South Island Double Train & Glacier Grand Circuit — 8 Days / 7 Nights
Explore Christchurch, Arthur’s Pass, Greymouth or Punakaiki, Pancake Rocks, Fox Glacier, Haast, the Blue Pools, Wanaka, Queenstown, Dunedin, Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo. Includes the TranzAlpine scenic train, Shantytown gold-rush experience and steam train, Skyline Gondola, and Larnach Castle, with hotel and holiday-home accommodation.
Highlights
- TranzAlpine scenic train through the Southern Alps
- Shantytown heritage village, steam train and gold-panning activity
- Pancake Rocks, Fox Glacier viewpoints and Haast’s West Coast scenery
- Blue Pools short walk and Wanaka
- Queenstown Skyline Gondola, Dunedin and Larnach Castle
- Mount Cook National Park, Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd
Daily Itinerary
Arrive in Christchurch, a South Pacific city with a classical English atmosphere. Your guide will introduce this beautiful “Garden City”. Stroll through the historic Arts Centre, admire the elegant Avon River scenery and pass the Bridge of Remembrance, a symbol of resilience and commemoration, experiencing the city’s cultural heritage and peaceful atmosphere. Hotel: Hotel Elms Christchurch or a similar 4-star hotel Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
After breakfast, board the ★TranzAlpine scenic train, described as one of the world’s ten most beautiful rail journeys (limited to 10 guests). Cross the Canterbury Plains, the Waita Valley and the Southern Alps, enjoying glacier-fed blue rivers, dense forests and dramatic mountains. At Arthur’s Pass, meet your guide and continue west to ★Shantytown, a heritage town recreating the 19th-century gold rush. With your guide, explore period buildings including the old post office, blacksmith and barber shop. Ride the vintage ★steam train (12.30 pm or 2.00 pm) through native forest and gold-mining relics, with a stop to get off and take photographs. Try the ★gold-panning activity and receive a small bottle of “gold dust” as a souvenir. Check in and rest in the evening. Hotel: Ashley Hotel Greymouth or a similar 3-star hotel Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: Three-course buffet; Dinner: At your own expense
After breakfast, visit the West Coast geological wonder of Pancake Rocks. Layers of limestone resemble stacks of pancakes, shaped over millions of years by waves and wind. Waves surge into blowholes and send water several metres into the air like natural fountains. The coastal walkway is scenic and is one of New Zealand’s best-known geological attractions. Continue south along State Highway 6 towards Fox Glacier through the world-famous “wet West Coast rainforest belt”, where native forest, streams, cliffs and glacier mist create a spectacular landscape. If conditions permit, stop at a glacier lookout to view the blue glacial river formed by melting ice. Arrive in Haast in the evening, the “southern gateway” linking the West Coast and southern lakes, with pristine scenery and ecology. Tonight’s West Coast dinner features a local favourite, whitebait fritters made with West Coast whitebait and egg, accompanied by an American-style burger and crisp fries. Ingredients may vary seasonally or be replaced with other dishes. Hotel: Heartland Hotel Haast or a similar 3-star hotel Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: Game-style whitebait fritter, burger and fries
After breakfast, travel along the scenic Makarora route through the Haast River Valley Scenic Reserve, into representative pristine South Island landscapes. At the Blue Pools, take a refreshing short walk through forest and across suspension bridges to clear blue glacial-melt pools hidden in the woods. Continue to Wanaka for free time. This lakeside town beneath the Southern Alps offers a relaxed local atmosphere. Enjoy a lakeside café, handmade ice cream or a photo stop at the iconic That Wanaka Tree. In the evening, arrive in Queenstown. Ride the ★Skyline Gondola to Bob’s Peak, 790 metres above sea level, for views over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu and towards Glenorchy and the surrounding mountains. Walk the summit viewing platform, try the luge at your own expense or relax at the summit café. In severe weather, the Blue Pools walk may be replaced for safety reasons by a lakeside walk in Wanaka. Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Lakefront Queenstown or a similar 4-star hotel Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
