13-Day South Island Adventure & Wine Tour

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Today you will be joining a very special Heli Wine Tour in Queenstown. You'll travel by scenic helicopter flight with an alpine landing for a perfect photo opportunity. You will be dropped at the Gibbston Valley after the helicopter flight where Queenstown Wine Trail will pick you up to continue on with the wine tour. This tour offers unique food and wine experiences at a relaxed pace in picturesque surroundings. You will visit three wineries and enjoy a winery lunch.

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This morning, you'll pick up your rental car and driver to Dunedin. On New Zealand's South Island, Dunedin is a region of unique landscapes and fascinating cultural history. After settling into your hotel, you can set out to explore Dunedin's Victorian and Edwardian architecture, get close to rare wildlife and soak up the quirky city vibe.

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Today's short journey takes you further to Oamaru. Oamaru is known for the country’s oldest public gardens, renowned Victorian architecture, two penguin colonies and Steampunk HQ. Oamaru’s main attraction is undoubtedly the colonies of blue penguins, the smallest and only blue species of penguin in the world. Once this highlight has been ticked off the list, take a stroll around the well-preserved Historic District, with its distinctive, limestone, nineteenth-century buildings.

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Your next destination will be Mount Cook, a 2.5-hour car journey away. Mount Cook is a hiking paradise and the incredible landscape forms part of the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area. It can also be explored by mountain climbing, hiking, skiing and even scenic flight tours. In the evening, you have the possibility to take part in an Earth & Sky Tour and admire the southern night sky and, with a little luck, even the Milky Way.

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Today you'll embark on the Ultimate Hikes Hooker Valley day walk, one of the many beautiful guided nature walks in this region. On the trek, you'll be rewarded with some of the most breathtaking views of New Zealand's highest peaks. Your guides will tell you all about the flora and fauna that is unique to the region as you trek through these amazing landscapes. The hike ranges from 6-13 kilometres depending on if you choose to do the half-day or full-day route.

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Today's five-hour self-drive journey takes you to Arthur's Pass. Arthur's Pass is the highest pass over the Southern Alps. Long before surveyor Arthur Dudley Dobson found his way over in 1864, it was known to Maori. Arthur’s Pass National Park itself is split into two halves: one is shingle-filled riverbeds and beech forests and the other is vast and dense rainforest and deep river gorges. If you're up for an adventure, you can go hiking or mountaineering in Arthur’s Pass National Park.

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Today, you'll say goodbye to the beautiful Arthur's Pass and drive onwards to Motueka. Motueka is a vibrant town, known for its lively café culture and artistic community. It is also a gateway town to the Abel Tasman National Park. Motueka's features a vibrant main street offers lovely little boutiques, quaint cafes and charming restaurants. Don’t miss a visit to the wonderful Sunday morning farmers’ market and pretty, leafy beer garden where you can sample delicious local craft beers.

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Today, you'll embark on a Vista Barbeque Cruise in the stunning Abel Tasman Nationalpark. On a Wilsons Vista Barbecue Cruise, you can see all of the highlights along the coast from the beautiful outcrops to the lush sands and green forest. You'll have the chance to spot lots of wildlife including sea birds, seals and if you're lucky, little blue penguins. You'll head to a sheltered cove where you'll relax as the crew prepare your classic Kiwi barbecue food which will then be enjoyed onboard.

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Today, you'll drive north along the east coast until you reach Blenheim in the Marlborough Plain. Viticulture in this region began in the 1970s when Montana Wines was on the lookout for new land. The composition of the earth, high sunshine, long autumn and cold winter, are excellent conditions for premium wine. Later, you'll join a guided wine tour by bike and let one of the knowledgeable guides share their unique insights into this majestic region and its world-class wine.

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Today, your journey continues to your day's destination Kaikoura. Here, sperm whales occur regularly, attracted by the rich food supply of the warm ocean currents. You can also see fur seals lying on the rocks along the highway, and with a little luck, even dolphins will jump acrobatically out of the water. A whale watching tour takes you out by boat under expert guidance to get closer to the whales.

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Today, you'll continue driving along the east coast to your next destination, Christchurch. Upon arrival, you can explore the city centre by historic tram. The tram also has a restaurant wagon for an elegant dinner so you can dine stylishly in the restored historic tram, in an air-conditioned wagon. During a sightseeing tour through the heart of the reconstructed city centre, you will experience a unique mixture of old and new.