Mountains To The Sea

Meet and greet service with rental car pick up at Christchurch Airport.

Travel across the rich patchwork farming landscape of the Canterbury ranges. Today drive across the Canterbury Plains to Darfield and Terrace Downs, the gateway to The Canterbury High Country. Tonight you will stay at a high country golf resort.

Take the road bordering the Southern Alps and travel south via Geraldine and Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook (New Zealand’s highest mountain). Whilst in the Mt Cook region you may like to take an optional scenic ski-plane or helicopter flight over the Southern Alps.

Enjoy an amazing encounter with Tasman Glacier and its terminal lake this morning. Your tour guide will take you to the Tasman Valley, followed by a 30 minute alpine walk through the National Park. Board a custom built MAC boat and enjoy the ever changing scenery, viewing the Tasman Glacier ice face from a safe distance and icebergs of all shapes and sizes with the opportunity to touch and taste the 300-500 year old ice crystals. Today’s drive will take you via Twizel to Omarama and then to the east coast.

Travel north along the coastal road and before arriving in Christchurch turn off on to the Banks Peninsula and drive to the French settlement of Akaroa Cruise around an extinct volcanic crater and experience majestic scenery and stunning wildlife on your harbour cruise. Your cruise is packed with highlights including the rare, NZ native dolphin - the Hector’s Dolphin, as well as penguins and other sea birds. See giant volcanic sea cliffs and hear about Akaroa's fascinating past.

This morning you might want to join a boat cruise to see the dolphins, visit French Farm winery or see a Maori Church. You can then enjoy the beautiful harbour views as you travel back to Christchurch. The tour concludes with returning your rental car to the airport depot.