Southern Spirit
Southern Spirit
Southern Spirit
13 Days Starting in Christchurch, New Zealand and ending in Wellington, New Zealand
Visiting: Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Dunedin, Invercargill, Stewart Island, Queenstown, Fiordland National Park, Franz Josef/Waiau, Punakaiki, Nelson, Wellington
Tour operator:
Tour code:
LCQWZ24
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
16-
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Southern Spirit" tour and explore the breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture of New Zealand. This journey begins in Christchurch, where you can witness the city's remarkable recovery post-earthquake. Traverse the stunning Canterbury Plains, marvel at the night sky in Tekapo, and experience the architectural charm of Dunedin. Discover the wild beauty of Stewart Island, with its rich national parkland, and enjoy an authentic rural experience at a sheep farm in Queenstown. The tour also takes you through the dramatic landscapes of Fiordland National Park and the picturesque towns of Franz Josef and Punakaiki. Conclude your adventure in Wellington, New Zealand's cool capital, with its rich cultural offerings. Throughout the tour, enjoy comfortable accommodations and the expertise of a dedicated Travel Director and Driver Guide, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Christchurch
Location: Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Garden
Arrive early to get your bearings on a self-guided Christchurch tour. The best way to do that? Aboard the Christchurch Tram. Your journey not only takes you past jaw-dropping attractions but also tells an inspiring story of community spirit in the rebuilding and reinvigoration of the city since the 2010/11 earthquakes. Explore at your leisure. We recommend jumping aboard the Christchurch Tram. This evening, it's time to meet your fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.
Day 2: Christchurch - Omarama
Location: Lake Tekapo
Accommodation Name: Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel
Step out with your guide for a deeper dive into ‘The City of Gardens’ before traversing the colourful Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and snow-capped mountains. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.
Day 3: Omarama - Dunedin
Location: Dunedin
Accommodation Name: Dunedin Leisure Lodge
Architectural drama awaits in Dunedin. While away the afternoon in atmospheric art-lined alleys or sipping a lager or two in Speight’s Brewery (a national institution). Or venture further afield to discover Larnach Castle, which nods to Dunedin’s Scottish link – it’s known as ‘Little Edinburgh’ for a reason.
Day 4: Dunedin - Invercargill
Location: Invercargill
Accommodation Name: Kelvin Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
If you find yourself humming a Garth Brooks tune en route to Gore, you’re not alone; it’s the country music capital of NZ. Invercargill is obsessed with something else: motor vehicles. Tributes to speed legends colour the city. So, it’s only fitting that you visit Transport World for a guided tour and Highlight Dinner.
Day 5: Stewart Island
Location: Stewart Island
Accommodation Name: Kelvin Hotel
Invercargill is the gateway to the southernmost community in the country. Welcome to Stewart Island, a wild and wonderful drop of land that is 97% national parkland. Naturally, it’s a magnet for endemic flora and fauna, as you’ll discover on a guided Village and Bays tour.
Day 6: Invercargill - Queenstown
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
You’ve probably already noticed that there’s a lot of farmland here in New Zealand. It’s fitting, then, that you meet southern girl Laura, who will introduce you to the sheep farm where she was born and raised. The Real Country Farm Show, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, offers an authentic taste of what rural New Zealand is like. For every guest, we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture. Continue to Queenstown and take the afternoon at your own pace.
Day 7: Queenstown
Location: Fiordland National Park
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
We wouldn’t blame you for using today to linger by the banks of Lake Wakatipu, marvelling at sky-scraping Remarkables. But if you want to venture further afield, we have a few ideas. Top of our list today is an epic journey through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, carved by waterfalls and a playground for dolphins and seals. There’s a reason why this part of the island has World Heritage status.
Day 8: Queenstown - Franz Josef/Waiau
Location: Franz Josef/Waiau
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Atmospheric Arrowtown was born from gold, and its movie-set-like streets still shimmer today. It’s hard to tear yourself away, but the Alpine country of the Southern Lakes is calling, from Lake Dunstan – pause for juicy stone fruit picked fresh from the tree – to oh-so-blue Lake Hawea and lovely Lake Wanaka, with its shoreline of poplars and willows. Over the Haast Pass, the pretty town of Franz Josef/Waiau, awaits. Get some perspective on an optional Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere flight tour – if the weather behaves, you may even get to land on it. New Zealand tours don’t get much cooler than this.
