New Zealand: Sweet As South | Westbound | Oct 2024 - Oct 2025


Deal Number 19555802

Repayments

Interest Free

Just go. Make your dream holiday your next holiday with easy Interest Free repayments over the next 9 months on packages over $999. For full product information please see our interest free page.

Monthly $279
Weekly $65
Plus $99 setup fee

from $2,508* per person

Enquire Now»

Experience the best of Southern New Zealand! From Christchurch to Queenstown to Lake Ōhau, it’s an adventure you won’t ever want to end. In Franz Josef you’ll hike a glacier, then it’s on to Queenstown, the adventure Capital of the World. Take the leap on a bungy, canyon swinging - the possibilities are endless. Maybe take a day break to Milford Sound cruise past stunning waterfalls or a scenic flight over Mt. Cook!

Duration 9 days

Destination Christchurch

Company Contiki

Availability From 27/08/2025 to 16/10/2025


Call 133 133

What's Included?

  • Highlights
  • 3 Dinner (D)8 Breakfast (B)Christchurch: What's the diff between Eastbound & Westbound? The only difference between the trips is that they travel in different directions
  • Everything else is the same
  • On an Eastbound trip, you’ll depart from Christchurch and see Lake Ohau before the Franz Josef
  •   For Westbound, you’ll depart from Christchurch and travel to Franz Josef glacier before visiting Lake Ohau
  • Sydney: What does a modular trip mean? A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations
  • There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers
  • Christchurch: Are all the Free Time Add-Ons available weather permitting? Yes, all outdoor adventure activities will only be available weather permitting for your safety
  • Some Free Time Add-Ons may still be available according to the company policies and health & safety protocols
  • Your Trip Manager will be in touch with all suppliers in case weather conditions disrupt any bookings
  • Christchurch: Can I book a twin-share room on this trip? Yep, you’ll be able to book a private twin-share room as an add-on supplement if you’re travelling together with another person
  • Hokitika: The South Island is known for Pounamu (in fact, it’s even named after the stuff
  • ) Today in Hokitika, we’ll meet with a local Māori Guide, who’ll tell us all about the connection between the illustrious greenstone and the Māori people
  • After that, we’ll go and check some out for ourselves
  • Wānaka: A lake town with views for days, surrounded by beech forests, alpine lakes, and wilderness glaciers
  • Milford Sound: Cruise along the glassy waters and get the kind of view people write poems about
  • You'll soon see why it's a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Te Anau: Today we’ll visit a local farm in Te Anau to support the Fairlight Foundation, which works to advance women in Agriculture
  • We’ll learn all about farming, as well as the Fairlight Foundation and the work that they do
  • Arrowtown: A historic gold mining town, Arrowtown is known as one of the cutest towns in New Zealand, so see for yourself on a walking tour that covers all the best things to see in Arrowtown
  • Lake Tekapo: See the church on the shores of Lake Tekapo with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks - and get that iconic Insta pic too!Lake Tekapo: We'll stop at Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and Geraldine
  • and watch happily on as NZ's astonishing natural beauty takes your breath away
  • Lake Tekapo: The Dark Sky Experience combines Māori astronomy, storytelling and science together in one truly unique interactive display

Availability

  • From 27/08/2025 to 16/10/2025

Visit Christchurch

Day 1

Christchurch (Ōtautahi) what's up? New Zealand's South Island is the home to adventure, adrenaline and good times and we're here to take it all on.

Take in the beautiful scenery as we wind our way across the highest and most spectacular mountain pass across the Southern Alps. In the gold rush town of Hokitika, we'll meet with a local Māori guide who’ll teach us all about pounamu on a unique tour. We’ll learn about the history of the illustrious green stones (which the South Island is named after) and its connection with the Māori people. Back on the coach, we're coastline bound to one of the island’s most jaw-droppingly beautiful spots (and that’s saying something). We'll pull up for the night in glorious Franz Josef (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere), probably one of the most beautiful places you'll ever of clapped eyes on. A bold statement we know, but well deserved.

