Experience a brief tour of the major highlights of New Zealand's scenic South Island on this three day independent coach tour. Travel by coach from Christchurch to Queenstown and then up the rugged West Coast to Greymouth, before returning to Christchurch.
During this journey, you will enjoy a visit to the Mount Cook National Park, view the glacier at Franz Josef and travel over the mighty Southern Alps. It is recommended an extended journey is taken, to incorporate additional days in Queenstown and Mount Cook, for a more relaxed sightseeing tour of the South Island.
Day 1: Christchurch / Mt Cook / Queenstown
Travel through the rich pastoral farm land of the Canterbury Plains and the ever-changing spectacular scenery of the foothills of the Southern Alps. Continue traveling across Burkes Pass before descending to the stunning glacial fed Lake Tekapo and visiting the Church of the Good Shepherd which stands on the foreshore. From here you travel up the western side of Lake Pukaki to arrive at Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. Stop at Mt Cook for lunch (at own expense) where you will be mesmerized by the surroundings of this truly unique region. Cross the Lindis Pass and travel along the Kawerau Gorge before arriving in Queenstown.
Overnight Accommodation: Heartland Hotel Queenstown or similar
Day 2: Queenstown / Franz Josef Glacier
Travel along the shores of Lake Wanaka and Hawea to the Haast Pass, the most stunning highway in New Zealand and gateway to World Heritage Westland National Park. Initially the pass travels through the treeless grasslands of Central Otago, then at the highest point, the majestic peaks of the Southern Alps and the rivers and rainforests of Westland dominate the landscape. Continue to travel up the West Coast past spectacular mountain ranges, native forests and lakes to the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. The Franz Josef Glacier is 11 kilometers in length and more than 7,000 years old.
Overnight Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Day 3: Franz Josef / Greymouth / Arthur's Pass / Christchurch
Continue to travel along the rugged West Coast to Shantytown, a faithful reconstruction of a Westland Gold Rush town. From Shantytown, travel to Greymouth, the center for thousands of diggers during the historic gold strikes of the 1860's. From Greymouth, journey over the Southern Alps, through Arthur's Pass and onto Christchurch by the famous TranzAlpine Express, renowned as one of the top ten train journeys in the world.
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