South Island Hotels & Resorts

Depart from Blenheim for this full-day tour which journeys through the renowned Marlborough wine region. Visit wineries and enjoy two fine wine experiences before continuing on through the Marlborough Sounds for a unique seafood cruise. Learn about the local history, visit a marine farm and stop to sample some fresh seafood paired with a glass of sauvignon blanc before your return journey.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Depart from Queenstown and travel along through the picturesque Southland farming country to Te Anau. Continue to the Fiordland National Park and the renowned Milford Road. This corridor to the fjord unveils a different side of New Zealand, with its majestic mountains and winding rivers. Throughout the journey, there will be multiple stops for photo opportunities, short walks, and the chance to learn about the fascinating local facts and stories. Embark on a nature cruise that takes you beneath the towering peaks of the fjord.

Admire spectacular alpine scenery and look out for unique wildlife including dolphins and seals, before heading back to Queensland.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7.30am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Discover locations from The Lord of the Rings films on this 4x4 off-road adventure which departs from Queenstown. See The Remarkables (The Misty Mountains), Deer Park Heights (The Battle of the Wargs) and the Kawarau Gorge (Argonath/Pillars of the King) plus many more. Continue to Arrowtown and experience some off roading as you follow a gold mining road up the river where you can try gold panning before enjoying views of the Wakatipu Basin from Skippers Canyon.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 8am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Journey aboard the renowned TranzAlpine train between Christchurch and Greymouth via Arthur’s Pass. Enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery as the train crosses the Canterbury Plains and heads through the Southern Alps where it wind its way through the Waimakariri Gorge. The excursion also operates in reverse or as a return. You can upgrade to the Scenic Plus Dining experience which includes local delicacies which are created on board using the finest farm-to-rail produce.

• Duration: full day
• Times: 8.15am to 7pm
• Departs daily from October to April
• Departs Friday to Monday between May and September
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Every whale watching tour is different. Sperm whales are yearround residents so your chances of spotting one are very high. You can also see dusky dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and albatross year round. Dependent on season you can also spot Humpback whales, Pilot whales, Blue whales and Southern Right whales. There are also opportunities to see orcas as well as the world's smallest and rarest dolphin - the Hector's dolphin.

• Start times: 7.15am, 10am, 10.30am, 12.45pm, 3,30pm
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

If you’re based in Te Anau, this is the most direct and relaxed way to experience Milford Sound. The journey takes you deep into Fiordland National Park, with scenery unfolding gradually as the road winds through lakes, forest and alpine valleys.

By late morning or early afternoon, you arrive at Piopiotahi Milford Sound. Glacially carved cliffs rise straight from the water, and the sense of enclosure is immediate. From the terminal, you board a purpose-built cruise vessel for a cruise of up to two hours.

Once on the fiord, the pace slows noticeably. The boat travels the full length of Milford Sound, passing close to waterfalls and sheer rock faces, sometimes so close that you can feel the spray. Wet weather only adds to the atmosphere, with temporary waterfalls appearing all along the cliffs. Wildlife sightings vary, but seals are commonly seen resting on rocks, dolphins sometimes swim alongside the boat, and penguins appear at certain times of year. The cruise passes St Anne’s Point Lighthouse and, when conditions allow, continues out toward the Tasman Sea.

• Start time: 6.45am 
• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

This full-day trip from Queenstown takes you from one alpine landscape into another, ending at one of New Zealand’s most recognisable natural landmarks. It’s a long journey, but the changing scenery makes the drive part of the appeal.

By late morning or early afternoon, you reach Piopiotahi Milford Sound, where the road ends and the fiord begins. Sheer rock walls rise straight from dark water, and the scale of the place is immediately apparent. From here, you board a purpose-built cruise vessel for up to two hours on the fiord. On the water, everything slows down. The boat moves steadily along Milford Sound, edging close to waterfalls and cliff faces, often drifting through mist kicked up by falling water. 

Rain only heightens the experience, with countless temporary waterfalls forming after heavier weather. Wildlife appears when it wants to. Seals are often seen hauled out on rocks, dolphins sometimes ride the bow wave, and penguins make seasonal appearances. The cruise passes St Anne’s Point Lighthouse and, if conditions allow, heads out toward the Tasman Sea where the fiord meets open ocean.

• Start time: 6.45am 
• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

The landscapes surrounding Queenstown are legendary and you'll get to witness their beauty on this half-day scenic tour. The adventure begins as you head to a viewpoint for a panoramic vista of the town and its jaw-dropping backdrop and stop off for a quick peek at the Shotover River. There'll then be some time to explore Arrowtown, a historic settlement that built up around the gold mining industry, and watch the thrill-seekers at Kawarau, the site of the world's first commercial bungy jump; you can even have a go if you are feeling brave enough (at an extra cost). The next stop is a local winery where a tasting and shared cheeseboard is included (a non-alcoholic alternative is available for non drinkers). Before the return back to town, you'll hop on board a boat for a half-hour trip on Lake Whakatipu.

• Duration: half day
• Start time: 8.30am
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Eighteen wines, four tastings, 6 hours; this whistlestop and award-winning tour of some of the Gibbston region's finest cellar doors gives you an unforgettable introduction to New Zealand's Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Chenins. Head to one of the areas founding wineries, home to the country's largest cellar, and Kinross, where five wine labels are sold and the lunch stop on this tour (payable locally). Mt Rosa Wines and The Church Cellar door follow, the former with a rich sheep-farming heritage and the latter with more of a religious past.

• Duration: 6 hours
• Start time: 10am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

This full-day experience takes you deep into Fiordland National Park to explore Doubtful Sound by lake cruise, mountain road, and fiord cruise. You’ll cross Lake Manapouri, travel over Wilmot Pass by coach, and spend several hours cruising one of New Zealand’s largest and quietest fiords.

Doubtful Sound itself is on a serious scale. It’s about three times as long as Milford Sound and roughly ten times as large overall, which explains the space and the calm. The pace is deliberately slow. Sheer cliffs rise straight from the water, waterfalls appear and fade with the weather, and at times the engines are switched off so you can take in the stillness properly. A nature guide is on board, pointing out wildlife and sharing insight into the landscape as you go. Bottlenose dolphins live here and are often seen, and New Zealand fur seals are regulars along the rocky shore.

• Start time: 6.55am
• Duration: Full day
• Daily departures
• Operates daily
• Group experience

This evening experience takes you to the summit of Mount John above Lake Tekapo for guided stargazing in one of the world’s best dark-sky locations. You’ll spend time outdoors and at telescopes with expert astronomy guides, learning how to read the Southern Sky and seeing planets, star clusters and distant galaxies that are usually lost to light pollution.

You travel up to the summit of Mount John, home to the University of Canterbury’s Mount John Observatory and set within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. With almost no artificial light for miles, the sky here feels noticeably deeper and more detailed than in most places, even before you look through a telescope. 

You’ll spend time observing with the naked eye and through powerful telescopes, which bring planets, star clusters and distant galaxies into sharp view. Between observations, the guides talk about the science behind what you’re seeing, how this region became such an essential site for astronomy, and why protecting dark skies matters more than most people realise.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience