Itinerary Details
Luxury Gold: The Southern Drift
Day 1 - Welcome to Christchurch
Your New Zealand luxury tour begins by private car to your boutique hotel located in the heart of Christchurch and just minutes from North Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens. Pay a visit to the blooms at the Botanic Gardens or ride the Christchurch Tram before meeting your Travel Concierge where you’ll raise a glass to a grand journey.
Accommodations: Mayfair Hotel, Christchurch.
Day 2 - Christchurch to Dunedin
Travel down the coast through the towns of Timaru and Oamaru to Dunedin to uncover the city’s highlights. Discover grand Edwardian architecture at the Dunedin Railway Station before arriving at your heritage hotel. Dine on favourites such as surf and turf, braised lamb, catch of the day, or other modern twists on traditional local dishes at Parcels Restaurant.
Accommodations: Distinction Dunedin Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Distillery Tour and Dunedin at Leisure
Enjoy a relaxed start this morning before taking a guided tour at Dunedin Craft Distillers, the first distillery in Aotearoa New Zealand and one of only a handful worldwide, to produce botanical spirits from surplus bread and bakery products that would otherwise go to landfill. Discover on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, how owners, Jenny McDonald and Sue Stockwell do it in a ‘Bread to Bottle Tour’ which takes you through the process used to turn bread into spirits. Venture just next door for a special Chocolate tasting journey at OCHO Chocolate covering the history of chocolate in Dunedin, OCHO's genesis, how 'real' chocolate is made and a 10-sample bean-to-bar tasting. Relax or continue exploring Dunedin as you wish. Perhaps take a wildlife cruise of the Otago Peninsula or visit the iconic Larnach Castle.
Accommodations: Distinction Dunedin Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Dunedin to Doubtful Sound (overnight cruise)
Travel by road to Manapouri, then by Catamaran and coach to Doubtful Sound to meet the Fiordland Navigator. Doubtful Sound is a stunning fiord with ancient valleys, waterfalls and wildlife. Your overnight nature cruise comes complete with an onboard naturalist, activities and lectures, not to mention delicious locally sourced cuisine.
Accommodations: Fiordland Navigator
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Doubtful Sound to Queenstown
Spend the morning discovering hidden coves and soaking up the serenity of this majestical fjord. At the completion of the cruise, you will be welcomed to a local farm, where you will enjoy a rustic lunch and hear from landowner Chris. There will be farm animals to pet and stories aplenty. Continue to Queenstown to enjoy lakeside views from your award-winning boutique hotel, The Rees.
Accommodations: The Rees Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 - Queenstown
Take in the surrounding landscape on a Lake Wakatipu scenic cruise aboard TSS Earnslaw and visit Walter Peak High Country farm for an Eco Experience - an idyllic place to spend a few peaceful hours. Or, choose a guided e-bike scenic ride along the lake. Enjoy dinner tonight at local restaurant The Bathhouse, located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
Accommodations: The Rees Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Queenstown to Wanaka
Enjoy a relaxed start this morning before discovering the picture postcard historic gold mining village of Arrowtown. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting in Gibbston Valley of the Vines at Kinross before continuing to Highlands Motorsport Museum and come face to face with the state-of-the-art machines. Meet Mrs Jones Orchard, a traditional fruit stall owner, and indulge in real fruit ice-cream and stone fruit. Later today enjoy a breathtaking walk through the flower fields at the Wanaka Lavender Farm. Your destination is your hotel in Wanaka: sitting at the edge of Lake Wanaka and designed to flow with the seasons, Edgewater is a place you’ll find nature at your own pace.
Accommodations: Edgewater Wanaka Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 - Wanaka Relaxed Start
Be awed at the natural beauty around you while relaxing on a lake cruise. Complete your bonding-with-nature experience on an afternoon nature walk.
Accommodations: Edgewater Wanaka Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Wanaka to Franz Josef
Cruise down the Haast River in a purpose-built, fully enclosed jet boat past snow-capped mountains contrasting with sub-tropical, untouched rainforest basking in the beauty of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. Your guide is eager to share their expert knowledge of this glacial valley as the sunlight pours across the wilderness or the waterfalls tumble down in a light, misty rain. In the the town of Franz Josef, your eco friendly retreat nestled in the wilderness welcomes with natural ambience paired with impeccable luxury, inviting you to enjoy the view from your private balcony.
Accommodations: Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - The Mighty Franz Josef Glacier
Immerse yourself in the grand natural surroundings traversing the brilliant blue ice and deep crevasses of Franz Josef Glacier on a valley walk with a Local Expert. Learn about this uniquely accessible glacier with only a seven-mile descent from the Southern Alps and less than 1,000 feet above sea level. Take in its majesty surrounded by distant rainforest, mountain tops, waterfalls and the upper glacier.
Accommodations: Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Franz Josef to Christchurch
Visit the charming town of Hokitika, the cultural centre of the West Coast where you will meet a local expert for a guided history walk. Travel from the lush rainforest of the West Coast to Arthurs Pass where you will embark on one of the world's great scenic railway journeys aboard the Tranzlapine train. Travel in luxury on the Scenic Plus purpose-built premium carriage designed to enhance every aspect of your journey including a specialist concierge. Enjoy service dinner onboard with exclusive drinks and dining service throughout the journey with a Paddock to Plate regionally inspired food menu and Paired drinks menu. Travel through the dramatic Southern Alps passing the ice fed Waimakariri River and native beech forest, before you traverse the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
Accommodations: Mayfair Hotel, Christchurch.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 - Farewell from Christchurch
Bid farewell to your fellow travellers after breakfast, as your journey comes to an end with a transfer to Christchurch International Airport for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast