southisland itinerary | Skyline Tourism LTD

Accommodation

4-Star Boutique Hotel in Central Christchurch
Signature Moment

Punting on the Avon River — Let a guide take you on a traditional wooden boat ride under the willow trees, offering a poetic start to your South Island experience.
Day 1 – Christchurch: History & Botanical Heritage
Highlights

🛬 Arrival: Christchurch – gateway to the South Island
🏛️ Canterbury Museum: Learn Māori & colonial history
🌿 Botanic Gardens: Peaceful walk among native & exotic plants
🚃 City Tram / Architecture: Victorian heritage in motion
Arrive before 3:00pm for a gentle afternoon walk and welcome dinner.
Highlights

🚗 Scenic Drive: Christchurch → Greymouth via Arthur's Pass
🪨 Castle Hill: Walk among giant limestone boulders
🌉 Otira Gorge Lookout: Southern Alps vistas
🌊 Punakaiki: Explore Pancake Rocks & blowholes
Accommodation

4-Star Boutique Hotel in Central Christchurch
Signature Moment

From alpine stillness to waves crashing through limestone — a road of dramatic contrasts.
Day 2 – Greymouth via Arthur’s Pass
Alpine Passes & Coastal Rocks
Weather changes fast in the mountains — bring layers and camera!
Accommodation

4-Star Lodge – Haast Wilderness Area
Signature Moment

From glacier to jungle in one day — nature changes fast, and beautifully
📍 Highlights

🚗 West Coast Drive: Greymouth → Fox Glacier → Haast
❄️ Fox Glacier (optional): Helicopter landing or glacier valley walk
🌿 Haast Pass Road: Lush rainforest, waterfalls & river views
📸 Photo Stops: Lakes · Ocean edges · Alpine lookouts
Glaciers, Rainforest & the Road Less Traveled
✅ Day 3 – Greymouth to Haast
Helicopter landing is weather-dependent. Comfortable shoes recommended.
Accommodation

4-Star Hotel – Queenstown Lake View
Signature Moment

First glimpse of Lake Wānaka between the peaks — pure South Island stillness
📍 Highlights

🚗 Scenic Drive: Through Mt Aspiring National Park (NZ’s 2nd largest)
🌄 Lakes & Falls: Reflective views along SH6
🌊 Lake Wānaka: Optional café stop & short walk
🏙️ Queenstown Arrival: Adventure capital welcomes you
Lakes, Peaks & the Scenic South
✅ Day 4 – Haast to Queenstown
Camera ready — this is one of New Zealand’s most photogenic drives.
Accommodation

4-Star Hotel – Queenstown (2nd Night)
Signature Moment

Whether carving powder or sipping Pinot Noir — this is your Queenstown day, your way.
📍 Highlights

🎿 Optional: Skiing at Coronet Peak or The Remarkables
🚠 Gondola Ride: Panoramic views over Lake Wakatipu
🛍️ Town Time: Lakeside walks · cafes · shops · galleries
🍷 Optional Tour: Gibbston Valley wineries nearby
Your Day, Your Way
✅ Day 5 – Queenstown (Free Day)
Ski bookings recommended in advance. Free time can be tailored to your pace.
Accommodation:

4-Star Lakeside Hotel – Te Anau or Manapouri
Day 6 – Doubtful Sound
The Sound of Silence: Fiordland’s Deepest Secret
Signature Moment

Total silence. A curtain of mist. Then — a waterfall roaring into the fiord. Doubtful Sound speaks in whispers you’ll never forget.
Start: Queenstown 7:00am
Cruise: Doubtful Sound (7.5 hrs)
Includes:
Manapouri Lake Crossing (45m)
Wilmot Pass Coach (40m)
Nature Cruise (3 hrs)

Wildlife: Dolphins · Fur Seals · Seabirds
Weather: Mist · Drizzle · Sunshine
End: Te Anau / Manapouri ~5:30pm
Bring warm, waterproof layers and solid shoes — Fiordland is wild and wet.
Penguin viewing occurs after sunset. Bring warm layers and a little patience — the reward is magical.
Accommodation

4-Star Heritage Hotel – Dunedin Central
Signature Moment

From copper stills to coastal cliffs — flavour, history, and penguins in one unforgettable day.
📍 Highlights

