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8 Day South Island Self Drive Tour - Christchurch to Christchurch

Christchurch - Dunedin - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown - Christchurch

The scenic highlights from the southern South Island including Christchurch, Dunedin, Lake Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown and Mt Cook on this New Zealand South Island Self Drive Tour.

8 Day Self Drive Tour with your choice of Boutique or Self catering Accommodation for 7 nights.

Total Driving Time About: 20 hrs 50 mins                        Distance: 1,534 kms

Day 1: Arrive Christchurch

On your arrival in Christchurch you will be met by our representative and provided with your chosen car and documentation. The rest of the day is free to explore this "Garden City". Christchurch is an elegant, rather English-feeling city with a refined sense of fun. You could saunter through Hagley Park and admire the Botanic Gardens; take a tram ride around the city centre; or go punting on the Avon River. Travel up the Christchurch Gondola for massive views of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula and Lyttelton Harbour.  Overnight in Christchurch

Day 2: Christchurch - Dunedin

Estimated Driving Time: 5 hrs 20 mins             Distance: 359 kms

Drive south across the Canterbury Plains through Ashburton, where trout fishing is a local obsession.  Further on are historic towns of Timaru with its historic buildings, and Oamaru home of the Little Blue Penguins. Be sure to check out the unique geological formations known as the Moeraki Boulders located 70km's north of Dunedin. Overnight at Dunedin.

Day 3: Dunedin - Te Anau

Estimated Driving Time: 3 hrs 55 mins                  Distance: 290 kms

Dunedin is memorable for its historical architecture. Look for the massive stone Flemish Renaissance-style Dunedin Railway Station, the University clock-tower building and the Gothic Revival Dominican Priory. You might also want to visit Baldwin Street, the world's steepest residential address.

Apart from being New Zealand's first university city, it has an abundance of museums, galleries and heritage homes with amazing stories to tell. You can even discover the history of beer brewing at the Speights Brewery. Chocolate is on the menu at Cadbury Confectionery Factory. 

In the afternoon drive through the rolling hill country of South Otago and Southland. After the farming centre of Gore, cross the Waimea plains towards Te Anau. Overnight in Te Anau.

Day 4: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown

Estimated Driving Time: 5 hrs 5 mins             Distance: 403 kms

The road to Milford is one of New Zealand's most scenic drives. The first part is relatively mild farmland, then you'll ease into beech forest near the entrance to the Fiordland National Park. Look for the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Mirror Lakes. The rough hewn Homer Tunnel brings you into Milford Sound, an amazing 22km-long fiord dominated by Mitre Peak. Grand, brooding, serene and wild are just some of the words that will come to mind on your Milford Sound Cruise. Tall waterfalls, vertical rock faces and seals are some of the things you'll remember. Return to Te Anau, then turn north, following the dramatic southern shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach Queenstown. Stay 3 nights in Queenstown

(For an additional charge you may choose to swap one night in Queenstown and your Milford afternoon Cruise for a night aboard the Milford Mariner at Milford Sound).

Day 5 & 6: At Queenstown

Two free days to enjoy the alpine resort of Queenstown. It's the place to source almost any kind of adventure, including bungy, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting and river surfing. It's also a destination for luxury experiences - gourmet food and wine, spa treatments and leisurely games of golf. Nearby is the former gold mining town of Arrowtown is a living, historic holiday destination, nestled beside the Arrow River.

Day 7: Queenstown - Christchurch

Estimated Driving Time: 6 hrs 30 mins             Distance: 482 kms

Pass through the Kawarau Gorge with it's historic gold mines, then past the stone fruit growing area of Cromwell to the Lindis Pass. Cross the spectacular Mackenzie Country bounded by the Southern Alps to the glacial lakes and Twizel. It's a place to spy on the rarest wading bird in the world - the Black Stilt. At Lake Tekapo you could take a spectacular scenic flight by helicopter or fixed wing plane over Aoraki Mt Cook National Park; a magical world of permanent ice and snow, with New Zealand's highest mountains, and largest glaciers. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue at Lake Tekapo are great photo opportunities. From Tekapo take the scenic route through Fairlie and Geraldine, before passing Methven to Christchurch. Overnight in Christchurch

Day 8: Depart Christchurch

Today you are free to explore the "Garden City" of Christchurch before catching your flight home.

Total Driving Time About: 20 hrs 50 mins                        Distance: 1,534 kms

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