Are you able to give options yet? Will there be any children on your tours?

Are you considering any other tours aside from Southern Spotlight? Regarding children traveling on the tour, it is certainly possible for families to join if some of the travelers include their children.

Do you have spots available for 28 December? Is this tour using train? Where the tour ends? How we can get to airport? Can we pay for an extra night?

This tour will include a train ride at TranzAlpine at the day 8 of the trip. The tour will ends at Hotel Ibis Christchurch after your breakfast. You have to arrange your transfer or transportation going to the airport after the tour. You can get an extra night accommodation with us either pre or post accommodation for your trip. Both pre and post accommodation will be at Hotel Ibis Christchurch.

Do you have trips available for April 2026 for New Zealand which includes the train

Are you looking to visit only the South Island in New Zealand, or are you looking to visit both islands? I'll be happy to take a look at some options for you that include the TranzAlpine train

Southern Spotlight (2025/2026) (15 destinations)

9 days

•

From Christchurch to Hokitika

3.7

6 traveler reviews

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: AAT Kings
Explorer: Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
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 - 48
All Ages Welcome

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Christchurch
Accommodation
Hotel (Ibis Hotel Christchurch)
Day 2
Lake Tekapo
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel (Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel)
Included Activities
- Christchurch city tour viewing innovative Cathedral and Turanga library
- Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo
- View Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
Landmarks
Christchurch Cathedral
Turanga Central Library
Church of the Good Shepherd
Lake Tekapo
Day 3
Oamaru - Dunedin
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Scenic Hotel Dunedin City)
Optional Activities
- Explore Oamaru's Victorian heritage buildings
- Walk Oamaru's art-lined alleys
- Wildlife discovery including fur seals near Dunedin
- Visit Speight's Brewery
Landmarks
Oamaru
Speight's Brewery
Day 4
Fiordland - Te Anau
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel (Distinction Luxmore Hotel)
Landmarks
Fiordland National Park
Otago University
Day 5
Milford Sound
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Cruise Milford Sound/Piopiotahi with waterfall views
Landmarks
Fiordland National Park
Milford Sound/Piopiotahi
Day 6
Queenstown
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner (Gourmet barbecue dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm)
Accommodation
Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak
- Gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm
Optional Activities
- Skippers Jet adventure
- Kiwi Park visit
Landmarks
Lake Wakatipu
Walter Peak High Country Farm
Kiwi Park
Day 7
Lake Dunstan - Lake Hawea - Franz Josef
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier)
Included Activities
- View Franz Josef Glacier from panoramic viewpoint
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere
Landmarks
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Dunstan
Lake Hawea
Haast Pass
Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere
Day 8
Hokitika - Christchurch
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel (Ibis Hotel Christchurch)
Included Activities
- TranzAlpine train journey to Christchurch with panoramic views
Optional Activities
- Explore pounamu (native greenstone or jade) in Hokitika
Landmarks
Hokitika
Day 9
Christchurch

Landmarks
Christchurch Cathedral
Turanga Central Library
Church of the Good Shepherd
Lake Tekapo

Landmarks
Oamaru
Speight's Brewery

Landmarks
Fiordland National Park
Otago University

Landmarks
Fiordland National Park
Milford Sound/Piopiotahi

Landmarks
Lake Wakatipu
Walter Peak High Country Farm
Kiwi Park

Landmarks
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Dunstan
Lake Hawea
Haast Pass
Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere

Landmarks
Hokitika

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

Ibis Hotel Christchurch
Hotel
Days 1, 8
Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel
Hotel
day 2
Scenic Hotel Dunedin City
Hotel
day 3
Distinction Luxmore Hotel
Hotel
day 4
Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown
Hotel
Days 5, 6
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Hotel
day 7

Operated by

AAT Kings

4.3

(115 reviews)

Number of tours

413

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

within 2 days

Response rate

80%

Since 1912, AAT Kings as a tour operator has been helping people from all...

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Other

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

3.7

Overall rating based on 6 Reviews

Itinerary
4.7
Transport
5.0
Guide
5.0
Accommodation
4.3
Food
4.3
Tour Operator
4.3

Marina
January 6th, 2026
5
We were very happy with our tour! It was very well organised, good accommodation, tasty meals, and with tour...
We were very happy with our tour! It was very well organised, good accommodation, tasty meals, and with tour director and driver doing the best job of looking after people!Show more
Traveled in December 2025
D
David
December 3rd, 2024
1
Beware, this tour does not operate fully throughout the year and if, like us, the Tranz Alpine Railway is not running...
Show more
Traveled in October 2024
D
Dianne
December 19th, 2023
5
Isobel was an outstanding tour guide, full of amazing and interesting information, funny, down to earth, a wonderful...
Isobel was an outstanding tour guide, full of amazing and interesting information, funny, down to earth, a wonderful story teller, competent, organised, nice to everyone. We've done two other Trafalgar bus tours and she has been our favourite tour guide. Darrell was a superb bus driver, always calm, navigating different terrains and weather with ease. We felt 100% safe in his competent hands. I liked that so much of the good stuff was included in the tour, e.g. the cruise on Milford Sound, and the wonderful ferry ride and dinner on the farm in Queenstown. It was fast paced, but we did cover an incredible amount in 8 days.Show more
Traveled in November 2023
M
Moumita
March 10th, 2020
3
We had a great guide but the tour itself had a very brief covering of the Franz and fox that was very dissappointing....
Show more
Traveled in March 2020
Reply from: AAT Kings
Hi Moumita, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed travelling with our Travel Director, but we are sorry to hear that other parts of the Guided Holiday did not meet expectations. If you would like to discuss further then please contact us at guestrelations@ttc.com with some further information including your name, booking reference and departure date. Many thanks, AAT Kings
Show more
R
Rosemary Diana
February 26th, 2020
4
Very good tour, excellent tour director and driver. Itinerary super, fantastic scenery, food mostly very good, hotels...
Show more
Traveled in February 2020
Reply from: AAT Kings
Hello Rosemary, Thank you very much for your feedback. We are looking forward to welcoming you on an AAT Kings time again in the future. Many thanks, AAT Kings
Show more
G
GingerSutton
February 8th, 2019
4
View in English
Traveled in January 2019
Reply from: AAT Kings
Hi Ginger, Thanks so much for sharing your feedback! We hope to see you again soon on another AAT Kings tour! Many thanks, AAT Kings
Show more

Dates & Availability

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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From Sunday
29 Mar, 2026
To Monday
6 Apr, 2026
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