New Zealand South Island Tours - over 100 great tour ideas

Enjoy 5 days exploring New Zealand's South Island with this excellent independent touring itinerary. Journey from Christchurch in a loop around the South Island. Cruise through Milford Sound, visit Mt. Cook National Park, explore the West Coast glaciers, and travel on the TranzAlpine scenic train.

See the South Island's highlights including the garden city, Christchurch, mighty Mt. Cook, Lake Tekapo, the wonderful city of Dunedin, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park including a Milford Sound cruise, Queenstown, the West Coast and Franz Josef Glacier and the world famous Tranz Alpine train journey.

The Grand Pacific 9 Day Taste of the South Island tour offers the perfect itinerary to see the best that the south has to offer. Starting and finishing in Christchurch, experience the stunning scenery of the Mackenzie country, visit Dunedin and take in the mountainous beauty of Te Anau and Milford Sound. Head to the adventure capital of Queenstown and the wild West Coast to see glacier country, before returning to Christchurch on board the TranzAlpine train.

Highlights include: Queenstown • the Gibbston Valley • Lakes Wanaka and Hawea •  Visit Franz Josef Glacier • the wild West Coast • The world famous TranzAlpine Scenic Train

From Christchurch you’ll cross the Southern Alps on board the world famous Tranz Alpine Scenic Train.  On reaching the ruggedly beautiful West Coast you’ll follow the coastline south to Franz Josef where you’ll spend the next 2 nights.  From your base in Franz Josef you’ll have time to explore the pristine wilderness of Westland Tai Poutini National Park and the fabulous glaciers.  Leaving the glacier region you’ll continue south through the stunning Haast Pass to the Southern Lakes region and the ‘Adventure Capital’ of Queenstown.

Enjoy the scenery of Canterbury, the Mackenzie country and Mt Cook National Park before arriving into Queenstown. Take a fully escorted day tour to Milford Sound with Real Journeys.

Explore the spectacular South Island on this fully escorted AAT Kings 10 day coach tour. Visit Christchurch, Mt. Cook and Dunedin before crossing Southland to Fiordland National Park, where a Milford Sound cruise and the stunning surrounding alpine regions will prove a trip highlight.

Discover the dramatic South Island on this 9 day escorted coach tour. Cross the Southern Alps to the wild West Coast, travel through Mt. Aspiring National Park to Queenstown and Milford Sound before crossing Southland to Dunedin. Explore Mt. Cook and return to finish in Christchurch.

Highlights include: The world famous Tranz Alpine Scenic Train • The wild West Coast • Visit Franz Josef Glacier •  Lakes Wanaka and Hawea • the Gibbston Valley • Queenstown

This 5 day tour is great for people who wish to experience as much as they can as they journey from Christchurch to Queenstown. Along the way you will explore Mt Cook National Park, before continuing on to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, for a few days of relaxation or exhilaration - you decide!