Touring in New Zealand’s South Island
Tailormade touring itineraries from AABH
This tour covers the highlights in Queenstown and up to Christchurch for travellers who are not looking for a self drive itinerary but want independence and the comfort of a tour guide on major tours. Accommodation can be from 3 star to 5 star and additional stops and activities and additional days added to suit. All of our tours can be tailormade to suit individual customers.
On arrival in Queenstown, your private will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel The Rees Queenstown including breakfast Luxury 5 star
Built in 2007, The Rees Hotel Queenstown is a sophisticated five-star hotel situated right on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, in the South Island of New Zealand.
The Rees offers a variety of spacious fully air-conditioned and, luxurious accommodation options including 60 Hotel rooms, 90 Apartments and five private, 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom Lakeside Residences, all with terraces, showcasing spectacular views across Lake Wakatipu to the alpine panorama of the Remarkable Mountain range.
The many exceptional features at The Rees Hotel include a library of rare books and art, courtesy shuttle to/from Queenstown town centre, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, movies and local telephone calls, conference rooms, a fully-equipped gymnasium, secure undercover parking, electric car-charging station and its own private beach and wharf accessing jet-boat and water taxi services. Guests can swim from our wharf or beach – but it’s not for the faint-hearted!
Our team of experienced local and international staff pride themselves on delivering professional friendly service that consistently exceeds our guests’ expectations and is a hallmark of The Rees Hotel’s reputation.
Quiet, private and sophisticated, The Rees Hotel Queenstown epitomises southern hospitality at its finest and an authentic New Zealand experience.
This evening / or Afternoon
Take a scenic ride in the iconic Skyline Gondola and take in the stunning views as you ride the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere!
You’ll be carried 480 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob’s Peak, where you’ll enjoy a spectacular 220-degree panorama with breath-taking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter and Cecil Peak and, of course, Queenstown.
Included is dinner and two luge rides on the mountain.
This Tour Departs at 0930 and returns 1230.
Pick up and drop off at hotel lobby and includes wine tasting Includes
Queenstown Hill
Views: spectacular birds eye views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables and Lord of the Rings locations.
Great photo opportunity.
◦ AJ Hackett Bungy Bridge: learn about the history and excitement of bungy jumping. Watch intrepid jumpers from the viewing deck.
◦ Gibson Valley Winery: savor a selection of wines produced on site. Enjoy the winery’s well stocked gift shop and the region’s only cheesery. Tour includes wine tasting.
◦ Captivating Arrowtown: discover beautiful Arrowtown’s golden history and colonial architecture. Highlights are the Lakes District Museum, boutique shopping, great cafes and restaurants.
◦ Drive up to Skippers saddle for a stunning view of the surrounding Queenstown Basin, formed by glaciers.
Great photo opportunity.
Enjoy a quintessential Kiwi experience – a delicious gourmet BBQ buffet meal and a farm demonstration in a stunning lakeside setting.
• Gourmet barbecue lunch or dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant
• Enjoy lakeside dining at Walter Peak High Country Farm, away from the bustle of
Queenstown
• Includes the return scenic cruise on board the historic TSS Earnslaw Vintage
Steamship
• Be entertained by the farm demonstration, see the farm dogs at work
• Duration: 3 hours 30 mins – 4 hours Content Goes Here
- Today is a full day tour departing central Queenstown for a day on Milford Sound. The tour is approximately 11 hours and coach transfer’s return. At additional cost there is the option to fly one direction. This is a group tour.
- Cruise on a modern, spacious vessel with unobstructed views through full-height windows
- Get incredibly close to waterfalls and wildlife.
- Includes FREE tea and coffee and licensed bar onboard
- Modern, spacious coach with plenty of legroom
- Our local coach drivers provide you with entertaining and informative commentaryin English
- Choose to add a delicious fresh picnic lunch or our famous To Kai Buffet
- Departures from Queenstown
There is the option to Fly in one or both directions for this tour or to have it as an overnight or private tour
Today Depart on a 4 hour and 45 minute Journey with Great Sights group touring to Mt Cook
Travel to the foothills of New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki / Mount Cook, on a full- day sightseeing tour from Queenstown to Christchurch.
