South Island Backpacker Adventure Tours in New Zealand
10 Day South Island Snow Adventure
New Zealand’s South Island is a place of breathtaking beauty. It’s home to Queenstown, the Milford Sound, Lake Tekapo and our incredible glacier country, and so much more. There is no better time to explore it when your borders open and our winter starts! With the snow-covered mountains, copper-blue lakes, and unbeatable nightlife, you’ll spend 10 days exploring it all with us while creating unforgettable memories. Winter is coming…so let’s make sure we embrace it!
10 Day Tour of the Stunning South Island
Price:$2199 per person
Departs: Christchurch select date when booking
Returns: Christchurch approx 2:00 pm
Day One: Christchurch - Rakaia Gorge - Lake Tekapo
Welcome! Our road trip begins today! After meeting in Christchurch, we go to Rakaia Gorge for lunch. We next cross the Rakaia Gorge Bridge, a famous piece of architecture built in 1945, and go towards Lake Tekapo. Church of the Good Shepherd is one of the most photographed places in New Zealand. On arrival, you’ll have time to relax into your hotel overlooking glacier-fed Lake Tekapo. In your leisure, you may roam about town or bathe at Tekapo Springs with views of Lake Tekapo, golden mountain ranges, pine forest, and blue sky of the Mackenzie Region. Watch the mountains and sky change colour as the sun sets. After a BBQ meal, you may enjoy a 360° stargazing tour. Discover the marvels of the night sky on the 1.5-hour ‘Silverwater stargazing’ tour, which includes 60 minutes beneath the stars with one of their amazing guides.
Accommodation: Shared twin room or private double for two
Included meals: BBQ Dinner
Included activities: Visit Rakaia Gorge and The Church of the Good Shepherd
Optional add-ons:
- Tekapo springs day access – $28
- Silver River stargazing 2hr experience – $85
Day Two: Lake Tekapo - Lake Pukaki - Arrowtown - Te Anau
In the morning, your guides will prepare a continental breakfast for you before we wind our way further south. We will pass Lake Pukaki which is the largest lake in the area and it proudly shows off NZ’s tallest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook. If you still have some room left after breakfast, you’ll be happy to know we have a quick stop off for lunch in Arrowtown, New Zealand’s historic gold-mining destination. The Kiwi style ‘Wild West’ is full of funky cafes, charming wooden-fronted shops, and remnants of the gold rush era. Whilst you’re there, you should visit the replica miner’s huts, buy some flakes of gold, wade in the river where people still pan for gold or buy some old-fashioned sweets from the Remarkable Sweet Shop. After our visit, we head straight to the stunning lakeside town of Te Anau where we stay the night to prepare for tomorrow’s adventure. This picturesque township is the main visitor base for the glacier-covered wilderness Fiordland National Park.
Accommodation: Shared twin room or private double for two
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Included activities: Arrowtown free time
Day Three: Te Anau – Milford Sound – Queenstown
After breakfast, we head to one of NZ’s most stunning attractions: the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, the Milford Sound. Deemed the world’s 8th wonder by Rudyard Kipling, this area has a magical combination of mountain peaks, forest-clad cliffs, and deep mysterious-blue waters. We really take advantage of this beautiful spot and include a 2-hour boat cruise on the sound itself. You’ll get up-close views of the impressive fiord and you will be in touching distance of the stunning waterfalls and local wildlife. Your guides will prepare you a gourmet lunch on board the boat too while you keep your eyes out for seals, dolphins, and more!
After our cruise, we drive back towards Queenstown whilst making stops at Eglinton Valley and Mirror Lake. On arrival, we’ll check into our accommodation and you’ll have some free time to go and explore this famous town! You can check out the world’s best burger joint (at least we think so)— Fergburger. And then, the night is yours. Have some drinks at the Ice Bar, take a trip through the haunted house, or head back to our accommodation to rest up for two more big days ahead in Queenstown.
