New Zealand South Island Central Gourmet Tour – 6 Days
Travel from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Te Anau, Dunedin and Oamaru. Includes the Milford Sound cruise, blue penguin reserve admission and regional meals.
Highlights
- Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Lake Pukaki and Wanaka’s solitary tree
- Free time and optional activities in Queenstown
- Milford Sound cruise with buffet lunch
- Dunedin landmarks and Moeraki Boulders beach
- Blue penguins and Māori rock barbecue in Oamaru
Daily Itinerary
After arriving in Christchurch, a South Pacific city with a distinctly English character, your guide will show you the beautiful “Garden City”. Walk around the historic Arts Centre, admire the Avon River and pass the Bridge of Remembrance. The coach leaves Christchurch promptly at 13:00; passengers delayed by flights must arrange their onward transport themselves. After lunch, travel to Lake Tekapo, whose vivid turquoise colour comes from glacial rock flour on the lakebed. Surrounded by mountains, the lake is a spectacular sight. Visit the lakeside Church of the Good Shepherd, a small stone church with a serene setting against the lake and night sky. In the evening, enjoy sashimi from salmon described as the world’s highest-altitude salmon. Overnight in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, with a chance to see the Milky Way and stars. Accommodation: Character holiday home (a group is not guaranteed an entire holiday home; each party is guaranteed a private bedroom). Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: Alpine salmon buffet.
After breakfast at the hotel, head to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the heart of the Southern Alps, amid dramatic mountain scenery. In fine weather, you may take an optional helicopter flight over glaciers at your own expense for views of the snow-covered ranges and Mount Cook. Continue to brilliant Lake Pukaki, then to New Zealand’s fourth-largest lake, Lake Wanaka, passing the famous solitary tree standing in the lake. Enjoy a stroll by the water. In the evening arrive in Queenstown, on Lake Wakatipu, a celebrated resort and honeymoon destination. Hotel: Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park or similar. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense.
Enjoy a free day in Queenstown, a picturesque town between mountains and lakes, offering both relaxation and adventure. Plan your own activities: visit Glenorchy and locations used in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit; try optional skydiving, bungee jumping, paragliding or jet boating; take the gondola for town views, fly by helicopter over mountains and glaciers, or visit a winery; or simply stroll the town, watch street performers and enjoy cafes, sunshine and lake breezes. Do not miss the famous Fergburger handmade burger. Hotel: Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park or similar. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense.
After breakfast, travel to Milford Sound, one of New Zealand’s striking natural wonders. The road is famed as one of the world’s most scenic alpine routes, passing valleys and temperate rainforest. Board the ★Milford Sound cruise. Enjoy the cruise buffet lunch while viewing towering mountains, waterfalls and steep cliffs; the boat approaches a waterfall, and wildlife sightings may include seals and dolphins. In the evening arrive beside Lake Te Anau and check in at the lakeside hotel. Optionally, at your own expense, take a boat to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves and see their star-like glow. Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel Te Anau or similar. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: Milford Sound cruise buffet; Dinner: Fiordland lobster meal.
After breakfast, depart for Dunedin, known as the “Edinburgh of the South”, with Scottish culture and architecture and a distinctly European character. Visit the University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest university; see Dunedin Railway Station, likened to a gingerbread house, notable churches and city landmarks, then Baldwin Street, listed by Guinness as the world’s steepest street. Pass the scenic Moeraki Boulders beach and view its rocks and surf. In the evening arrive in Oamaru and visit the ★blue penguin colony. From the viewing seats, watch the world’s smallest penguins return from the sea. Enjoy a Māori rock-barbecue buffet, cooked using traditional heated stones, with meat, seafood, accompaniments and dessert. Hotel: Heritage Court Motor Lodge Oamaru or similar. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: Chinese individual hotpot; Dinner: Māori rock-barbecue meal.
After breakfast, leave Oamaru for Christchurch, enjoying the South Island’s rural scenery along the way. At the airport, board your onward flight with memories of the South Island journey. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense.
Price Table
| Item | Price NZD |
|---|---|
| Adult | NZ$2050 |
| Child aged 12–4 sharing with one adult (per-child price) | NZ$1845 |
| Child aged 12–4 sharing with two adults (per-child price) | NZ$1640 |
| Child aged 4–2 | NZ$1435 |
| Under 2 without a bed (infant receives a seat only, no other services) | NZ$680 |
| Single-room supplement | NZ$720 |
Departure Dates
2026-10-05 2026-10-12 2026-10-19 2026-10-26 2026-11-02 2026-11-09 2026-11-16 2026-11-23 2026-11-30 2026-12-07 2026-12-14 2026-12-21 (Christmas surcharge NZD 260) 2026-12-28 (New Year surcharge NZD 380) 2027-01-04 2027-01-11 2027-01-18 2027-01-25 2027-02-01 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 180) 2027-02-08 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 260) 2027-02-15 2027-02-22 2027-03-01 2027-03-08 2027-03-15 2027-03-22 2027-03-29
Included
- 1. Accommodation: 4 nights in 3–4-star hotels with breakfast and 1 night in character holiday-home accommodation with breakfast.
- 2. Meals listed in the itinerary (Chinese group-meal standard for groups larger than 6: 6 guests—6 dishes and 1 soup; 7 guests—7 dishes and 1 soup; groups of 8 or more—8 dishes and 1 soup).
- 3. Transport: 12–41-seat vehicle throughout, with a Chinese-speaking driver-guide. The driver-guide works ten hours per day; overtime costs NZD 150, payable to the guide in cash.
- 4. First-entry admission for 2 attractions: Milford Sound cruise and lunch, and the blue penguin reserve.
- 5. Note: Adults and children pay additional holiday surcharges during Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year. Ask sales for details.
Not Included
- 1. Guide gratuities (suggested NZD 6 per person per day).
- 2. Lunches and dinners at your own expense, airfares, visa fees and optional activities.
- 3. Extra costs caused by circumstances beyond human control (such as weather or hotel-room issues).
- 4. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Notes
2026.10–2027.03 (Monday departures). 3–4-star itinerary, NZD 2,050 per person. Twin-share price per person; prices in NZD. Bookings within 10 days of departure may incur hotel surcharges. Contact your sales consultant with questions. 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. Booking conditions.
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.