15 Day Southern Adventure Luxury

A leisurely start to the day before you head to Gibbston Valley winery for their iconic cave tour with 3 wine tastings, packaged with a three-course lunch with matching wines. The seasonal menu features carefully-selected ingredients which reflect local flavours and are expertly paired with our wines to make every element sing.

During any free time please feel free to explore the wider Gibbston Valley property, explore the Cellar Door and Cheesery & Deli or hire a bike from the Bike Centre and cycle down along the vineyard trails to the nearby wineries.

The rest of the day is yours to continue to explore Queenstown.

You will drive over the Crown Range, the highest road in New Zealand, to Wanaka. You will then follow the lakeside roads to Makarora, the entrance to Mount Aspiring National Park. Here, you can visit the Blue Pools and walk to a glacier-fed pool in the beech forests. Next, you will drive down to the Haast Pass, where rivers and waterfalls lead to the wild West Coast, a long stretch of rainforests. Soon, you will arrive at Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, your home for two nights.

Few places on earth can match the stunning natural setting of Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, surrounded by lakes, rivers, rainforest and seacoast in the heart of Te Wahipounamu, the southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area. This is a paradise for nature lovers, active travelers and wilderness seekers.

Each day one complimentary guided nature activity is included. These daily trips are fun, educational and interactive. They are led by expert naturalists and introduce you to the area’s remarkable natural history. Some of the activities on offer include:

The Interior of the Rainforest – A Step Back in Time
Discover 1000-year-old trees, orchids, and a myriad of ferns. Search for birdlife & learn about the conservation campaigns that saw these rainforests protected in perpetuity as a World Heritage site.

Freshwater Ecology of the Moeraki River
Learn about the inhabitants of a waterway teaming with life. Discover tiny invertebrates that support a complex food web and handfeed giant freshwater eels.

Learn Easy Kayaking
Join a trained guide to paddle our safe and stable kayaks. Explore the calm waters of Lake Moeraki and watch waterbirds, spot trout and experience absolute serenity.

Night Sky & Glow Worm Discovery
After dinner take a stroll to learn about the stars of the southern sky and see glow worms light up the rainforest.

Your road trip continues today, as you follow the wild West Coast and pass through ancient podocarp forests. At Knights Point Lookout, an interesting display tells of shipwrecks in the region and at the right time of year, you can see elephant seals basking on the far beaches. As you continue north, you’ll pass the imposing Fox Glacier and the reflective Lake Matheson as you enter New Zealand’s glacier region. Nearby, a wilderness of crashing surf and distant snow-capped mountains welcomes you to the historic Gillespie’s Beach, worth a short detour for its seal colony and colorful gold mining history. A further 45 minutes north takes you to your destination of Franz Josef township, nestled in the shadow of its eponymous glacier.

We start the date with a guided glacier experience you will never forget. Your experience combines a short, exhilarating helicopter ride, jaw-dropping scenery and a two-and-half-hour hike through the most spectacular glacier features. It’s no wonder our guests often label their Glacier Heli Hike as the highlight of their visit to Aotearoa (New Zealand). The friendly and experienced guides will share their knowledge of the glacier region, leaving you with a whole new appreciation for Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere (Franz Josef Glacier).

Today, you’ll head north through the historic gold mining region of Hokitika. This seaside town is famous for its greenstone (pounamu) and has a rich history dating back to the 1860s. Visit the coast and enjoy the endless sea views or find a souvenir at one of the many craft shops. Continue to Greymouth, the largest town on the West Coast, and the starting point for the next leg of your journey—the TranzAlpine Scenic Train. Leave your rental car at the Greymouth Train Station depot, before getting on your train back to Christchurch.

Regarded as one of the world’s great train journeys, you’ll travel across the South Island from the west to east coasts, crossing through Arthur’s Pass National Park. From the comfort of your carriage, see lush beech forest, deep river valleys, and the spectacular peaks of the Southern Alps. Descend to the windswept Canterbury Plains before arriving in the city of Christchurch.

A driver will be waiting for you at the train station to take you to your accommodation. Enjoy your final evening in New Zealand with a farewell dinner and a night on the town.

Free time this morning for some last-minute sightseeing, shopping, or relaxing before returning your vehicle at Christchurch airport for your onward flight.