10-Day New Zealand South Island Tour Packages

Ready to explore New Zealand's South Island? Indulge in Queenstown's adventure activities, Milford Sound's fjords (weather permitting—it rains a lot), Mount Cook area, the West Coast's glaciers like Franz Josef. You'll see Christchurch rebuilding itself, Dunedin's Scottish heritage, and Abel Tasman's beaches up north. Head to the wine regions around Marlborough, and try adventure stuff like bungee jumping if you're inclined.

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Insider tips: Recommended 10-day New Zealand South Island tour itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaNew Zealand South Island travel expert at TourRadar

10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
Travel through Fiordland National Park's native beech forests to Milford Sound, cruising past 1,692-meter Mitre Peak and cascading waterfalls where fur seals surface in deep waters. Cross Haast Pass from Lakes Hawea and Wanaka into Franz Josef Glacier's rainforests, then jet boat the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri.
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- Days 1-2
  Christchurch & Lake Tekapo Region
  Begin your South Island adventure in Christchurch. Take time to walk through the rebuilt city center. "The contrast between new architecture and preserved heritage buildings tells the story of the city's resilience." Visit the Canterbury Museum first thing to beat the crowds. On your second day drive through the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo about 3 hours away. Get to the Church of the Good Shepherd before 9 AM to avoid tourist crowds and get better photos.
- Days 3-4
  Dunedin & Te Anau
  Drive to Dunedin through Oamaru (2.5 hours). Bring different clothing options since Dunedin weather changes quickly. Visit Larnach Castle for $40 but skip the guided tours. You can see just as much on your own. The next day takes you on a 4-hour drive to Te Anau your starting point for Fiordland. Book the glowworm cave tours well ahead because they fill up fast in busy seasons.
- Days 5-6
  Milford Sound & Queenstown
  Start early for Milford Sound. The first boat trips offer the best chances to see wildlife. Plan about 2.5 hours each way from Te Anau to Milford with photo stops. Bring motion sickness pills for the winding roads. Stay near the lake in Queenstown to be close to everything. "The TSS Earnslaw cruise was a highlight - request a window table at Walter Peak Station for dinner with mountain views."
- Days 7-8
  Franz Josef & West Coast
  The trip to Franz Josef is about 5 hours through Haast Pass. Schedule helicopter rides for morning when skies are usually clearer. Head north to see Punakaiki's blowholes at high tide when they're most impressive. Bring shoes with good traction for the Pancake Rocks walk since it gets slippery in wet weather.
- Days 9-10
  TranzAlpine & Christchurch
  Take the TranzAlpine train (4.5 hours) and book seats on the left side going east for the best views. Book early as seats sell quickly. Finish in Christchurch with dinner at Little High Eatery. Book morning flights out instead of afternoon ones to avoid weather delays.
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10 Day New Zealand Itinerary, incl. Auckland and Queenstown
A South Island journey from Queenstown to Christchurch spans 5 days, featuring Milford Sound cruise, Franz Josef Glacier exploration, and TranzAlpine train ride. The tour takes in Mount Cook National Park, Hooker Valley Track, and Southern Alps' dramatic landscapes.
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- Days 1-3
  Auckland and Rotorua Region
  Your journey begins in Auckland. Take a full day to adjust to the time zone and explore the City of Sails. Start with a harbor ferry to Devonport for city views early morning when the light is best for photos. On day 2 travel to Rotorua to experience Maori culture. A recent visitor shared: "Watching the traditional Maori performance at Mitai Village was incredible, but bring insect repellent for the evening show." Day 3 takes you to both Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves. Visit Hobbiton first in the morning when crowds are smaller and lighting is better. For Waitomo pack sturdy shoes as cave paths can be slippery. Take a light jacket since the caves stay at 16°C (61°F) all year.
- Days 4-6
  Queenstown Adventures
  Book an early morning flight to Queenstown on day 4 to avoid afternoon wind turbulence. Get your bearings with the Queenstown Hill walk which takes 2-3 hours and offers great views. Days 5-6 feature key highlights: the Hooker Valley Track near Mt. Cook and Milford Sound cruise. The track is a 3-hour return walk on mostly flat terrain. Milford Sound requires a full day with 4 hours driving each way. A recent visitor noted: "The Milford Sound cruise was breathtaking. Pack layers - the temperature can change dramatically between Queenstown and the fiord."
- Days 7-8
  Franz Josef Glacier Region
  The drive from Queenstown to Franz Josef takes about 5 hours along Haast Pass with plenty of photo stops. Plan glacier activities for day 8 in the morning when weather is usually clearer. Skip helicopter tours if it's cloudy since visibility matters for the experience. Lake kayaking makes a good backup plan if weather isn't ideal.
- Days 9-10
  TranzAlpine Train to Christchurch
  The scenic TranzAlpine train leaves Greymouth at 14:05 and arrives in Christchurch at 18:30. Book a left-side seat heading east for the best views. Spend your last morning exploring Christchurch's rebuilt center and Riverside Market.
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New Zealand Southern Pioneer
A grand tour covers 7 South Island destinations over ten days, from Christchurch's Canterbury Museum to Franz Josef's glacier views. Queenstown's adventure scene, Wanaka's Mou Waho Island, and the TranzAlpine railway through Arthur's Pass feature prominently. Hotels and 11 meals included at approx. $410 per day.
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- Christchurch New Zealand
  113 mi
- Lake Tekapo New Zealand
  34 mi
- Lake Ohau New Zealand
  12 mi
- Twizel New Zealand
  72 mi
- Kawarau Gorge New Zealand
  23 mi
- Queenstown New Zealand
  10 mi
- Arrowtown New Zealand
  22 mi
- Show 2 more
- Wanaka New Zealand
  17 mi
- Lake Hawea New Zealand
  10 mi
- Lake Wanaka New Zealand
  95 mi
- Franz Josef New Zealand
  81 mi
- Greymouth New Zealand
  41 mi
- Arthur's Pass National Park New Zealand
  62 mi
- Christchurch New Zealand
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New Zealand South Island 10 Day Tour Packages You'll Love

