Overview
Read 2 reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on G Adventures 16 Day New Zealand: South Island Encompassed. Now's the time to explore New Zealand on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. If you prefer your travel experiences paired with adrenaline-pumping activities, then look no further than the South Island of New Zealand. Action is the common thread throughout this trip across a variety of landscapes — think rainforests, glaciers, and some of the most gorgeous coastline you’ll ever see. This trip is a, um, trip even when you’re not moving; accommodations include read more a wilderness hostel deep in the rainforest itself. Do people still say rad? Well, this is rad.
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Our Price From
US$2,356 per person
Price shown based on twin share
Save up to $381 per person
Trip Length
16 Days
Trip Starts
Wellington
Trip Ends
Wellington
Departures
Mar 2026 to Dec 2027
Countries Visited:
Operator
G Adventures
2 Trip Reviews
Avg. Rating: 4.5/5
Trip Style
18-to-Thirtysomethings
Budget
Affordable
Age Range
18-39 Years
Max. Group Size
20
Pace
Moderate
Guide Style
Fully Guided
Tour Code
ONSE
Itinerary
There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city. Check out New Zealand's National Museum, a must-see with great displays of historical Maori artifacts and relatively modern exhibits such as the motorbike that was built in a shed and won the world championships. Afterwards, opt for a night out on the town. Wellington has an abundance of nightlife, bars, cafes and restaurants all located on and around the entertainment district of Courtenay Place. Stay: Cambridge Hotel
Catch a morning ferry and cross the scenic Cook Strait. Make sure to stand outside and enjoy the views of the Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island. Disembark and transfer to Abel Tasman National Park, well-known for its stunning white sand beaches. Stay: The Barn Cabins & Camp (B/D)
Picture this: birdsong ringing from the treetops as you wander through the undergrowth stumbling upon occasional waterfalls nestled in the midst of the forest. You take a dip in one of the refreshing pools before finding your way to pristine coastline and turquoise bays where you can soak up the sun and relax in the sand. This is the kind of day that awaits you in Abel Tasman NP, you are free to explore the golden beaches and winding waterways any way you’d like! So have fun, build a sand castle for us, and let the adventures continue! Stay: The Barn Cabins & Camp (B)
It’s off to Westport today! Breathe in the fresh air and soak in the beautiful views as the group heads south down the coast of black-sand beaches. Make a (very cool) pit stop to a seal colony in Cape Foulwind and watch these majestic animals in their habitat before continuing on to Westport for the evening. Once you arrive grab a beer, talk to some locals, and discover the true charm of this coal mining town. Stay: Bazil's Hostel & Surf School (B/D)
Continue following the coastal road towards Franz Josef arriving at a unique wilderness lodge set in the rainforest for the night. Stay: Rainforest Retreat (B/D)
Enjoy a free day in Franz Josef. Today is all yours to spend as you please! From hiking to kayaking and walking on a glacier, there’s bound to be something you’ll want to check off that bucket list. If your goal is to make actual contact with the glacier then try a heli-hike or guided ice walk. Or you could let nature be your guide and lose yourself in the rainforests, lakes, and waterfalls that surround Franz Josef. If you’d rather stay in town, then grab a bite to eat before booking a spa treatment at the Glacier Hot Pools... the choice is yours! Stay: Rainforest Retreat (B)
Hit the road to the adventure capital of the world — Queenstown. Sit back, relax and gaze out the window as you drive away from Glacier Country and wind through lush forests back to the coast and into the mountains over Haast Pass. The photo opportunities will seem endless (make sure those cameras are charged.) Then gear up and get ready because the adrenaline is going to be pumping the next few days. Stay: Nomads Queenstown Hostel (B)
Let’s put it this way, if you’re the sort of person that loves adventure mixed with adrenaline all while exploring one of the most scenic places in the country, then Queenstown is for you! Gear up for a free day that is sure to leave you breathless. Opt to be a dare devil and get ready to have those hearts pumping with some adrenaline-filled options like jet boating, bungee jumping, or skydiving. Stay: Nomads Queenstown Hostel (B)
Let your breathing return to normal today as the group heads out for a visit to Fiordland National Park. After arriving, soak up the chill vibes on a boat cruise through one of the most iconic places in New Zealand — Milford Sound. Marvel at the views of one of the wettest places on Earth before we make our way back to Queenstown for the night. Stay: Nomads Queenstown Hostel (B)
Gear up for round two of free time in Queenstown that is sure to leave you breathless. Choose to be a dare devil and get ready to have those hearts pumping with some adrenaline-filled options like jet boating, bungee jumping, mountain biking or skydiving or simply take in the breathtaking scenery and vibrant atmosphere as you find restaurants to try and cafes to wind down and relax. Stay: Nomads Queenstown Hostel (B)
Depart Queenstown and travel to Aoraki/Mt Cook National park. Once in the park enjoy free time for hiking and visiting the Sir Edmund Hillary Visitors Centre. Afterwards, travel to Lake Tekapo where we will be staying for the next two nights. Stay: Lakes Edge Holiday Park (B/D)
Start the day with a relaxing 21km bike ride along the canals with stunning mountain views. Spend the rest of the day exploring Tekapo on your own. Opt to visit the hot springs, relax on the shores of Lake Tekapo, or hike to the Mt John Observatory and check out the incredible Dark Sky Reserve. Stay: Lakes Edge Holiday Park (B)
Scoot on up to Christchurch to explore the South Island’s largest city and one of the places in New Zealand with the strongest English influences. Enjoy free time to explore and see what the nightlife is all about with your travel tribe, and grab some shut eye in a converted jailhouse to finish the evening. Stay: Drifter Christchurch Hotel (B)
Spend the afternoon swimming with dolphins or taking a scenic flight over the peninsula. Bird watchers will be pleased to know that big ocean birds such as albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters frequent the area. Stay: Dusky Lodge (B)
Reminisce and reflect on your time in New Zealand as you and the group travel to Picton to catch a ferry back to Wellington. Watch the majestic scenery of this country unfold before you and simply appreciate the moment (we know you’re probably already making plans to return.) Once back in the city grab some grub with your travel crew and let the good times roll for one last night out together in New Zealand. Stay: Cambridge Hotel (B)
Depart at any time. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Explore the trails of Abel Tasman National Park by foot.
