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The Wild Wild South - Wildlife and Nature

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USD

1,736

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  • 1
  • 16 Days

  • Accessible
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Valentin Puech

Once Upon A Trip

We pride ourselves in creating fully tailor-made trips and in assisting every step of the way.

  • Local time:22:14

The Wild Wild South - Wildlife and Nature

from

USD

1,736

/ person
  • 16 Days

The Wild Wild South - Wildlife and Nature

Spend 16 days in the South Island of New Zealand and see all sorts of wildlife and nature! The South Island is generally known to be the wilder side of the country and you will get to see many types of animals such as Hector dolphins or little Blue Penguins, but also all of the epic scenery like the glaciers and sounds!

Christchurch

Known as a “garden city”, Christchurch was heavily affected by an earthquake in February 2011 but the rebuild is in full swing and has brought a new vibrancy to this ever-changing city. While you stay here, you could take the time to check out the Antarctic Centre, where you will experience snow and ice, a storm, learn about life in modern day Antarctica and Scott base and hang out with Little Blue Penguins! Read more

One night in Christchurch

Christchurch - Akaroa

The Banks peninsula is full of picturesque bays, seaside villages, boutique galleries and cafes. The highlight of this peninsula is Akaroa, a historic French and British settlement nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano. Explore the village with its colonial architecture, galleries, craft stores, and cafés. Akaroa Harbour is the only place on the entire planet where you can get up close and personal with NZ's playful Hector's dolphins either by simply watching them or even swimming with them. Here is also where you will find the biggest little blue penguin colony in the country! If you like walking, Akaroa is the starting point of the Banks Track but also of plenty of other day walks. You reach altitude quite fast and the views over the caldera are great. Read more

One Night in Akaroa

Akaroa - Oamaru

New Zealand’s Victorian Town. Oamaru has an array of attractions you simply won't find elsewhere - from the vibrant Historic Precinct featuring New Zealand's best 19th Century streetscape to world famous eco-tourism facility the Blue and Yellow eyed Penguin Colony.

One night in Oamaru

Oamaru - Dunedin

On the way to Dunedin, you will pass the Moeraki Boulders, a number of huge spherical stones, found strewn along a stretch of Koekohe Beach near Moeraki, a small settlement just south of Hampden on New Zealand's Otago coast. Dunedin is a nice university city with strong Scottish roots. The historical buildings are beautiful and native wildlife is very present on Otago Peninsula. Check out the railway station, opened in 1906 to cater for the travelling public of what was at the time the commercial centre of New Zealand. Its sheer size, grandiose style and rich embellishments, not surprisingly, earned architect George Troup, the nickname 'Gingerbread George'. Read more

One Night in Dunedin

Dunedin

You can find the world’s steepest street here: Baldwin Street. A spectacular half-day scenic train trip is also possible from here: The Taieri Gorge Railway, which see the central Otago region.

One night in Dunedin

Dunedin - Catlins

The Catlins coast encompasses the area from Kaka Point in the north through to Fortrose in the South. This is a place where time has stood still and visitors can enjoy the forests and wildlife and as well as the life-style of a bygone era. As it is close to the rich Sub-Antarctic feeding grounds, some of the world's rarest marine animals are found here - three penguin species (including Hoiho, the Yellow-Eyed Penguin), Hooker's Sea Lions, Hector's Dolphins, Elephant Seals, as well as New Zealand Fur Seals. Notable also are the seabirds: Mollymawks, Shags, Gannets and millions of Titi (Sooty Shearwaters). Read more

One night in Catlins

Catlins - Invercargill

On this day, you can check out this rest of the Catlins before heading on to Invercargill. Invercargill is the gateway to some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery and destinations and still arguably one of the country's most intact areas. With a combination of cultural attractions, a rejuvenated city life and outstanding nature reserves and parks, visitors to Invercargill often say how much there is to see and do. Read more

One night in Invercargill

Invercargill - Stewart Island

Stewart Island is the third biggest island in New Zealand and offers a special experience - a glimpse into a simpler, slower lifestyle, in rhythm with the sea and the tides, attuned to the natural world of bush and beach. Stewart Island offers walks for all different fitness levels and ability ranges where one can enjoy our diverse bush, birds, scenery and landforms. There are several easy walking tracks within the vicinity of Oban varying from 10 minutes to 3 hours. This is also a great place to see wildlife, especially in the Paterson Inlet where you can go on a cruise that showcases some stunning scenery and includes a visit to the historic whaler’s base at Prices Inlet and the unspoilt beaches of Paterson Inlet. You will also get the chance to go for a guided walk on Ulva Island, a renowned wildlife sanctuary where many rare and endangered native species of birdlife and plants flourish in a predator-free environment. Read more

One Night in Stewart Island

Stewart Island - Te Anau

Te Anau is your stop for checking out the fiordlands. This region is completely cut off from the cities of New Zealand, and is a great spot to get your fill of nature! The main thing most tourists come here to do is a cruise on the Milford Sound: it is the most famous cruise of the country and a beautiful thing to behold whether it be a nice sunny day, or when it is raining because that is when you get to see waterfalls appearing on the sides of the fiord (which has a very high probability of happening in the region, as it rains 200 days a year). Read more