Accommodation: 4 bed dorms
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Included activities: 2.5hr Milford Sound cruise
Day Four: Queenstown
Today is your first FREE DAY and what better place than to enjoy it in Queenstown! The bro John Travolta once said, “whenever I get stressed, I just want to hop on a plane to Queenstown.” People come here from all over the world for Queenstown adventure holidays and the town has subsequently been nicknamed our adventure capital, and for good reason! It has to be seen to be believed and, with two more nights in this incredible southern paradise, you’ll get your chance to do as much exploring as you can fit in. Spend it how you want; bungy jumping, skydiving, exploring the town, soak up in the ONSEN hot pools (pre booking required)… the bucket list activities are endless! For those who don’t want to splash out on paid activities, you’re more than welcome to join the tour guides as we can visit Glenorchy or Bob’s Cove for the day.
Accommodation: 4 bed dorms
Included meals: Breakfast
Included activities: free day trip to Glenorchy and Bobs Cove (optional)
Optional add-ons:
Shotover Canyon Swing – $179-$322
ONSEN Hot pools – $79-199
AJ Hacket Bungy – $139-249
Kawaru Zipline – $39-49
Day Five: Queenstown
here’s only one thing better than waking up to a Friday – and that’s waking up to a Friday in the beautiful Queenstown! Now, if you didn’t manage to do or see everything you wanted yesterday, no stress! You have another full day to explore this adventurous town. At midday, however, we have an optional add-on for a spectacular guided tour of Skippers Canyon via the infamous Skippers Road followed by the thrilling jet boat ride through the Shotover River’s dramatic canyons! In this area, you will discover a land rich in gold mining history and breathtaking scenery, just a short distance from central Queenstown.
Accommodation: 4 bed dorms
Included meals: Breakfast
Included activities: Day trip to Glenorchy and Bobs Cove
Optional add-ons:
Skippers Canyon Jet – $159
Shotover Jet boat – $129
Go orange Jet boat – $99
Day Six: Queenstown – Cardrona Alpine Resort – Wānaka
In the morning of day 6, we will have an early breakfast and head off to Cardrona, a historic village situated on the famous crown range road. You’ll be able to grab a coffee at the iconic Cardrona Hotel at the heart of the village while surely grabbing a photo while you’re there! Afterwards, we will head towards a town situated on a lakefront and dwarfed by mountains they call Wānaka where you will have a free day to explore. Before we check into our accommodation, you can wander the town and see why this place draws visitors from all around the world with unrivalled views of Mt. Aspiring National Park.
Accommodation: 4 bed dorms
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Optional add-ons: Cardrona Alpine Resort & Wildwire Wanaka
Cardrona Alpine Resort: For those who want to experience NZ’s most popular ski area, Cardrona Alpine Resort. We can take you from Wanaka to Cardrona and help organise a half-day lift pass, your gear rental, clothing bundle and group beginners lessons if it’s your first time or if you are looking for some pointers!
Full day lift pass – $140
Ski/snowboard and boots set – $50
Clothing bundle (jacket, pants, goggles, helmet & gloves) – $95
First Timer Package (2 x Lessons & Rental equipment) – $165
Wildwire Wanaka: For those who want to kick their holidays up a notch and get hooked on adventure. Tackle the highest waterfall cable climb in the world and feel the excitement build with every rung and every step with Wildwire Wanaka
3hr Stage 1 climb 150m -$199
5hr Stage 2 climb 320m – $299
7hr Stage 3 climb 450m – $599
Day Seven: Lake Hāwea – Haast Pass – Blue Pools – Franz Josef
Starting day 7, we’ll enjoy our breakfast with panoramic views of the stunning Lake Wānaka. We will then hit the road and pass by Lake Hāwea, a place of vivid beauty. We will then carry on to experience one of the best scenic drives in this area. Today, we pass by non-stop Aotearoa eye-candy through the Haast Pass which is highlighted by ancient rainforests, small glaciers, and awesome waterfalls. We might even get the chance to meet some penguins if we are lucky!
