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9 Day Kea South Island Small Group Tour

Days
9

Pricing From
$6290

South Island
Book Now

Overview

Explore the very best of Te Waipounamu or South Island New Zealand on this 9-day Kea South Island Small Group Coach Tour, previosly known as the Southern beauty Small Group Tour. We will take you to some of the most iconic destinations in the South including Aoraki Mt Cook, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka, the Glaciers, and the West Coast.

Experience the warmth of Kiwi hospitality, enjoy some of the country’s best food and wine, make new friends along the way, and relax in superior 4-star accommodation at the end of each day.

Included Sightseeing & Exploring

 

You'll visit and discover all these iconic New Zealand places on your tour:

  • Take a memorable photograph of the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of the turquoise-hued Lake Tekapo.
  • See New Zealand’s highest mountain in the Aoraki/Mt Cook region.
  • Drive through the diverse beauty of the Lindis Pass and Kawarau Gorge.
  • Learn about Arrowtown’s place in New Zealand’s gold mining history.
  • Drive the stunning Crown Range & Cardrona Valley road
  • Explore the shores of the Great Southern Lakes of Wakatipu, Wanaka and Hawea.
  • Drive the world famous Milford Road & Haast Highway with time to enjoy all the best stops on route.
  • Stroll in Haast Pass’ mountain beech forests to waterfalls and blue pools
  • Explore the Glacier Country highlights of Lake Matheson and Franz Josef Glacier, overnight stay in Franz Josef.
  • See the blow holes at the Punakaiki Pancake rocks and walk in the rainforest
  • Visit remote Denniston where coal was first mined in 1879
  • Drive the dramatic Otira Gorge highway to Arthur’s Pass and say hello to New Zealand’s cheeky mountain parrot, the Kea.
  • Short walks in the great outdoors in Aoraki/Mt Cook, Fiordland, Mt Aspiring, Tai Poutini Westland, Paparoa and Arthur’s Pass National Parks.

Southern Beauty: Aoraki Mt Cook, Milford & Franz Josef

Milford Sound

Southern Beauty: Aoraki Mt Cook, Milford & Franz Josef

Franz Josef Glacier

Southern Beauty: Aoraki Mt Cook, Milford & Franz Josef

Queenstown

Southern Beauty: Aoraki Mt Cook, Milford & Franz Josef

Mount Cook

Itinerary

Open All
Day 1Christchurch - Aoraki / Mt Cook

We meet in Christchurch and head south for a special lunch at Akaunui homestead, a 117-year-old country home where we dine on wonderful fresh produce prepared by our hosts, Di and Ian Mackenzie. 

We continue through the spectacular Mackenzie Country for sweeping vistas of tussock lands, glacial lakes and the Southern Alps. We can’t miss the Church at Lake Tekapo and the unreal turquoise blue Lake Pukaki before arrival at Aoraki/Mt Cook village. We celebrate our arrival with dinner at The Hermitage.

  • A hosted country lunch with friends at Akaunui homestead
  • Enjoy our welcome dinner in the heart of the mountains 
Day 2Aoraki/Mt Cook - Queenstown

Aoraki/Mt Cook is our highest mountain and "home ground" of the most famous Kiwi of all, Sir Edmund Hillary.
Enjoy a short walk in this alpine wonderland. Continue to Omarama, over the Lindis Pass and through the rugged Kawarau Gorge and Gibbston Valley to Queenstown - our home for three nights.

  • New Zealand’s most stunning alpine scenery at Aoraki/Mt Cook
  • Settle in for three nights in Queenstown and enjoy the vibrant scene

Stay at Scenic Suites, Queenstown for 3 nights

Day 3Queenstown - Milford Sound

We follow the shores of the great lakes Wakatipu and Te Anau into the mountains and waterfalls of Fiordland National Park. We cruise on Milford Sound dominated by iconic Mitre Peak and home to seal colonies and dolphins. A magnificent scenic flight back over the Southern Alps to Queenstown ends this fantastic day.

