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Tour Code: 000-20187

8-Day South Island Scenic Trains and Glaciers Grand Loop from Christchurch

 

Our Price: from

$1554
￥10946
€1323
C$2140
(per person, based on double occupancy) Available: Fri Depart from: Christchurch,
Overview
Visit Christchurch (Tranz Alpine), Arthur's Pass, Crown Range Road, Dunedin, Greymouth (Fox Glacier, Shantytown), Haast, Haast Pass National Scenic Reserve (Blue Pool), Lake Tekapo Township (Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo), Mount Cook National Park, Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks and Blowholes), Queenstown, Wanaka.

Day 1: Christchurch

Upon arriving in Christchurch, your guide will lead you through this beautiful "Garden City." Stroll through the historic Arts Centre, admire the graceful scenery along the Avon River, and pass by the Bridge of Remembrance.

The largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, Christchurch is an urban center in the Canterbury region. Nicknamed the Garden City, Christchurch is known for its Anglican cathedral, arts, museums, and as being a gateway for Antarctic expeditions.

  • Housed in enchanting Gothic Revival buildings, the Christchurch Arts Centre is the city's cultural hub. It buzzes with creativity, hosting artist studios, unique shops, theatres, and craft markets.

  • The Bridge of Remembrance is a WWI memorial arch in Christchurch, where soldiers departed for war. It now stands as a spiritual landmark, symbolizing peace, remembrance, and resilient hope.

Dulexe Hotel: Hotel Elms Christchurch or similar 4 stars hotel

Meal: Excluded

Day 2: Christchurch - Arthur's Pass - Greymouth (170 km)

After breakfast, take the renowned TranzAlpine scenic train to Arthur's Pass. Meet your guide and proceed to Shantytown, a heritage gold rush theme park. Enjoy a guided tour, ride a heritage steam train, and experience gold panning, taking home a vial of "paydirt" as a souvenir. Evening check-in at your hotel.

The largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, Christchurch is an urban center in the Canterbury region. Nicknamed the Garden City, Christchurch is known for its Anglican cathedral, arts, museums, and as being a gateway for Antarctic expeditions.

  • Regarded as one of the world's greatest train journeys, the TranzAlpine is a passenger train like no other. Guests can travel 139 miles, beginning in Christchurch, and experience scenic views, tunnels, and viaducts of the Southern Alps during an unforgettable excursion.

    Duration: Approx. 4 Hours 25 Minutes

Located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, Arthur's Pass is one of three mountain passes in the Southern Alps. Named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson, in 1864, visitors can enjoy vistas and Dobson's memorial from an elevation of 920 meters.

The most populous town in the West Coast region, Greymouth sits at the foot of the Southern Alps. Visitors can enjoy shopping, restaurants and a bustling ecotourism. Popular attractions close by include the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.

  • This tourist attraction in New Zealand, just to the south of Greymouth, opened in the early 1970s. It is made up of recreated historic buildings to simulate the look and feel of a 19th century gold mining town.

  • This heritage steam train is a iconic experience at Shantytown, taking passengers back to the 19th-century gold rush. It travels on original tracks through native forests and past historic gold mining sites, offering an authentic journey into the past.

  • Gold panning is a classic hands-on activity that lets you experience the life of a 19th-century prospector. Swirl a special pan in flowing water to learn separation techniques and discover gleaming gold flakes as a unique souvenir.

Standard Hotel: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki or Beachfront Hotel Hokitika or Copthorne Hotel Greymouth or similar

Breakfast: Included (Western-style at the hotel)|Lunch: Included (Three-course buffet)|Dinner: Excluded

Day 3: Punakaiki - Greymouth - Haast (356 km)

After breakfast, visit the iconic Pancake Rocks to witness its dramatic blowholes. Then, travel south along State Highway 6 through the scenic West Coast rainforest. A stop will be made at the Glacier Viewpoint for photos, weather permitting. The day ends with a special West Coast dinner upon arrival in Haast.

Located in the West Coast region of the South Island of New Zealand, Punakaiki is a small town that offers stunning beaches and clifftop views. Situated between Westport and Greymouth, visitors often stop at the Pancake Rocks, a popular geological tourist attraction.

