New Zealand South Island
Eight days exploring the breathtaking South Island of New Zealand — from the turquoise lakes of the Mackenzie Basin to the adrenaline capital of Queenstown, the ancient temperate rainforests of the West Coast, and the towering peaks of Fiordland National Park. This is adventure travel at its finest.
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Get startedVisiting Christchurch in September?
Expect -2-11°C (28-52°F) — spring arrives. About 9 rainy days this month.
Trip Highlights
A suggested shape for each day, not fixed times — you can reorder everything once it’s your trip.
Arrive Christchurch
- Arrive at Christchurch Airport
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens
- Punting on the Avon River
- Dinner in the Riverside Market
Mackenzie Basin
In this order
- 1Drive to Lake Tekapo
- 2Church of the Good Shepherd
- 3Lake Tekapo hot pools
- 4Continue to Lake Pukaki for Mount Cook views
Mount Cook
In this order
- 1Hooker Valley Track hike to glacier lake
- 2Mount Cook village and museum
- 3Glacier scenic flight
- 4Drive to Queenstown
Queenstown Adventures
- Queenstown gondola and luge
- Bungee jumping at Kawarau Bridge (optional)
- Shotover Jet boat ride
- Queenstown waterfront dinner
Glenorchy & Paradise
In this order
- 1Drive to Glenorchy (Lord of the Rings locations)
- 2Paradise flat hiking and photography
- 3Lake Wakatipu kayaking
- 4Central Otago wine tasting
Milford Sound
In this order
- 1Drive to Milford Sound via Te Anau
- 2Mirror Lakes stop
- 3Milford Sound cruise past Mitre Peak
- 4Fiordland waterfalls and wildlife
- 5Overnight in Te Anau
West Coast
- Drive to Franz Josef Glacier
- Glacier valley walk
- Hokitika Gorge turquoise river
- West Coast wildlife — kiwi spotting (evening)
Departure
In this order
- 1Scenic drive back towards Queenstown or Christchurch
- 2Final New Zealand hike or picnic
- 3Depart from Queenstown or Christchurch Airport
Customize This Trip
Use our AI to personalize this itinerary to your exact preferences, budget, and travel dates.
Estimated budget: $1,160 per person for 8 days
Before you go
Entry rules, tipping norms, plug types, emergency numbers, and the best months to visit.