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South Island Tours

South Island Snow Mountains & Lakes: 3 Days / 2 Nights

NZ$1020from / per person

A boutique small-group journey for up to 25 guests, travelling from Queenstown to Christchurch. Explore Dunedin’s historic architecture and Larnach Castle, the alpine grandeur of Aoraki/Mount Cook, and the turquoise waters and starry skies of Lake Tekapo.

Highlights

  • Dunedin city sightseeing: St Paul's Cathedral, the University of Otago, Dunedin Railway Station and Baldwin Street.
  • Two-course Western lunch at the century-old Speight’s brewery.
  • Visit Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle.
  • Journey through Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park; optional salmon tasting and scenic helicopter flight to the Tasman Glacier, weather permitting.
  • Stay by Lake Tekapo in a special holiday home and enjoy its lakeside scenery and renowned dark-sky reserve.
  • Depart Queenstown and transfer to Christchurch Airport on day three; book a flight departing after 3 pm.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1Queenstown – Dunedin

Meet at the designated time and place (please confirm details with your guide) and travel to Dunedin, known as the Edinburgh of the South. Begin a city tour. St Paul's Cathedral: an English Gothic-style landmark beside the Octagon. University of Otago: New Zealand’s oldest university, founded in 1869; its Scottish-style stone main building is a memorable photo stop. Dunedin Railway Station: acclaimed as one of the most beautiful railway stations in the Southern Hemisphere, with a distinctive gingerbread-house style—ideal for photographs. Baldwin Street: recognised by Guinness as the world’s steepest street. The adventurous can walk up the incline; the view over the city from the top is rewarding. Enjoy a specially arranged two-course Western lunch at the century-old Speight’s brewery, taking in Dunedin’s food heritage in a warm, nostalgic setting. In the afternoon, visit ★Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle. Walk through its sumptuous Victorian architecture, hear the family stories from a century ago, and admire the gardens and historic atmosphere. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross or equivalent 4-star hotel. Lunch: Two-course brewery meal—an exclusive dining experience. Dinner: Chinese hot pot.

Day 2Dunedin – Mount Cook – Lake Tekapo

After breakfast, travel to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. En route, pass a well-known five-star salmon farm in the Southern Hemisphere, where you may sample fresh salmon at your own expense. Mount Cook National Park lies in one of the most spectacular sections of the Southern Alps, with abundant natural scenery and remarkable landforms; there will be ample time to explore this pristine region. Weather permitting, you may choose, at your own expense, to take a helicopter to the Tasman Glacier, the largest glacier in the South Pacific, and land on the ice to experience its dazzling white landscape. Arrive in scenic Lake Tekapo in the afternoon. In Māori, Tekapo means “sleeping mat at night”; it is also known as a place to sleep beneath the stars. Stroll beside the lake and visit the famous Church of the Good Shepherd. At night, enjoy the magnificent starry sky in this world-renowned dark-sky reserve. Stay overnight in a special holiday home. Accommodation: Special holiday home (one house per travelling party is not guaranteed; each party is guaranteed a private bedroom). Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast. Lunch: At own expense. Dinner: Buffet.

Day 3Lake Tekapo – Christchurch — Please book a flight departing after 3 pm

After breakfast, take photos beside picturesque Lake Tekapo and enjoy its dreamlike emerald-blue water. Then drive back to Christchurch and transfer to the airport for your flight, bringing this memorable South Island journey to a close. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast. Lunch: At own expense.

Price Table

ItemPrice NZD
AdultNZ$1020
Child aged 12-4 sharing with one adult (child rate per person)NZ$918
Child aged 12-4 sharing with two adults (child rate per person)NZ$816
Child aged 4-2NZ$714
Child under 2, no bed (seat only; no other services)NZ$560
Single-room supplementNZ$320

Departure Dates

2026-10-14 2026-10-21 2026-11-04 2026-11-18 2026-12-02 2026-12-16 2026-12-30 (Christmas surcharge NZD 160) 2027-01-13 2027-01-27 2027-02-10 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 160) 2027-02-24 2027-03-10 2027-03-24

Included

  • 1. Accommodation: 1 night in a star-rated hotel with breakfast and 1 night in a special holiday home with breakfast.
  • 2. Meals specified in the itinerary. For Chinese group meals when the group has more than 6 guests: 6 guests receive 6 dishes and 1 soup; 7 guests receive 7 dishes and 1 soup; groups of 8 or more receive 8 dishes and 1 soup.
  • 3. Transport: vehicle with 7–39 seats throughout, with a Chinese-speaking driver-guide. Driver-guide working hours are ten hours per day; overtime costs NZD 150, payable in cash to the guide.
  • 4. Admission to the first entrance of 1 attraction: Larnach Castle.
  • 5. Note: Adults and children must pay an additional holiday surcharge during Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year. Please ask the sales consultant for details.

Not Included

  • 1. Guide gratuities (recommended: NZD 6 per person per day).
  • 2. Lunches and dinners not included in the itinerary, airfares, visa fees and optional activities.
  • 3. Additional costs resulting from circumstances beyond human control (such as weather or hotel-room issues and other special circumstances).
  • 4. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Notes

2026.10–2027.03 (Wednesday departures). Small-group tour for no more than 25 guests. 3–4-star itinerary, NZD 1,020 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.

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.