10-day Tour Along West Midline of South Island in New Zealand
Day 1: Christchurch - Kaikoura
A day tour of seeing sea whale in Kaikoula after early flight in Christchurch picked up by the tour guide
Kaikoula of seeing whale is the only sea site in New Zealand where the whole family can enjoy giant sperm whales all year round, allowing visitors to see the world's largest tooth predators in close proximity of the natural environment. Each whale watching trip is a unique experience, enabling one to feel from different viewing angles. Giant sperm whale is the protagonist of the journey, doing perennial activities in Kaikoura seas. While in the journey of watching whales, visitors can also encounter New Zealand fur seals, dark spotted dolphin groups and the endangered wandering albatross. In different seasons, one may also see migrating humpback whales, pilot whales, blue whales and southern right whales. Kaikoura is also home to the world's largest killer whale, and the world's smallest and rarest Herd’s dolphin. Meanwhile, Kaikoura is the habitat of the largest and most diverse seabirds in the continent, including 13 species of albatrosses, 14 species of sea swallows and 7 species of seagulls. Then one wil return to Christchurch.
Day 2: Christchurch – Greymouth
Christchurch is one of the richest British–style cities in the South Pacific. After breakfast, one can enjoy this beautiful garden city. Visit Canterbury Museum, Avon River, Memorial Bridge. After lunch, go through the Canyon National Park and head for the scenic West Coast. Go to the beautiful Westminster town of Greymouth, where once the Maori people gathered, which is also the largest town in the West Coast.
Day 3: Greymouth - Melaleucus - Franz Josef Glacier
After breakfast, proceed to the spectacular sea wonder of Melaleucus and then drive to glacier towns. The most special point of New Zealand glaciers is that it is only a few kilometers away from the coastal road, so visitors can go to the icy tongue area of the glacier directly. One will witness the wonders of glaciers of thousands of years, and feel their magnificence. The mystery of glaciers will appear before ones’ eyes. It is also possible to take the helicopter (reference price: NZD270 / person) at their own expense, to reach the top of the glacier to enjoy the glaciers experience the magnificence and strangeness of glaciers in depth. Hot springs in the glacier in the dense rainforest is especially arranged after dinner, which allows you to relieve the fatigue of the journey, forget the trouble, and thoroughly immersed in a relaxed, free environment.
Day 4：Fox - Wanaka - Queenstown
After breakfast, proceed to New Zealand's fourth largest lake, Lake Wanaka. Surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps, one will be immersed in the hideaway idyllic paradise in Lake Wanaka Then go to the Maze World of Stuart Lansberg. This is the only theme park in the world that is full of quirky content, where one will be immersed in this wonderful labyrinthine world, allowing one to develop your intellect and spend a wonderful and happy time. After lunch, go through the fruit town of Clovelle and the birthplace of the bouncing bridge, where one can enjoy excitement of high-altitude bounce and challenge the self-limit experience at their own expense. Arrive in the evening to take the Peak Tram, climb Bob Peak to admire Queenstown views and enjoy a sumptuous dinner buffet at the top of the hill.
Day 5: Queenstown – Arrow Town - Queenstown
After breakfast, head for the Arrow Town, a gold rush flushing town bustling with noise in the past. Walking along the Arrow River, one will feel the lives of thousands of Chinese miners with ancient buildings standing on both sides of the street. After lunch, one is free to visit Queenstown, then take the TSS classical steam boat of nearly a hundred years to visit Wakatipu Lake. Afterwards, arriving in Lake Island Walter Farm, one will enjoy the royal buffet dinner specially arranged in the farm.
Day 6: Queenstown - Greenwich - Queenstown
In the Oscar-winning film Lord of the Rings, there are over 150 spectacular scenes across New Zealand, one of which is Greenwich. Drive from Queenstown to Green Norwich, a distance of only 45-minute drive, in the middle of which one will pass the magnificent Isengard fortress. One can join the Dart River wild adventure tour. Dart River Jet Boat will combine the beautiful World Heritage Scenic Area with exciting and thrilling river jet boat, exploring in Maori sites, meeting characters in the Lord of the Rings and exciting adventure activities, so as to bring a unique combination experience.
Day 7: Queenstown - Mifu Gorge - Te Anau
After breakfast, drive to the world’s wonder Milford Sound. 1 The road to Milford Sound is known as one of highland roads with the best wonderful scene in the world. The road each side is covered with the original rainforest of cold temperate zone in New Zealand, passing through the largest natural grassland Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lake, Knobs Flat, Homer Tunnel of 1.27 km in length, and etc. Milford Sound is a miracle of nature, a deep canyon due to the ice movement and cutting two million years ago. Sail in the cruise silently, having buffet while enjoying spectacular views along the way. You can see waterfall venting down on both sides of the snow mountain. In a very close place of the waterfall, one can feel cold feeling brought by the snow fog. Here, in addition to the natural wonders, one also may see seals, penguins in a lose distance. If lucky, one can also see the dolphins saying hello to you while swimming on both sides of the ship! After disembarking, one will drive to Te Anau, and stay at Te Anau.
Day 8: Te Anau - Dunedin - Oamaru
After breakfast, head for Dunedin known as Edinburgh South. Because the entire city buildings is in the typical Scottish style, the city still retains a rich Scottish atmosphere so far. Upon arrival, visit the beautiful University of Otago, the gingerbread-like train station, the church and the world's steepest street, Baldwin Street, in the world record. One may pass Maori stone beach, where, according to Maori legend, these odd-shaped rock rolled out as the fruit when the great naval vessel of Arred Oulu sank by the shore a thousand years ago. In the habitat of blue-eyed penguins of Oamaru, one may appreciate the fun of the smallest penguins of the world homing. After dark, they will swim to the shore below the stands, and back to the habitat over the viewing area.
Day 9: Oamaru - Cook Mountain National Park - Lake Tekapo
After breakfast, start from Oamaru along the beautiful east coast all the way north, enjoying the picturesque scenery along the way. At noon, arrive in New Zealand's highest mountain, Mount Cook, to feel its magnificent beauty. Then drive to Lake Tekapo, visit the Star Observation Platform and the Shepherd Church, and visit salmon farms of five-star export quality in the southern hemisphere before finishing Lake Dike to enjoy the world's highest-altitude salmon sashimi meal.
Spend the night in the hotel alongside the lake, where one can see the pure vast star seas in the world-famous protection site for seeing star.
Day 10: Lake Tekapo - Christchurch
After breakfast, drive back to Christchurch to continue sightseeing in the city, and then return by plane, ending ten days of a pleasant trip to the South Island of New Zealand.
