New Zealand South Island Central Route Food & Wine Tour — 7 Days
Explore the South Island’s alpine lakes, Queenstown and Milford Sound, with a blue penguin visit in Oamaru. Airfares, visas, optional activities and meals marked at own expense are excluded.
Highlights
- Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Aoraki/Mount Cook, Lake Pukaki and Lake Wanaka
- A free day in Queenstown with optional activities
- Milford Sound cruise with buffet lunch
- Dunedin landmarks and Moeraki Boulders coast
- Oamaru blue penguin colony and Māori-style rock-grill buffet
Daily Itinerary
Arrive in Christchurch, the South Pacific “Garden City,” where English heritage meets modern energy and a calm, distinctive character. Your dedicated guide meets you at the airport, then you check in and have time to rest or explore the leafy city and nearby streets at your own pace. Recommended arrival: 13–18:30. If arriving before 12:00 or after 18:30, contact us in advance to confirm whether pickup or alternative transport can be arranged. Hotel: 3–4-star Christchurch hotel Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
After breakfast, tour Christchurch with your guide: walk through the historic Arts Centre, admire the Avon River and pass the Bridge of Remembrance. After lunch, travel to dreamlike Lake Tekapo, whose vivid turquoise colour comes from glacial rock flour, framed by snow-capped mountains. Visit the lakeside landmark Church of the Good Shepherd. In the evening, enjoy high-altitude salmon sashimi, then stay within the international dark-sky reserve, with the chance to see the Milky Way and stars. Hotel: distinctive guesthouse (one entire holiday home per party is not guaranteed; each party is guaranteed a private bedroom) Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: high-country salmon buffet
After breakfast, head to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the heart of the Southern Alps, among dramatic mountain and snow-peak scenery. In fine weather, an optional helicopter flight over glaciers offers aerial views of the mountains and Mount Cook. Continue to vivid Lake Pukaki, a striking place to photograph Mount Cook’s reflection, then Lake Wanaka, New Zealand’s fourth-largest lake, and the iconic lone tree standing in the water. Arrive in Queenstown, the celebrated resort on Lake Wakatipu. Hotel: Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park or similar Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
Enjoy a free day in scenic Queenstown, nestled between mountains and lakes. Plan your day to suit your interests: visit storybook Glenorchy and Lord of the Rings / Hobbit filming locations; choose optional adventure activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, paragliding or jet boating; ride the gondola for panoramic views, take an optional helicopter flight over snowy peaks and glaciers, or sample local wine; or simply stroll the town, enjoy street performers, coffee, sunshine and lake breezes. You may also try the renowned handmade Fergburger. Hotel: Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park or similar Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
After breakfast, travel to spectacular Milford Sound along a road celebrated for its alpine scenery, through valleys and pristine cool-temperate rainforest. Board the ★Milford Sound cruise and enjoy its onboard buffet lunch while viewing towering mountains, waterfalls and sculpted cliffs. The boat approaches a waterfall for a close encounter with glacial water. Seals and dolphins may be seen, but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. In the evening arrive beside Lake Te Anau and check into a lakeside hotel. An optional boat trip to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves is available at your own expense. Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel Te Anau or similar Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: fjord cruise buffet; Dinner: fjord lobster meal
After breakfast, travel to Dunedin, known as the “Edinburgh of the South,” with its strong Scottish culture and architecture. Visit the University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest university, see the fairytale-like Dunedin Railway Station, grand churches and city landmarks, and visit Baldwin Street, listed by Guinness as the world’s steepest street. Pass scenic Moeraki Boulders beach and view the rocks and Pacific surf. In Oamaru, visit the ★blue penguin colony and watch the world’s smallest penguins return from the sea from a seated viewing area. Dinner is a Māori-style hangi rock-grill buffet, cooking meat and seafood on heated stones, with sides and dessert. Hotel: Heritage Court Motor Lodge Oamaru or similar Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: Chinese meal; Dinner: Māori-style rock-grill buffet
After breakfast, depart Oamaru for Christchurch, enjoying the South Island’s rural scenery. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense
Price Table
| Item | Price NZD |
|---|---|
| Adult | NZ$2250 |
| Child aged 4–12 sharing with one adult (per-child price) | NZ$2025 |
| Child aged 4–12 sharing with two adults (per-child price) | NZ$1800 |
| Child aged 2–4 | NZ$1575 |
| Under 2, no bed (infant receives a seat only and no other services) | NZ$690 |
| Single-room supplement | NZ$810 |
Departure Dates
2026-10-04 2026-10-11 2026-10-18 2026-10-25 2026-11-01 2026-11-08 2026-11-15 2026-11-22 2026-11-29 2026-12-06 2026-12-13 2026-12-20 (Christmas surcharge NZD 260) 2026-12-27 (New Year surcharge NZD 380) 2027-01-03 2027-01-10 2027-01-17 2027-01-24 2027-01-31 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 180) 2027-02-07 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 260) 2027-02-14 2027-02-21 2027-02-28 2027-03-07 2027-03-14 2027-03-21 2027-03-28
Included
- 1. Accommodation: 5 nights in 3–4-star hotels with breakfast, plus 1 night in a character guesthouse with breakfast.
