Southern Spirit
Deal Number 21500303
Interest Free
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Join a tour which embodies the Southern Spirit. This unforgettable adventure blends rugged natural beauty with unique local experiences. Explore the untouched wilderness of Stewart Island and stay beachside at Punakaiki. Enjoy hands-on fun at Real Country, discover the dramatic Franz Josef Glacier, and unwind in sunny Nelson near Abel Tasman National Park. From Queenstown’s alpine adventure to a highlight dinner at Invercargill’s Transport World and Wellington’s scenic charm—this tour showcases the best of Aotearoa.
Duration 13 days
Destination Wellington
Company AAT Kings
Availability From 02/10/2025 to 31/03/2026
Call 133 133

What's Included?
- Highlights
- 12 Breakfast (B)5 Dinner (D)Medium level of fitness required
- New Zealand’s natural bounty is epic, as you’ll see in Nelson, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park
- The bounty also inspires talented chefs across Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington
- Day 1: Flights to arrive prior to 4
- 00pm into Christchurch AirportDay 13: Flights to depart after 2
- 00pm from Wellington Airport Airport to Hotel transfers are available to purchase on request
- Flights to and from your tour are not included in the tour price
- New Zealand’s cool little Capital, Wellington’s diversions range from cultural Nirvana at Te Papa to the beehive-like Parliament building
- Lake Tekapo: The Real Country Farm Show offers an authentic taste of
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Indoor Dark Sky & Astronomy Experience in Tekapo Privately Guided Tour of Transport World Invercargill Village and Bays Guided Tour Stewart Island MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Real Country Farm Experience See Franz Josef Glacier from a panoramic viewpoint View Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks from a scenic viewpoint Visit Nelson, gateway to Abel Tasman National Park Cruise the Cook Straight on the interisland ferry from Picton to Wellington View Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo
Availability
- From 02/10/2025 to 31/03/2026
Visit Wellington
Day 1
You don’t have to arrive in Christchurch early, but we recommend you do – this South Island city has some of New Zealand’s most innovative architecture, not to mention forward-thinking restaurants and bars.
Tonight, it's time to meet your Travel Director and travelling companions for drinks.
Day 2
Day two of your tour of the South Island of New Zealand sees you step out with your guide for a deeper dive into ‘The City of Gardens’ before traversing the colourful Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, snow-capped mountains and wildflower-strewn meadows.
It’s quite the backdrop for the stone-hewn Church of the Good Shepherd. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.
Day 3
Easing through the Waitaki Valley, you’re en route toward the pretty town of Oamaru, known for its stately tree-lined streets and limestone buildings.
Architectural drama of a different kind awaits in Dunedin. While away the afternoon in atmospheric art-lined alleys or sipping a lager or two in Speight's Brewery (a national institution). Or venture further afield to discover Larnach Castle, which nods to Dunedin’s Scottish link – it’s known as ‘Little Edinburgh’ for a reason.
Day 4
Travel through rolling farmlands and lush pastures to Invercargill, a city obsessed with motor vehicles.
Tributes to speed legends colour the city so it's only fitting that you visit Transport World for a guided tour and dinner. Explore classic vehicles as you are transported on a nostalgic walk back in time. Bill Richardson began collecting old trucks in 1967 and in his words sometimes "bought a truck more with our hearts than with our heads." The collection now comprises of many rare and unusual vehicles, along with popular classic vehicles.
Day 5
Invercargill is the gateway to the southernmost community in the country.
Welcome to Stewart Island, a wild and wonderful drop of land that is 97% national parkland. Naturally, it’s a magnet for endemic flora and fauna, as you’ll discover on your guided Village and Bays tour. Later you have the option to join a leisurely cruise around Paterson Inlet, around Paterson Inlet that will take you past unique places including Acker’s Cottage before docking at Ulva Island to admire the bird life and native flora.
Day 6
Today get a taste of country life combined with good old fashioned southern hospitality as you meet a 'Southern Girl' local farmer.
The Real Country Farm Show, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, offers an authentic taste of what rural New Zealand is like. For every guest, we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture. Continue to Queenstown and take the afternoon at your own pace.
Day 7
We wouldn’t blame you for using today to linger by the banks of Lake Wakatipu, marvelling at sky-scraping Remarkables.