Enjoy a full day at leisure in picturesque Queenstown, set between mountains and lakes and renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful holiday destinations—a haven for relaxation and adventure. Plan your day according to your interests: • If you enjoy film locations, visit storybook Glenorchy, a filming location for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and see the real-life landscapes of Middle-earth. • Thrill-seekers can choose skydiving, bungy jumping, paragliding or jet boating. • For a gentler pace, take a gondola for panoramic Queenstown views, fly by helicopter over snow-covered mountains and glaciers, or taste New Zealand wines at a winery. • Alternatively, stroll through town, watch street performers and enjoy coffee, sunshine and the lakeside breeze. Don’t forget to try the famous handmade Fergburger, with its crisp, savoury and juicy bite. Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Lakefront Queenstown or a similar 4-star hotel Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
After breakfast, drive to Dunedin, known as the “Edinburgh of the South”, for a city tour. See St Paul’s Cathedral, an English Gothic landmark beside the Octagon; the University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest university, founded in 1869, with its Scottish-style stone main building; Dunedin Railway Station, famed as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most beautiful stations and resembling a gingerbread house; and Baldwin Street, Guinness-certified as the world’s steepest street, where the brave may walk up the slope and enjoy the view from the top. Enjoy a special two-course Western-style lunch at the century-old Speight’s brewery, recalling Dunedin’s food heritage in a warm, vintage setting. In the afternoon visit ★Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle. Explore its grand Victorian architecture, hear family stories from a century ago and enjoy the gardens and history. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross or a similar 4-star hotel Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: Two-course brewery meal; Dinner: Chinese individual hotpot
After breakfast, depart for Mount Cook National Park. En route, pass a renowned five-star salmon farm in the Southern Hemisphere, where you may taste fresh salmon at your own expense. Mount Cook National Park lies in one of the Southern Alps’ most magnificent areas, rich in natural scenery and remarkable landforms, with time to explore this pristine wilderness. Weather permitting, you may take a helicopter at your own expense to the Tasman Glacier, described as the largest in the South Pacific, and land on the glacier to experience its striking silver-white scenery. In the afternoon, reach beautiful Lake Tekapo. The itinerary explains Tekapo’s Māori name as “a sleeping mat at night”, also calling it “a place to sleep beneath the stars”. Stroll by the lake and visit the famous Church of the Good Shepherd. At night, enjoy the starry skies of this globally renowned stargazing reserve. Stay overnight in distinctive holiday-home accommodation. Accommodation: Character holiday home (a whole house for each party is not guaranteed; each party is guaranteed a separate bedroom) Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: Buffet
After breakfast, take photographs beside picturesque Lake Tekapo and enjoy its dreamlike emerald-blue water. Drive back to Christchurch for airport drop-off, bringing this memorable South Island journey to a close. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense
Price Table
| Item | Price NZD |
|---|---|
| Adult | NZ$2760 |
| Child aged 12–4 sharing with one adult (per-child price) | NZ$2484 |
| Child aged 12–4 sharing with two adults (per-child price) | NZ$2208 |
| Child aged 4–2 | NZ$1932 |
| Under 2 without a bed (infant receives a seat only, no other services) | NZ$960 |
| Single-room supplement | NZ$980 |
Departure Dates
2026-10-09 2026-10-16 2026-10-30 2026-11-13 2026-11-27 2026-12-11 2026-12-25 (Christmas surcharge NZD 260) 2027-01-08 2027-01-22 2027-02-05 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 260) 2027-02-19 2027-03-05 2027-03-19
Included
- 1. Accommodation: 6 nights in star-rated hotels with breakfast and 1 night in distinctive 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: 7–39-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. Initial admission fees for 4 attractions: TranzAlpine scenic train; Shantytown gold panning and steam train; Skyline Gondola; Larnach Castle.
- 5. Note: Adults and children must pay additional holiday surcharges during Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year. Ask your sales consultant for details.
Not Included
- 1. Guide gratuities (suggested NZD 6 per person per day).
- 2. Lunches and dinners marked as at your own expense, airfares, visa fees and optional activities.