🚗 Start: Te Anau → Dunedin (~4.5 hrs)
🏛️ Heritage City: Victorian architecture · university culture
🧪 Craft Distillery Visit: Herb-infused Kiwi spirits tasting
🐧 Otago Peninsula: Scenic coastal drive & Blue Penguin viewing at dusk
Where History Meets Wildlife — and Kiwi Craftsmanship
✅ Day 7 – Dunedin
Star viewing possible on clear nights. Mount Cook weather can be unpredictable — layers advised.
Accommodation

4-Star Lakefront Hotel – Tekapo
Signature Moment

A glacier-fed meal by day, a starlit lake by night — high country at its finest.
📍 Highlights

🚗 Drive: Dunedin → Twizel → Mount Cook → Tekapo
🐟 Twizel Stop: Glacier-fed salmon lunch (optional)
🏞️ Lake Pukaki: Iconic turquoise views of Aoraki / Mt Cook
🥾 Mount Cook Walks: Hooker Valley or short scenic paths
🌌 Tekapo Arrival: Dark Sky Reserve & lakeside calm
From Snowcaps to Starlit Skies
✅ Day 8 – Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo
Morning is flexible. Airport or hotel transfers available.
Let us know if you'd like help booking post-tour accommodation.
Accommodation

Not included – tour ends in Christchurch (drop-off provided)
Signature Moment

A silent lake. A stone chapel. And the soft realisation that you’ve seen something truly rare.
📍 Highlights

🌅 Lake Morning: Peaceful stroll by Lake Tekapo
⛪ Church of the Good Shepherd: Iconic stone chapel by the water
🔭 Optional: Mount John Observatory visit or lakeside café stop
🚗 Drive: Cross the Canterbury Plains back to Christchurch (~3 hrs)
🏙️ Return: End of tour – drop-off at hotel or airport
Sky, Stone, Stillness — Then Home
✅ Day 9 – Lake Tekapo to Christchurch

South Island Itinerary

Explore Travel — Pure Beauty, Endless Horizon

BACK HOMEPAGE

Accommodation 4-Star Boutique Hotel in Central Christchurch

Signature Moment Punting on the Avon River — Let a guide take you on a traditional wooden boat ride under the willow trees, offering a poetic start to your South Island experience.

Day 1 – Christchurch: History & Botanical Heritage

Highlights 🛬 Arrival: Christchurch – gateway to the South Island 🏛️ Canterbury Museum: Learn Māori & colonial history 🌿 Botanic Gardens: Peaceful walk among native & exotic plants 🚃 City Tram / Architecture: Victorian heritage in motion

Highlights 🚗 Scenic Drive: Christchurch → Greymouth via Arthur's Pass 🪨 Castle Hill: Walk among giant limestone boulders 🌉 Otira Gorge Lookout: Southern Alps vistas 🌊 Punakaiki: Explore Pancake Rocks & blowholes

Accommodation 4-Star Boutique Hotel in Central Christchurch

Signature Moment From alpine stillness to waves crashing through limestone — a road of dramatic contrasts.

Day 2 – Greymouth via Arthur’s Pass

Alpine Passes & Coastal Rocks

Accommodation4-Star Lodge – Haast Wilderness Area

Signature MomentFrom glacier to jungle in one day — nature changes fast, and beautifully

📍 Highlights

Glaciers, Rainforest & the Road Less Traveled

✅ Day 3 – Greymouth to Haast

Accommodation 4-Star Hotel – Queenstown Lake View

Signature Moment First glimpse of Lake Wānaka between the peaks — pure South Island stillness

📍 Highlights 🚗 Scenic Drive: Through Mt Aspiring National Park (NZ’s 2nd largest) 🌄 Lakes & Falls: Reflective views along SH6 🌊 Lake Wānaka: Optional café stop & short walk 🏙️ Queenstown Arrival: Adventure capital welcomes you

Lakes, Peaks & the Scenic South

✅ Day 4 – Haast to Queenstown

Accommodation 4-Star Hotel – Queenstown (2nd Night)

Signature Moment Whether carving powder or sipping Pinot Noir — this is your Queenstown day, your way.

📍 Highlights 🎿 Optional: Skiing at Coronet Peak or The Remarkables 🚠 Gondola Ride: Panoramic views over Lake Wakatipu 🛍️ Town Time: Lakeside walks · cafes · shops · galleries 🍷 Optional Tour: Gibbston Valley wineries nearby

Your Day, Your Way

✅ Day 5 – Queenstown (Free Day)

Accommodation: 4-Star Lakeside Hotel – Te Anau or Manapouri

Day 6 – Doubtful Sound

The Sound of Silence: Fiordland’s Deepest Secret

Signature Moment Total silence. A curtain of mist. Then — a waterfall roaring into the fiord. Doubtful Sound speaks in whispers you’ll never forget.

