New Zealand South Island 3-Day Tour (Queenstown to Christchurch)
Travel from Queenstown through Milford Sound, Te Anau, Dunedin and Oamaru to Christchurch, with a Milford Sound cruise, wildlife and South Island scenery.

Highlights
- Milford Sound cruise with buffet lunch
- Optional visit to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves
- Dunedin, including Otago University and Baldwin Street
- Blue-eyed penguin colony in Oamaru
- Māori-style hot-rock barbecue buffet
Daily Itinerary
Meet at 7 a.m. (the guide will confirm the exact time). Travel to Milford Sound, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural wonders. The road to the fjord is described as one of the world’s most beautiful alpine roads, passing through magnificent valleys and pristine temperate rainforest. Board the Milford Sound cruise for a peaceful, awe-inspiring journey. Enjoy a buffet lunch while viewing towering snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls and sculpted cliffs. The vessel approaches a waterfall so you can feel the cool spray of glacial water. With luck, you may see seals basking and dolphins playing alongside the boat. In the evening, arrive at the tranquil shores of Lake Te Anau and check into a lakeside hotel. After dark, you may choose an optional boat trip to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves and see their star-like lights in the underground darkness. Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel Te Anau or similar Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; lunch: fjord cruise buffet; dinner: fjord lobster meal.
After breakfast, depart for Dunedin, known as the “Edinburgh of the South.” Its strong Scottish culture and architecture give it an old-world charm and a distinctly European feel. Visit the University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest university, and admire its Gothic architecture. Continue to Dunedin Railway Station, with its fairytale gingerbread-house appearance, as well as grand churches and city landmarks. Then visit Guinness-record-holding Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest street, where you can experience its striking incline. Pass the scenic Moeraki Boulders beach and admire the rugged meeting of rocks and waves on the South Pacific coast. In the evening, arrive in Oamaru and visit the blue-eyed penguin colony. From the viewing area, watch the world’s smallest penguins return from the sea. Enjoy a Māori-style hot-rock barbecue buffet: meat and seafood are cooked over geothermal stones and served with side dishes and dessert. Hotel: Heritage Court Motor Lodge Oamaru or similar Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; lunch: Chinese mini hotpot; dinner: Māori-style hot-rock barbecue.
After breakfast, leave Oamaru for Christchurch, enjoying the South Island’s pastoral scenery along the way. At the airport, board your onward flight with memories of this South Island journey. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; lunch: at your own expense.
Price Table
| Item | Price NZD |
|---|---|
| Adult | NZ$1280 |
| Child aged 4–12 sharing with one adult (per-child price) | NZ$1152 |
| Child aged 4–12 sharing with two adults (per-child price) | NZ$1024 |
| Child aged 2–4 | NZ$896 |
| Under 2 without a bed (infant receives a seat only, no other services) | NZ$460 |
| Single-room supplement | NZ$260 |
Departure Dates
2026-10-08 2026-10-15 2026-10-22 2026-10-29 2026-11-05 2026-11-12 2026-11-19 2026-11-26 2026-12-03 2026-12-10 2026-12-17 2026-12-24 (Christmas surcharge NZD 110) 2026-12-31 (New Year surcharge NZD 130) 2027-01-07 2027-01-14 2027-01-21 2027-01-28 2027-02-04 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 80) 2027-02-11 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 100) 2027-02-18 2027-02-25 2027-03-04 2027-03-11 2027-03-18 2027-03-25 2027-04-01
Included
- 1. Two (2) nights in 3–4-star hotels, including breakfast.
- 2. Meals listed in the itinerary (for Chinese group meals with more than 6 participants: 6 people receive 6 dishes and 1 soup; 7 people, 7 dishes and 1 soup; 8 or more, 8 dishes and 1 soup).
- 3. Transport throughout in 12–41-seat vehicles with a Chinese-speaking driver-guide (working hours per day; overtime costs NZD 150, payable in cash to the guide).
- 4. Admission to 2 first-entry attractions: Milford Sound cruise with lunch and the blue-eyed penguin reserve.
- 5. During Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year, adults and children must pay a holiday surcharge. Please ask sales for details.