  • From Lake Te Anau through Fiordland National Park on the Milford Road
  • Small Boat Cruise on Milford Sound, under waterfalls and out to the Tasman Sea
  • A memorable scenic flight from Milford Sound back to Queenstown
Day 4Queenstown Free Day

Today is yours to make the most of the infinite number of activities Queenstown has to offer.

Your Kiwi Guide can help you choose - a jet boat ride on the Dart River in Lord of the Rings scenery, wine tasting at vineyards, e-biking or cruising on the heritage steamship tss "Earnslaw" on Lake Wakatipu, and many more.

Day 5Queenstown - Wanaka

We call into picturesque Arrowtown where gold mining history comes alive beside the Arrow River.

From the Crown Range we take in the last views of the Wakatipu basin. We stop for refreshments at historic Cardrona Hotel before arriving at Edgewater Resort, our lakeside hotel in Wanaka.

Enjoy a walk or bike along the lakefront trail. 

Stay at Edgewater Resort, Wanaka

Day 6Wanaka - Franz Josef Glacier

We drive beside lakes Hawea and Wanaka and into the mountain and river scenery of the Haast Pass. 

There are short walks in the beech forests to waterfalls and coastal scenery at Ship Creek to enjoy. Lush rainforest lines the road as we head north to Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson and on to Franz Josef.

Stay at Franz Josef Aspen Court

Day 7Franz Josef Glacier - Punakaiki

The morning is free to walk to Franz Josef Glacier lookout, take an optional helihike or flight onto the Glacier, or cruise out on Okarito Lagoon in search of the rare Kotuku, White Heron.

In Hokitika meet the carvers of the treasured Pounamu (greenstone) before reaching Papamoa National Park and Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, our home for two nights.

Stay at Scenic Hotel, Punakaiki for 2 nights

Day 8Punakaiki - Cape Foulwind

See the Pancake rocks, blowholes, limestone cliffs, karst rock formations and river valleys of subtropical rainforest. Further up the coast historic Denniston Plateau gives an insight into the lives of early coal miners and their families.

Walk to an isolated beach and the seal colony at Cape Foulwind or enjoy a favourite option, the glow worm cave at Charleston before returning down the coast road to Punakaiki. Celebrate our adventures over dinner tonight at the Scenic Hotel.

Day 9Punakaiki - Arthur’s Pass - Christchurch

Leaving the West Coast behind we drive up the Otira Viaduct, a spectacular cantilevered road  with stunning views to the alpine beech forests and river scenery of Arthur’s Pass National Park.

We stop to take short walks in the forest and to the massive rock formations at Kura Tawhiti Castle Hill. The dramatic landscapes make a fitting finale to your adventure. We descend Porter's Pass and leave the mountains behind, crossing the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

Cost per person

September 2023 - May 2025

  • Twin:   NZ$6,290
  • Single: NZ$7,090

Baggage: Please note: Try to keep to one suitcase weighing around 23kgs and one small carry on bag.

Pricing: Single share price is base on one person in a single room. Twin share price is based on 2 people sharing one room.

Payment: 20% deposit on booking, balance 75 days before travel

Changing Your Tour Date
If COVID-19 related government travel restrictions in either New Zealand or Australia force you to change your tour date you can transfer your deposit free of charge to another tour date of your choice.

Cancellation fees depend on when we receive notice of your cancellation:

  • Bookings cancelled between 60 daysor more before departure incur 25% of tour cost.
  • Bookings cancelled between 59 days and 45 days incur 50% of tour cost.
  • Bookings cancelled between 44 days and 31 days incur 75% of tour cost.
  • Bookings cancelled within 30 days or less of tour departure incur 100% of tour cost.
  • No refunds will be made after travel has commenced.

Itinerary

Open All
Day 1Christchurch - Aoraki / Mt Cook

We meet in Christchurch and head south for a special lunch at Akaunui homestead, a 117-year-old country home where we dine on wonderful fresh produce prepared by our hosts, Di and Ian Mackenzie. 

