4 Day National Parks & Glaciers
from NZ$700.00 per person twin share

A four day tour to the Fiordland and Westland National Parks. Visit four national parks, Mt Cook – NZ’s highest mountain, Queenstown – NZ’s premier alpine resort, Milford Sound, Te Anau, Wanaka, the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and the Haast Pass alpine route through the Southern Alps to the West Coast.
Features – Milford Sound day tour and cruise

Trip Duration:     Four Days
Departing From:  Christchurch
Finishing at:         Christchurch
Car Rental Type: Toyota Echo, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry or 4WD Subaru Legacy.

Included in Cost:  Complimentary transfers to and from airport, accommodation, Milford Sound day tour by luxury coach and cruise and hire of rental car for four days (unlimited kms).

Day 1  Christchurch/Mount Cook/Queenstown – 620 kms
Travel southwest across the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo – view beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd overlooking the lake. Continue on to the Mount Cook National Park with Mount Cook (3754m) towering over the neighbouring peaks at the head of the lake (view subject to weather).   We recommend a scenic flight over Mt Cook and the surrounding peaks and glaciers. After lunch depart for Queenstown travelling via the hydro-electric power schemes of the MacKenzie Country and stone fruit growing area of Cromwell.

Accommodation: Scenic Circle Aurum Hotel, Bella Vista Motel or similar

Day 2  Milford Sound with Newmans Coach Lines – 620 kms
Today we do the driving whilst you relax and enjoy one of New Zealand’s alpine marvels.
Travel with Newmans Coach Lines to one of the world’s greatest natural wonders – the Fiordland National Park – a world heritage area. Fiordland is a vaste, remote wilderness of snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes and valleys, fiords, islands, waterfalls and dense forests. Travel to Te Anau and on to the forested Eglinton Valley, through the Homer Tunnel and out into breath-taking Milford Sound. Enjoy a one and a half hour cruise of Milford Sound viewing spectacular waterfalls and famous Mitre Peak. (view subject to weather)  An optional scenic flight may be taken for the return journey to Queenstown (arranged through your driver on the day of travel).

Accommodation: Scenic Circle Aurum Hotel, Bella Vista Motel or similar

Day 3  Queenstown/Glaciers – 410 kms
The route to the glaciers and the West Coast is via the Haast Pass. Your journey will pass by the southern lakes of Wanaka and Hawea before entering the Mt Aspiring National Park and the Haast Pass. We recommend a detour to Lake Matheson at Fox Glacier to view spectacular lake reflections of the surrounding mountains. On arrival at Franz Josef, we recommend a scenic flight over the glaciers or alternatively drive up to the glacier carpark for views of the glacier.

Accommodation : Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (includes breakfast), Bella Vista Motels or similar

Day 4  Glaciers/Christchurch – 420 kms
Travel north through the West Coast rainforest with the rugged Tasman coastline on one side and the towering Southern Alps ever present to your right.
At Kumara, head inland over the main divide to the Arthur’s Pass National Park.
See spectacular waterfalls and snow-capped Mt Rolleston as you descend into Arthur’s Pass township. Time for a lunch break before continuing your journey to Christchurch past numerous skifields and the Canterbury Plains.

Option:   Spend an extra day in Queenstown to allow time to exprience some of the many activities available.  Spend an extra day at the glaciers to experience a half day guided walk onto the glacier or to enjoy some of the many bushwalks.  Contact us for rates.