Not Included
- 1. Guide gratuities (recommended: NZD 6 per person per day).
- 2. Meals not listed as included, airfare, visa fees and optional activities.
- 3. Additional costs caused by circumstances beyond human control (for example, weather or hotel-room issues).
- 4. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Notes
2026.10–2027.03 (Thursday departures). 3–4-star itinerary, NZD 1,280 per person. Twin-share price per person; prices in NZD. Special reminders: 1. Hotel ratings may change with booking availability. If rooms are unavailable or hotel surcharges apply during major events or public holidays, the final confirmed quotation prevails. 2. If three guests request the same room, the company will arrange a triple room accommodating 3 adults. Configurations include, but are not limited to, 3 single beds, 2 double beds, or 1 double bed with 1 small bed, sofa bed or rollaway. For two guests requesting a double room, the bed is New Zealand standard double size, 137 cm × 187 cm. Twin-room configurations include, but are not limited to, 2 single beds or 1 double bed with 1 small bed. State special requests at booking; the company will try to accommodate them. The company retains final interpretation of room allocation; guests may not object or withdraw on this basis. 3. Complimentary airport transfers are provided only on the tour start and end dates. See the itinerary for transfer times and locations. Guests who miss the scheduled meeting time must catch up with the group at their own expense. 4. The company may adjust the itinerary because of flights, hotels, weather or other circumstances beyond human control. 5. Guests are strongly advised to purchase travel and personal belongings insurance. The local operator does not bear the resulting costs. Cancellation and changes: A 50% deposit per person is payable on quotation confirmation; the balance must be paid 21 days before departure. Cancellation for any reason or booking changes 30–15 days before departure, inclusive, incur a charge of 30% of the tour fare. At 14–8 days before departure, inclusive, the charge is 50%. Cancellation or changes within 7 days before departure, inclusive, receive no refund. The same refund rules apply if an epidemic prevents travel. The company is not responsible for guests who fail to meet the guide on time for personal reasons. All activities depend on local conditions. Weather or flights may require sightseeing adjustments; the company retains final decision and interpretation rights. Fully booked listed hotels may be replaced with hotels of the same standard. Booking conditions: Hotel ratings may change with availability. If rooms are unavailable or surcharges apply during major events or public holidays, the final confirmed quotation prevails. Smoking is prohibited inside hotel rooms and on balconies. Hotel smoking fines start at NZD 500. The person responsible for the room must pay any fine issued. If payment is refused, the operator's agreement with the hotel allows the hotel to submit the matter to the New Zealand small claims tribunal. Subsequent fines, litigation, visa and entry or exit issues are the individual's responsibility. Guests prone to motion sickness should bring medication and a sick bag. Conditions and limitations: The itinerary may change because of weather. If force majeure prevents an attraction visit, its fee will be refunded or a product of equivalent value arranged. Shopping during free time is a personal activity unrelated to the operator. Insurance: Travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover unexpected costs, including extra transport, cancellation fees and lost valuables. Guests who voluntarily decline insurance must bear resulting costs, including extra transport, accommodation, cancellation fees and lost valuables. If weather, war, strikes, earthquakes or other force majeure prevents travel, unused attraction tickets will be refunded according to the travel agency agreement. Other items follow supplier policies. No refund applies when guests voluntarily abandon the tour for personal reasons. The operator has limited responsibility for only the listed services and matters. It does not accept responsibility for matters outside this description, including interpersonal or personal issues, unforeseen incidents, legal or criminal matters and religious beliefs. All prices marked NZD or $ are New Zealand dollars. All conditions, limitations and itinerary descriptions are governed and protected by New Zealand laws and regulations. All text, pictures, logos and icons are copyrighted by the operator; unauthorized copying is prohibited. If an updated itinerary is available, its latest description prevails.
Why choose us
A local Mandarin-speaking team, fully licensed (Qualmark / TAANZ / IATA), with itineraries you can verify.
How to book
Tap “Book now” for live departure dates, or message our WeChat team and we will arrange it for you.
Departure info
Prices are indicative only; the live price and confirmed departure status on this site apply.