Day 9: Franz Josef - Punakaiki
Location: Punakaiki
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
On the wild West Coast, Hokitika may be small in size, but boy is it big in personality, not to mention natural attractions. Wander the windswept coast before discovering the town’s other beauty: pounamu (native greenstone or jade). Steel yourself for Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes; they owe their existence to the thundering surf that will lull you to sleep.
Day 10: Punakaiki - Nelson
Location: Nelson
Accommodation Name: The Rutherford Hotel
After action-packed days, all you need to do today is sit back and enjoy the drama of the Heritage Highway en route to Nelson. Gaze over Buller Gorge – a deep canyon home to New Zealand’s longest swingbridge – and Kahurangi National Park, a place of wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herbfields and coastal forests.
Day 11: Nelson
Location: Nelson
Accommodation Name: The Rutherford Hotel
The South Island’s oldest city, Nelson is the ideal starting point for outings through Abel Tasman National Park. This pocket in the north of the island is a beguiling union of golden beaches framed by sculpted granite cliffs. It’s home to one of the country’s most legendary coastal tracks, if you fancy stretching your legs on a hike. Otherwise, drift away on a cruise around the coast, revealing unpeopled bays and dreamy inlets. The choice is yours.
Day 12: Nelson - Wellington
Location: Wellington
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Wellington
Meals Included: Dinner
All aboard the Interislander for a cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait, from the South Island to the North, navigating a maze of arms and inlets into New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington. End your tour on a high note at a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director and travel companions.
Day 13: Farewell From Wellington
Location: Wellington
Wellington also knows a thing or two about good coffee, and you’ll need a strong one to get you through this morning's sightseeing. You may wish to linger in town, discovering Māori culture at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. It's hard to say goodbye to your tour of the South Island of New Zealand. If you can't bear to leave, we have a few ideas up our sleeves to extend your holiday.
What's Included
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Specialist team
A specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide is included.
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Accommodation
Comfortable accommodation with easy access to city centres is included.
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National Park entrance fees
Entrance fees to national parks are included.
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Guided Holiday Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort, including Wyndham Garden, Heritage Gateway Hotel, Dunedin Leisure Lodge, Kelvin Hotel, Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, The Rutherford Hotel, and Travelodge Wellington.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price.
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Airport Transfers
Return airport to hotel transfers are not included in the holiday price.
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Personal Items
Warm layers in cooler months, camera, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, and water bottle are not included.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort. The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes: Wyndham Garden, Heritage Gateway Hotel, Dunedin Leisure Lodge, Kelvin Hotel, Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, The Rutherford Hotel, Travelodge Wellington.
Mode of Transport
Transportation for this tour includes a specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide. Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Christchurch Airport. Day 13 – flights to depart after 2.00pm from Wellington Airport.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation can I expect on the Southern Spirit tour?
The Southern Spirit tour includes a range of quality accommodations for your comfort, such as Wyndham Garden, Heritage Gateway Hotel, Dunedin Leisure Lodge, Kelvin Hotel, Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, The Rutherford Hotel, and Travelodge Wellington.
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Are flights included in the Southern Spirit tour package?
No, flights to and from the start and end of the tour are not included in the holiday price. You will need to arrange your own flights to arrive in Christchurch prior to 4.00pm on Day 1 and depart from Wellington after 2.00pm on Day 13.
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What is the fitness level required for the Southern Spirit tour?
The tour requires a low level of fitness, making it accessible for most travelers.
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What unique experiences are included in the Southern Spirit tour?
The tour includes unique experiences such as the Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Lake Tekapo, a guided tour of Transport World in Invercargill, and a visit to the Real Country Farm Show, which supports The Fairlight Foundation for Advancing Women in Agriculture.
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What is the highlight of the visit to Stewart Island on the Southern Spirit tour?
Stewart Island is a highlight of the tour, known for its wild and wonderful landscape, with 97% of the island being national parkland. The tour includes a guided Village and Bays tour to explore the endemic flora and fauna.
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What should I pack for the Southern Spirit tour?
It is recommended to pack warm layers for cooler months, a camera, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.