9-Day South Island Glamping

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Today you will be driving from the East Coast over Arthur's Pass, the highest and most spectacular pass across the Southern Alps, to the West Coast. At Arthur’s Pass, you can gaze into the historic Otira rail tunnel – an epic engineering feat through 8.5 kilometres of rock. If you need to stretch your legs, walk the one-hour return journey to the Devil's Punchbowl Falls. Your final destination of today will be Hokitika, known as the Cool Little Town, filled with lovely old buildings.

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Today, you'll drive along the famous West Coast of the South Island down to Franz Josef. Before leaving Hokitika, you can explore the Shantytown Heritage Park or take the West Coast Treetop Walk. Franz Josef Glacier was first explored in 1865 by geologist Julius von Haast, who named it after the Austrian emperor. The glacier is five kilometres from the town of the same name, and a 1.5-hour walk will take you to within 750-metres of its terminal face.

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Today, you will drive past Wanaka where you will be spending the next two nights glamping in New Zealand in a special tiny house with nature views at your doorstep. Wanaka, a resort town on New Zealand's South Island, is set on the southern end of its namesake lake with views of snowcapped mountains. It's the gateway to the Southern Alps' Mount Aspiring National Park, a wilderness of glaciers, beech forests and alpine lakes.

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Today, it is recommended that you visit Wanaka, a genuine alpine town and the ultimate hub for outdoor adventures, and with Mount Aspiring National Park located close by. For adventure seekers, you can go skydiving, canyoning, climbing or mountaineering and hiking up surrounding mountains. The crystal-clear water of the lakes are ideal for kayaking, fishing, lake cruises and jet-boating, or to get an aerial perspective of the region take a scenic flight and you can even land on a glacier.

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Today, you'll drive to Queenstown, the hub of adventure, thrumming with adrenaline and an omnipresent sense of fun. On your way, you can stop at Arrowtown, one of the most picturesque settlements in New Zealand. The town was established in 1862, during the height of the Otago gold rush. There's so much to do in Queenstown from a Lord of the Rings tour to a winery tour in Gibbston Valley, JetBoat adventures and speciality cruises on the TSS Earnslaw!

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Today, you will drive into the heart of the South Island. Just 12 kilometres off the Tekapo-Queenstown road - close enough to town life when wanted, but far enough off the beaten track for you to feel the world cannot find you. Here, you will stay at SkyScape, a distinctive accommodation designed to maximise the extraordinary views of the Mackenzie Country both day and night, with your bedroom built predominantly of glass. It is a truly marvellous spot to stay.

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On your way to Christchurch, you can stop at Lake Tekapo. On the shores on the lake, you'll see the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, where the altar window frames a perfect view of the Southern Alps beyond the lake. In the afternoon, you'll arrive in Christchurch. Expect street art and innovative projects, a bustling hospitality scene and established green spaces. Christchurch is the newest city in the world, and it’s time the world rediscovered its secrets.