- Get an adrenaline rush in Queenstown.
- Cruise through the remote fjords of Milford Sound.
- Explore Franz Josef.
- Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
- Your Discover Moment: Franz Josef
- Your Discover Moment: Queenstown
- Your Big Night Out Moment: Wellington
- Boat excursion to Abel Tasman National Park
- Walk in Abel Tasman National Park
- Seal colony visit
- Pancake Rocks
- Lake Matheson walk
- Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
- Milford Sound day cruise
- Lake Tekapo Bike Ride
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Hostels & basic lodges (15 Nights, multi-share with 4-8 people)
- **All nights are multi-share on this trip
- Multi-share accommodation is a popular style of travel in New Zealand, and it’s how you’ll spend most of your nights on this trip. This typically means sharing a room with 4–8 fellow travellers. Rooms are generally split by gender, and most will have shared bathroom facilities.
- When staying in multi-share accommodation, we’re unable to take any rooming requests.
- Accommodation will vary throughout your journey — some stops may not provide towels or soap, so we recommend bringing your own. Bathroom and shower facilities are shared and are rarely en-suite.
- If you prefer private accommodation, you may want to explore our tours in the Classic Travel Style.
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides
- 15 breakfasts, 4 dinners
- Private vehicle, bus, boat, ferry, walking
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Operator
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful more experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Trip Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings
Built for young travellers ready to break free from the everyday grind, these trips bring together a safe and supportive group of like-minded people in their twenties and early thirties.
Connect on the First Night Out, explore with a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), enjoy free time, and celebrate unforgettable moments with new friends - without breaking the bank. Travel confidently, respectfully, and affordably.
Trip Reviews (2)
Great way to get an in depth view of the South Island! 1
Andy, United States, Dec 2019
I had an amazing time on this tour and it's a great way to see most of the South Island. Itinerary was pretty awesome, though we did end up having to skip Franz Josef due to flooding so in place of that we ended up going to Tekapo and Aoraki/Mt. Cook! At the end of the tour, our CEO (which is also the driver) told us that we'd driven over 2400km!
There read more were quite a few unique accommodations including Aquapackers, a floating ship hostel in Abel Tasman, and the Jailhouse Accommodation in Christchurch, however this is a hostel trip so set your expectations there (4-8 per room most nights, daily supermarket breakfast, and some included dinners). Also being NZ and the adventure capital of the world, there are A LOT of optionals which you will be booking on the trip, so definitely take a look at those and plan ahead!
There read more were quite a few unique accommodations including Aquapackers, a floating ship hostel in Abel Tasman, and the Jailhouse Accommodation in Christchurch, however this is a hostel trip so set your expectations there (4-8 per room most nights, daily supermarket breakfast, and some included dinners). Also being NZ and the adventure capital of the world, there are A LOT of optionals which you will be booking on the trip, so definitely take a look at those and plan ahead!
Unforgettable trip to New Zealand's South Island 1
Hannah, United States, Jan 2019
Juliet was an amazing travel agent who quickly responded to any questions I had. My trip to New Zealand was incredible and I met so many people from all over the world that I will still keep in touch with. Some of the highlights of my trip were swimming with dolphins, the shot over jet, hiking the Franz Josef Glacier, and skydiving. There were so many read more other activities that I also enjoyed but those were just a few of my favorites.
The only downside was the experience that I had with my tour guide and his inappropriate behavior but once we had contacted G Adventures as a group, they had great customer service and fired the guide during our trip and sent a new and much better CEO. I have no complaints about this trip, it is one that I will remember forever and thanks to Juliet she helped ease my nerves before I left and helped with every step of planning the trip as well. Thank you!
The only downside was the experience that I had with my tour guide and his inappropriate behavior but once we had contacted G Adventures as a group, they had great customer service and fired the guide during our trip and sent a new and much better CEO. I have no complaints about this trip, it is one that I will remember forever and thanks to Juliet she helped ease my nerves before I left and helped with every step of planning the trip as well. Thank you!
Dates & Pricing
USD
Thursday
26 Feb 2026
26 Feb 26
Wellington
Friday
13 Mar 2026
13 Mar 26
Wellington
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$3,199
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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