New Zealand: Fjords, Glaciers & Mountains Self-Drive Tour - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Christchurch & Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour 

Welcome to New Zealand! Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in Christchurch. Known as New Zealand's garden city, Christchurch is a vibrant metropolitan center and the second-largest city in New Zealand. Surrounded by a large greenbelt, the city mixes cutting-edge architecture and English heritage with abundant green spaces, lush gardens, and wide, tree-lined avenues.

Start your exploration by boarding a hop-on hop-off bus. Your guide will point out key landmarks and tell you all about the city and its history. New Zealand's oldest established city highlights include the bustling Cathedral Square and the Avon River / Ōtākaro, which winds through the city's center. Next, if you'd like, ride one of the city's 19th-century trams historic trams across town to the renowned Christchurch Botanic Gardens and the cardboard Transitional Cathedral.

Day 2: Explore Christchurch & Optional Activities

You'll pick up your rental car early this morning and start to explore more of Christchurch. Following the 2011 earthquake that razed its center and many outlying suburbs, the city is well into a billion-dollar makeover. In the middle of the Canterbury Plains, bordering the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand's newest city is an ideal gateway to exploring the middle of the South.

You can try punting on the Avon River / Ōtākaro, take a historic tram ride, catch the gondola to the rim of an extinct volcano, or do all three. Drive an hour in any direction to ski, mountain bike, wine taste, whale-watch, bungee jump, or play golf. Take a day to go on a safari at Orana Wildlife Park. Drive the winding Port Hills road to the French settlement of Akaroa and tour the vines in Waipara for an authentic New Zealand wine-tasting experience.

If you choose to stay near town, head to the Heathcote Valley, just 15 minutes from the heart of Christchurch, and ride the Christchurch Gondola for more than 0.5 miles to the collapsed rim of an extinct volcano, which exploded 6 million years ago. Take in the panoramic views of the central city, Lyttelton Harbour, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury Plains, and the distant peaks of the Southern Alps. Wander the summit complex and choose one of many nature walks, or visit the Time Tunnel, a dramatic reconstruction of the history of the Port Hills and Christchurch.

If you're interested in a wildlife tour, the International Antarctic Centre aims to recreate the atmosphere and environment of Antarctica, providing visitors with an interactive, fun, and educational experience. Feel the full four seasons of Antarctica and experience a custom-built snow-and-ice experience, then warm up in the Scott Base interior exhibit, a replica Antarctic field camp, or other informative displays in the gallery. Learn about life in modern-day Antarctica, view real little blue penguins, and experience a thrilling ride in a Hagglund all-terrain vehicle.

Day 3: Mount Cook National Park Glacier & Valley Tours

Today, drive through the heart of the South Island, crossing the vast Canterbury Plains. Catch your breath in Geraldine before continuing through Fairlie. Ascending Burkes Pass, come to the picturesque lakeside town of Tekapo. Follow the road and take in the view of Aoraki/Mount Cook (New Zealand's tallest mountain) from the shores of Lake Pukaki, known for its glacier-fed, turquoise-blue color. Continue along the lake to your final destination, Aoraki / Mount Cook.

You can tour to see Aoraki/Mount Cook's 500-year-old icebergs up close. Very few glaciers terminate into lakes, and even fewer are accessible. See towering ice cliffs and floating icebergs from the safety of a specially designed boat. These boats provide a safe way to view unseen and inaccessible areas of New Zealand's largest, the Haupapa / Tasman Glacier.

Next, take a rugged backroad, 4WD, accessing awe-inspiring views over the Haupapa / Tasman Glacier and its gigantic moraine wall. Stop at several vantage points and walk up to the top of the wall to view some of the most spectacular photographic opportunities within the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Your professional guide has a wealth of knowledge of the area. Learn about its unique geology, local flora, and fauna, and gain entertaining insight into the rich pioneering history and stories of the past 150 years. Note that there's no food (or any shops) at Mount Cook. You'll need to stock up before arrival if you wish to self-cater.

Day 4: Drive to Te Anau, Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Today, continue the drive to Te Anau. Twizel, just south of Mount Cook, was the location of many "The Lord of the Rings" scenes. A little farther on is Ōmarama, the gliding capital of New Zealand.

The Lindis Pass is one of New Zealand's highest roads, with the summit reaching 3,186 feet. The tussock-covered hills offer an unusual contrast as you pass from the Mackenzie Basin to Central Otago. The first Central Otago settlement you reach is the quaint village of Tarras, which has a number of boutique stores and a lovely café. A short drive, further along, is the historic and scenic Bendigo Reserve, one of Otago's original gold mining settlements. Well-marked paths will guide you to the remains of stone cottages and other buildings from this bygone era.

Cromwell sits at the head of the Kawarau Gorge, and the historic old town is well worth the visit; the buildings are now home to quaint shops and cafés. The old-town buildings were relocated from the valley that now sits deep under Lake Dunstan. Continue through the sheer cliffs of the Kawarau Gorge as they guide you toward the Gibbston Valley, one of New Zealand's premier wine-growing regions. At the famous, historic Kawarau Bridge, you can take a bungee jump or sit back and enjoy the action as visitors hoist themselves off the bridge.