  • Punakaiki's famous Pancake Rocks and Blowholes provide a beautifully bizarre limestone landscape dotted with pancake-shaped geological formations and surge pools. Visitors can explore a 20-minute walk along designated pathways at the picture perfect attraction.

The most populous town in the West Coast region, Greymouth sits at the foot of the Southern Alps. Visitors can enjoy shopping, restaurants and a bustling ecotourism. Popular attractions close by include the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.

  • Fox Glacier is one of the most famous glaciers on New Zealand's South Island West Coast. This massive temperate glacier carves down from the Southern Alps, reaching near sea level amidst lush rainforest, creating a stunning contrast of ice and greenery.

Haast is an area in the Westland District territorial authority on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. The main economic activities in the Haast region are farming, fishing and tourism.

Standard Hotel: Heartland Hotel Haast or similar 3 stars hotel

Breakfast: Included (Western-style at the hotel)|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Game meat whitebait patty + Burger & fries, dishes are subject to change based on seasonal availability)

Day 4: Haast - Haast Pass National Scenic Reserve - Crown Range Road - Wanaka - Queenstown (445 km)

After breakfast, travel through the scenic Haast Pass to the Blue Pools for a short walk to the stunning glacial pools. Enjoy free time in Wanaka before crossing the Crown Range Road to Queenstown. Conclude the day with a Skyline Gondola ride for panoramic views.

Note: The Blue Pools walk may be replaced with a Wanaka lakeside walk in case of severe weather.

Haast Pass National Scenic Reserve forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage area, connecting the West Coast with the Wanaka lake region. It's renowned for its pristine rainforests, waterfalls and glacial valleys, offering a classic journey through the Southern Alps.

  • The Blue Pools in Haast Pass National Scenic Reserve are famed for their crystal-clear glacial waters. A walk through suspended bridges and ancient beech forest leads to these sapphire-colored pools, a must-see natural wonder in the South Island.

The Crown Range Road is New Zealand's highest main highway, connecting Wanaka and Queenstown. This winding mountain route offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and river valleys, making it one of the South Island's most memorable drives.

Located in the Otago region, Wanaka is a popular resort town that attracts tourists all year round. From cross-country skiing to water skiing, Wanaka offers endless outdoor activities no matter the season, as well as gorgeous views of mountain ranges, lakes, and more.

Located in the South Island of New Zealand along Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is an urban, resort town popularized for its adventure tourism, which includes snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, and paragliding. The Lord of the Rings film trilogy also features locations from Queenstown and surrounding locations.

  • Often considered one of the best views in the world, the gondola that is attached to the Skyline restaurant in Queenstown provides an amazing scenic vantage point of the surrounding lands of New Zealand.

Dulexe Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Lakefront Queenstown or similar 4 stars hotel

Breakfast: Included (Western-style at the hotel)|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded

Day 5: A full day of leisure in Queenstown

Today offers a full day of leisure in picturesque Queenstown. Nestled between majestic mountains and a sparkling lake, this town is hailed as one of the world's most beautiful resort destinations—a paradise for both relaxation and adventure.

Tailor your day to your interests:

  • For Film Buffs: Journey to the fairytale-like village of Glenorchy to explore real-life The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit filming locations.

  • For Thrill-Seekers: Get your adrenaline pumping with world-class activities like skydiving, bungy jumping, paragliding, or jet boating.

  • For a Leisurely Pace: Soak in panoramic views from the gondola, take a scenic helicopter flight over snow-capped peaks and glaciers, or enjoy a wine tasting at a local vineyard.

  • For a Spontaneous Day: Simply wander the vibrant streets, listen to buskers, and savor coffee by the lake.

Don't forget to try the legendary Fergburger - a deliciously juicy bite you won't forget.

Located in the South Island of New Zealand along Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is an urban, resort town popularized for its adventure tourism, which includes snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, and paragliding. The Lord of the Rings film trilogy also features locations from Queenstown and surrounding locations.

Dulexe Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Lakefront Queenstown or similar 4 stars hotel

Breakfast: Included (Western-style at the hotel)|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded

Day 6: Queenstown - Dunedin (171 km)

After breakfast, travel to Dunedin for a city tour. Key stops include St. Paul's Cathedral, the historic University of Otago, the iconic Dunedin Railway Station, and the world's steepest Baldwin Street. Enjoy a special two-course lunch at the historic Speight's Brewery.The afternoon features a visit to Larnach Castle, New Zealand's only castle, to explore its grand interiors and gardens.

