Small Group Tour
Small Group Tour
Southern Crossing
Start: Christchurch
Finish: Christchurch
8 DAYS
With spectacular scenery and many adventure opportunities, this 8-day South Island adventure starts and finishes in the diverse city of Christchurch. Turquoise lakes, majestic glaciers, dramatic mountain peaks and the picture-perfect towns of Queenstown, Wanaka and Franz Josef are all a part of this epic road trip. With accommodation and some activities included (see below), our tours are hassle-free, authentic experiences for those short on time.
What's included:
Day one of the tour includes accommodation at Hotel Give (12 Hereford Street, Christchurch). Check in here from 2pm onwards. The tour finishes in Christchurch at approximately 5 pm.
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TOUR DATES
202405 May - 12 May 24 Book Now |
2025
11 January - 18 January 25 Book Now |
FROM
NZ $1899
Day 1Christchurch arrival
Welcome to Christchurch - the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the start of your Southern Crossing tour. Ōtautahi (Christchurch) is a vibrant city alive with everything from art, exhibitions, history, and hidden gems. Check out the Riverside Markets for a coffee, beverage or bite to eat or stroll through the botanical gardens.
This evening at 6pm you'll meet your Kiwi Experience Driver Guide and the rest of your new tour companions on a Christchurch Street Art Tour (included), a journey of street art, murals and graffiti art of all sizes, explaining the history of urban art, and the city's emergence as an urban art destination.
Accommodation
- Hotel Give
Experiences & Highlights
- Discover the vibrant new city of Christchurch
- Meet your Driver Guide and tour group on a Christchurch street art tour (Included)
Day 2Christchurch to Franz Josef
Today we travel from coast to coast right over the Southern Alps passing through the Arthur’s Pass National Park, one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand. Arthurs Pass is a landscape of two halves, along the eastern side we’ll venture through riverbeds and beech forest, and on the western side deeply gorged rivers and dense rainforest. Along this road, we will stop off at the Devil’s Punch Bowl and the breath-taking Castle Hill. We arrive to Franz Josef in the afternoon, home to the Franz Josef glacier - a spectacular 5km long glacier. You’ll have two days here to unwind in Rainforest Retreat and visit the Franz Josef glacier.
Accommodation
- Rainforest Retreat
Experiences & Highlights
- Scenic hikes across Arthurs Pass
- Walk the Castle Hill track; wander through majestic limestone rock formations of special significance to Ngāi Tahu.
- Devils Punchbowl waterfalls.
- Enjoy a pizza dinner at Rainforest Retreat (included)
Day 3Franz Josef Free Day
Incredible Franz Josef sits in the world heritage area, and the combination of alpine scenery and west coast rainforest makes for an epic setting for your free day. Immerse yourself in a unique opportunity today - carving your own Pounamu (Greenstone) jewellery (included). You’ll learn more about the cultural significance of pounamu as you engage in this authentic cultural experience and depart with your own special piece of Aotearoa New Zealand.
You’ll then get to explore the Franz Josef glacier, an ever-changing landscape of ice. Opt for the Heli-Hike adventure, allowing you to walk on top of the glacier itself. For a free option, walk through the rainforest to a viewing area where the icy wonderland lies just 750m away.
Accommodation
- Rainforest Retreat
Experiences & Highlights
- Design and carve your own Greenstone jewellery in a West Coast workshop (included)
- Walk the Glacier Valley walk in Franz Josef
- Walk the Franz Josef glacier on a Heli Hike tour (optional extra)
Day 4Franz Josef to Lake Hawea
We start the day off with a trip to the Franz Josef wildlife centre (included) where you can see the largest kiwi incubation and hatching facility on the South Island. You are guaranteed to see a live kiwi inside the open nocturnal house, as well as Tuatara, a reptitle only found in New Zealand. Afterwards we head to Lake Matheson for a refreshing walk around the lake known for its perfect mirror reflection of Aoraki Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. The waters of Lake Matheson are dark brown, so on a calm day they create the ideal reflective surface, and by a happy coincidence, the mountains to the east are perfectly positioned to reflect in the lake. We'll then cruise up the last stretch of Highway 6, stopping at popular scenic spots along the way, and onwards to Lake Hawea. Lake Hawea is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise and a great place to swim, kite surf, kayak, bike, walk or just laze about on the lake’s edge.
Accommodation
- Hawea Hotel
Experiences & Highlights
- Franz Josef Wildlife centre (Included)
- Lake Matheson mirror lake
Day 5Lake Hawea to Queenstown via Wanaka
Today we head to Queenstown; known as the adrenaline capital of New Zealand. But before we get to Queenstown, we'll first stop in Wanaka; a resort town set on the southern end of its namesake lake with views of snowcapped mountains. It's the gateway to the Southern Alps' Mount Aspiring National Park, a wilderness of glaciers, beech forests and alpine lakes. Make sure to check out #ThatWanakaTree and snap a pic of one of the most photographed tree in the world! Next up we’ll visit the world’s first commercial bungy site – The Kawarau Bridge. Only the bravest travellers will dare to sign up for this iconic bucket list bungy! (Optional extra). Once we arrive in Queenstown, we will head to the spectacular waterfront; here, you can grab a bite to eat, perhaps enjoy a drink and enjoy the Queenstown nightline with all the crew!