Approaching Queenstown, the impressive Remarkables Mountain Range comes into view, and then beautiful Lake Wakatipu as you head south. The lake guides you into Southland through its rich farming pastures and into Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Once in Te Anau, begin your glowworm cave experience with a scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau onboard the luxury catamaran Luminosa to the western side of the lake. On arrival, enter the caves through Cavern House, where informative displays detail the history of this 12,000-year-old underground network. Next, explore by limestone pathway while your guide points out hidden whirlpools, sculpted rock formations, and a rushing underground waterfall. See a magical display of thousands of glowworms as you glide through the darkness in a small boat.

Day 5: Day Trip to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi & Cruise

The road to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi offers some of the most beautiful and iconic scenery in the country. From crystal-clear lakes and towering mountains to lush, glacier-formed meadows, this area is dramatic and unyielding. Stretch your legs on the Chasm Walk, a short stroll through native beech forest, to see several powerful waterfalls. Continue through the Homer Tunnel, an engineering marvel at 4,000 feet long. Arriving at the village of Milford, enjoy an amazing greeting by Mitre Peak.

Take a two-hour nature cruise tour of spectacular Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. Onboard one of three purpose-built vessels, experience tumbling waterfalls, towering peaks, lush rainforest, and native wildlife. Learn about the region, its history, and its natural surroundings while enjoying a delicious picnic lunch. As you cruise, watch for dolphins, seals, and penguins, frequent visitors to the fiord. Following your exploration of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, return to Te Anau for the evening.

Day 6: Drive to Queenstown, Walter Peak Dinner Cruise

Today, cross vast tussock lands on your way to Queenstown. Pass through Mossburn, the deer capital of the nation. Continue through the Southland countryside, where the road begins to hug the lake edge, and The Remarkables tower over your approach into the adventure capital of New Zealand.

Go back in time on a return trip to Walter Peak High Country Farm aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw Steamship. A host will greet you and guide you through beautiful lakeside gardens toward the charming homestead. Here, enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner, which your chef will prepare in front of you. The seasonal menu includes an expansive array of local produce, including succulent meats cooked on the outdoor rotisserie and a selection of delicious vegetables and salads. Finish your meal with dessert, New Zealand cheeses, and freshly brewed tea and coffee. On your cruise home, enjoy the camaraderie of a singalong with the ship's pianist, or simply breathe in the fresh night air as you watch the lights of Queenstown draw near.

Day 7: Explore Queenstown

Although celebrated as New Zealand's "adventure capital," Queenstown offers far more than a fast-paced, action-packed holiday. Settled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, beneath a soaring panorama of The Remarkables, this alpine town is surrounded by many historic, gastronomic, and scenic wonders.

Browse the waterfront cafés, check out nearby historic Arrowtown, and enhance your experience with a 4WD trip to Macetown. Take a leisurely lakeside stroll or ride the gondola for breathtaking views. Venture further afield into the Fiordland National Park or head over the Crown Range to Wānaka. Drive through "The Lord of the Rings" country, or for the really fanatic, jump aboard one of many dedicated LOTR tours.

Riding the iconic Big Red Jet Boat through the narrow Shotover Canyon is an exhilarating experience not to be missed. Your skilled jet boat driver pushes the boat to 52 mph, skimming across shallow water and past towering canyon walls. This 25-minute whitewater ride includes 360 ° spins and maximum thrills.

If you're a wine enthusiast, head down the Gibbston Valley Wine Trail to sample some of the region's best grapes. Or, join a small group tour for an afternoon among the boutique vineyards and splendid alpine scenery of Central Otago. Enjoy visits to four premium wineries over two contrasting wine sub-regions, learn about the wine and pioneering history of the area, and visit the historic precinct of Old Cromwell (time and weather permitting). This tour includes a shared lunch platter and a premium glass of wine to pair.

Day 8: Visit Wānaka & Franz Joseph Glacier

From Queenstown, cross the Crown Range, the highest sealed road in New Zealand, to arrive in the alpine town of Wānaka, the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. Skirting the shores of both Lake Wānaka and Hawea, enter the small town of Makarora. Stop at Blue Pools for a one-hour return walk through the native beech forest to a glacier-fed swimming hole. Continue through the remote seaside settlement of Haast before heading up the wild West Coast, a 372-mile (598 km) stretch of bush and native rainforest. Fox Glacier welcomes you first, then comes your destination for the night, Franz Josef / Waiau.

Another optional activity is to see the glaciers from above in a helicopter. You can take a scenic helicopter tour and fly over two of New Zealand's most famous glaciers. Land at the head of one and view the incredible sight of this frozen river as it winds its way through ancient carved valleys.

Day 9: Return to Christchurch via the TranzAlpine Scenic Train

Today, head north through the historic gold mining region of Hokitika. Known for its Greenstone (Pounamu), this seaside town has a rich history dating back to the 1860s. Head to the coast and take in the endless sea views, or pick up a souvenir at one of the many craft shops. Continue on to Greymouth, the largest town on the West Coast and the starting point for the next leg of your journey—the TranzAlpine Scenic Train. Drop your rental car at the Greymouth Train Station depot before boarding your train back to Christchurch.

Considered one of the world's great train journeys, travels 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. A driver will be waiting for you at the train station to transport you to your accommodation. Enjoy your final evening in New Zealand with a nice dinner and a night on the town.

Day 10: Depart Christchurch

Depending on your flight time, a private driver will collect you from your accommodation and transport you to the airport to catch your departure flight home. Until next time!

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