Experience Overview
New Zealand is the perfect place for adrenaline and activity, and there's nowhere in the country more suited to that than the South Island. On this two week trip, cover the ground (or water) by sea kayak, boat, bike, and on foot. Explore Abel Tasman National Park, cruise along the waters of Milford Sound, and take two wheels through the trails around Mt Cook. If you're not out of breath just from reading all that, then it's time to start packing.
Highlights
- Kayak in the waters of Abel Tasman National Park
- Try exhilarating adventures in Queenstown
- Cruise through Milford Sound
- Cycle at the base of Mt Cook
- Hike a section of the Routeburn Track.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2675
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Private vehicle, kayak, boat, bicycle, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: Budget
Tour Operator: G Adventures
Supplier Code: ONSM
Starts: Christchurch, New Zealand
Finishes: Christchurch, New Zealand
Duration: 15 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating: Average
Includes
Activities
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Franz Josef
- Abel Tasman National Park hike
- Sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park
- Punakaiki pancake rocks visit
- Seal colony stop
- Okarito Lagoon walk
- Full-day Routeburn Track hiking excursion
- Fiordland National Park visit
- Cruise through Milford Sound
- Mount Cook cycling excursion
- Hike the Mt Cook region
- Orientation walk in Christchurch
- Free time in Franz Josef and Queenstown
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels/hostels (14 nts).
- 12 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Transport
- Private vehicle, kayak, boat, bicycle, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,415 ($294 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Christchurch
Arrive at any time.
Day 2: Christchurch/Kaikoura
Transfer north, along the scenic coastal road up to Kaikoura. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the area or take in an optional activity.
A free afternoon can be spent visiting a colony of Southern Fur seals, partaking in a peninsula walkway walk, or taking a scenic flight over the peninsula. Bird watchers will be pleased to know that big ocean birds such as albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters frequent the area.
Day 3: Kaikoura to Abel Tasman
Take in the scenery of the South Island while travelling to Marahau, situated right on the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park. Sample some local produce and wine as you travel through the renowned Marlborough wine region. Enjoy free time to explore upon arrival.
Day 4: Abel Tasman National Park/Marahau
Experience the stunning natural beauty of Abel Tasman National Park by boat, sea kayak and on foot. After a full day of exploring, reward your efforts with a well earned meal at one of Marahau local eateries.
Day 5: Marahau/Lake Brunner
Enjoy the scenery of the mountainous coastal Westland region, and stop en route to see the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks.
Day 6: Lake Brunner/Franz Josef
Transfer to Franz Josef, stopping for a walk at the wildlife mecca of Okarito Lagoon en route. Enjoy free time for optional activities such as hiking and checking out the stunning Franz Josef Glacier.
Day 7: Franz Josef
A free day for optional activities. Options include a helicopter hike, a glacier valley walk, kayaking as well as the unique and stunning Franz Josef Glacier.
Day 8: Franz Josef/Wanaka
Transfer to Wanaka, where there are a variety of optional activities available. Opt to hiking or check out the giant maze and optical illusions of Puzzling World.
Day 9: Wanaka/Queenstown
Drive the winding route between Wanaka and Queenstown passing through picturesque wine country and the turquoise waters of the Kawarau River. Watch as the scenery shifts from vast open valleys to the hustle and bustle of the city, and get ready to enjoy a free afternoon in the "adventure capital of the world."
Enjoy a free afternoon to maximize time for all the optional activities in the area. Opt for a jet boat outing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, sky diving, or a vineyard tour. The options in this adventure capital are endless.
Opt to pre-book the "Queenstown Jet Boating" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Day 10: Queenstown
Enjoy a full-day hiking excursion along the world renowned Routeburn Track, taking in the gorgeous mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and lakes surrounding the track.
Day 11: Queenstown
Travel to the fjords of the South Island. Enjoy the stunning scenery of Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound from the deck of a boat, then return to Queenstown for the night.
Day 12: Queenstown/Twizel
Enjoy free time in Queenstown, before travelling on to the Aoraki/Mt Cook region.
Day 13: Twizel
Prepare for an action packed day! Start on two-wheels on a mountain biking excursion around the Aoraki/Mt Cook region. In the afternoon, discover stunning landscapes on foot.
Day 14: Twizel/Christchurch
Travel back to Christchurch. Head out for an orientation drive with your CEO before enjoying a few hours to explore the city.
Day 15: Christchurch
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Mikyong K. - Traveled, November 2023
Well organized and guide James McNicol did a fantastic job.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Anouk G. - Traveled, December 2023
Good organisation, nice guide.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/17/2023
Minetta W. - Traveled, December 2023
The tour did not provide enough flexibility when activities got cancelled due to weather or other reasons. I was not able to do the heli hike at Franz Josef (cancelled) and although people asked for it there was no option (due to G Adventures schedule) to try again the next day. Also we were not able to do the Mount Cook Valley Trek because it was closed for a few hours and there was no option (due to G Adventures schedule) to wait a few hours for it to open.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/17/2023
Jonathan L. - Traveled, November 2023
Most of the factors that would figure into my recommendation regard whether they are interested in this style of travel.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/10/2023
Elizabeth S. - Traveled, November 2023
The G Adventures South Island Multisport was a great trip! I loved the itinerary and the optional activities. The guide was wonderful and the group was very fun.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/03/2023
Lynn G. - Traveled, November 2023
Great trip
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/03/2023
Katrina T. - Traveled, November 2023
It is always well organized and the guides are great
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/03/2023
Peter T. - Traveled, November 2023
Trusted provider and excellent guidance by tour CEO.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/03/2023
Somdatta B. - Traveled, April 2023
the trip was fairly well organised apart from some aspects where it could have been better managed.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/07/2023
Thomas D. - Traveled, April 2023
The tour was really well thought through with some amazing activities lined up as well as other optional activities which are truest once in a lifetime experiences.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/07/2023
Reema K. - Traveled, April 2023
The age group / demographic (eg 19-82), marital status (half the group were couples) and group size (16 or so) did not really enable life long friendships (unlike another tour company I have been with)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/23/2023
Shay D. - Traveled, April 2023
Freedom to choose activities and involvement, meeting people across the world, CEOs who are passionate about travel and guiding us to have a good time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/23/2023
Barbara H. - Traveled, March 2023
Past trips, quality of CEO, customer service in scheduling.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/09/2023
Birgit M. - Traveled, March 2023
James, our guide was fantastic. But from G Adventures side are a few things that could make his life or ours ad costumer easier (e.g. dolphin swim was fully booked)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/26/2023
Caitlin G. - Traveled, March 2023
Super friendly and easy way to meet lots of like minded people! It especially takes the stress away from solo travelling
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/26/2023
Shelli K. - Traveled, March 2023
The itinerary and CEO were amazing!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/26/2023
Lydia H. - Traveled, February 2023
Everything was well organised and super easy going
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/12/2023
Daria E. - Traveled, February 2023
The tour itself was great, aside from 2 accommodations, and the tour director was stellar. All my troubles with G Adventures were with registration and getting signed up and getting any information back from them.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/26/2023
James S. - Traveled, February 2023
it's such a fun way to travel and takes all the hassle of out organising
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/26/2023
Jeffrey M. - Traveled, January 2023
Have had a positive experience on this, and previous Peru, trip. CEO knowledge and organization were impressive, absolutely invaluable
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/12/2023
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