Day 2

This morning we take to the ice of Franz Josef Glacier.

We've got a heli ride over the glacier up for grabs, or the opportunity to carve your own Pounamu (jade) pendant, under the tuition of a Māori mastercraftsman. Pounamu is sacred to the Māori people, and this is a great way to learn about its cultural significance, while also creating a beautiful please of jewellery.

Day 3

With a new appreciation for frozen water, we'll hop on the coach & continue to Queenstown, with a few cheeky stops along the way.

Our first piece of NZ eye-candy comes in the form of Haast Pass (Tioripatea), beautified by ancient rainforests, small glaciers and waterfalls. Note how the scenery changes as we roll towards Queenstown through the Southern Alps and region of Otago.We'll stop for lunch in Wānaka, a pretty ski resort town situated on a lake front and dwarfed by mountains. This town is fast becoming one of NZ's most popular spots, and a trip to the 'Dough Bin' for a luscious pie should be high on the list.Welcome to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown (Tāhuna)! First stop is the legendary Kawarau Bungy Bridge, get your adrenaline hit with a heart pounding jump. Tonight you can choose to jump on a gondola and to wine & dine atop of the highest restaurant in Queenstown, Skyline. Rest up tonight - the next few days are going to be BIG.

Day 4

Today is yours to get acquainted with Queenstown and check out the activities up for grabs in the next two days.

Take a stroll around beautiful this stunning town, nestled in the Southern Alps that has so much to offer.

Day 5

It's times like this that you really start to work out what sort of traveller you are.

And human for that matter. You might be the one trailing through wine country and exploring wine cellars and caves, or you may be that guy that crams in a bungy jump and ziplining & still craves more. It's your holiday - run wild as you see fit. Please note: If you're here during ski season, you can opt for an exclusive Ski day-trip to Cardrona. Check out ‘Dates & Pricing’ to see these "Special Departures".

Day 6

With our last day in adrenalin city edging closer, this is the time to push yourself to the limits and jump over any mental barriers you've put up around yourself.

Embrace the spirit of adventure and conquer those niggling fears once and for all. For those who did their dash yesterday, a day staying mellow and enjoying this beautiful region will prove more than sufficient.

Day 7

Alright, it's time to return our adrenaline levels to a normal level and make tracks to the spectacular natural wonder of Milford Sound.

Welcome to New Zealand's most stunning attraction, with a magical combination of mountain peaks, forest-clad cliffs and deep dark waters. We take an included cruise of the fiord and experience the beauty of this pristine destination by boat, the best way to see Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) in all its glory. Arriving in the stunning lakeside town of Te Anau, why not opt to take a guided jet boat trip to explore the Fiordland National Park. From Te Anau through Lake Manapouri, it's a pretty exhilirating way to soak up the scenery. Prefer to keep you feet (or wheels) on dry land. You can also take a trip to the ethereal glow worm caves (woaahhh) or simply cycle the gorgeous trails through native bush.

Day 8

So long, Te Anau.

It's been fun. Our first stop today is Kingston (Takerehaka) for an authentic and important NZ farm experience. Where a charity helps local girls to learn practical farming skills and gain qualifications. Contiki makes a donation on behalf of every traveller who visits the farm, so you can help more NZ women and girls plough through barriers and get ahead in their ‘field’ just by turning up. We make a quick stop for lunch in the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown (Kā Muriwai) before heading onto Lake Ōhau. For our last night, we'll go out with a bang. Or perhaps a splash. Sketchbooks at the ready folks - we'll spend our final night by Lake Ōhau (Ōhau), with a spectacular view of Mt Cook in the distance!

Day 9

We're moving on to Christchurch but not before one final stop.

