9 days tour

9 Day ’Kaka’ South Island Select Tour

$ 1,640 .87 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $1,640.87

9 Day ’Kaka’ South Island Select Tour

This tour includes:

Meals

8 Breakfasts

Transport

World famous TranzAlpine scenic train Private Coach transport

Accommodation

8 nights’ accommodation in a mixture of comfy 3-4 star hotels or scenic lodges in our unique destinations. Hotel rooms are ensuite, while shared facilities are in Strademark places.

Hygieneprotocol

STRAY is following the COVID-19 Protection Framework, which has been mandated by the New Zealand Government. When you take part in a tour or experience with us, you will need to show your ‘My Vaccine Pass’. This will enable us to ensure that you are fully vaccinated or to confirm that you have a medical exemption (this does not apply for children under 12). This framework allows us to help minimise the spread and harm of COVID-19 for our customers, team members and communities.

Guide

Professional, experienced guide with loads of knowledge and insider’s tips!

Others

Activities included: TranzAlpine Train Experience Milford Sound Day Cruise

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 9 Day ’Kaka’ South Island Select Tour

  • Day 1 Christchurch To Hokitika
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Christchurch To Hokitika

      Kia Ora (hello) and welcome to your Stray Adventure. You’ll start the day by travelling through the stunning Arthur’s Pass to the historic gold mining town of Greymouth on the West Coast where you’ll meet your Stray group outside the Greymouth train station. From here we’ll make our way to Hokitika, a vibrant, artistic town and the best place to buy ‘Pounamu’, a native greenstone. Our accommodation tonight is absolute beachfront, located on the shores of the Tasman Sea. Treat yourself to some dinner in their Ocean View restaurant or go for a walk and explore Hokitika.



      Accommodation: Hokitika Beachfront Hotel or similar

      Meal options: Local eateries

      Included activities: TranzAlpine Scenic Train

      Free activities: Head down to Hokitika Beach for sunset

  • Day 2 Hokitika To Franz Josef
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Hokitika To Franz Josef

      It’s a short drive today towards the charming little village of Franz Josef. The landscape will change from coastline to dramatic, lush rainforest so basically another day of incredible views and stunning scenery (have your phone charged for pics). We’ll get to Franz Josef around lunchtime, and we’ll have the rest of the day to explore the town or relax at our accommodation.



      Accommodation: Franz Josef Motels or similar

      Meal options: Local restaurants

      Meals included: Breakfast

      Free activities: Relax in Franz Josef

  • Day 3 Franz Josef
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Franz Josef

      Ice, ice baby! Today is about experiencing Franz Josef Glacier, an iconic highlight of the West Coast and New Zealand in general. We can get a shuttle to the beginning of the track and then hike through native bush and across glacial streams to the terminal face of the glacier for spectacular photos or just relax in the township and enjoy the views. If you’d like to see the glacier up close (before that pesky climate change melts it for good) you can go for an incredible heli-hike and actually stand on the glacier!



      Accommodation: Franz Josef Motels or similar

      Optional paid activities: Shuttle to the track, heli-hike to the glacier

      Meal options: Local restaurants

      Meals included: Breakfast

      Free activities: Glacier Valley hike, bush tracks

  • Day 4 Franz Josef To Queenstown
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Franz Josef To Queenstown

      This morning we’ll go for a scenic walk around Lake Matheson, known for its stunning views and mirror-like quality on particularly still days, and then we’ll make our way to Queenstown. Known in New Zealand as the ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ and the spiritual home of bungy jumping, Queenstown is a crazy combination of adventure and entertainment. We’ll stop at Kawarau Bridge on our way into town a.k.a. the first commercial bungy jumping site in the world and watch people jumping off with only a rope tied to their ankles. We highly recommend ticking this off your list if you’re feeling brave but otherwise, we’ll just cheer on our mates from the viewing platform! When we get to Queenstown we’ll head straight to our accommodation. Stay at the Mercure Resort will provide a touch of luxury to your Queenstown adventure, with a swimming pool, fitness centre and sauna, it’s the best way to relax and ease yourself into life in this truly stunning resort town.