Accommodation 4-Star Heritage Hotel – Dunedin Central

Signature Moment From copper stills to coastal cliffs — flavour, history, and penguins in one unforgettable day.

📍 Highlights 🚗 Start: Te Anau → Dunedin (~4.5 hrs) 🏛️ Heritage City: Victorian architecture · university culture 🧪 Craft Distillery Visit: Herb-infused Kiwi spirits tasting 🐧 Otago Peninsula: Scenic coastal drive & Blue Penguin viewing at dusk

Where History Meets Wildlife — and Kiwi Craftsmanship

✅ Day 7 – Dunedin

Accommodation 4-Star Lakefront Hotel – Tekapo

Signature Moment A glacier-fed meal by day, a starlit lake by night — high country at its finest.

From Snowcaps to Starlit Skies

✅ Day 8 – Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo

Accommodation Not included – tour ends in Christchurch (drop-off provided)

Signature Moment A silent lake. A stone chapel. And the soft realisation that you’ve seen something truly rare.

Sky, Stone, Stillness — Then Home

✅ Day 9 – Lake Tekapo to Christchurch

South Island Itinerary

Explore Travel — Pure Beauty, Endless Horizon

Accommodation

4-Star Boutique Hotel in Central Christchurch

Signature Moment

Punting on the Avon River — Let a guide take you on a traditional wooden boat ride under the willow trees, offering a poetic start to your South Island experience.

Highlights

🛬 Arrival: Christchurch – gateway to the South Island
🏛️ Canterbury Museum: Learn Māori & colonial history
🌿 Botanic Gardens: Peaceful walk among native & exotic plants
🚃 City Tram / Architecture: Victorian heritage in motion

Highlights

🚗 Scenic Drive: Christchurch → Greymouth via Arthur's Pass
🪨 Castle Hill: Walk among giant limestone boulders
🌉 Otira Gorge Lookout: Southern Alps vistas
🌊 Punakaiki: Explore Pancake Rocks & blowholes

Accommodation

4-Star Boutique Hotel in Central Christchurch

Signature Moment

From alpine stillness to waves crashing through limestone — a road of dramatic contrasts.

Accommodation

4-Star Lodge – Haast Wilderness Area

Signature Moment

From glacier to jungle in one day — nature changes fast, and beautifully

Accommodation

4-Star Hotel – Queenstown Lake View

Signature Moment

First glimpse of Lake Wānaka between the peaks — pure South Island stillness

📍 Highlights

🚗 Scenic Drive: Through Mt Aspiring National Park (NZ’s 2nd largest)
🌄 Lakes & Falls: Reflective views along SH6
🌊 Lake Wānaka: Optional café stop & short walk
🏙️ Queenstown Arrival: Adventure capital welcomes you

Accommodation

4-Star Hotel – Queenstown (2nd Night)

Signature Moment

Whether carving powder or sipping Pinot Noir — this is your Queenstown day, your way.

📍 Highlights

🎿 Optional: Skiing at Coronet Peak or The Remarkables
🚠 Gondola Ride: Panoramic views over Lake Wakatipu
🛍️ Town Time: Lakeside walks · cafes · shops · galleries
🍷 Optional Tour: Gibbston Valley wineries nearby

Accommodation:

4-Star Lakeside Hotel – Te Anau or Manapouri

Signature Moment

Total silence. A curtain of mist. Then — a waterfall roaring into the fiord. Doubtful Sound speaks in whispers you’ll never forget.

Accommodation

4-Star Heritage Hotel – Dunedin Central

Signature Moment

From copper stills to coastal cliffs — flavour, history, and penguins in one unforgettable day.

📍 Highlights

🚗 Start: Te Anau → Dunedin (~4.5 hrs)
🏛️ Heritage City: Victorian architecture · university culture
🧪 Craft Distillery Visit: Herb-infused Kiwi spirits tasting
🐧 Otago Peninsula: Scenic coastal drive & Blue Penguin viewing at dusk

Accommodation

4-Star Lakefront Hotel – Tekapo

Signature Moment

A glacier-fed meal by day, a starlit lake by night — high country at its finest.

Accommodation

Not included – tour ends in Christchurch (drop-off provided)

Signature Moment

A silent lake. A stone chapel. And the soft realisation that you’ve seen something truly rare.