New Zealand Vacation Packages & Sightseeing Tours New Zealand
Great value New Zealand vacations, coach tours & self drive holidays for independent travellers

Popular Series South Island Tour

Popular Coach Tour Features > Popular Series South Island Tours > 9 Day Southern Explorer

11 Day Southern Explorer
- Escorted South Island Coach Tour

A comprehensive holiday itinerary with the flexible option of finishing in Christchurch or Wellington.
Tour Price On Sale:
Season:  
   
  1 May 11 - 30 Sep 11
Book by 30 June
$2378
  1 Oct 11 - 31 Jan 12 $2645
  1 Feb 12 - 30 Apr 12 $2706
Optional Extras:  
  Breakfast Supplement (10) $200
  Dinner Supplement (8) $275
  Single Room Supplement $745
Note: All prices are NZ$, per person & include 15% GST
Promotions and Deals:
  • Selected departures now guaranteed - see below
  • 10% Earlybird Super Saver discount available on all new bookings when the tour is booked and paid for in full 6 months prior to travel (not available with any other offers)
  • Triple discount. 5% off the tour price applies for 3 people booking together and sharing the same room.
  • Four or More Discount. $50 per person discount if 4 or more adults travel on the same tour together (not available with the EarlyBird Super Saver offer).
  • Terms and conditions apply - please ask for details.

9 Day Southern Explorer

Click here
to make me bigger

Special Included Highlights:  
  • Sightseeing tour of Christchurch
  • World renowned Mt Cook region
  • Traditional Scottish haggis ceremony
  • Olveston House
  • Spectacular southern lakes
  • Milford Sound launch cruise
  • Dinner at Skyline Restaurant
  • Remote national parks of Fiordland and Westland
  • Visit Shantytown with gold panning
  • Visit Greenstone (Jade) Factory
  • Punakaiki pancake rocks
  • Montana Winery visit with tasting and afternoon tea
  • Scenic cruise PictonWellington or
  • Tranz Coastal train Picton Christchurch
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrive Christchurch
You will be met at Christchurch Airport and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Pavilions Hotel

Day2 - Christchurch / Mt Cook / Omarama
A city sights tour will highlight the main attractions of Christchurch before traveling across the Canterbury Plains into the 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 traveling on to Omarama.

Overnight: Heritage Gateway Hotel. (1 night)
Day3 - Omarama / Dunedin
Pass large hydro lakes as you travel down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and Dunedin the Scottish city. An early arrival allows the choice of excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch harbour cruise or Newtons Citibus tour to see the albatross, penguins and seals. Enjoy the historic and scenic Taieri Gorge train excursion 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.

Overnight: Cargills Hotel. (1 night)
Day4 - Dunedin / Lake Manapouri / 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.

Overnight: Distinction Luxmore Hotel
Day5 - Te Anau / Milford Sound / Queenstown
Follow the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, pass through the Homer Tunnel and descend into the Cleddau Canyon to reach majestic Milford Sound, dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you to the open sea and the Bowen and Stirling Falls. Return to Te Anau and on to Mossburn, then skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach Queenstown. Dinner tonight is at the Skyline Restaurant, where both the dining and the views are unsurpassed.

Overnight: Rydges Hotel. (2 nights)
Day6 - 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.
Day7 - Queenstown / Haast Pass/ 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 Lake Hawea and the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka to Makarora into Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Drive north along the coast to the glacier region. Explore the township or take the optional guided walk to the glaciers terminal face.
Overnight: Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier
Day8 - Fox Glacier / Greymouth
Time for an optional helicopter flight over the glacier then on to Franz Josef. Snowcapped Southern Alps dominate the skyline as you pass dense bush, tiny landlocked lakes and small pockets of farmland. Visit a Greenstone (Jade) factory where craftsmen cut and polish giant boulders to create fine jewellery. Next is Shantytown, a restored gold mining town of the 1860s where you pan for gold, ride on the steam train, at no extra cost.

Overnight: Hotel Ashley. (1 night)
Day9 - Greymouth / Blenheim
View the unusual rock formations and blowholes at Punakaiki and pass Charleston, a former goldmining township. Follow the Buller River through the Buller Gorge and on to Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Follow the long Wairau Valley to Blenheim. A short tour of the area includes a visit to Montana Winery. Enjoy a hosted tour of the winery, learn about and taste a range of the famous local wines (purchase if you wish) followed by afternoon tea.

Overnight: Heartland Hotel Blenheim
Day10 - Blenheim / Picton / Christchurch or Wellington
Explore Picton, nestled on the shores of the Marlborough Sounds. You now have the option of continuing to Wellington via the Cook Strait ferry or returning to Christchurch by Tranz Coastal train along the Kaikoura coast.
Overnight Wellington: Bay Plaza Hotel or
Overnight Christchurch: Pavilions Hotel
Day11 - Depart Christchurch or Wellington
Today is goodbye to your new found friends. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.


