New Zealand South Island Alpine Loop with Jess Fung

We are so glad you’ve arrived safely and we hope you had a smooth flight into New Zealand. Christchurch is your perfect basecamp for South Island exploration and we’re sure you’re all excited for this trip! We've provided you with a night of accommodation close to the heart of town prior to the start of your adventure that kicks off tomorrow. Once you’ve picked up your rental car, you can head into town, check into your accommodation, and spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city.

Recommended start time: 8:00 am. Rise and shine in the city of Christchurch! After a filling breakfast, start your epic road trip to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. We hope you’ve got your camera with you — the route is blessed with incredible views of South Island’s jaw-dropping scenery. Be sure to stop by the delightful Lake Tekapo to take in its stunning turquoise waters and beautiful mountain backdrop. Check out the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd that sits right by the water’s edge for some of the best photo ops imaginable. The glistening Lake Pukaki will also leave you speechless. It’s the largest lake in the area and you’ll catch sight of majestic Mount Cook in the distance. Finally, arrive at your Mount Cook accommodation. This evening, you will have a wonderful welcome dinner to celebrate an amazing start to your tour. After dinner, you have the option to visit the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve for a stargazing tour at 10:30 pm (see optional add-ons).

Recommended start time: 9:00 am. Today, you’ll be traveling onwards to Queenstown, but before that, take some time to discover your surroundings at Mount Cook. Maybe jumping out of a plane appeals to you? Skydive Mt Cook will assure you of spectacular views of Mount Cook and its surrounding lakes from above — just let us know if this is something you want to do and we’ll book you in for it! If you’re a fan of hiking, you cannot miss the Hooker Valley Track walk, undoubtedly one of the best scenic day hikes New Zealand has to offer. We guarantee you’ll find plenty of Insta-worthy shots on this walk, which offers spectacular views of the Southern Alps, Mount Cook, alpine streams, and glaciers. Done with exploring this stunning part of the country, begin your journey to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. Along the way, stop in Arrowtown, a charming and historic gold mining town known for its food and wine.

Good morning, it’s the final day of 2021! After a hearty breakfast in Queenstown, it’s time for your expedition to Milford Sound! A coach will take you directly to this magnificent Eighth Wonder of the World. Milford Sound experiences the highest amount of rainfall in the country and this damp weather makes the area look absolutely green, dreamy, and magical! Included in this tour is a spectacular cruise of the beautiful fiord, which will take you close to the mountains to see impressive plunging cliffs, thundering waterfalls, and otherworldly views of towering Mitre Peak. Keep your eyes open for fur seal colonies, penguins, and dolphins! After the cruise, you’ll be taken back to Queenstown for more excitement. As it’s New Year’s Eve today, you can expect plenty of live performances and food stalls set up at Earnslaw Park this evening… and, of course, wonderful fireworks at midnight! Have fun! Note: The Milford Sound tour will start at approximately 7:55 am.

We hope you stayed safe and enjoyed celebrating the arrival of the New Year! Today, you get a free day to do whatever you like. Stayed up too late last night and feeling a little under the weather from all the festivities? Pick up some delicious food from everyone’s favorite burger joint, Fergburger, for the ultimate cure! There are also plenty of activities you can choose from in the area — you might want to try some excellent adrenaline junkie options, of which AJ Hackett has an awesome range for you to choose from. How cool would it be to tell people you started off the new year by jumping off a bridge? If you’re not keen on too much heart-pounding action, you also have the option of experiencing the super-cool (literally) Ice Bar. It’s a great option if you want to carry on from last night’s festivities… this time at a much colder temperature! See the optional add-ons section for more information.

Recommended start time: 9:30 – 10:00 am. This morning, after you’ve had breakfast, you’ll be leaving Queenstown and heading to Wanaka. We hope you managed to do everything you wanted in the adventure capital of the world! Make your way to the starting point of the Roy’s Peak Track — it’s time for an amazing hike. As you reach the top, you’ll experience spectacular all-encompassing panoramic views of Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring, and the surrounding peaks. A truly breathtaking sight indeed! The Roy’s Peak hike is one of the best and most popular day hikes on South Island that you cannot miss! After the hike, remember to check out the famous Wanaka Tree (#thewanakatree), one of the most picturesque trees in all of New Zealand, hence why it’s also one of the most photographed. It’ll make a good Instagram post for sure (don’t forget to tag us)! After arriving in town, check into your accommodation and enjoy a free afternoon. We recommend checking out the Wanaka Lavender Farm in your spare time.

Recommended start time: 9:00 am. Today, you’ll be heading north to the town of Franz Josef. Along the way, there will be plenty of great locations to check out. The Blue Pools Track provides a short and easy stroll that takes you through a beautiful forest track and eventually leads to stunning pools that have been created from pure glacial water. Next, check out Thunder Creek Falls, a 96-meter-tall waterfall, easily accessible via a short walk.

Make your way to your greenstone carving workshop, which will take place within a family-run gallery. During this workshop, you will be guided through the process of carving your very own special piece of jewelry made from beautiful pounamu jade (greenstone). Mostly sourced from the local west coast riverbeds, the durable green-colored stone is highly valued in New Zealand as it is considered precious and powerful by the Māori people. After your workshop, you might want to unwind for the day at the Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools, conveniently located in the township of Franz Josef and nestled in the rainforest at the base of the Franz Josef Glacier. In the evening, check into your accommodation for the night.

Today is a full day in beautiful Franz Josef. The activity we recommend to most visitors here is the Heli Hike, available as an optional add-on. This activity gives you an epic opportunity to explore the Franz Josef Glacier up close! Should you decide to embark on this epic expedition, you’ll start the journey with a scenic helicopter flight from Franz Josef village up to the glacier, where you will land directly on the ice. From there, you’ll have over two hours to traverse the glacier with an experienced guide who will point out the best and safest parts to walk on. Other activities you can do include unguided walks and hikes to Lake Matheson (highly recommended in the morning), along Alex Knob Track, the Callery Gorge Walk, and the Copland Track to Welcome Flat Hut (where you’ll find natural hot pools). Tonight is the last night of your South Island tour, so be sure to take the chance to gather for a farewell dinner. Rainforest Retreat offers some great dining options.

It is your final day in New Zealand! Make your way back to Christchurch to drop off your rental car and catch your flight back home. We hope you’ve enjoyed your spectacular South Island trip. Until next time!