Inspiring Journeys

Day 1-2
Start at Christchurch, also known as the Garden city and the largest city in the South Island. Take a trip on a gondola, or explore the city with it’s tree lined avenues and grey stone buildings.
2 nights Elm Tree House.

Day 3-4
Greymouth – take the famous Tranz Scenic train from Christchurch to Greymouth On arrival at Greymouth pick up your Budget rental car and take the scenic drive to Franz Josef seeing some wonderful natural landscapes along the way.
2 nights Westwood Lodge, Franz Josef

Day 5-6
Drive to Haast, a small populated town with an interesting culture for you to absorb, with beaches to explore, and history to discover.

2 nights Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki,

Day 7
From Haast, you drive to Wanaka, which is a place for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors, with still lakes running through the snow-topped peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. There are shops, restaurants, cafés and wine yards for you to enjoy at your leisure.

1 night Wanaka Springs Lodge

Day 8-9
Drive to Queenstown, named because it was ‘fit for Queen Victoria’. In the winter the area becomes an alpine playground and attracts skiers from all over the world. Visit Lake Wakatipu, explore the wilderness or take a wine tasting tour – there is so much to do here at your leisure.

2 nights The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel

Day 10-11
From Queenstown take a drive to Te Anau for the Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise. From Te Anau travel through the farming pasture lands to Pearl Harbour, Manapouri where you will board your Real Journeys vessel and cruise across Lake Manapouri to West Arm before travelling by coach through dense rainforest across Wilmot Pass. Enroute there will be opportunity to examine the plant life and view the spectacular scenery. At Deep Cove board youe vessel for a 3 hour cruise of Doubtful Sound. The cruise offers excellent views of waterfalls, rainforest and mountains. It is possible that you may also sight the resident pod of bottlenose dolphins and fur seals, the rare Fiordland crested penguins can sometimes be seen as well. On the return journey the engines are turned off to experience the `Sounds of Silence`.
2 nights Fiordland Lodge, Te Anau

Day 12
Drive to Lake Tekapo and visit the Church of the Good Shepherd.

1 night Alpine Vista, Lake Tekapo

Day 13
Return to Christchurch for one final night luxury stay at Elm Tree House.