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10 Day Classic South Island

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Description

With these tours we present some of our most popular and compelling self-drive itineraries. Experience the benefits of self driving but enjoy the convenience and security of us pre-booking your chosen type of accommodation and rental car. Just enjoy the travelling without having to worry about where you are going to stay. 

Any of our itineraries can be modified as well as adding extra days in any of the locations. If you require something completely different, please advise and we will be happy to put something together. 

During your trip you can call us anytime to make amendments to your tour, book extra activity or simply ask for some advice. We will be happy to help you anytime of the day or night.

Inclusions

  • 9 nights accommodation in 3.5 to 5 star B&Bs / motels / hotels 
  • Rental vehicle of your choice including airport and ferry port collection charges, unlimited kms & additional driver fees 
  • Rental car insurance included – Excess reduced to zero 
  • Comprehensive travel itinerary, maps and vouchers 
  • Milford Sound Cruise
  • 24/7 nationwide roadside accident assistance 
  • Free after hours assistance for amendments or additional bookings with you assigned consultant. 
  • 15% Goods and Services Tax

Other Information

Duration

  • These tours depart daily. Please click on the “Prices and Dates” tab for accommodation and rental car options.

Departure

  • Daily departures / 365 days of the year 
  • Tours can start and finish on any day of the week 
  • Mix, match and join individual tours together to create a tailor made itinerary 

Packages are priced per person based on double occupancy/twin share. Prices do not include international airfare

Plan and Book Ahead 
Preplanning and pre-booking your New Zealand vacation before you depart is essential. Limited accommodation in certain areas during the high season could mean that a town’s accommodation can be booked out well in advance. Without pre-booking, you may find that the you pay a higher rate upon check-in or waste a lot of time travelling between accommodation providers trying to find a suitable option. 
We know the best places and with our discounted rates you are guaranteed of receiving well chosen accommodation options at the best possible price. Pre-planning will ensure you make the most of your valuable holiday time. Acrossnz is well-versed with all areas of New Zealand and is totally experienced at arranging well planned self drive itineraries. Feel free to ask the advice of Acrossnz when planning your self drive adventure to make sure you maximize your holiday experience. 

Book early: New Zealand has very limited availability in the summer months and often books out well in advance. It is recommended to book early to avoid disappointment. 

Create Your Own Self Drive Holiday 
Along with choosing one of our prearranged itineraries you can construct your own ‘a la carte’ holiday by booking the rental vehicle from this link and selecting your accommodation from our accommodation link. If you choose to book your accommodation through our link we will happily assist with knowledge on your accommodation choices or amendment your itinerary to ensure your holiday is just what you want. 

Camper Vans & Motor Homes 
Perhaps you prefer to follow one of the itineraries we have created in a Motor Home? Just book the Motor Home with us and we will be happy to provide you for the full itinerary as well as assisting you with camping ground bookings. Click here to choose some of the cheapest options in NZ.

Welcome to Christchurch - Christchurch - Dunedin - Dunedin - Te Anau - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau - Queenstown - Queenstown - Queenstown - Glaciers - Punakaiki - Punakaiki - Christchurch DAY10 Depart Christchurch Return your car at the airport in time to catch your onward flight.  - Depart Christchurch

DAY1

Welcome to Christchurch

Christchurch, the heart of the Canterbury plains is fondly dubbed “The Garden City” and sparkles all year round. A lively blend of English tradition and contemporary New Zealand culminate in Christchurch offering a vast array of unique attractions and experiences which are sure to charm its many visitors. 

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens showcase some of the flora of New Zealand and other parts of the world. Founded in 1863 with the planting of an English Oak tree, the Gardens now feature one of the finest collections of exotic and native plants found in New Zealand.
Towering majestic trees – many over 120 years old – dominate the Gardens, forming a striking backdrop to the extensive themed plant collections and sweeping lawns.
Attractions and experiences:

This popular city offers us: the Botanical Gardens, the Arts Centre, Art Gallery, Canterbury Museum, Skyline Gondola, City Tram, Hot Air Balloon rides, Port Hills, Antarctic Centre, Jet boating and rafting and much more.

 
DAY2

Christchurch - Dunedin

Christchurch to Dunedin 
Driving distance: 363 km / 226 miles 
Driving: Approx 5h15m 

SH 1 from Christchurch to Dunedin reveals a great many gems for the traveller from urban interests to natural wonders, from farmlands and mighty rivers to seaside towns and historic Oamaru. On the ‘not to be missed’ list are the enormous boulders at Moreaki and the cliff edge Māori pā at Karitane; whilst the ‘Edinburgh of the South’, Dunedin, lies just ahead. 

