9-Day South Island Luxury Lodges Tour

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Christchurch Airport, a shuttle driver will be waiting for you as you clear customs. This driver will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you tomorrow morning.

Self Drive: Upon arrival at Christchurch Airport you will be collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Otahuna Lodge or Similar (Platinum)

Set in pastoral surroundings against the fluted cone of an ancient volcano, Otahuna Lodge is a beguiling Victorian mansion that offers its guests a unique sense of wonder and discovery. New Zealand’s largest private historic residence has been revitalised with luxury accommodation, glorious gardens and sophisticated cuisine. In its patrician sense of calm, the grace and charm of its grounds and its refined yet personable service, Otahuna combines the romance of the past with the cosmopolitan pleasures of the present – the very best of both worlds.

Your stay includes pre-dinner drinks with canapés, a 4-course set-menu dinner complemented by matched wine pairings with each course, continental and/or full cooked breakfast and full use of Lodge equipment.

YOUR DAY

380km, 5 hours driving

Today you will drive through the mighty Southern Alps to Arthurs Pass National Park. Keep a look out for the Bealey River as well as the reflective waters of Lake Pearson and Lake Lyndon. Our favourite nature walk in this national park features a stunning 150 metre waterfall and spectacular views of the mountains as you peek through native beech forest. Be sure to keep a look out overhead for the Kea (New Zealand’s cheeky native alpine parrot)!

Driving further you will reach the West Coast and the Tasman coastline. Head slightly inland where you can visit the stunning Hokitika Gorge to marvel at its beautiful bright blue waters and surrounding native forest.

Continue further south through the rainforest to the town of Franz Josef glacier, nestled at the base of the towering alps and surrounded by dense native bush.

Te Waonui Forest Retreat or Similar (Gold)

Te Waonui Forest Retreat offers an exclusive luxury hotel experience on New Zealand’s beautiful West Coast. A 5 star retreat, Te Waonui has been designed to offer an unparalleled example of sustainable accommodation. Four wings join together to enclose an area of native rainforest that was carefully preserved during construction, and is so dense that guests can’t see the opposite wing, ensuring a sense of privacy.

Your stay includes a 5 course degustation dinner and full cooked breakfast in Te Waonui’s Canopy Restaurant & Bar. Beauty treatments are not included but can be booked in advance at Te Waonui’s on site Amaia Spa.

YOUR DAY

250km, 4 hours driving

This morning you will have the opportunity to enjoy a short scenic helicopter flight with snow landing on Franz Josef Glacier, or a 3 hour guided heli-hike on the ice of glacier itself! (Optional – Not Included in Quote).

One of the most dramatic journeys in the country is what you can experience on your drive over the Haast Pass through to Wānaka. En route you will visit Lake Matheson, otherwise known as ‘Mirror Lakes’ where on a clear day it is possible to see the reflection of New Zealand’s highest mountain Aoraki/Mt Cook (3754m/12,316ft). The walking possibilities are endless today around Haast and Haast Pass and you can choose from several nature walks, some of which feature spectacular waterfalls and deep blue coloured pools where it is possible to see trout swimming. One of our favourite spots at The Road Trip is Ship Creek, an isolated beach featuring native totara trees hugging rugged coastline.

Tonight you stay near Lake Wānaka, one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday spots.

Minaret Station or Similar (Platinum)

There are few, if any, places quite like this in the world. Private, luxury lodge accommodation set in a remote glacial valley surrounded by towering peaks, accessible only by helicopter.
Comfortable in every sense, with warm hospitality and world class cuisine, Minaret Station Alpine Lodge is truly an extraordinary location to escape the “real world”.

With just four chalets, Minaret Station Alpine Lodge provides the opportunity to enjoy some of life’s most precious elements; time, fresh air and open space, whilst creating life-long memories with friends and family.

Your stay includes private helicopter transfers from Wānaka Airport to Minaret Station, nightly pre-dinner drinks and canapés, nightly multi-course gourmet dinner, with paired wine, daily full breakfast and daily lunch, either at the Mountain Kitchen or packed picnic lunch.

Minaret Station’s guided experiences are amongst some of the finest travel experiences offered anywhere in the world.

Unique, authentic, private and off the beaten path. Minaret Station offer a range of day experiences tailored to all interests, fitness levels and budget. The Road Trips’s recommendation is their Fiordland & West Coast Highlights tour. Explore the grandeur of northern Fiordland and the West Coast by helicopter, including unique and uninhabited environments.

