8-Day Taste of the South

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Today you'll leave Christchurch and enjoy a scenic drive through Canterbury and the MacKenzie Country to Mt Cook National Park. You'll continue through Fairlie and ascending Burkes Pass, you'll come to the picturesque lakeside town of Tekapo. Follow the road and take in the view of Aoraki/Mt Cook from the shores of Lake Pukaki, known for its glacier-fed turquoise blue colour. In the afternoon, an optional rugged back road 4WD adventure to the Tasman Glacier and its gigantic moraine wall awaits!

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Leaving the MacKenzie Country today, you'll follow the Waitaki River to the coast, where you'll turn south for Dunedin. Today you'll leave Mt Cook National Park and travel past Twizel, one of the locations for the Lord of the Rings films. Driving through the Waitaki Valley, you'll head towards the east coast. Continue south down the coast to Moeraki. As you arrive in Dunedin, take in the city’s Edwardian and Scottish heritage reflected in the buildings around the city centre - The Octagon.

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The drive from Dunedin to Te Anau takes you through classic Southland farmland scenery but if you want to spend the whole day exploring a little off the beaten path, taking the Southern Scenic Route through The Catlins is highly recommended. Upon arrival, you'll have the option to head to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves for a cruise through the inner caves to admire the incredible scene of millions of glowworms lighting up the cavity.

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Today, you'll cross vast tussock lands on your way to Queenstown. You'll pass through Mossburn, the deer capital of the nation. You'll then continue on through the Southland countryside where the road begins to hug the lake edge and the Remarkables Mountain Range towers over your approach into the adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown. You'll spend the day exploring Queenstown and its surrounds and in the evening, you'll have the option to head out on the TSS Earnslaw Cruise with dinner.

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From Queenstown, you'll cross the Crown Range –the highest sealed road in New Zealand– to the Alpine town of Wanaka. Skirting the shores of Lake Wanaka and Hawea, you will enter Makarora. Stop at Blue Pools for a one-hour walk through native beech forest to a glacier-fed swimming hole. Then through the remote settlement of Haast before heading up the West Coast, a 600-kilometre stretch of bush and rainforest. Fox Glacier welcomes you first, then comes your destination - Franz Josef township.

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Your drive today takes you north through the historic gold mining region of Hokitika, a seaside town dating back to the 1860s. Take in the sea views before moving on to Greymouth, the largest town on the West Coast and the starting point of the next leg of your journey. You'll drop your rental car at Greymouth Station and board one of the most spectacular trains in the world to Christchurch, the TranzAlpine Scenic Train. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your accommodation.