We’ll kick off our final day with a visit to the glacier-fed Lake Tekapo (Takapō), admiring the crystal clear water. Next, it's time for a Dark Sky experience - a multimedia exhibition that combines stargazing, science and traditional Māori astronomy. Here we'll learn how the Māori people would use the stars to help aid their harvests, plus why reducing light pollution is so important. And then the adventure ends in Christchurch. Sure, there'll be some sadness, but that's normal when awesome things end. And this has been more than awesome. On a brighter note, the memories will put a smile on your face for years to come.

Departure dates and Pricing

Departure DateReturn DateAvailabilityPriceEnquire
Wed 27th August, 202527/08/2025Thu 4th September, 202504/09/2025available
Per person from$0*
Enquire »
Departure DateReturn DateAvailabilityPriceEnquire
Wed 24th September, 202524/09/2025Thu 2nd October, 202502/10/2025available
Per person from$0*
Enquire »
Departure DateReturn DateAvailabilityPriceEnquire
Wed 8th October, 202508/10/2025Thu 16th October, 202516/10/2025available
Per person from$0*
Enquire »

Terms and conditions

  • Prices quoted valid for sale until 13 August 2025 unless otherwise stated or sold out prior.
  • Price is per person and subject to availability. Accommodation (if included) is based on twin share unless otherwise stated.
  • Airfare (including internal flights) is not included unless otherwise stated and, if included, is economy class unless otherwise stated.
  • Local payments, "trip kittys" or food funds may apply and may be payable direct to the supplier on arrival or to your travel agent prior to your departure. Where applicable, these payments are included in the total price quoted.
  • Gratuities are not included unless otherwise stated.
  • Additional conditions and travel restrictions may apply. Please enquire for further details.
  • Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies and government charges current at time of publication.
  • Additional levies, government charges and other applicable fees may apply and are beyond our control.
  • Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.
  • Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.
  • Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store or Bpay.
  • These prices are a guide to the best price. Prices are correct as at 08 August 2025 and are subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases. Please enquire for further details.
  • We receive payment from third party travel service providers when you use us to book travel and travel-related products and services with them on your behalf.
  • Our liability to you is limited in certain situations, and we may charge you a cancellation fee(s) in certain circumstances. See our booking terms and conditions for further details.
  • We may provide your personal information to third parties, including travel service providers with whom you make a booking. See our privacy policy for further details.

Important Notice

The above information has been obtained from the relevant suppliers and should be considered an indicative guide only as to the prices that may be available for these products. Flight Centre cannot guarantee that any particular product will still be available at the following prices, or for your exact dates of travel. At the time of making your booking, prices may differ to that price displayed on this website. Please contact a Flight Centre travel consultant to obtain the latest up to date information regarding applicable prices, fees and charges, taxes, availability, any blackout dates (such as school holidays), seasonal surcharges and other terms and conditions which may apply.

Contact an Expert to find out more about this tour and other amazing tours!

Talk to a travel expert and personalise your trip

Your trip

1 Traveller
Travel Dates
Talk to an Airfare Expert

Our consultants:

  • Are Airfare Experts
  • Are 100% based in Australia
  • Can answer your questions about fare types and inclusions
  • Can find exclusive packages to save you money

Your personal details

Phone:
Postcode:
Contact Preference:
Interest free is available
Repayments

Interest Free

Just go. Make your dream holiday your next holiday with easy Interest Free repayments over the next 9 months on packages over $999. For full product information please see our interest free page.

Monthly $279
Weekly $65

By proceeding I agree to Flight Centre's Terms of Use and my personal information being handled in accordance with Flight Centre's Privacy Policy.

From quick getaways to dream holidays

We're the biggest travel agency south of the equator with access to destinations right around the world. Anywhere you want to go, we can take you there.

Book Now Pay Later!

Where ever you want to fly, cruise, tour or stay, you can holiday sooner with our Interest Free Holidays.

Real People, Real Experience, Real Easy

Our Travel Experts love travel as much as you do. Book with us, knowing you're getting the best advice from the best in the business.