South Island East and Central Route with Kaikōura — 6 Days / 5 Nights
Travel from Queenstown through Dunedin, Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo to Christchurch, with a Kaikōura excursion. Ride the Skyline Gondola, visit Larnach Castle, enjoy a two-course Speight’s Brewery lunch, and choose either whale watching or sea fishing in Kaikōura. Stay in hotels and distinctive holiday-home accommodation.
Highlights
- Queenstown Skyline Gondola and a full day at leisure
- Dunedin city sightseeing, Larnach Castle and Speight’s Brewery two-course lunch
- Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Kaikōura seal colony and a choice of whale watching or sea fishing
Daily Itinerary
Arrive independently in Queenstown, the honeymoon town (confirm the exact time with the guide). Ride the ★Skyline Gondola to Bob’s Peak at 790 metres above sea level, overlooking Queenstown and beautiful Lake Wakatipu, with Glenorchy at the far end of the lake and mountainous Middle-earth scenery in the distance. At the top, stroll on the viewing platform, try the luge at your own expense, or relax at the mountaintop café and enjoy Queenstown’s pristine, vibrant atmosphere. Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Lakefront Queenstown or a similar 4-star hotel Dinner: At your own expense
Enjoy a full day at leisure in picturesque Queenstown. Nestled between mountains and lakes, it is renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful holiday destinations—a haven for relaxation and an adventure playground. Plan your day according to your interests: • Film enthusiasts may visit fairytale-like Glenorchy, exploring filming locations for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and seeing the real landscapes of Middle-earth. • Adventure seekers may choose skydiving, bungy jumping, paragliding, jet boating and other world-class extreme sports. • For a gentler pace, ride the gondola for panoramic views, take a helicopter flight over snow-covered mountains and glaciers, or taste authentic New Zealand wines at a winery. • Simply stroll through town, watch street performers, and enjoy coffee, sunshine and the lakeside breeze. Do not forget the famous Fergburger handmade burger: its crisp, juicy bite offers a memorable taste of the day. Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Lakefront Queenstown or a similar 4-star hotel Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
After breakfast, drive to Dunedin, the Edinburgh of the South, for city sightseeing: St Paul’s Cathedral: An English Gothic building and one of the landmarks beside the Octagon. University of Otago: New Zealand’s oldest university, founded in 1869; its Scottish-style stone main building is especially photogenic. Dunedin Railway Station: Reputed to be the Southern Hemisphere’s most beautiful railway station, with a vintage gingerbread-house style ideal for photographs. Baldwin Street: Guinness World Records-certified as the world’s steepest street. Adventurous guests may walk up the slope for a distinctive view over the city. A special two-course Western lunch is arranged at the century-old Speight’s Brewery, whose warm, vintage atmosphere creates a culinary memory of Dunedin. In the afternoon visit ★Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle. Walk through the magnificent Victorian building, hear the family’s story from a century ago, and enjoy the gardens and historic atmosphere. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross or a similar 4-star hotel Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: Two-course brewery meal — an exclusive culinary memory; Dinner: Chinese individual hotpot