Before lunch, we’ll visit the famous Blue Pools which is only a short walk from the car park. The blue of the water is not to be believed, it’s clear, it’s pure and makes for one amazing photo! Afterwards, we will pass by more epic waterfalls and you will have a beachfront lunch prepared for you by the friendly guides. After we’re satisfied, we’ll then make our way to Franz Josef Glacier for the night. Once settled into our new home for the night, you can opt-in for a pizza night, check out the local restaurants in the area and even use the giant hot tub (at the accommodation) to finish off your epic day with the squad!
Accommodation: Shared twin room or private double for two
Included meals: Breakfast & lunch
Included activities: Haast Pass Blue Pools & many stunning waterfalls
Day Eight: Franz Josef
Today you’ll get your chance to experience the original Franz Josef kayak adventure. With a knowledgeable, certified guide, the group will have the chance to glide effortlessly across the water taking in the panoramic views of the Southern Alps, glaciers, and untouched Jurassic rainforest reflected on the glassy waters of Lake Mapourika. Finishing up at midday, we will head back to our accommodation and you’ll be able to grab lunch in town and have some free time for the rest of the day. To visit the glacier itself, the trail is a free walk which your guides can take you to check out but if you’ve got a bit of extra spending money, optional paid activities like helicopter tours and treks are also available for that unbeatable Instagram shot (your guides can give you some suggestions and help with bookings). We will then meet back for a big family dinner prepared by your guides and make the most of our night there.
Accommodation: Shared twin room or private double for two
Included meals: Breakfast & dinner
Included activities: Franz Josef kayaking tour (3hr)
Optional add ons:
Heli + Glacier Hike – $485
Heli Trip – $289
Skydive – $229-399
Quad Bike tour – $179
Day Nine: Franz Josef – Hokitika – Punakiki
Breakfast will be prepared early and you’ll have time to enjoy your last couple hours here as we depart at 9 am. We will load the van back up and travel from one coast and head towards the other. Stopping at Hokitika Gorge, you’ll have the chance to walk one of the west coast’s most popular trails! A 15min stroll to see surreal turquoise waters that drain from the distant Sale Glacier. You can then explore some lunch options in Hokitika town and after this before we hit the road again to visit the famous pancake rocks in Punakaiki. The most visited natural attraction on the West Coast with good reason, they really do look like pancakes! After we head to our accommodation which is nestled on the scenic Coast Road, with a 180 degree breathtaking view over the Tasman Sea that you’ll never forget! We will make the most of our last dinner together as a group, experience pristine star gazing from the lodge deck with a few drinky la las… Would be rude not to!
Accommodation: Shared twin room
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included activities: Hokitika Gorge & Punakaiki Rocks
Day Ten: Punakiki – Castle Hill – Christchurch – FINISH
A delicious cooked breakfast is served as we pack up to make our way to Christchurch. We will drive through the famous ‘Arthurs Pass’ climbing to more than 900 metres through the National Park, this drive is the highest and most spectacular pass across the Southern Alps. It is a piece of extreme engineering with viaducts, bridges, rock shelters and waterfalls redirected into chutes! But before the saddest chapter of the tour comes to an end, we stop to explore the limestone rocks of Castle Hill Basin. Described by the Dalai Lama as “the spiritual centre of the universe”. We will give you time to take it all in, get our last group photos together and make our way to the drop off zone which will be close to Christchurch Airport at 3 pm. If people have a flight to catch around that time, we can drop you off at the airport, no worries, just let us know before the tour starts!
Included meals: Cooked breakfast
Included activities: Arthurs Pass & Castle Hill limestone boulders
Price:$2199 per person
Departs: Christchurch select date when booking
Returns: Christchurch approx 2:00 pm