What people love about 10-day New Zealand South Island tours

TracyTraveled in October
5
This tour is designed with solo travelers in mind. I've solo traveled through Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan. This tour takes the stress out of logistics planning to create a seamless and enjoyable travel experience. Places such as Japan have impeccable public transit, which makes getting around easy. New Zealand, however, requires a lot of driving to reach highly sought-after hotspots. As a solo-traveler, renting a car and driving several hours a day wasn't ideal. New Zealand thankfully offers bus/couch tours to get travelers where they want to go. BucketList builds an itinerary off these tour schedules to create an experience that is seamless and blends these schedules to together to maximize the traveler's experience. Every morning, all I had to do was show up to the rendezvous. The tour guides will stop for breakfast at a cafe, so don't worry if the pick up times are extraordinarily early. Get in some extra Zs and before you know it, it's time for some brekkie. Aside from sewing together a seamless tour experience, the hotels picked by BucketList were clean and comfortable. While these are not 5 Star accommodations, BucketList did not cheap out with cheap motels, either. The accommodations were conveniently located, friendly staff, included breakfast (if offered by the accommodation), and clean. The only downside to this itinerary is it can feel a bit rushed. This is because each tour day is roughly 12 hours, which doesn't leave much time to explore Queenstown, for example. I was able to look around a little bit the day I arrived in Queenstown, however for the other days I came back too late to look around the shops. If you're only interested in the night life of Queenstown, this may be okay, keeping in mind there is an early start each day.
NEW ZEALAND – 10 Days Highlights of North and South Islands
WoldeyesusTraveled in April
5
Service was great and the touring team was awesome!!
Southern Spotlight
LaurenTraveled in November
5
I had the best time ever on the Stray Travel Kaka Tour! Our tour guide was Cam and he was amazing, he made the tour so fun and always made sure the group were having a good time! The whole trip had such a good balance of included activities and optional extras, so you could make the experience your own. And if you’re thinking about adding an extra activity, you HAVE to do the stargazing/ crater experience in Lake Tekapo! All of the accommodations were also great, some even with an hot tub or swimming pool! Everything was clean, comfy, and you could tell the hotels were picked out carefully Overall it was such an unforgettable, amazing experience. If you’re thinking about exploring New Zealand South Island, this tour is literally perfect. Would recommend 100% and I’ll definitely be back to see the North!
9-Day Kaka Select: The South Island Rail & Alpine Expedition (Christchurch Start)