After breakfast, depart for Mount Cook National Park. En route, pass a renowned five-star salmon farm in the Southern Hemisphere, where you may taste fresh salmon at your own expense. Mount Cook National Park occupies one of the Southern Alps’ most magnificent areas, with rich natural scenery and remarkable landforms. There is ample time to explore this pristine wilderness. Weather permitting, you may optionally take a helicopter flight at your own expense to the Tasman Glacier, described as the largest glacier in the South Pacific, landing on the glacier to experience its striking silver-white world. In the afternoon, reach beautiful Lake Tekapo. The itinerary explains Tekapo’s Māori name as “a sleeping mat at night”, also calling it “a place to sleep beneath the stars”. Stroll by the lake and visit the famous Church of the Good Shepherd. At night, enjoy exceptional starry skies in the internationally renowned stargazing reserve. Stay overnight in distinctive holiday-home accommodation. Accommodation: Character holiday home (a whole house for each party is not guaranteed; each party is guaranteed a separate bedroom) Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: Buffet
After breakfast, take souvenir photographs beside picturesque Lake Tekapo and enjoy its dreamlike emerald-blue water. Then drive back to Christchurch and check into the hotel to rest. Hotel: 4-star hotel in central Christchurch Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
After breakfast, drive to Kaikōura, a base for viewing many kinds of wildlife. Ohau Point Seal Colony is a famous natural attraction and popular visitor stop where many seals, large and small, rest on the rocks. On arrival, choose one of the following two activities: Option one: A 3-hour ★whale-watching cruise with a stated 98% success rate. Sonar tracking locates sperm whales and other whale species surfacing to breathe; dolphins, albatrosses, seals and other wildlife may also be encountered. Option two: An exciting ★sea-fishing trip with all fishing equipment prepared. You may catch sea bass and blue cod, and personally inspect the crayfish pots—a unique opportunity to learn how the local crayfish industry works. Duration: 2.5h. Important: catches are not guaranteed; the captain distributes any catch fairly among everyone. If the trip is cancelled due to weather, guests will be refunded according to the attraction’s relevant policy. Choose a seaside Western restaurant for lunch and taste local fresh seafood at your own expense. In the afternoon, visit the seal colony for a close encounter with these charming animals. Return towards Christchurch at 15h, arriving at the designated Christchurch location at approximately 17:30. Tour concludes. Breakfast: Western-style hotel breakfast; Lunch: At your own expense; Dinner: At your own expense
Price Table
| Item | Price NZD |
|---|---|
| Adult | NZ$2259 |
| Child aged 12–4 sharing with one adult (per-child price) | NZ$2033 |
| Child aged 12–4 sharing with two adults (per-child price) | NZ$1808 |
| Child aged 4–3 | NZ$1664 |
| Under 3 without a bed (infant receives a seat only, no other services) | NZ$950 |
| Single-room supplement | NZ$820 |
Departure Dates
2026-10-05 2026-10-19 2026-11-02 2026-11-16 2026-11-30 2026-12-14 2026-12-28 (Christmas surcharge NZD 380) 2027-01-11 2027-01-25 2027-02-08 (Lunar New Year surcharge NZD 260) 2027-02-22 2027-03-08 2027-03-22
Included
- 1. Accommodation: 4 nights in star-rated hotels with breakfast and 1 night in distinctive holiday-home accommodation with breakfast.
- 2. Meals listed in the itinerary (Chinese group-meal standard for groups larger than 6: 6 guests — 6 dishes and 1 soup; 7 guests — 7 dishes and 1 soup; groups of 8 or more — 8 dishes and 1 soup).
- 3. Transport: A 7–39-seat vehicle throughout with a Chinese-speaking driver-guide. The driver-guide works ten hours per day; overtime costs NZD 150, payable to the guide in cash.
- 4. Initial admission to 2 attractions: Skyline Gondola and Larnach Castle.
- 5. Note: Adults and children must pay additional holiday surcharges during Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year. Ask your sales consultant for details.
Not Included
- 1. Guide gratuities (suggested NZD 6 per person per day).
- 2. Lunches and dinners marked as at your own expense, airfares, visa fees and optional activities.
- 3. Extra costs arising from circumstances beyond human control, such as weather or hotel-room issues.