- 3. Extra costs arising from circumstances beyond human control, such as weather or hotel-room issues.
- 4. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Notes
2026.10–2027.03 (Friday departures), boutique small-group tour for up to 25 guests. 3–4-star tour: NZD $2,760 per person. Prices are per person in a twin-share standard room; selling prices are in NZD. Friendly reminder: Bookings made within 10 days before departure may incur additional hotel surcharges. Thank you for your understanding; contact your sales consultant with questions. Important reminders: 1. Hotel star ratings may change depending on reservation availability. Sold-out hotels, major events and public holidays may result in room surcharges or other special circumstances. The final confirmed quotation applies. 2. If three guests request one room, the company will arrange a triple room suitable for 3 adults. Possible configurations include, but are not limited to, 3 single beds, 2 large beds, 1 large bed and 1 small bed, a sofa bed or a rollaway bed. If two guests request a double room, the room will have a New Zealand standard double bed measuring 137 cm × 187 cm. Twin-room configurations may include 2 single beds or 1 large bed and 1 small bed. State special requirements when booking; the company will try to accommodate them. The company retains final interpretive authority over room arrangements, and guests may not object or withdraw on this basis. 3. Complimentary airport transfers are available only on the tour’s departure and completion days. Refer to the specific itinerary for transfer times and locations. Guests who miss the scheduled meeting time must catch up with the group independently and bear all resulting costs. 4. The company may adjust the itinerary due to flights, hotels, weather or other circumstances beyond human control. 5. Guests are strongly advised to purchase their own travel and personal-belongings insurance; the local operator does not bear resulting costs. Cancellation and amendment policy: A 50% deposit per person is due when the quotation is confirmed; the balance must be paid 21 days before departure. If you cancel the tour for any reason, refunds are calculated as follows: 30–15 days before departure (inclusive): cancellation or booking change incurs 30% of the tour fee. 14–8 days before departure (inclusive): cancellation or booking change incurs 50% of the tour fee. Within 7 days before departure (inclusive): cancellation or change is non-refundable. If a guest cannot travel because of an epidemic, the same refund rules apply. The company is not responsible if a guest fails to meet the guide on time for personal reasons. Programs are determined by local conditions. The company may adjust sightseeing arrangements due to weather or flights and retains final decision-making and interpretive authority. If a listed hotel is fully booked, the company may substitute another hotel of the same standard. Booking information: Hotel star ratings may change according to availability; sold-out rooms, major events and public holidays may cause additional room charges. The final confirmed quotation applies. Smoking is prohibited inside hotel rooms and on room balconies. Hotel fines start at NZD 500. The person responsible for the room must pay any hotel fine for smoking. If the fine is refused, under the agreement with the hotel it may submit the matter to the New Zealand Disputes Tribunal. Subsequent fines, legal proceedings, visa and immigration matters are the individual’s responsibility. If you suffer from motion sickness, bring motion-sickness medication and a sick bag. Conditions and limitations: The travel company may adjust the itinerary according to weather. If force majeure prevents an attraction visit, the company will refund the fee or arrange a product of equivalent value. Shopping during free time is personal activity and unrelated to the company. Insurance: Travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover unexpected expenses such as additional transport, cancellation charges and loss of valuables. Guests who voluntarily decline insurance must bear resulting costs themselves, including additional transport and accommodation, cancellation charges and losses from lost valuables. If weather, war, strikes, earthquakes or other force majeure make travel impossible, the company will refund unused attraction admission tickets in accordance with its supplier agreements; other items follow supplier policies. No refund is given when a traveller voluntarily abandons the tour for personal reasons. The company’s liability is limited to the services and related matters expressly listed in this text; it accepts no responsibility beyond this description, including personal, unforeseeable, legal, criminal or religious matters. All prices marked NZD or $ are New Zealand dollars. These conditions and itinerary descriptions are made under relevant New Zealand laws and are subject to New Zealand law. All text, images, marks and icons are copyrighted by the company; reproduction is prohibited. *If a newer itinerary is available, the latest description takes precedence.*
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Departure info
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