Accommodation
- Nomads Queenstown
Experiences & Highlights
- #ThatWanakaTree (free)
- Bungy jump off the Kawarau Bridge (optional extra)
- Enjoy a drink or two on the Kiwi Bar Crawl (optional extra)
Day 6Queenstown Free Day
Queenstown has something for everyone; here, you can seek adrenaline-fueled adventures or enjoy a more leisurely exploration of the natural playground. Each season offers its own unique vibe, and most activities can be accessed all year round. If you’re looking for adrenaline, bungy jumping, jetboating, white water rafting and sky diving are all available. If a more relaxed pace is calling, hire a bike, take a stroll, enjoy a boat cruise, relax at a spa, or enjoy one of the many vineyards in the area.
Accommodation
- Nomads Queenstown
Experiences & Highlights
- Skydive (optional extra)
- Shotover Jet: Jetboat ride (optional extra)
- Bungy jump (optional extra)
- Swing & catapult (optional extra)
Day 7Milford Sound Day Tour
A trip to the South Island would only be complete with a trip to Piopiotahi, Milford Sound. As we venture from Queenstown bright and early, we make time to stop for breakfast and coffee in the quaint town of Te Anau before continuing the breathtaking drive towards Milford Sound with scheduled photo stops along the way. Milford Sound is nestled within Fiordland National Park, known for its pristine wildlife, which marvels at any time of year and in any weather; Milford Sound is rich in geological formations, captivating waterfalls and, unsurprisingly, one of the most amazing scenic day trips to do in New Zealand. Enjoy a two-hour (Included) scenic boat cruise through the inky blackwater; keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, fur seals, and an abundance of birdlife; if you’re really lucky, you’ll spot the endangered Fiordland Crested Penguin. After your cruise, we return to Queenstown for the evening.
Accommodation
- Nomads Queenstown
Experiences & Highlights
- 2 hour Milford Sound boat cruise (included)
Day 8Queenstown to Christchurch via Lake Tekapo
We drive on through the stunning Lindis Pass and into the magnificent Mackenzie Country, home to Lake Tekapo. Here we will visit the charming stone Church of the Good Shepherd (included), sat next to the breathtakingly blue waters of the lake framed with colourful lupins. Afterwards we head to Christchurch for one last hurrah before the tour ends.
Accommodation
- Not included
Experiences & Highlights
- Visit Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki
- Visit the The Church of the Good Shepherd; situated on the shores of Lake Tekapō amongst the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains.
What's Included
- 7 nights hostel dorm accommodation
- 7 tasty breakfasts and 1 dinner
- Milford Sound tour
- Greenstone carving
- Franz Josef Wildlife Centre
- The Church of the Good Shepherd
- Thunder Creek Falls
- Lake Matheson
- Glacier valley walk in Franz Josef
- Scenic hikes across Arthurs Pass
- Devils Punchbowl and Castle Hill
Optional Extras
Our Small Group Tours offer a fixed itinerary, with a few bucket list items included. There are plenty of additional activities you can add on to your experience as you travel.
What our passengers think
I really enjoyed this tour, thank you so much!
Fortunately, we had two guides this time and they were so kind, friendly and well-informed :) Activities included were awesome! Experiences about Maori were especially interesting for me. If there is someone who wants to go to the north Island, I’ll surely recommend joining this tour!! Thanks to Arias, Ahu, the crew and KiwiExperience, this trip has become a great memory for me ;)
Learn about NZ, other people and about myself
The tour is small enough to bond, but big enough to still meet loads of new people
It hit so many key areas of NZ in one whirlwind trip.
The trip was a nice combination of jam packed activities and down time.
Faq's
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I’m a solo traveller... will I meet other solo travellers?
Absolutely! The majority of our passengers are travelling solo. Kiwi Experience is a social experience guaranteed to leave with new friends from across the globe.
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Am I too old/young for Kiwi Experience?
We welcome the young, and the young at heart aboard our buses, there is no upper limit! There is however a lower limit; you’ll need to be 18 at the time of travel.
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What visas do I need?
Luckily, many nationalities are able to visit New Zealand for less than 3 months without a visa. However, if you are not from one of these countries, obtaining your own visa is your own responsibility. We ask that you check out the Immigration New Zealand website before booking your Kiwi Experience trip.
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Do I need travel insurance?
While not mandatory, travel insurance is strongly recommended and should be taken out when travelling with us. As well as making sure your expensive stuff is covered, you should also get comprehensive travel insurance (covering all medical expenses you could incur while travelling).
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How much should I budget for each day?
We recommend you budget between $70 - $100 per day to cover food and super fun times. From time to time, it may be worth putting a little more aside to pay for the really crazy stuff like skydiving.
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How much luggage am I allowed to bring?
Passengers are allowed one 23kg suitcase/backpack and one day bag, as there are strict weight restrictions on our buses.