- 4. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Notes
2026.10–2027.03 (Monday departures), boutique small-group tour for up to 25 guests. 3–4-star tour: NZD $2,259 per person. Prices are per person in a twin-share standard room; selling prices are in NZD. Note: Children under 3 cannot participate in this activity under the Kaikōura boat company’s requirements. Friendly reminder: Bookings made within 10 days before departure may incur additional hotel surcharges. Thank you for your understanding; contact your sales consultant with any questions. Important reminders: 1. Hotel star ratings may change depending on reservation availability. Sold-out hotels, major events and public holidays may also result in room surcharges or other special circumstances. The final confirmed quotation applies. 2. If three guests request one room, we will arrange a triple room suitable for 3 adults. Possible configurations include, but are not limited to, 3 single beds, 2 large beds, 1 large bed and 1 small bed, a sofa bed or a rollaway bed. If two guests request a double room, we will arrange a room with a New Zealand standard double bed measuring 137 cm x 187 cm. Twin-room configurations include, but are not limited to, 2 single beds or 1 large bed and 1 small bed. Tell us about special requirements when booking; we will do our best to accommodate them. The company retains the final right to interpret room arrangements, and guests may not use these arrangements as grounds for objection or withdrawal. 3. Complimentary airport transfers are only available on the tour’s departure and completion days. Refer to the itinerary for transfer times and locations. Guests who miss the scheduled meeting time must catch up with the group independently and pay all resulting costs. 4. The company may adjust the itinerary due to flights, hotels, weather or other circumstances beyond human control. 5. Guests are strongly advised to purchase their own travel and personal-belongings insurance. The local tour operator will not bear any resulting costs. Cancellation and amendment policy: A 50% deposit per person is required upon confirmation of the quotation; pay the balance 21 days before departure. For cancellation for any reason, refunds are calculated as follows: 30–15 days before departure, inclusive: cancellation or booking amendment incurs a charge of 30% of the tour price. 14–8 days before departure, inclusive: cancellation or booking amendment incurs a charge of 50% of the tour price. Within 7 days before departure, inclusive: cancellation or amendment is non-refundable. If a guest cannot travel because of an epidemic, the same refund policy applies. The company accepts no liability if a guest fails to meet the guide on time for personal reasons. All activities depend on local conditions. The company may adjust sightseeing arrangements due to weather or flights and retains the final right of decision and interpretation. If the listed hotels are fully booked, the company may substitute hotels of the same standard. Booking information: Important: Hotel star ratings may change according to booking availability; sold-out hotels, major events and public holidays may lead to room surcharges or other special circumstances. The final confirmed quotation applies. Smoking is prohibited in hotel rooms and on room balconies. Hotel-imposed fines start at NZD 500. The person responsible for the occupied room must pay any in-room smoking fine. If they refuse, under the operator’s agreement with the hotel, the hotel will submit the matter to the New Zealand small claims court. Any subsequent fines, litigation, visa or border-entry and exit issues are the individual’s responsibility. If you suffer from motion sickness, bring medication and vomit bags in advance. Conditions and limitations: The travel agency may adjust the itinerary according to the weather. If an attraction cannot be visited due to force majeure, the agency will refund the fee or arrange an alternative product of equal value. Shopping undertaken independently during free time is a personal activity unrelated to the agency. Insurance: Travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover unexpected costs, including extra transport, cancellation charges and losses of valuables. Guests who voluntarily decline insurance must personally bear any accident-related costs, including additional transport, accommodation, cancellation charges and losses of valuables. If travel becomes impossible due to force majeure such as weather, war, strikes or earthquakes, the agency will refund unused attraction tickets in accordance with the travel-agency agreement. Other items follow the suppliers’ policies. No refund is given if a guest voluntarily abandons the tour at short notice for personal reasons. The agency’s limited liability covers only the services and related matters expressly listed in this text. It accepts no liability beyond this description, including matters of personal relationships or individual circumstances, unforeseen emergencies, legal or criminal matters, religious beliefs or any other such matters. All prices marked NZD or $ are in New Zealand dollars. All conditions, limitations and itinerary descriptions are formulated under New Zealand laws and regulations and are governed and protected by New Zealand law. All text, images, logos and icons are copyrighted by the agency; unauthorised reproduction is prohibited. If a newer itinerary is available, its description takes precedence.
Why choose us
A local Mandarin-speaking team, fully licensed (Qualmark / TAANZ / IATA), with itineraries you can verify.
How to book
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Departure info
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