But if you want to venture further afield, we have a few ideas. Top of our list today is an epic journey through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, carved by waterfalls and a playground for dolphins and seals as you’ll discover on a Milford Sound cruise (own expense). There’s a reason why this part of the island has World Heritage status.
Day 8
Atmospheric Arrowtown was born from gold, and its movie-set-like streets still shimmer today.
It’s hard to tear yourself away, but the Alpine country of the Southern Lakes is calling, from Lake Dunstan – pause for juicy stone fruit picked fresh from the tree – oh-so-blue Lake Hawea with its shoreline of poplars and willows. Over the Haast Pass, the pretty town of Franz Josef/Waiau at the edge of the Westland World Heritage Park, awaits. Get some perspective on an optional Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere flight tour – if the weather behaves, you may even get to land on it. New Zealand tours don’t get much cooler than this.
Day 9
On the wild West Coast, Hokitika may be small in size, but boy is it big in personality, not to mention natural attractions.
Wander the windswept coast before discovering the town’s other beauty: pounamu (native greenstone or jade). Steel yourself for Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes; they owe their existence to the thundering surf that will lull you to sleep.
Day 10
After action-packed days, all you need to do today is sit back and enjoy the drama of the Heritage Highway en route to Nelson.
Gaze over Buller Gorge and Kahurangi National Park, a place of wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herbfields and coastal forests.
Day 11
The South Island’s oldest city, Nelson is also one of the sunniest.
Explore nearby Tahunanui Beach, or you may choose to head further afield to the world-famous Abel Tasman National Park. This pocket in the top of the island is a beautiful union of golden beaches framed by sculpted granite cliffs.
Day 12
All aboard the interisland ferry for a cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait, from the South Island to the North, navigating a maze of arms and inlets into New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington.
End your tour on a high note at dinner with your Travel Director and travel companions.
Day 13
Wellington also knows a thing or two about good coffee, and you’ll need a strong one to get you through this morning's sightseeing.
You may wish to linger in town, discovering Māori culture at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand (entrance fee applies). It's hard to say goodbye to your tour of the South Island of New Zealand. If you can't bear to leave, we have a few ideas up our sleeves to extend your holiday.
View our great airfares, hotels and travel insurance.
Departure dates and Pricing
Departure Date | Return Date | Availability | Price | Enquire |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thu 2nd October, 202502/10/2025 | Tue 14th October, 202514/10/2025 | available | Per person from$0* | Enquire » |
Departure Date | Return Date | Availability | Price | Enquire |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thu 18th December, 202518/12/2025 | Tue 30th December, 202530/12/2025 | Sold Out | Per person from$0* | |
Thu 25th December, 202525/12/2025 | Tue 6th January, 202607/01/2025 | Sold Out | Per person from$0* |
Departure Date | Return Date | Availability | Price | Enquire |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thu 1st January, 202602/01/2025 | Tue 13th January, 202614/01/2025 | Sold Out | Per person from$7230* | |
Thu 22nd January, 202623/01/2025 | Tue 3rd February, 202604/02/2025 | available | Per person from$0* | Enquire » |
Thu 29th January, 202630/01/2025 | Tue 10th February, 202611/02/2025 | available | Per person from$6507* | Enquire » |
Departure Date | Return Date | Availability | Price | Enquire |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thu 5th February, 202606/02/2025 | Tue 17th February, 202618/02/2025 | On Request | Per person from$7450* | Enquire » |
Thu 12th February, 202613/02/2025 | Tue 24th February, 202625/02/2025 | available | Per person from$0* | Enquire » |
Thu 19th February, 202620/02/2025 | Tue 3rd March, 202604/03/2025 | available | Per person from$0* | Enquire » |
Thu 26th February, 202627/02/2025 | Tue 10th March, 202611/03/2025 | Sold Out | Per person from$7450* |
Departure Date | Return Date | Availability | Price | Enquire |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thu 5th March, 202606/03/2025 | Tue 17th March, 202618/03/2025 | available | Per person from$7821* | Enquire » |
Thu 19th March, 202620/03/2025 | Tue 31st March, 202601/04/2025 | available | Per person from$6705* | 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.
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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.
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