

    • Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Pass
    Landmarks
    Aoraki Mt Cook
    Lake Pukaki
    Lake Tekapo
    Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2Itinerary Image 3
  3. Day 3

    Mt. Cook National Park to Dunedin

    Optional Activities

    • Sheep shearing demonstrations at The Wrinkly Ram
    • Blue penguin viewing at Oamaru (dusk, subject to timing)
    • Moeraki Boulders viewing
    Landmarks
    Moeraki Boulders
    Oamaru
    The Octagon
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  4. Day 4

    Dunedin to Te Anau

    Included Activities

    • Te Anau Glowworm Caves Tour
    • Scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau on catamaran Luminosa

    Optional Activities

    • Day or overnight cruise to Doubtful Sound from Manapouri
    Landmarks
    Te Anau Glowworm Caves
    Lake Te Anau
    Doubtful Sound
    Kaka Point
  5. Day 5

    Te Anau to Milford Sound

    Meals
    Lunch (Picnic lunch during Milford Sound nature cruise)

    Included Activities

    • Chasm Walk
    • Real Journeys Milford Sound nature cruise
    • Picnic lunch during cruise
    Landmarks
    Milford Sound
    Mitre Peak
    Homer Tunnel
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  6. Day 6

    Te Anau to Queenstown

    Included Activities

    • Skyline Gondola Queenstown ride
    Landmarks
    Lake Wakatipu
    The Remarkables
    Coronet Peak
    Cecil Peak
    Walter Peak
    Itinerary Image 1
  7. Day 7

    Queenstown to Franz Josef Glacier

    Included Activities

    • Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools entry

    Optional Activities

    • Blue Pools 1 hour return walk
    Landmarks
    Lake Wanaka
    Mt Aspiring National Park
    Blue Pools
    Haast
    Franz Josef Glacier
    Itinerary Image 1
  8. Day 8

    Franz Josef to Christchurch via TranzAlpine Train

    Included Activities

    • TranzAlpine Scenic Train journey from Greymouth to Christchurch
    • Private transfer from Christchurch train station to accommodation

    Optional Activities

    • Greenstone shopping in Hokitika
    • Hokitika craft shops
    Landmarks
    Hokitika
    Greymouth
    Arthur's Pass National Park
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  9. Day 9

    Departure from Christchurch

    End point
    Christchurch Airport, Christchurch, Canterbury Region, New Zealand (Our private transfer company will pick you up from your hotel and drop you at the airport to continue your onward journey)

    Included Activities

    • Private transfer from accommodation to Christchurch airport
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Guide
  • Insurance
  • Meals
  • Optional
  • Additional Services
4.6
(22 reviews)

Number of tours

1

Age Range

21 to 99 years old

Response time

8 hours

Response rate

100%

Discover New Zealand is your one stop shop for all your New Zealand touring...

Read more

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Reviews

5.0
Overall rating based on 2 Reviews
  • Itinerary
    4.5
  • Transport
    4.5
  • Guide
    4.0
  • Accommodation
    4.0
  • Food
    4.0
  • 4.6

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  • N
    December 17th, 2025
    5
    Xxxcfcbbbnnj hhjhuju
    Traveled in December 2025
  • P
    January 4th, 2023
    5
    After a "misstep" by your team in the beginning, canceling my trip the very next day after confirmation, Jules...
    Show more
    Traveled in December 2022
    Reply from: Discover New Zealand
    Thank you for your review Philip. We are pleased to know that your trip ran smoothly and that you got to enjoy all the activities you wanted to over the Christmas period. Thank you for choosing us for your New Zealand adventure!
    Show more

Dates & Availability

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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
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Why book with TourRadar?

    • Trusted and vetted operators
    • Rated excellent on
    • Best price guarantee
    • 24/7 customer support
    • Earn $50 in travel credits
    • Free eSim with every purchase

    To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in United States, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.

More benefits
Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Discover New Zealand with your enquiry, they usually respond within 8 hours.

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 161746

  • 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 May 4th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after May 4th, 2026, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Discover New Zealand. 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 60 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 Discover New Zealand will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Discover New Zealand" 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
  • 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.

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