Setting off from Queenstown, travel by luxury air-conditioned coach through ruggedly beautiful landscape and over the Lindis Pass into the Mackenzie Country. We enter the amazing Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park, home to New Zealand’s highest mountain, where there is time to stop for lunch and a chance to enjoy the amazing alpine scenery. According to Māori legend, the boy Aoraki and his brothers once hit a reef in their canoe. When they climbed to the higher side of the tilting vessel, the cold south wind froze them, turning them
An amazing trip but weather dependent
Glacier Explorers is the only tour of its kind in New Zealand, and it’s based right here, in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
Cruise around the Tasman Glacial Lake in one of our boats and experience the enormity of NZ’s largest glacier as you weave in and out of floating icebergs. It’s a surreal and mesmerising experience in a totally unique environment. No two days are the same on the Tasman Lake with a constant shifting of conditions, which simply adds to the magic of this very special place.
Our tours are designed to both thrill and educate as you learn about the ever-changing glacial landscape. Icebergs of every shape and size periodically tear away from the face of the glacier into the rapidly growing lake. It’s difficult to predict when a calving will take place but it’s possible you will witness one whilst you’re on a tour – it’s really quite spectacular. A trip on Glacier Explorers is a unique opportunity to truly feel small as the lateral moraines, which are sharp-crested piles of glacially transported rocks and debris that are dropped by the ice as it melts, rear up almost 200m. The lateral moraines remind us of the grand scale that the glacier has reached in previous times.
With the effects of climate change and other climatic processes taking their toll on New Zealand glaciers, their retreat is sadly imminent. The Tasman Glacier is now approximately 23/23.5km long and 600m deep (at its deepest point) and is both melting and calving at a staggering rate.
Dark Sky
Welcome to the world’s largest Gold Status International Dark Sky Reserve. At 4367sq km, the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve lies in the heart of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
Take a mesmerizing journey through the cosmos as you explore the wonders of New Zealand’s night sky; home to planets, stars and a whole other world we only dream about. Our resident astronomy guides will take you on a 90-minute tour of the night sky through high powered telescopes along with discussing incredible features visible to the naked eye.
Available on a clear night, the tour takes place close to the Hermitage hotel. Guests are shuttled to our base which is perfectly set up to enjoy the night sky. Here they will witness the darkness as it comes alive with the stars framed by the beautiful mountains of the Southern Alps.
Please note: the light of the Moon affects the viewing conditions and visibility of objects in the night sky. This is most significant on the few days on either side of the Full Moon phase. We recommend booking around the time of a New Moon if possible.
Embarking on the City Sights bus line journey from the majestic peaks of Mount Cook to the vibrant cityscape of Christchurch offers travelers a captivating tapestry of New Zealand’s diverse landscapes. As the bus winds its way through the rugged terrain, passengers are treated to breathtaking vistas of snow-capped mountains, shimmering glacial lakes, and lush alpine meadows. The journey spans approximately 330 kilometers, tracing a route that showcases the country’s natural wonders in all their glory.
As the bus descends from the heights of Mount Cook, the scenery gradually transitions from the pristine wilderness to the charming rural landscapes of the Canterbury region. Rolling hills dotted with sheep farms and quaint villages unfold before passengers’ eyes, offering glimpses into New Zealand’s pastoral beauty. Finally, the journey culminates in the bustling city of Christchurch, where historic architecture, vibrant street art, and bustling markets await exploration. With each kilometer traveled, tourists are immersed in the rich tapestry of New Zealand’s landscapes and culture, making the City Sights bus line journey from Mount Cook to Christchurch an unforgettable experience.
Overnight Christchurch
Today depart Christcurch