      Accommodation: Mercure Queenstown or similar

      Optional paid activities: The Puzzling World

      Meal options: Local restaurants and cafes

      Meals included: Breakfast

      Free activities: Lake Matheson "Mirror Lake" scenic walk, watch people "jumping off" a bridge to the Blue Pools or Kawarau River!

  • Day 5 Milford Sound Day Trip
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Milford Sound Day Trip

      Today we’ll hop aboard a Coach which will take us to the iconic Milford Sound. We’ll drive along one of the most scenic alpine roads in the world and then cruise across the Sound (fun fact: it’s not actually a sound, it’s a fjord!) to see towering Mitre Peak plus rainforests and waterfalls, as well as spotting some amazing wildlife like Fur Seals, Penguins and Dolphins. Once we’ve snapped as many pics as we possibly can, it’s back to Queenstown. This evening, we recommend checking out the buzzy nightlife and sampling a famous Fergburger or just checking out one of the many restaurants Queenstown has to offer.



      Accommodation: Mercure Queenstown or similar

      Meal options: Local restaurants

      Meals included: Breakfast

      Included activity: Milford Sound Day Trip including Scenic Cruise

  • Day 6 Queenstown
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Queenstown

      Yaaaasssss Queen(stown)! We’ve got a full day in the adventure capital today. With beautiful mountain scenery and plenty of outdoor activities, it’s easy to understand why so many backpackers refuse to leave this place. We’ll have brekkie at the hotel and then the rest of the day is freeeee.



      Accommodation: Mercure Queenstown or similar

      Optional paid activities: Any adventure activity that we mad Kiwis can dream up (bungy, swing, jet boating, skydiving, mountain biking, zipline, horse riding…)

      Meal options: Local restaurants

      Meals included: Breakfast

      Free activities: Hike Ben Lomond, the Queenstown Hill, or Bob’s Peak

  • Day 7 Queenstown To Mount Cook
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Queenstown To Mount Cook

      We’ll depart Queenstown early to drive over the Lindis Pass and through the Mackenzie Country, past the vivid blue waters of Lake Pukaki on the way to our amazing stop at the base of New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook. We’ve made this drive sound great but honestly - we reckon it’s one of the most stunning days you’ll have in the whole of NZ.


      We arrive in the early afternoon with time to do an optional experience like a boat tour on a glacial lake surrounded by snow-capped alps (sounds epic? It is.) Alternatively, we can check out the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre or do one of the many great short walks in the park. We would be remiss if we didn’t recommend the Hooker Valley track (weather dependent) which in our opinion is in the top 3-day walks in NZ. If it’s a clear night, head outside to experience one of the best stargazing spots in the country.



      Accommodation: Stunning alpine lodge

      Optional paid activities: Visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, Glacier Explorer boat tour

      Meals included: Breakfast

      Free activities: Take photos of awe-inspiring scenery, do one of the many great short walks to the Hooker glacial lake (weather dependent), stargazing

  • Day 8 Mount Cook To Christchurch
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Mount Cook To Christchurch

      Leaving Mount Cook we make our way through a landscape made famous by the ‘Lord of the Rings’ films. We’ll stop to check out the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd (an iconic photo stop) and if you like you can go and relax in the Tekapo hot pools, do some snow tubing or ice skating (winter only) or hike up to the Mt John Observatory for incredible views of the lake from above. After lunch, we’ll continue to our overnight stop in Christchurch where we’ll spend the afternoon wandering the city streets and laneways to discover creative street art intended to bring cheer and colour to a city once buried in rubble.


      Accommodation: Bealey Quarter Christchurch or similar

      Meals included: Breakfast

      Free activities: Hike to Tekapo Mt John Summit, check out the historic Church of Good Shepherd, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Hagley Park

  • Day 9 Depart Christchurch
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Depart Christchurch

      Today our adventure comes to an end, we’ll say goodbye (or see you soon) to our mates and go our separate ways for now. We hope everyone had a blast and remains Stray Mates for 4ever!


      Meals included: Breakfast

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but you’re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

You’ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if you’re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 12 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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