One night in Te Anau

Te Anau

Despite the Milford Sound’s resounding success in tourism, there is another fjord we highly recommend: The Doubtful Sound. This Fjord is not so well-known but is 3 times larger and 10 times longer than the Milford Sound. We also recommend seeing it on an overnight cruise, which will let you see it in all its glory. There are of course other things to see and do in Te Anau, such as checking out the glow-worm caves and the national park where you will see the local wildlife! Read more

One night in Te Anau

Te Anau - Wanaka

Wanaka, a place where you will find diverse landscapes, lake, forest, mountains and glaciers! You will have the opportunity to do various activities here such as jet-boating, hiking, biking, wine tasting… But we highly recommend staying a couple of nights here even if just for the sights and great places that are ideal for walks in the middle of nature! Read more

One night in Wanaka

Wanaka

If you are a wine connoisseur, Wanaka will be especially interesting to you because it is one of New Zealand’s most important wine regions! You will find many places you can do some wine tasting if you wish, such as Mt Difficulty and Rippon Valley which are outstanding.

One night in Wanaka

Wanaka - Tekapo

Lake Tekapo and the Tasman Glacier, the largest glacier in New Zealand. If you have the time you can explore the area, take in the sights, do some hiking or you could go one of many scenic flights which will allow you to see a lot of the surroundings from the air, the longest even going all the way to the West to show you the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers! If you are looking to hike, the Hooker Valley Track is the most popular track in the area. Read more

One night in Tekapo

Tekapo

In Tekapo you will also find some hot pools, great for some relaxation, especially during cooler weather. Tekapo is also known as one of the best places in the world to do some star-gazing as the sky is so clear. If you are lucky, you may even see the southern lights!

One night in Tekapo

Christchurch

Another night in Christchurch will allow you to explore the places you didn’t check the first time through, but is especially important if your flight tomorrow is early. Of course, we tailor these trips to your wishes so this is dependant entirely on you this step can be changed, just like for the rest of the trip. Read more

One night in Christchurch

Departure

Today is the day you depart from Christchurch, the end of your journey. By now you have hopefully taken lots of pictures and made many new memories in New Zealand that will stay with you forever!

ACCOMMODATIONS

Day in trip
Location
Hotel
Day 1
Location Christchurch
Day 2
Location Akaroa
Day 3
Location Oamaru
Day 4
Location Dunedin
Day 5
Location Catlins
Day 6
Location Invercargill
Day 7
Location Stewart Island
Hotel Bay Motel
Day 8
Location Te Anau
Day 10
Location Wanaka
Day 12
Location Tekapo
Hotel Creel House
Day 14
Location Christchurch
Day in trip
Location
Hotel
Day 1
Location Christchurch
Hotel Orari B&B
Day 2
Location Akaroa
Hotel Banks House
Day 3
Location Oamaru
Day 4
Location Dunedin
Day 6
Location Catlins
Day 7
Location Invercargill
Day 8
Location Stewart Island
Hotel Bay Motel
Day 9
Location Te Anau
Hotel Blue Ridge
Day 11
Location Wanaka
Day 13
Location Tekapo
Day in trip
Location
Hotel
Day 1
Location Christchurch
Day 2
Location Akaroa
Day 3
Location Oamaru
Day 4
Location Dunedin
Day 6
Location Catlins
Hotel Mohua Park
Day 7
Location Invercargill
Day 8
Location Stewart Island
Hotel Bay Motel
Day 9
Location Te Anau
Day 11
Location Wanaka
Day 13
Location Tekapo
Day 1
Location Christchurch

TRIP PACKAGE

Package includes

  • Transfer from/to the airport
  • Transport during the tour
  • Accommodation
  • Local guides
  • 24/7 local assistance in English and French
  • Entrance fees
  • Local SIM card
  • Travel documents including a detailed itinerary, map, vouchers for the activities and accommodations

Package excludes

  • International airfare
  • Personal expenses
  • Visa, consular 76fees or any other formalities.
  • Beverages
  • Additional journeys and transfers

More information

  • The accommodations shown here for each category are generally possible but not guaranteed as the final itinerary will be dependent on what is available at the time of booking.
  • The prices are based on double/twin beds, other bedding options are possible but prices will change accordingly.
  • When one person wishes to have their own room, a single supplement will be added.
  • The trips are completely customizable, everything can be modified, whether it be the places you visit or the order in which you see them.

Our wide-ranging experiences are complimentary

Once Upon A Trip
CONTACT THE SUPPLIER

THE TEAM

Ben Lepage

The Explorer of Hidden Lands

Berenice Burtin

Giving life to your ideas

We pride ourselves in creating fully tailor-made trips and in assisting every step of the way.

If you have any questions or you want to customize your trip we are here for you at any time.

  • Languages:English, French
  • Local time:22:14

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