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South Island Tours

Discover the stunning landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island. Explore majestic snow capped mountains, deep fiords, immense glaciers and sparkling lakes. Experience world renowned wineries, heart stopping adventure sports and the purest air imaginable. Indulge your senses on one of our 52 South Island coach tours and small group adventures, and if time permits venture further and explore all of New Zealand.

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10 Days Christchurch to Christchurch

Operator: Topdeck

From 3,118
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9 Days Christchurch to Christchurch

Operator: AAT Kings

From 4,346
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10 Days Christchurch to Christchurch

Operator: Grand Pacific Tours

From 5,147
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10 Days Christchurch to Christchurch

Operator: Grand Pacific Tours

From 6,182
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Discover Must do experiences and highlights on New Zealand's South Island

Queenstown from the Water

Queenstown from the Water

Set off across Lake Wakatipu on the vintage steamship, TSS Earnslaw, taking in the alpine scenery and soaring peaks that frame the shores of this serene lake.

Heli-Hike on Franz Josef

Heli-Hike on Franz Josef

Enjoy a scenic helicopter flight over this icy wonderland coupled with a guided walk on Franz Joseph, discovering frozen caves and pillars of glacial ice.

Explore Mt Cook National Park

Explore Mt Cook National Park

Travel through this stunning alpine landscape home to permanent snow fields, opaque lakes and towering peaks, crowned by Mt Cook at 3,724m (12,217ft).

Ride the TranzAlpine

Ride the TranzAlpine

Cross the Canterbury Plains and climb into the Southern Alps on this breathtaking rail journey. Watch from the outdoor viewing carriage as glistening rivers carve their way through the dramatic landscape.

Cruise Milford Sound

Cruise Milford Sound

Discover the tranquil waters, soaring granite peaks and snow capped mountains of Fiordland National Park. Set off on a cruise to marvel at the tumbling waterfalls and lush vegetation visible through the mist.

Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their journeys through New Zealand's South Island

Southern wonders of New Zealand     , QLD, Australia, Mar 2024
I had a wonderful time travelling with a lovely bunch of people on this AAT Kings tour of the South Island of New Zealand. Most of the accommodation was wonderful and the included dinners were great. Our tour director and driver were fantastic. The only drawbacks were that the front page showing the itinerary with scenic stops was misleading as it ...read more was showing that Mt Cook was a sightseeing stop which never happened as whoever drew the route to Mt Cook was incorrect and would have had to get there from Omarama. Also we were only given 30 minutes to walk there and back to see Franz Joseph Glacier. I did not enjoy the train journey and when embarking we did not get time to look at the station. Overall it was a great tour but more time for the essential sightseeing stops would have been great. I also enjoyed the extra optional tours on offer such as The Glenorchy Lord of the rings tour and the Kiwi Bird Park.
New Zealand Father & Son Trip   , OH, United States, Mar 2024
First and foremost Hannah at Global Journeys was AMAZING! Quick to respond to every single minute question I had and every time with a servile happy attitude. Many others on the trip booked Haka tours through other people and complained about some small issues. I had zero! Every single thing we planned happened (aside from one weather related excursion.) ...read more I will definitely book through you guys again!
South island 101   , New Zealand, Jan 2024
Maisie from Global Journeys made this trip possible in a very short time as I couldn't finalise things with the Operator quickly. This tour is great if you want a quick glance at all top spots of South island so that you can plan an extensive trip later to spots you liked.
NZ's Southern Drift tour was beyond my expectations.   , Australia, Jan 2024
Thank you to Tracey, our travel advisor. The wonderful sights and experiences in New Zealand will truly be remembered. The tour director and the driver were notably fabulous. We were always informed, organized and safe, even in our periods of free time. The coach was super comfortable, and we had ample stops.

Explore More Explore more Your guide to travelling through the South Island of New Zealand

Discover Top of the South Island

20 March, 2024

Discover Top of the South Island

Have you travelled with Grand Pacific before and are now looking for a tour that’s a little bit different? Look no further than Grand Pacific's Top of the South Island itinerary. Offered as both small group and mid-size coach holiday options, this itinerary promises unforgettable experiences...

Want to Heli Ski New Zealand’s Southern Alps? Do it with Haka Tours

12 August, 2020

Want to Heli Ski New Zealand’s Southern Alps? Do it with Haka Tours

The Southern Alps of New Zealand are considered one of the top 10 places to heli ski in the world. A heli skiing adventure may be something you dream about, did you know you don’t need to be an expert alpine skier to take on a heli skiing holiday? If you are an intermediate level skier who can...

5 Awesome Walking Trails on NZ’s South Island

30 July, 2020

5 Awesome Walking Trails on NZ’s South Island

New Zealand’s South Island is incredibly scenic. Raw beauty enchants at every turn and visitors are drawn to the impressive displays of nature that unravel between soaring peaks, glistening glaciers, and dramatic coastlines. Surround yourself with these incredible landscapes on a dedicated...

5 Reasons To Take A TranzAlpine Journey

08 June, 2018

5 Reasons To Take A TranzAlpine Journey

The South Island is hard to traverse from east to west, with less than a few places where you can drive across the centre of the island. Starting in Christchurch on the east coast and travelling to Greymouth on the west – or the other way – the TranzAlpine Railway is a five hour train journey...