 
DAY3

Dunedin - Te Anau

Dunedin to Te Anau 
Driving distance: 298 km / 185 miles 
Driving: Approx 4h19m 

Drive through the rolling hill country of South Otago and Southland. Cross to the Fiordland through Gore for the shorter route (4hrs), or via the Catlins for the longer, a scenic route (7hrs). Overnight in Te Anau. 

The scenic route – Heading south away from Dunedin on SH1 and joining the SH92 at Balclutha, this route, also known as the Southern Scenic route, simply sparkles! Known for its rugged and natural beauty, the Catlins Coast has a great many highlights from spotting penguins, seals, and dolphins frolicking in the sea; hearing the distinctive call of native birds; to historic lighthouses, superlative horizon views and the 180 million year old fossilized forest at Curio Bay.

DAY4

Te Anau - Milford Sound

Te Anau to Milford Sound 
Driving distance: 116 km / 72 miles 
Driving: Approx 1h41m 

They say that life is about the journey not just the destination and where better to reflect upon this than on the magnificent Milford Road? One of New Zealand’s stunning scenic highways, the beauty of this route is utterly breath-taking and sure to wet your appetite for the unforgettable experience of visiting the Milford Sound. 

Departing Te Anau and its glorious lake, the route takes you inland through beech forests and expansive flats before opening up to mountain vistas. The first part is relatively mild farmland, then you’ll ease into beech forest near the entrance to the Fiordland National Park.  Look for the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Mirror Lakes. Mirror Lakes provide a great resting spot and at Knobs Flat there is a small shelter with an information board and toilet facilities. The route climbs steadily towards ‘The Divide’, travels through the Homer Tunnel and leads you into the Cleddau Canyon ripe and ready for the Milford Sound experience – an amazing 22km-ling fiord dominated by Mitre Peak. 

A cruise on Milford Sound will be an essential component of your day, or you can get up close and personal in a sea kayak. Tall waterfalls, vertical rock faces and seals are some of the things you’ll remember. The underwater observatory is an option with most cruises.Of note is that the Milford Road has no fuel stops/petrol stations and in places can be narrow and winding. 
We highly recommend to purchase the NZ$1 map of the Milford Road (from Te Anau info centre) for specific roads notes of the magnificent rivers, observation points, water falls and picnic areas to follow. 

Even though the road is 120KM – DO allow yourself 4 hrs for the drive there.

 

Activities

Milford Sound Nature Day Cruise
DAY5

Te Anau - Queenstown

Te Anau to Queenstown 
Driving distance: 174 km / 108 miles 
Driving: Approx 2h32m 

An impressive journey, both SH94/ SH6 and the gravel track (via Mavora Lakes) promise unparalleled scenery and endless photo opportunities. Make time to wave at the deer at Mossburn and at your own reflection in Lake Wakatipu before approaching the Remarkables mountains and entering Queenstown.

 
DAY6

Queenstown

An adventure playground extraordinaire, Queenstown is both beautiful and bountiful: even the mountain range framing the town is called “The Remarkables”. Add to this Lake Wakatipu and lush forestation, its no wonder Hollywood film-makers frequently visit. Home to the first commercial bungy jumping enterprise, Queenstown is known for its many adrenaline-filled activities. Nearby Skipper’s Canyon and Arthur’s point commemorate the discovery of gold in the area. 

A stunningly beautiful and compact town, walking around Queenstown from eatery to entertainment, from parties to performances is all too easy – and being the unofficial adrenaline capital of New Zealand, you might want to pace out your days! Mountain skiing is immensely popular at Cardrona Alpine Resort, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone; with cross country skiing at the Waiorau Snow Farm (near Cardrona). Other adventure possibilities include jet boating, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, skateboarding, tramping, paragliding, canyon-swinging, sky diving, river surfing and fly fishing!

If a calmer pace suits you, Queenstown has a great shopping and commercial scene and there is an equally vibrant night-life. Take in Queenstown’s incredible scenery over a leisurely lunch and a locally produced Pinot noir from, apparently, the world’s southernmost wine region! Bars are a-plenty, whilst there is a constant buzz of street (and indoor) entertainment and live music. Queenstown is home to the coal fired steamship, the TSS Earnslaw; hosts an annual International Jazz  Festival and a Winter Festival and also makes a great base for exploring the inland lakes (Lake Hawea, Lake Wakatipu, and Lake Wanaka).