You not only fly through Milford Sound, but take in so much more including past spectacular glaciers, the forests and mountains to the ice carved cliffs in the fiord, and across to the West Coast to view wildlife in their natural habitat. This is a special experience that leaves guests with a remarkable memory of New Zealand and our pristine, otherwise inaccessible locations. Minaret Station’s experienced guides are there to explain the landscapes and history of the locations, and tailor the day to including hiking locations and awe-inspiring photographic opportunities. Featuring a gourmet picnic lunch along the way, bask in the magic of a spectacular location.

If you choose a guided tour, today will be a legally required day off for your driver/guide (they will be located in Wānaka).

Talk to us about a memorable guided experience with Minaret Station – there are options for heli skiing, mountain biking, hiking, hunting and fishing and several options for scenic flights and exploration of remote wilderness areas.

This morning your South Island tour takes you to the beautiful town of Arrowtown via The Crown Range, New Zealand’s highest highway. Arrowtown was an improtant location in the gold rush of Central Otago in the 1860s and is now a historic town with a very special vibe. Perhaps browse the preserved Chinese gold mining village or wander the boutique shops the town has on offer.

Following this, you will enjoy a trust the chef degustation lunch at Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door, overlooking the stunning Lake Hayes.

You will then drive a further 2 hours to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

Fiordland Lodge Te Anau or Similar (Platinum)

Fiordland Lodge is located in a place where scale is nearly unfathomable, rainfall is measured in meters, and the scenery showcases exceptional beauty. This intimate family-owned lodge offers world-renowned customised wilderness, wildlife, hiking, fly fishing, and sightseeing adventures in this treasured part of the world, where mountains and valleys battle for space and wildlife reigns supreme.

Your stay includes pre dinner canapés and a locally sourced 3 course degustation each night, as well as a private hot tub experience and full cooked breakfast each morning

Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door Degustation Lunch

Amisfield’s focus is on creating dishes that represent the work of a small group of fisherman, hunters, gatherers and farmers. Amisfield brings their products together to epitomise the tastes of Central Otago and in doing so, highlights the relationship between the raw produce and the finished product. These dishes cumulate in a dining experience that helps define NZ cuisine to the world. Amisfield believe they are charged with a sensitivity and commitment to our environment and they choose their partners in their menu for the quality they offer as well as their commitment to sustainability and ethical farming practices.

YOUR DAY

40 minutes driving

Today take the 20 minute drive to Manapouri Harbour (or be transported by coach) for your day cruise through Doubtful Sound. This spectacular journey starts with a cruise to the other side of Lake Manapouri, followed by a bus trip over a pass to the fjords followed by a magical afternoon cruising through the towering peaks and stunning waterfalls of Doubtful Sound. The trip also passes by the famous Manapouri power station. In the afternoon, return to Te Anau and enjoy a further night on the beautiful shores of the lake.

YOUR DAY

175km, 2 hours driving

This morning you will head to Queenstown, ‘New Zealand’s adventure capital of the world’. Skirting your way around Lake Wakatipu makes for some stunning photography and you will be amazed by the Remarkables Mountain Range, one of the most famous back drops for Lord of the Rings. The afternoon is free to spend as you wish in Queenstown, and there is plenty to see and do! Perhaps enjoy a walk around the botanic gardens on the lake, enjoy a drop of Central Otago pinot noir at a nearby winery, or sample some fresh local cuisine on offer on the lakefront.

Rosewood Matakauri or Similar (Platinum)

Spectacularly located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Rosewood Matakauri offers luxury lodge accommodation in Queenstown and looks out to a mesmerising panorama of the big three; The Remarkables, Cecil and Walter Peak.

Just seven minutes from bustling Queenstown, this is an alpine, lakeside retreat, nestled in one of the world’s most strikingly beautiful landscapes. With clean lines in glass, stone and timber, Matakauri’s own take on luxury is understated and welcoming; embracing guests and championing the mountainscape. Voted as one of the top three lodges in New Zealand and Australia, Matakauri is your ultimate sanctuary after a day spent atop mountains, exploring vast fjords, chasing thrills and simply discovering this unique region.

Your stay includes pre-dinner drinks, full cooked breakfast, lunch and an à la carte dinner, celebrating local seasonal produce with clean, fresh flavours.

YOUR DAY

Today is free to explore Queenstown at leisure and take part in some of the fantastic activities that this ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ has to offer. Options for the adventurous include: Skydiving, Bungy Jumping, Jet Boating, Canyon Swings, White Water Rafting, Flyboarding and Paragliding. If you feel like taking a more relaxed approach to the day, a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw 100 year old steam ship or a walk through Queenstown’s Botanic Gardens are not to be missed. Perhaps drive out to the head of Lake Wakatipu and experience the breath-taking scenery of the Glenorchy area.

Today you will transfer to Queenstown Airport for your further travel arrangements. We trust you’ve had a wonderful time here in New Zealand!

Onward flight is not included.