You will discover dynamic and vibrant landscapes in frozen scenery during your 7-day New Zealand nature tour. Frozen rivers and their contrasting blue and white icy features will shimmer as you touch the crisp surface of renowned glaciers. Whether climbing through ice caves or standing beneath soaring mountain peaks, cruising on pristine glacial lakes or finding drifting icebergs, you will have an immersive adventure of New Zealand’s epic South Island.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Christchurch – Glacial Anticipation
Arrive in the beautiful city of Christchurch, known to locals as the “Garden City,” and be transferred to your accommodation. The calm rush of water drifts through the city from the Avon River that meanders through the gardens and the city center. The sweet scent of lupines wafts through the streets and the lively sounds of the open city surround and welcome you. Put aside the excitement of the coming visit to the Franz Josef Glacier and enjoy the city of Christchurch and its varied activities and luxuries.
Exploring the city brings the sound of bells from the tram and the gentle hum as it makes its way along the sunken rails. Christ Church Cathedral is an Anglican building with a history dating back to 1865. Located in the heart of the city, the cathedral is dressed with an impressive stone facade with a pointed bell tower, a cavernous interior that looks like it stretches for miles with a wooden ceiling, and stained-glass windows that colorfully light the grounds.
What's Included:
Day 2
Queenstown – Mountain and Church (Peaks)
Day 3
Queenstown – Glacial Expectation to Fiord Realization
Day 4
Queenstown – Mountains Over or Under
Day 5
Franz Josef – Glacial Lakes to Glaciers
Day 6
Franz Josef – Reaching the Glacier
Day 7
Christchurch – Over the Glacier and Through the Alps
Trip Highlights
- Explore the Alpine region of Franz Josef
- See the opulent Franz Josef Glacier
- Visit New Zealand’s highest peak, Mt. Cook
- Tour the stunning Milford Sound
- Take the TranzAlpine train through the Southern Alps
- See Lake Wanaka and the rugged West Coast
Detailed Description
Venture to and through the awe-inspiring landscape of the South Island on this 7-day trip to New Zealand. Whether in the pristine white blanket of a snowy winter or the vibrant green prairies of a New Zealand summer, there are only grand moments and beautiful adventures when traveling the South Island. From the architectural beauty of Christchurch, the stunning gardens, and the vibrant life, to the unparalleled awe of the Southern Alps, New Zealand will welcome you with open landscaped arms, but it is the natural majesty that will make you want to stay.
Begin your time on the South Island when you arrive in Christchurch. Still feeling some effects from the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, the city is full of buildings dating back to the city’s founding, and locals ensure the pulse of the area is always racing. Explore the mounds of activities, even if just drifting down the Avon River. Watch the sites of New Zealand surround you as you make your way to Queenstown. The largest peak in New Zealand, Mt. Cook, stands among the Southern Alps and points high into the sky ready to be seen while the lush prairies of Canterbury County stretch along the foothills.
In and around Queenstown brings you the opulence and natural wonders of the Fiordlands National Park. Explore Milford Sound where the air is clear and the wildlife is abundant. The glowworms light up the dark caverns and lead the way home. Queenstown is snuggled between the beauty of Lake Wakatipu and the bulk of Bob’s Peak, both offering fabulous fun from relaxing to adventurous. When you arrive at Franz Josef glacier the lavish rush of ice sprawls between the mountains, and whether seen from the base or explored on a walk, it is no less awesome. Finally you will travel through the Alps on the TranzAlpine railway, finishing your journey in Christchurch. Although a glacier is never less than breathtaking, it is only a frozen drop of beauty in the stunning ocean that is New Zealand’s South Island.
Starting Price
$8,000 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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