- 2. Meals listed in the itinerary. For Chinese group meals when more than 6 people travel: 6 people receive 6 dishes and 1 soup; a group of 7 receives 7 dishes and 1 soup; groups of 8 or more receive 8 dishes and 1 soup.
- 3. Transport throughout in a 12–41-seat vehicle with a Chinese-speaking driver-guide. The driver-guide works ten hours per day; overtime is NZD 150, payable in cash to the guide.
- 4. First-entry admission to 2 attractions: Milford Sound cruise with lunch and the blue penguin reserve.
- 5. Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year holiday surcharges apply to adults and children; please ask sales for details.
Not Included
- 1. Guide gratuities (suggested NZD 6 per person per day).
- 2. Lunches and dinners not specified as included, airfares, visa fees and optional activities.
- 3. Additional costs caused by circumstances beyond human control (for example, weather or hotel-room issues).
- 4. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Notes
2026.10–2027.03 (Sunday departures). 3–4-star itinerary, NZD 2,250 per person. Twin-share price per person; prices in NZD. Bookings within 10 days of departure may incur hotel surcharges. Contact your sales consultant with questions. Special reminders: 1. Hotel ratings may change with booking availability. If rooms are unavailable or hotel surcharges apply during major events or public holidays, the final confirmed quotation prevails. 2. If three guests request the same room, the company will arrange a triple room accommodating 3 adults. Configurations include, but are not limited to, 3 single beds, 2 double beds, or 1 double bed with 1 small bed, sofa bed or rollaway. For two guests requesting a double room, the bed is New Zealand standard double size, 137 cm × 187 cm. Twin-room configurations include, but are not limited to, 2 single beds or 1 double bed with 1 small bed. State special requests at booking; the company will try to accommodate them. The company retains final interpretation of room allocation; guests may not object or withdraw on this basis. 3. Complimentary airport transfers are provided only on the tour start and end dates. See the itinerary for transfer times and locations. Guests who miss the scheduled meeting time must catch up with the group at their own expense. 4. The company may adjust the itinerary because of flights, hotels, weather or other circumstances beyond human control. 5. Guests are strongly advised to purchase travel and personal belongings insurance. The local operator does not bear the resulting costs. Cancellation and changes: A 50% deposit per person is payable on quotation confirmation; the balance must be paid 21 days before departure. Cancellation for any reason or booking changes 30–15 days before departure, inclusive, incur a charge of 30% of the tour fare. At 14–8 days before departure, inclusive, the charge is 50%. Cancellation or changes within 7 days before departure, inclusive, receive no refund. The same refund rules apply if an epidemic prevents travel. The company is not responsible for guests who fail to meet the guide on time for personal reasons. All activities depend on local conditions. Weather or flights may require sightseeing adjustments; the company retains final decision and interpretation rights. Fully booked listed hotels may be replaced with hotels of the same standard. Booking conditions: Hotel ratings may change with availability. If rooms are unavailable or surcharges apply during major events or public holidays, the final confirmed quotation prevails. Smoking is prohibited inside hotel rooms and on balconies. Hotel smoking fines start at NZD 500. The person responsible for the room must pay any fine issued. If payment is refused, the operator's agreement with the hotel allows the hotel to submit the matter to the New Zealand small claims tribunal. Subsequent fines, litigation, visa and entry or exit issues are the individual's responsibility. Guests prone to motion sickness should bring medication and a sick bag. Conditions and limitations: The itinerary may change because of weather. If force majeure prevents an attraction visit, its fee will be refunded or a product of equivalent value arranged. Shopping during free time is a personal activity unrelated to the operator. Insurance: Travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover unexpected costs, including extra transport, cancellation fees and lost valuables. Guests who voluntarily decline insurance must bear resulting costs, including extra transport, accommodation, cancellation fees and lost valuables. If weather, war, strikes, earthquakes or other force majeure prevents travel, unused attraction tickets will be refunded according to the travel agency agreement. Other items follow supplier policies. No refund applies when guests voluntarily abandon the tour for personal reasons. The operator has limited responsibility for only the listed services and matters. It does not accept responsibility for matters outside this description, including interpersonal or personal issues, unforeseen incidents, legal or criminal matters and religious beliefs. All prices marked NZD or $ are New Zealand dollars. All conditions, limitations and itinerary descriptions are governed and protected by New Zealand laws and regulations. All text, pictures, logos and icons are copyrighted by the operator; unauthorized copying is prohibited. If an updated itinerary is available, its latest description prevails.
Why choose us
A local Mandarin-speaking team, fully licensed (Qualmark / TAANZ / IATA), with itineraries you can verify.
How to book
Tap “Book now” for live departure dates, or message our WeChat team and we will arrange it for you.
Departure info
Prices are indicative only; the live price and confirmed departure status on this site apply.