This once in a lifetime tour combines stunning New Zealand scenery, exhilarating walks, delicious home-made meals, and camping amongst nature in cosy canvas tents. Each morning, wake up to the melodic chorus of native New Zealand birds surrounded by breathtaking beach, lake, and mountain vistas.
Holiday Description
On this bespoke guided camping tour, you will experience the very best of the South Island’s many highlights. Arriving in beautiful Queenstown, we meet our guides and settle in to spend the first night in this spectacular alpine town. We then zig-zag south and west to Te Anau, gateway to the world-famous Milford Sound, where we spend the following day cruising amongst the soaring peaks and waterfalls of this breath-taking fjord. We then enjoy a free day in Te Anau with ample time to hike a section of the Kepler Track (one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’), explore the nearby glow-worm caves, or just relax on the beautiful lake shore.
Leaving Fjordland behind, we drive east through green rolling hills before joining the turquoise Clutha River and following it north to the historic Maniototo region. In quaint Naseby, we try our hand at ‘curling’ on ice, before walking the stunning Central Otago Rail Trail from Lauder to Oturehua the next day.
The following morning, we explore remote St Bathans and the picturesque ‘Old Town’ in Cromwell, before settling into Wanaka for two days. With a backdrop of the Southern Alps, Wanaka is an outdoor paradise – a hub for mountains trails, lakeside walks, canyoning, swimming, and bike riding. Spend some time climbing Mount Iron behind the town or challenge yourself to conquer Roy’s Peak and be rewarded with incredible 360-degree views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountains of Mt Aspiring National Park. The next day, we enjoy an optional sightseeing tour out along the shores of Lake Hawea and up to the Blue Pools of the Makarora River – be sure to bring your swimsuit and camera.
The second half of our tour begins with two nights in one of New Zealand’s most spectacular areas – Mount Cook National Park. Our guides will provide transport to the Mount Cook village/Hermitage centre where we will be based for the day. The Hermitage is where the Hooker Valley track, the Red Tarn track, the Kea Point track, and the Mueller Hut Track all begin and end, and from where Sir Edmund Hillary trained for his successful Mount Everest expedition.
Tekapo village is a short drive away and sits on the shores of the strikingly turquoise-hued Lake Tekapo. It is home to a world-renowned Dark Sky reserve, observatory, lakeside hot pools, and a range of popular walks, cycle tracks, and horse trekking. Enjoy a free day here, and our unique guided hot pool/star gazing experience after dark as well.
Driving back into Central Otago via historic Arrowtown, we end our epic South Island tour with three full days in Queenstown. Sitting on the shores of beautiful Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is surrounded by a number of large alpine peaks, and the spectacular Remarkables mountain range. Often referred to as ‘the adventure capital’ of New Zealand, it has an abundance of things to see and do – the first and most famous bungy jump in the world, exhilarating jet boat rides, white water rafting, river bodyboarding, 4WD adventures, skydiving, ziplining, ‘semi-submersible ‘Shark’ rides – the list is exhaustive. Two walks up above the city with astonishing lake views are particularly recommended – the ‘Ben Lomond’ and ‘Queenstown Hill’ tracks.
If you prefer things a little slower paced, then check out the gondola and the astonishing views from the top of Bob’s Peak, take a lake cruise on the famous TSS Earnslaw (an iconic century-old coal-fired steamship), stroll through the botanical gardens, indulge in a wine tour, or just spend time on the lakeshore and in the pleasant town centre.
Iconic sights, magnificent scenery, and experiences you’ll remember for a lifetime. ncluded:

Itinerary (subject to change):
Leave UK on the evening of 18 Feb arriving on afternoon of 20 Feb
Day 1 – Arrive, meet in Queenstown, Welcome dinner at a local restaurant included.
Camp in Queenstown BD (B=Breakfast D=Dinner)
Day 2 – Drive to Te Anau, Fiordland (approx 3 hrs), afternoon free. Camp in Te Anau BD
Day 3 – Day trip to Milford Sound (transport / boat trip included) Camp in Te Anau B
Day 4 – Day off in Te Anau – access to Kepler walk (boat at own cost) or other lake walks.
Camp in Te Anau BD
Day 5 – Drive to Naseby (approx 4.5hrs). Game of curling at the international Curling Centre.
Camp in Naseby B
Day 6 – Day off in Naseby – recommended Lauder to Oturehua walk (22.4km) on the Central Otago Rail Trail. Drop off and pick up provided. Camp in Naseby BD
Day 7 – Drive to Wanaka (approx 2.5 hrs). Stops at St. Bathans and Cromwell on the way (short walks/coffee/lunch stops) Camp in Wanaka B
Day 8 – Day off in Wanaka – recommended Roy’s Peak walk (4/5hrs) or other short lakeside walks
Camp in Wanaka BD
Day 9 – Day off in Wanaka – half day tour to the Blue Pools of the Haast Pass (short walk/swim)
Camp in Wanaka BD
Day 10 – Drive to Glentanner, Mount Cook region (approx 2.5hrs). Stop at Omarama Clay Cliffs for a short, sightseeing walk. Camp in Glentanner BD
Day 11 – Free Day in the Mount Cook area – we will provide transport to the Mount Cook village/Hermitage centre and base ourselves there for the day. This is the start of the recommended Hooker Valley track, the Red Tarn track and the Mueller Hut Track (amongst others).
Camp in Glentanner BD
Day 12 – Drive to Tekapo (approx 1.5hrs), afternoon off. Lake walks. Camp in Tekapo B
Day 13 – Day off in Tekapo – various lake/hill walks. Evening hot spring and stargazing experience
Camp in Tekapo BD
Day 14 – Drive to Queenstown (approx 3.5hrs). Stop at Arrowtown. Camp in Queenstown BD
Day 15 – Day off in Queenstown – lots of recommended walks/activities to do here.
Queenstown Hill Summit Walk, Ben Lomond Track etc Camp in Queenstown BD
Day 16 – Day off in Queenstown Camp in Queenstown B
Day 17 – Day off in Queenstown. Farewell dinner at local restaurant. Camp in Queenstown BD
Day 18 – Depart Tour
Day 19 Arrive home after overnight flight