New Zealand Discovery
Savoring the Wild and Rustic South Island
This custom New Zealand journey—a road trip in the country’s South Island—allows you to choose how each day unfolds. For much of the journey, you’re behind the wheel, self-driving at your own pace, and savoring the sights and experiences that spark your curiosity. Along the route, easy daily drives allow you to experience everything from extraordinary marine wildlife and glacier hikes to often-overlooked cultural heritage and both renowned and under-the-radar wine regions. Against a backdrop of lakes, glaciers, Abel Tasman National Park, and the Southern Alps, discover the South Island at your own rhythm.
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What to Expect
Explore by car, kayak, helicopter, and on foot, immersed in New Zealand's otherworldly spaces. Set out from Christchurch, following the coastline to Kaikōura’s marine-life riches before turning inland toward glacier-carved valleys and ancient forests. Further south, encounter the dramatic passes of the Southern Alps and an exhilarating Franz Josef Glacier heli-hike before arriving in Queenstown, where you explore Mount Aspiring National Park, part of Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout the journey, relish the island’s hyper-local culinary bounty, and bed down in a curated collection of lodges and boutique retreats.
Trip Highlights
Enjoy the freedom of a self-drive itinerary, journeying across the broad Canterbury Plains and Abel Tasman National Park to the Great Coast Road, Glacier Country, and Lake Moeraki
Explore Kaikōura, a haven of marine life where Kāti Kuri locals guide you on a whale-watching excursion in waters where sperm whales, dolphins, fur seals, humpbacks, and orca thrive
Discover the hidden corners of Cardrona and Arrowtown, two towns rich in gold-mining heritage for which the South Island is known
Experience Franz Josef Glacier on a scenic helicopter flight, stepping down on this rare glacier that descends into a temperate rainforest
Upcoming Departures
- Custom Trips OfferedNovember – April
Trip Pricing
- Custom Trip: From $13,650
Based on double occupancy
Inclusions
All handpicked accommodations, ground transportation, and airport transfers
All guided sightseeing, events, and experiences
Top-tier local guides
Most meals
Emergency evacuation services and secondary medical expense insurance
Dedicated support from GeoEx’s travel experts and in-house air reservations team
Your Route Through New Zealand
Journey at a Glance
Days 1 – 2Arrive on the South Island
Arrive in Christchurch and explore its green spaces and thriving café culture. Journey north to Akaroa, a harbor village where artisan encounters and a nature cruise await.
Days 3 – 4Marine Life & Vineyards
Self-drive to Kaikōura and discover its abundant marine life on a whale-watching excursion guided by the local Kāti Kuri people. After a guided kayaking experience, consider exploring the heart of Marlborough wine country before continuing to Nelson.
