4 Day Southern Circuit: Glaciers, Christchurch and Mt Cook Tour from Queenstown

Discover the scenic beauty and natural wonders of the South Islands mountains, lakes and glaciers in four days. Explore the West Coast Glaciers, enjoy the sights on the renowned TranzAlpine Scenic Train journey and spend a night at Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's highest mountain!

This is an Independent coach tour, where you travel on a combination of touring coaches and sightseeing services with commentary and/or point to point coaches which may not have commentary. You will be with different people on each part of the tour and different drivers. You have free time to explore on your own and are free to choose where and when to eat, meals are not included unless specified.

Itinerary

Day 1: Enjoy a scenic coach journey from Queenstown to Franz Josef Glacier

Stop At: Franz Josef, Franz Josef, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, West Coast Region, South Island
Leaving Queenstown, travel by luxury coach through the stunning scenery of the South Island. Your driver guide will provide entertaining commentary and point out sites of interest as you pass by the crystal-clear waters of Lake Dunstan, Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. After a morning tea break in Makarora on the border of Mount Aspiring World Heritage Park, you'll travel through the Haast Pass, journeying through native beech forest and over the Southern Alps, before emerging on the West Coast, arriving in the afternoon at the small village of Franz Josef.
Duration: 8 hours

Stop At: Franz Josef Glacier, Glacier Access Road Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Franz Josef, Westland Tai Poutini National Park New Zealand
You will be met by a representative from Glacier Shuttles and taken on a short tour to view the glacier from the end of the road. Here you will have the opportunity to walk around and view the glacier from a viewing platform or enjoy one of the short walks available in this area.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Choose from a Premium Motel or 4-Star Hotel

Day 2: Franz Josef to Greymouth and take the famous TranzAlpine train to Christchurch

Stop At: Greymouth i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, 164 Mackay Street, Greymouth 7805 New Zealand
This morning travel north through the small townships of Whataroa and Harihari. Continue through the township of Ross to Hokitika, there is time to purchase lunch (own expense) and explore the town centre. Continue onto Greymouth Railway Station from where you catch the world-famous TranzAlpine train across the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: TranzAlpine & Coastal Pacific, Troup Drive, Addington, Addington, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Considered one of the world's great train journeys, the TranzAlpine Scenic Train takes you from Greymouth to Christchurch. You'll travel across the South Island from the west to the east coast through Arthur's Pass National Park. From the comfort of your carriage see lush beech forest, deep river valleys and the spectacular peaks of the Southern Alps. Descend to the windswept Canterbury Plains before arriving in the city of Christchurch.
Duration: 4 hours

Pass By: Christchurch, Christchurch, Canterbury Region, South Island
Christchurch is known as the gateway to the South Island. Boasting a plethora of activities both inside and outside the town centre.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Choose from a Premium Motel or 4-Star Hotel

Day 3: Christchurch to beautiful Aoraki Mt Cook National Park

Stop At: Mount Cook Alpine Memorial, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu) 7999 New Zealand
Depart Christchurch in the morning and travel through the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo, where you can see the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd as it stands in solitude next to the vibrant blue waters. Leaving Tekapo, continue into the Southern Alps towards Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's tallest mountain.
The tour concludes on arrival at Mount Cook Village, where you can explore and soak up the views of Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Duration: 6 hours

Pass By: Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu), Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu), Mackenzie District, Canterbury Region, South Island
At 3754 metres Aoraki-Mt. Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain, located deep in the heart of the Southern Alps. As well as its impressive beauty, Mt. Cook National Park is also home to a huge range of awe-inspiring sights and activities. There are many short hikes in and around the park and these are well signposted. The region is also considered to have one of the clearest night skies in the world and is one of the few gold-rated dark sky reserves worldwide.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Choose from a Premium Motel or 4-Star Hotel

Day 4: Spend the morning in Mt Cook National Park before heading back to Queenstown

Stop At: Queenstown Bus Station, 30 Camp Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Depart Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park this afternoon and head south through the Mackenzie Country. You pass the Mackenzie Basin and head into Central Otago before approaching Queenstown, where the impressive Remarkables mountain range and beautiful Lake Wakatipu come into view.

Duration: 5 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.