
Price based on per person in Twin Room for departure 03 March 2025
Best price guarantee Learn More
- Platinum Operator
- Intrepid Travel
- Group Tour
- Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
- Fully Guided
- An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
- Guided in English
- Group Size 12 - 16
- Age range 18 to 99
Places You’ll See

Highlights
- Explore Christchurch's innovative architecture
- Stargaze in Lake Tekapo's Dark Sky Reserve
- Experience Queenstown's thrilling adventures
- Relax by the stunning Lake Wanaka
- Carve your own pounamu in Franz Josef
Itinerary
- Introduction
- Day 1 Christchurch / Lake Tekapo
- Day 2 Queenstown
- Day 3 Queenstown
- Day 4 Queenstown / Wanaka
- Day 5 Wanaka / Franz Josef
- Day 6 Franz Josef
- Day 7 Hokitika / Greymouth / Christchurch
- Day 8 Christchurch
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Guide
- Meals
- Additional Services
- Transport
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Optional
- Additional Services

Operated by
Intrepid Travel
Number of tours
1,331
Age Range
5 to 99 years old
Response time
7 hours
Response rate
96%
Back in 1989, two guys from Melbourne, Australia by the names of Darrell and...
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Customer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationGood
- FoodGood
- Elizabeth· January 18th, 2025The trip was amazing. The guide -Hayley was also wonderful. All in all- 5 stars was not enough. Everything about the whole experience from Day 1 to the end is perfect.Intrepid Travel commented on this reviewThank you so much, Elizabeth, for sharing your experience with us on your recent New Zealand South Island Express trip. Your pictures look beautiful and we are delighted you had such an incredible time.Trip date: January 2025
- MHMaximilian· September 24th, 2024Loved the whole trip Our guide Duli was amazing he read our wishes from our lips and made them happenTrip date: August 2024
- Annette· April 12th, 2023Great tour! We got to see so many places in...Show moreIntrepid Travel commented on this reviewThank you for your wonderful review Annette! It sounds like you've made some life-long memories and friends during your travels, we're so glad you enjoyed exploring the South Island of New Zealand with us, we'd love to have you explore the North Island... Show moreTrip date: March 2023
- Janet· February 21st, 2023Our guide James took great care of us..Seen...Show moreIntrepid Travel commented on this reviewThanks so much for your review Janet! We're so pleased to hear that James did a wonderful job taking care of you and your fellow travellers, we hope you enjoyed exploring the South Island with us and look forward to welcoming you on another adventure in... Show moreTrip date: February 2023
- Sheree· January 3rd, 2023Due to an Admin error I could not join my tour at the departure point. Although my records were missing I did get the opportunity to join the tour a few days in. It was an OK tour. I really enjoyed some of the places visited, accommodation was OK. And most people on the tour were lovely. Of course there is always one person who makes it difficult for others and this tour made it easy to ignore them most of the time.Show moreIntrepid Travel commented on this reviewHi Sheree - thank you for taking the time to leave us this review. Our Customer Care team will be in touch with you directly regarding your experience. We're very sorry for the complications at the start of your tour, but so glad to read that you've... Show moreTrip date: December 2022
- Donna· November 17th, 2022Great scenery, length and size of tour is good. More time made for lunch would be good while travelling long distance i.e. cardrona hotel, picnic lunches organised for some activities etc. More structure, information and correct pricing required around the activities. The tour guide was informative enough, respectful and polite. However, he was 2 hours late arriving for the tour with apologies, excuses and blaming Hakka tours and the flights. Then he had to pick up his skate board at another hotel. We did not receive our tour around Christchurch as we were behind time. Breakfast could be better prepared and catered for. Would have been insightful to inform everyone about Lake Tekapo designated night sky project. Queenstown -visits to wineries for wine tasting was not offered even when requested by guests and horse riding was not an option. Dinner time was not as advertised. Everything was closing or could not accommodate a large group and when they could many items on the menu were not available. We did not visit Arrowtown as advertised. Wanaka is beautiful however the accommodation was overcrowded (8 in a room) with inadequate bathroom facilities. A bathroom was opened but it was filthy (I was the first one to have a shower and picked up two wads of hair near the drain). Our room was flooded by the water from the shower and peoples bags got wet. The tour to Mou Waho Island was disappointing and overpriced. We were told a large Catamaran would cruise us to the island. What we got was a water taxi with no access to outside and limited viewing. The driver said he was instructed to hurry by our tour leader as we had to be back in time. We arrived back in time but then waited on the street for 2 hours for the rest of the group who were late back from their activity. No body took responsibility. Franz Josef accommodation was great. The green stone carving and the hosts were excellent. The Kayacking was another great activity with lovely guides. The TranzAlpine train was also good. I organised additional accommodation in Christchurch at Urbanz an additional night only to be told I have to be out of the room by 10am and come back for check in after 2pm. What was the point of booking extra accommodation when I wanted the extra to be able to relax before moving onto the next phase of my trip. Please note…people from other countries do not want to be told about their country from someone who has only been a visitor. Tour guides need to be careful how they talk about other cultures. All cultures need to be respected not just Māori. Overall with pricing discrepancy, tour guides blaming each other, price discrepancy for activities, inadequate accommodation, being told I have to leave the accommodation by 10 am and not checkin until 2pm when staying for two nights, being billed twice for pre and post accommodation. I paid $270AU for pre and post accommodation. Then get billed again by Hakka and $250NZD is deducted from the bill of activities. $250NZD is $228AUD. I have not received the correct deduction, invoices or receipts. The list of disappointment continues. This was a disappointing, overpriced and confusing tour that I will not be recommending to others.Show moreIntrepid Travel commented on this reviewDear Donna – we are very sorry to learn of the multiple issues you encountered our New Zealand South Island Express tour. We have put your review to our Operations team to get a better understanding of your experience and investigate the issues you’ve... Show moreTrip date: November 2022
- SGsusan· November 5th, 2022Callum was a fantastic tour guide he made our...Show moreIntrepid Travel commented on this reviewHi Susan so happy to hear that you had a great Local Leader in New Zealand! Thanks for traveling with us!Trip date: October 2022
Dates & Availability
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- Monday17 Feb, 2025Monday24 Feb, 2025EnglishSee Similar Tours For These Dates$1,615
- On RequestMonday24 Feb, 2025Monday3 Mar, 2025EnglishSee Similar Tours For These Dates$1,615
- 1 Other Unavailable Departure
- On RequestMonday3 Mar, 2025Monday10 Mar, 2025EnglishMultiple Room Types$1,555
- On RequestMonday10 Mar, 2025Monday17 Mar, 2025EnglishMultiple Room Types$1,555
- On RequestSaturday15 Mar, 2025Saturday22 Mar, 2025EnglishMultiple Room Types$1,555
- On RequestMonday17 Mar, 2025Monday24 Mar, 2025EnglishMultiple Room Types$1,555
- On RequestSunday23 Mar, 2025Sunday30 Mar, 2025EnglishMultiple Room Types$1,555
- On RequestFriday4 Apr, 2025Friday11 Apr, 2025EnglishMultiple Room Types$1,555
- On RequestFriday11 Apr, 2025Friday18 Apr, 2025EnglishMultiple Room Types$1,555
- On RequestMonday14 Apr, 2025Monday21 Apr, 2025EnglishMultiple Room Types$1,555
Good to Know
Tour ID: 302399
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