12-Day South Island Active Explorer Tour New Zealand

Experience New Zealand your way with a fully customised, private itinerary. Every tour is guided by a dedicated local expert and designed just for you. We specialise in exclusive journeys that create genuine connections with New Zealand’s people and landscapes—unforgettable moments you won’t find anywhere else.

Day 1 | Christchurch & Akaroa

• Personal airport meet-and-greet and private transfer.
• Travel to the French-inspired seaside village of Akaroa, a charming seaside town located in an ancient volcanic crater on the Banks Peninsula.
• Choose between swimming with rare Hector's dolphins or a guided sea kayaking adventure.
• Explore the region's volcanic landscapes, wildlife, and French heritage.

Day 2 | Arthur's Pass & Punakaiki

• Journey through the Southern Alps via Arthur's Pass National Park.
• Explore Castle Hill's remarkable limestone formations.
• Walk to the spectacular Devil's Punchbowl Falls, a massive 131-meter waterfall.
• Visit Punakaiki's famous Pancake Rocks, 30-million-year-old limestone formations.
• The West Coast of New Zealand's South Island is famous for its wild, untouched nature and coastal rainforest trails.

Day 3 | Punakaiki to Franz Josef

• Experience one of the world’s best GlowWorm displays in a pristine, untamed natural wilderness.
• Walk at Hokitika Gorge, a true photogenic gem with a stunning turquoise river.

• Continue to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, two of the few glaciers in the world that flow into a lush, temperate rainforest.

Day 4 | Franz Josef & Fox Glacier

• Explore New Zealand's spectacular glacier region.
• Optional heli-hike, glacier walk, or scenic helicopter flight with landing on a glacier face.
• Visit Lake Matheson for iconic reflections of Aoraki / Mt Cook.
• Explore the ancient rainforest, Kiwi habitat and wetlands on a guided wilderness kayaking experience.

Day 5 | Mt Aspiring National Park & Wānaka

• Stop at the Blue Pools, with its stunning, crystal-clear glacial water that glows a vibrant, electric blue. 
• Experience the famous Siberia Fly-Walk-Jet Boat adventure. A thrilling half-day trip through New Zealand's dramatic landscapes in Mount Aspiring National Park. 
• Continue to Wānaka via the Neck at spectacular Lake Hāwea.

Day 6 | Lake Wānaka

• Cruise and hike Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve, with its Mind-Bending Geography, featuring a "lake-on-an-island-on-a-lake".
• Enjoy a guided nature walk and wildlife experience.
• Explore Lake Wānaka's lakeside trails, crystal-clear glacial waters, cafés, and alpine scenery.

Day 7 | Central Otago & Fiordland

• Cycle part of the spectacular Lake Dunstan Trail, with the path clinging to steep rock cliffs and crossing a giant suspension bridge.
• Drive through Central Otago, the only inland, continental-style wine region and golden stone fruits.
• Continue to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park.

Day 8 | Milford Sound & Fiordland National Park

• Explore Milford Sound and Fiordland, New Zealand's natural Icon in the Fiordland National Park, a dramatic wilderness.
• Paddle beneath massive peaks like Mitre Peak, which tower over 1,600 meters straight up from the sea.  
• Optional hike to Lake Marian or sections of the famous Routeburn Track, one of the great walks.
• Discover one of New Zealand's most extraordinary World Heritage landscapes.

Day 9 | Dunedin & Otago Peninsula

• Travel to Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula, world-famous for its rare coastal wildlife and ancient volcanic landscapes. 
• Encounter rare wildlife, including yellow-eyed penguins, little blue penguins, and fur seals.
• Explore dramatic coastal landscapes and conservation areas.

Day 10 | Mackenzie Country & Aoraki / Mt Cook

• Visit the Moeraki Boulders and the historic town of Oamaru.
• Explore the remarkable Clay Cliffs formations.
• Journey through the Mackenzie Basin to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park.
• Enjoy an exclusive World-Class dark-sky stargazing experience. The pristine environment makes it one of the best places on Earth to connect with the cosmos.

Day 11 | Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park

• Kayak amongst glacier-fed waters beneath New Zealand's highest peaks and paddle safely among floating icebergs on Tasman Lake.
• Walk the iconic Hooker Valley Track beneath towering alpine peaks.
• Discover alpine landscapes, glaciers, and stunning mountain scenery.

Day 12 | Lake Tekapo & Departure

• Visit the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo.
• Explore the Mackenzie Basin before returning to Christchurch.
• Private transfer for your onward journey.