 
DAY7

Queenstown - Glaciers

Queenstown to Franz Josef 
Driving distance: 355 km / 221 miles 
Driving: Approx 5h8m 

Heading towards Wanaka is the SH6 via Cromwell for the cautious; or through the Crown Range for the adventurous. Rejoining SH6, Wanaka, Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea all make great places to stop for refreshments and photographs, whilst the allure of Mount Aspiring National Park beckons. 

The route through the Haast Pass is superb before the rugged West Coast Road (SH6) leads to the stunning Glaciers.

 
DAY8

Punakaiki

Franz Josef to Punakaiki 
Driving distance: 224 km / 139 miles 
Driving: Approx 3h14m 

Following the coastline north towards Punakaiki, SH6 is not only breath-takingly beautiful and utterly unique, it is also dotted with glorious lakes, beaches, lagoons and small interesting towns. Try glass-blowing at Hokitika, knife-making at Barrytown and gold-panning at Shantytown, the restored town from the gold-rush era, before arriving at the blowholes of Punakaiki.

 
DAY9

Punakaiki - Christchurch DAY10 Depart Christchurch Return your car at the airport in time to catch your onward flight. 

Punakaiki to Christchurch 
Driving distance: 296 km / 184 miles 
Driving: Approx 3h59m 

Travel south along the narrow, bush clad, coastal plain to Greymouth. Turn inland towards the mountains to travel through the Otira Tunnel, over Arthur’s Pass and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. Overnight in Christchurch The dramatic and formidable Arthur’s Pass links the notoriously wet West Coast with the dry plains of Canterbury. 

This is a beautiful, satisfying yet long drive; this Pass effectively cuts through mountain ranges revealing incredible vistas of peaks, scree slopes and walls of sheer rock. The lime-stone area at Cave Stream is a favourite of cavers and rock climbers – look out for 500 year old Maori rock drawings. The last stretch of the route towards Christchurch is, by comparison, gentle! 

Your last night – in Christchurch.

 
DAY10

Depart Christchurch

Return your car at the airport in time to catch your onward flight. 

Vehicle Quality Hotels Bed & Breakfast Superior Hotels Exclusive
Economy
NZ $2,640.00NZ $3,630.00NZ $3,360.00NZ $5,160.00
Compact
NZ $2,670.00NZ $3,660.00NZ $3,390.00NZ $5,190.00
Intermediate
NZ $2,790.00NZ $3,780.00NZ $3,510.00NZ $5,310.00
Full Size
NZ $2,830.00NZ $3,820.00NZ $3,550.00NZ $5,350.00
Permium Wagon AWD
NZ $2,960.00NZ $3,950.00NZ $3,680.00NZ $5,480.00
Intermediate 4WD
NZ $2,940.00NZ $3,780.00NZ $3,660.00NZ $5,460.00
Full Size 4WD
NZ $3,220.00NZ $4,210.00NZ $3,940.00NZ $5,740.00
8 Seater People Mover
NZ $3,120.00NZ $4,110.00NZ $3,840.00NZ $5,640.00
12 Seater Van
NZ $3,240.00NZ $4,230.00NZ $3,960.00NZ $5,760.00


Pricing Details

Pricing is based on 2 people. Option of  Double Room (1 bed) or Twin Room (2 beds) For single travellers or larger groups vacationing together please contact us for a customized quation to ensure you receive the best price. For different rooming configurations (eg triple share or special needs)  please contact us.

Children Costs
Children under 5 travel for free (max 2  excluding certain activities)  Children aged 5-14 at time of travel are an added extra (max 2)

Price Includes
9 nights accommodation; 10 days rental vehicle of choice; All Inclusive rate hire including unlimited kilometres, loss damage waiver (LDW, provides Accident Damages Cover which is subject to excesses that can be reduced); airport concession fee recovery; accident excess reduction insurance; local sales tax (GST); 
Milford Sound Cruise

Price Excludes 
Flights to New Zealand and airport taxes

Prices are in New Zealand dollars and include 15% GST (local sales tax) Click here for an online currency converter to convert prices to your own currency (approximate only)

All prices are based on travel between October 1st through to March 31st. For prices outside these dates, please contact us directly

 

10 Day Classic South Island

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