Is there free time during the 14 Day Signature Best of the South Island tour?

The tour includes a range of meals and transport arrangements to make the 14-day journey convenient and comfortable. Travellers receive 13 cooked breakfasts, along with selected lunches and dinners included during the itinerary, including dinner at Walter Peak Station and meals associated with the Milford Sound experience. Touring is conducted in a premium economy coach, while the itinerary also incorporates the TranzAlpine rail journey and scenic cruises. These different modes of transport add variety to the trip and allow travellers to experience the South Island from different perspectives, rather than relying solely on road travel.

This Signature tour is designed as a mid-size group experience with a maximum of 32 travellers. The smaller group format allows guests to explore New Zealand together while travelling in a more intimate setting than a large coach tour. An experienced Tour Leader and Coach Captain accompany the group throughout the journey, helping with the day-to-day touring experience and providing information about the destinations along the way. Travelling as part of a group also provides opportunities to meet fellow travellers while enjoying organised sightseeing, included meals and a carefully planned itinerary.

The 14-day tour includes 12 nights of four-star accommodation, providing a comfortable base after each day of sightseeing and travel. Accommodation is selected to complement the itinerary and provides convenient access to the destinations visited along the route. The journey includes stays in places such as Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin, allowing travellers to experience some of the South Island’s major centres while also exploring its smaller towns and scenic regions. The Milford Sound overnight cruise provides a particularly distinctive accommodation experience, allowing travellers to spend the night surrounded by the dramatic scenery of Fiordland.

The tour includes a variety of sightseeing experiences designed to showcase different aspects of the South Island. One of the major highlights is the TranzAlpine rail journey, which crosses the Southern Alps between Christchurch and the West Coast, offering spectacular views along the way. Travellers also enjoy an overnight cruise on Milford Sound and a cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw, including dinner at Walter Peak Station. Other included experiences feature Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, Larnach Castle, a Queenstown wine tasting and visits to selected attractions throughout the itinerary.