We continue through the spectacular Mackenzie Country for sweeping vistas of tussock lands, glacial lakes and the Southern Alps. We can’t miss the Church at Lake Tekapo and the unreal turquoise blue Lake Pukaki before arrival at Aoraki/Mt Cook village. We celebrate our arrival with dinner at The Hermitage.

  • A hosted country lunch with friends at Akaunui homestead
  • Enjoy our welcome dinner in the heart of the mountains 
Day 2Aoraki/Mt Cook - Queenstown

Aoraki/Mt Cook is our highest mountain and "home ground" of the most famous Kiwi of all, Sir Edmund Hillary.
Enjoy a short walk in this alpine wonderland. Continue to Omarama, over the Lindis Pass and through the rugged Kawarau Gorge and Gibbston Valley to Queenstown - our home for three nights.

  • New Zealand’s most stunning alpine scenery at Aoraki/Mt Cook
  • Settle in for three nights in Queenstown and enjoy the vibrant scene

Stay at Scenic Suites, Queenstown for 3 nights

Day 3Queenstown - Milford Sound

We follow the shores of the great lakes Wakatipu and Te Anau into the mountains and waterfalls of Fiordland National Park. We cruise on Milford Sound dominated by iconic Mitre Peak and home to seal colonies and dolphins. A magnificent scenic flight back over the Southern Alps to Queenstown ends this fantastic day.

  • From Lake Te Anau through Fiordland National Park on the Milford Road
  • Small Boat Cruise on Milford Sound, under waterfalls and out to the Tasman Sea
  • A memorable scenic flight from Milford Sound back to Queenstown
Day 4Queenstown Free Day

Today is yours to make the most of the infinite number of activities Queenstown has to offer.

Your Kiwi Guide can help you choose - a jet boat ride on the Dart River in Lord of the Rings scenery, wine tasting at vineyards, e-biking or cruising on the heritage steamship tss "Earnslaw" on Lake Wakatipu, and many more.

Day 5Queenstown - Wanaka

We call into picturesque Arrowtown where gold mining history comes alive beside the Arrow River.

From the Crown Range we take in the last views of the Wakatipu basin. We stop for refreshments at historic Cardrona Hotel before arriving at Edgewater Resort, our lakeside hotel in Wanaka.

Enjoy a walk or bike along the lakefront trail. 

Stay at Edgewater Resort, Wanaka

Day 6Wanaka - Franz Josef Glacier

We drive beside lakes Hawea and Wanaka and into the mountain and river scenery of the Haast Pass. 

There are short walks in the beech forests to waterfalls and coastal scenery at Ship Creek to enjoy. Lush rainforest lines the road as we head north to Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson and on to Franz Josef.

Stay at Franz Josef Aspen Court

Day 7Franz Josef Glacier - Punakaiki

The morning is free to walk to Franz Josef Glacier lookout, take an optional helihike or flight onto the Glacier, or cruise out on Okarito Lagoon in search of the rare Kotuku, White Heron.

In Hokitika meet the carvers of the treasured Pounamu (greenstone) before reaching Papamoa National Park and Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, our home for two nights.

Stay at Scenic Hotel, Punakaiki for 2 nights

Day 8Punakaiki - Cape Foulwind

See the Pancake rocks, blowholes, limestone cliffs, karst rock formations and river valleys of subtropical rainforest. Further up the coast historic Denniston Plateau gives an insight into the lives of early coal miners and their families.

Walk to an isolated beach and the seal colony at Cape Foulwind or enjoy a favourite option, the glow worm cave at Charleston before returning down the coast road to Punakaiki. Celebrate our adventures over dinner tonight at the Scenic Hotel.

Day 9Punakaiki - Arthur’s Pass - Christchurch

Leaving the West Coast behind we drive up the Otira Viaduct, a spectacular cantilevered road  with stunning views to the alpine beech forests and river scenery of Arthur’s Pass National Park.

We stop to take short walks in the forest and to the massive rock formations at Kura Tawhiti Castle Hill. The dramatic landscapes make a fitting finale to your adventure. We descend Porter's Pass and leave the mountains behind, crossing the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

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