Dunedin is a bustling urban, cultural center in the Otago region in the South Island of New Zealand. It offers a wide variety of attractions for visitors including the theatre, music, museums, sporting events, universities, parks, gardens, architecture, and much more.

  • Embodies Dunedin's wealthy inheritance, This building perhaps is New Zealand’s most photographed building. The ornate Flemish Renaissance-style architecture features white Oamaru limestone facings on black basalt rock. The sheer size, grandiose style and rich embellishments of the station earned architect George Troup the nickname of Gingerbread George.

  • Located in Dunedin, New Zealand, Baldwin Street is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's steepest residential Street. At its maximum incline, the slope of Baldwin Street is 19 degrees or a gradient of 35%.

  • Founded in 1869, the University of Otago is New Zealand's oldest university. Its Dunedin campus is renowned for its Scottish-style stone buildings and stunning gardens, often ranked among the world's most beautiful campuses, blending academic prestige with photographic charm.

  • Speight's Brewery is one of New Zealand's oldest breweries, established in Dunedin since 1876. A cultural icon of the South Island, it offers classic brewery tours and authentic Western meals in its beloved pub with a retro-industrial ambiance.

  • The castle is set high above the harbour where William Larnach commissioned the construction of New Zealand’s only castle in 1871. It is also well known for its 14 hectare garden and grounds which has been recognised as a Garden of International Significance.

Dulexe Hotel: Scenic hotel Southern Cross or similar 4 stars hotel

Breakfast: Included (Western-style at the hotel)|Lunch: Included (2-Course Meal at the Speight's Brewery)|Dinner: Included (Chinese Hot Pot)

Day 7: Dunedin - Mount Cook National Park - Lake Tekapo Township (303 km)

After breakfast, travel to Mount Cook National Park. En route, stop at a salmon farm for optional tasting. Explore the park's stunning landscapes, with an optional helicopter flight to the Tasman Glacier (weather permitting). In the afternoon, visit Lake Tekapo. See the Church of the Good Shepherd and enjoy the world-famous starry skies in the Dark Sky Reserve. Overnight at a unique lodge.

Mount Cook, locally known as Aoraki, is the highest mountain in New Zealand measuring 12,218 feet tall. An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Cook is a beautiful, diverse location like no other. Enjoy exploring peaks, valleys, lakes, forests, and more.

  • Admire the beauty and scale of New Zealand's largest mountain, Mount Cook, from the sky with a helicopter tour. Locally known as Aoraki, guests learn about the mountain's cultural and historical importance from knowledgeable pilots while admiring the grandeur of the Southern Alps.

    Duration: 20 Minutes to 1 Hour

Located near the Mackenzie Basin, the Lake Tekapo Township is a small community surrounded mountain ranges, lakes and natural beauty. It is also home to Mount John University Observatory, the Church of the Good Shepherd, Waitaki Dam, and more.

  • Lake Tekapo is the second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north-south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand (the others are Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau).

  • The Church of the Good Shepherd is situated on the shores of Lake Tekapo amongst the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains. It was built to the glory of God as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country.

Dulexe Hotel: Tekapo holiday home and enjoy a high-end experience within the Dark Sky Reserve

Breakfast: Included (Western-style at the hotel)|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Buffet)

Day 8: Lake Tekapo Township - Christchurch (181 km)

After breakfast, capture the picture-perfect scenery of Lake Tekapo and its dreamy turquoise waters. Afterwards, return to Christchurch.

Located near the Mackenzie Basin, the Lake Tekapo Township is a small community surrounded mountain ranges, lakes and natural beauty. It is also home to Mount John University Observatory, the Church of the Good Shepherd, Waitaki Dam, and more.

The largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, Christchurch is an urban center in the Canterbury region. Nicknamed the Garden City, Christchurch is known for its Anglican cathedral, arts, museums, and as being a gateway for Antarctic expeditions.

Breakfast: Included (Western-style at the hotel)|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded

 

Price Includes:

Price Excludes: