Is it possible to join the tour a bit later? My flight arrives on March 28 around 11:00 PM. I'm aware I will miss the welcome meeting and plan to join the tour on March 29.

It is fine to start on the next morning! We will leave in the early morning on the 29th.

51 and in good health. Cut off age for the tour seems to be 49, so not far off.

There is no upper age limit to travel on the Kiwi Experience bus.

Can I bring children on this tour?

All passengers must be over the age of 18 to join this tour.

Is travel insurance needed for the tour?

Travel insurance is not a requirement, but it is highly recommended to purchase one.

How should I book flights after the tour?

It's advisable to book your flight for the next day to avoid travel delays.

Are there options for private accommodations?

Unfortunately, private room upgrades are not offered for this tour.

What is the procedure for payments on the tour?

Payments for additional services or activities can usually be made while traveling.

Is it possible to check availability before booking?

Yes, you can inquire about availability for the tour before making a booking.

Is the upper age limit of 49 a guideline or is it a strict limit. We are in our early fifties.

We don't have a strict upper age limit, most of our passengers are in the 18-35 age range, however we do often get those who are older!

Is it possible to check for confirmation that a spot is available before I submit my booking and payment for this tour?

Yes, we do have one space available on the Southern Crossing commencing on the 8th of May. Please advise and confirm with us by 9am (NZ time), 30th of April if you are wanting to hop on this small group tour.

From

US $1,119 per person

Southern Crossing - Small Group Tour

8 days

•

Start and end in Christchurch

5.0

1 review

View all
View all

From

US $1,119 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Gold Operator: Kiwi Experience
Adventure & Adrenaline: Seek thrilling adventures that keep you moving
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Medium Intensity: Travelers should be comfortable with somewhat-demanding activities
Guided in English
Group Size 6 - 18
Ages 18-49

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Christchurch
Christchurch
Start point
12 Hereford Street, Christchurch-Linwood, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand (Hotel Give, 17:30)
Accommodation
Hostel (Hotel Give )
Day 2
Christchurch to Franz Josef
Christchurch to Franz Josef
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hostel (Rainforest Retreat)
Included Activities
- Stop at Devil's Punch Bowl
- Stop at Castle Hill
Landmarks
Arthur's Pass National Park
Devil's Punch Bowl
Castle Hill
Day 3
Franz Josef
Franz Josef
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hostel (Rainforest Retreat)
Included Activities
- Design and carve your own Greenstone jewellery in a West Coast workshop
Optional Activities
- Heli-Hike on the glacier (paid extra activity)
- Explore walking trails in the area (for free)
Landmarks
Franz Josef Glacier
Day 4
Franz Josef to Lake Hawea
Franz Josef to Lake Hawea
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Lake Matheson
Landmarks
Lake Matheson
Mount Cook
Lake Hawea
Day 5
Lake Hawea to Queenstown
Lake Hawea to Queenstown
Meals
Breakfast
Landmarks
Lake Wanaka
Mount Aspiring National Park
Queenstown
Day 6
Queenstown
Queenstown
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hostel (Nomads Queenstown)
Optional Activities
- White water rafting
- Bungy jumping
- Skydiving
- Jet-boating
- Canyon swinging
Day 7
Queenstown to Milford Sound
Queenstown to Milford Sound
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hostel (Nomads Queenstown )
Included Activities
- Scenic boat cruise through Milford Sound (2 hours)
- Photo stops at Mirror Lakes
- Photo stop at the Chasm
Optional Activities
- Breakfast, coffee or snacks in Te Anau
Landmarks
Te Anau
Mirror Lakes
Milford Sound
Day 8
Milford Sound to Christchurch
Milford Sound to Christchurch
End point
12 Hereford Street, Christchurch-Linwood, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand (Hotel Give, 17:00)
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
Landmarks
Lindis Pass
Lake Tekapo
Church of the Good Shepherd

Landmarks
Arthur's Pass National Park
Devil's Punch Bowl
Castle Hill

Landmarks
Franz Josef Glacier

Landmarks
Lake Matheson
Mount Cook
Lake Hawea

Landmarks
Lake Wanaka
Mount Aspiring National Park
Queenstown

Landmarks
Te Anau
Mirror Lakes
Milford Sound

Landmarks
Lindis Pass
Lake Tekapo
Church of the Good Shepherd

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Hotel Give
Hostel
day 1
Rainforest Retreat
Hostel
Days 2, 3
Nomads Queenstown
Hostel
day 6
Nomads Queenstown
Hostel
day 7

Operated by

Kiwi Experience

Gold Operator

Rating: 4.6(62 reviews)
Response time: within 2 days
Response rate: 100%
Cancellation policy

Traveler Reviews

5.0

Overall rating based on 1 Reviews

Itinerary
5.0
Transport
5.0
Guide
5.0
Accommodation
3.0
Food
5.0
Tour Operator
4.6

Nicolas
December 6th, 2025
Excellent south islamf tour going to the main spots!
Traveled in November 2025

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

From Saturday
11 Jul, 2026
To Saturday
18 Jul, 2026
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12 Sep, 2026
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19 Sep, 2026
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17 Oct, 2026
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24 Oct, 2026
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From Saturday
14 Nov, 2026
To Saturday
21 Nov, 2026
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From Sunday
29 Nov, 2026
To Sunday
6 Dec, 2026
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From Monday
14 Dec, 2026
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21 Dec, 2026
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29 Dec, 2026
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5 Jan, 2027
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13 Jan, 2027
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20 Jan, 2027
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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

We couldn't find results

Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

D
Daniela
Asked on March 23rd, 2026
Is it possible to join the tour a bit later? My flight arrives on March 28 around 11:00 PM. I'm aware I will miss the welcome meeting and plan to join the tour on March 29.
Flights / Transfers
Tour Details
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written March 2026
  It is fine to start on the next morning! We will leave in the early morning on the 29th.
B
Bruce
Asked on December 30th, 2025
51 and in good health. Cut off age for the tour seems to be 49, so not far off.
Age Range
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written December 2025
  There is no upper age limit to travel on the Kiwi Experience bus.
J
Jochem
Asked on February 28th, 2025
Can I bring children on this tour?
Age Range
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written March 2025
  All passengers must be over the age of 18 to join this tour.
A
Adela
Asked on December 25th, 2024
Is travel insurance needed for the tour?
Travel Support
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written December 2024
  Travel insurance is not a requirement, but it is highly recommended to purchase one.
J
Jhonatan
Asked on December 14th, 2024
How should I book flights after the tour?
Flights / Transfers
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written December 2024
  It's advisable to book your flight for the next day to avoid travel delays.
U
Udo
Asked on November 8th, 2024
Are there options for private accommodations?
Accommodation
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written November 2024
  Unfortunately, private room upgrades are not offered for this tour.
A
Ana
Asked on October 30th, 2024
What is the procedure for payments on the tour?
Payments
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written October 2024
  Payments for additional services or activities can usually be made while traveling.
A
Alison
Asked on June 28th, 2024
Is it possible to check availability before booking?
Price / Availability
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written June 2024
  Yes, you can inquire about availability for the tour before making a booking.
M
Matt
Asked on June 1st, 2024
Is the upper age limit of 49 a guideline or is it a strict limit. We are in our early fifties.
Age Range
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written June 2024
  We don't have a strict upper age limit, most of our passengers are in the 18-35 age range, however we do often get those who are older!
- M
  Matt
  Traveler•Written June 2024
  What's the hostel accommodation like? Dorms or private rooms? Is it separated by gender?
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written June 2024
  The accommodation is shared dorms in hostels, separated by gender.
H
Heather
Asked on April 28th, 2024
Is it possible to check for confirmation that a spot is available before I submit my booking and payment for this tour?
Price / Availability
- Kiwi ExperienceOperator•Written April 2024
  Yes, we do have one space available on the Southern Crossing commencing on the 8th of May. Please advise and confirm with us by 9am (NZ time), 30th of April if you are wanting to hop on this small group tour.

From

US $1,119 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 249041

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 September 6th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after September 6th, 2026, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Kiwi Experience. 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 Kiwi Experience will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Kiwi Experience" 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
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Kiwi Experience. Please familiarize yourself with the Kiwi Experience payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
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.
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Southern Crossing - Small Group Tour

Itinerary

Christchurch

Christchurch to Franz Josef

Included Activities

Franz Josef

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Franz Josef to Lake Hawea

Included Activities

Lake Hawea to Queenstown

Queenstown

Optional Activities

Queenstown to Milford Sound

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Milford Sound to Christchurch

Included Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Where You'll Stay

Traveler Reviews

Dates & Availability

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Good to Know

Keep Exploring New Zealand

Southern Crossing - Small Group Tour

Itinerary

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Where You'll Stay

Traveler Reviews

Dates & Availability

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Earn while you share

Good to Know

Keep Exploring New Zealand

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