Kirra Tours 10 day Southern Highlights

Day 1 - Welcome to Christchurch

On arrival into Christchurch a representative of Kirra Tours will meet you from your flight and a transfer will deliver you to your Christchurch hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the Garden City.

Your accommodation: Pavilions Hotel Christchurch Pavilions Hotel is located very close to the city centre of Christchurch and has been designed with your total comfort in mind. Facilities included swimming pool, spa pool and private sauna and a 24 hour reception service provides help whenever you need it.

Day 2 - Christchurch to Lake Tekapo to Mt. Cook to Omarama

Your tour departs from the Pavilions Hotel at 8.00am. A city sights tour will highlight the main attractions of Christchurch before travelling across the Canterbury Plains into MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Collie Dog statue at Lake Tekapo. Opportunity to fly over the Southern Alps with Air Safaris (optional), before continuing to Mt Cook National Park. Admire the majesty of Mt Cook before travelling on to Omarama.

Your accommodation: Heritage Gateway Hotel Positioned at the crossroads linking north, south, east and west, the Heritage Gateway Hotel truly is the Gateway of the South. With 98 pleasantly decorated rooms, a full restaurant and cocktail bar with views of the Southern Alps, the Heritage Gateway Hotel has everything you need to rest and refresh.

Day 3 - Omarama to Dunedin

Pass large hydro lakes as you travel down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and Dunedin - the "Scottish" city. An early arrival allows a choice of excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch harbour cruise or Newton's Citibus tour to see the penguins, albatross and seals, enjoy the historic and scenic Taieri Gorge train or explore the city only a few minutes walk away. This evening prior to Dinner you will be treated to a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis and gift.

Your accommodation: Cargills Hotel Dunedin Cargills Hotel offers travellers premier hospitality with excellent accommodation and a friendly, warm atmosphere. Cargills is relaxed and is famous for hosting its guests, rather than merely serving them.

Day 4 - Dunedin to Lake Manapouri and Te Anau

Visit historic Olveston House, then cross rich farmlands to the agricultural towns of Gore and Lumsden. Visit Lake Manapouri before arriving at Lake Te Anau.

Your accommodation: Luxmore Hotel, Te Anau Distinction Luxmore Hotel provides a full range of premium accommodation options, including 84 Deluxe Rooms. The Hotels 180 rooms offer the perfect base for your travels in Te Anau and the Fiordland region. All new Deluxe rooms feature tasteful interior design, LCD flat screen televisions, comfortable lounge furniture and queen size beds. Modern bathrooms offer showers over the bath.

Day 5 - Milford Sound including a launch cruise

A highlight of any tour. Follow the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys where the beech forests reach to the roads edge and snow capped peaks tower above. Descend into the Cleddau Canyon to Milford Sound, dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you to the open sea and shows such highlights as the Bowen and Stirling Falls. Time to relax and appreciate your surroundings. Walk into the rainforest to visit The Chasm a spectacular waterfall then pause at the Homer Tunnel. If conditions permit, your Coach Captain may make a short drive into the Lower Hollyford Valley. Return to Te Anau late afternoon.

Your accommodation: Luxmore Hotel, Te Anau Distinction Luxmore Hotel provides a full range of premium accommodation options, including 84 Deluxe Rooms. The Hotels 180 rooms offer the perfect base for your travels in Te Anau and the Fiordland region. All new Deluxe rooms feature tasteful interior design, LCD flat screen televisions, comfortable lounge furniture and queen size beds. Modern bathrooms offer showers over the bath.

Day 6 - Te Anau to Queenstown

Cruise across Lake Te Anau to explore the under-ground world of rushing water and drift beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glow-worms, an unforgettable sight. This afternoon drive north to Kingston and around the shores of Lake Wakatipu to picturesque Queenstown.

Enjoy a fantastic cruise on board the unique steamship TSS Earnslaw. On arrival at Walter Peak enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the Colonels' homestead. Crossing the lake on the return journey a sing a long with a suitable night cap is the order of the day.

Your accommodation: Rydges Hotel Queenstown Situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Wakatipu, Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown boasts breathtaking views over the lake and surrounding mountains.

Day 7 - Free day to enjoy Queenstown

A day to explore the delights of this alpine resort at your leisure. Your Coach Captain will happily advise on the many sightseeing activities available. We recommend the world famous Shotover Jet Boat ride, take a Gondola to the Skyline high above, a tour to the gold mining area of Skippers Canyon or for the adventurous - white water rafting. Alternatively browse in the many shops and galleries.

Your accommodation: Rydges Hotel Queenstown Situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Wakatipu, Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown boasts breathtaking views over the lake and surrounding mountains.

Day 8 - Queenstown to Haast Pass to Fox Glacier

Pass picturesque Lake Hayes on to an area steeped in fascinating history relating to early settlement and the goldmining era, to Lake Wanaka, a picture postcard resort on the lakes edge with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Pass Hawea and the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka to Makarora, cross the Haast Pass into the Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Drive north along the coast to the magnificent Glacier region and visit the National Park Headquarters or take the optional guided walk to the glacier's terminal face.

Your accommodation: Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier The Fox Glacier Resort Hotel is nestled at the base of the majestic Southern Alps in the Westland World Heritage Park. Originally built in 1928 it has been refurbished to retain its charming atmosphere.

Day 9 - Fox Glacier to Christchurch

Time for an optional helicopter flight over the glaciers then north to Greymouth to visit a Greenstone (Jade) factory to see craftsmen cutting and polishing giant boulders to create fine jewellery. Cross the Otira Gorge and Arthurs Pass to the Canterbury Plains and into Christchurch. Your tour concludes at approximately 5.00pm.

Option today to take the Tranz Alpine Scenic train across the Southern Alps.

Considered one of the worlds great train journeys, the Tranz Alpine scenic train takes you from Greymouth to Christchurch, from the West Coast and the Tasman Sea to the east coast and the Pacific Ocean. From your carriage you'll see the spectacular Otira Valley and mountains of Arthur's Pass National Park and the Southern Alps. Rivers, waterfalls and lush beech forest followed by high country farmland whisk by before your journey follows the Waimakariri River and then onto the Canterbury Plains before arriving into Christchurch just after 6pm.
Your train departs Greymouth at 1:45pm arriving Christchurch around 6:15pm. The train has a food car and bar on board. Your coach travels ahead with your luggage.

Your accommodation: Pavilions Hotel Christchurch Pavilions Hotel is located very close to the city centre of Christchurch and has been designed with your total comfort in mind. Facilities included swimming pool, spa pool and private sauna and a 24 hour reception service provides help whenever you need it.

Day 10 - Depart Christchurch today

You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Christchurch airport in time for your onward flight.