Departure Dates:
Tour Code Start Christchurch Finish Christchurch or Wellington Promotions & Deals Guaranteed
Departure
11 days 2011      
K11 Sun 07 Aug Wed 17 Aug See above for great discounts  
K14 Sun 28 Aug Wed 07 Sep See above for great discounts  
K162 Fri 16 Sep Mon 26 Sep See above for great discounts  
K172 Fri 23 Sep Mon 03 Oct See above for great discounts  
K18 Sun 25 Sep Wed 05 Oct See above for great discounts  
K182 Fri 30 Sep Mon 10 Oct See above for great discounts  
K192 Fri 07 Oct Sun 23 Oct See above for great discounts  
K212 Fri 21 Oct Sun 06 Nov See above for great discounts  
K222 Fri 28 Oct Sun 13 Nov See above for great discounts  
K24 Sun 06 Nov Tue 22 Nov See above for great discounts  
K25 Sun 13 Nov Tue 29 Nov See above for great discounts  
K26 Sun 20 Nov Tue 06 Dec See above for great discounts  
K27 Sun 27 Nov Tue 13 Dec See above for great discounts  
K28 Sun 04 Dec Tue 20 Dec See above for great discounts  
K29 Sun 11 Dec Tue 27 Dec See above for great discounts  
K30 Sun 18 Dec Tue 03 Jan See above for great discounts  
K302 Fri 23 Dec Sun 08 Jan See above for great discounts  
K312 Fri 30 Dec Sun 15 Jan See above for great discounts  
         
  2012      
K32 Sun 01 Jan Tue 17 Jan See above for great discounts  
K322 Fri 06 Jan Sun 22 Jan See above for great discounts  
K33 Sun 08 Jan Tue 24 Jan See above for great discounts  
K34 Sun 15 Jan Tue 31 Jan See above for great discounts  
K35 Sun 22 Jan Tue 07 Feb See above for great discounts  
K352 Fri 27 Jan Sun 12 Feb See above for great discounts  
K36 Sun 29 Jan Tue 14 Feb See above for great discounts  
K362 Fri 03 Feb Sun 19 Feb See above for great discounts  
K37 Sun 05 Feb Tue 21 Feb See above for great discounts  
K38 Sun 12 Feb Tue 28 Feb See above for great discounts  
K382 Fri 17 Feb Sun 04 Mar See above for great discounts  
K39 Sun 19 Feb Tue 06 Mar See above for great discounts  
K392 Fri 24 Feb Sun 11 Mar See above for great discounts  
K40 Sun 26 Feb Tue 13 Mar See above for great discounts  
K402 Fri 02 Mar Sun 18 Mar See above for great discounts  
K41 Sun 04 Mar Tue 20 Mar See above for great discounts  
K42 Sun 11 Mar Tue 27 Mar See above for great discounts  
K43 Sun 18 Mar Tue 03 Apr See above for great discounts  
K432 Fri 23 Mar Sun 08 Apr See above for great discounts  
K44 Sun 25 Mar Tue 10 Apr See above for great discounts  
K442 Fri 30 Mar Sun 15 Apr See above for great discounts  
K46 Sun 08 Apr Tue 24 Apr See above for great discounts  
K47 Sun 15 Apr Tue 01 May See above for great discounts  
K48 Sun 22 Apr Tue 08 May See above for great discounts  
K49 Sun 29 Apr Tue 15 May See above for great discounts  
 
Back to top




Premier Plus Coach Tour Features >

Premier Plus Full New Zealand Tours > 18 Day New Zealand Adventure | 18 Day New Zealand Encounter |
15 Day New Zealand Highlights | 15 Day New Zealand Panorama

Premier Plus South Island Tours > 9 Day Contrasts of New Zealand | 10 Day Southern Explorer |
10 Day Southern Experience | 7 Day Southern Wanderer

Premier Plus North Island Tours > 8 Day Northern Experience

Superior Coach Holidays Features >

Ultimate Luxury South Island | 19 Day Grand New Zealand | 16 Day Highlights of New Zealand | 11 Day North & South Island | Superior South Island Tour | Superior Rail/Coach Tour

Popular Coach Tour Features >

Ultimate New Zealand Tours > 23 Day All New Zealand Ultimate  | 20 Day Ultimate New Zealand  |
13 Day Ultimate Southern Highlights

Classic New Zealand Tours > 18 Day Classic New Zealand Panorama | 16 Day Classic New Zealand Vista  | 14 Day Classic Scenic Explorer  | 10 Day Classic Northern Escape  | 2 Day Classic Southern Discovery  | 10 Day Classic Southern Panorama | 9 Day Classic TranzAlpine  | 10 Day Classic Nothern Heritage

Highlights New Zealand Tours > 18 Day New Zealand Highlights | 17 Day Highlights of New Zealand |
11 Day Alpine of New Zealand





Home | Independent Holidays | Self Drive Vacations | Travel Passes | Escorted Coach Tours | NZ Activities & Sightseeing
Accommodation | For Backpackers | Special Interest Tours | Customised Vacations | South Pacific | Australia
Information/Conditions | Bookings/Enquiries | Our Credentials | Notice Board | Brochure Request
Travellers Feedback | NZ Links | International Links


© South Pacific Travellers' World Ltd, New Zealand 2001 - 2012. 
538 Wairakei Road, Christchurch. Phone: +64 3 961 5670 Fax: +64 3 961 6861 Email: res@southpacifictravellers.co.nz 
website design by zeevo