9-Day New Zealand South Island Light Luxury Tour Small Group

New Zealand — South Island 8+1-Day Luxury Small-Group Tour (Deep South Experience)

Overview
A thoughtfully curated 9-day (8 nights + 1) premium small-group tour across New Zealand’s South Island. Travel in a relaxed small group (2–8 guests), stay in carefully chosen 4-star hotels, enjoy signature meals, and experience whale watching, fjords, alpine lakes, stargazing, and wildlife encounters—all with a bilingual (Chinese/English) driver-guide.

Highlights

• Kaikōura whale watching experience

• Akaroa cashmere farm visit

• Lake Tekapo & Mt. Cook scenic drives and fresh alpine salmon tasting

• Wanaka, Arrowtown and Queenstown leisure time

• Milford Sound cruise with onboard buffet lunch

• Dunedin & Oamaru (Blue Penguin) wildlife encounter

• Small group intimacy: flexible, personalized experience (2–8 guests)

Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary (overview)

Day 1 — Christchurch
Airport pickup and optional city walk (Cardboard Cathedral, Botanic Gardens). Complimentary city center welcome on early arrivals. (Hotel: Christchurch 4★ or similar)

Day 2 — Christchurch → Kaikōura → Christchurch
Kaikōura whale watching (ticket included). Return to Christchurch. (Hotel: Christchurch 4★)

Day 3 — Christchurch → Akaroa → Tekapo
Visit Akaroa cashmere farm; proceed to Lake Tekapo. (Hotel: Tekapo 4★)

Day 4 — Tekapo → Lake Pukaki → Mt. Cook → Tekapo
Scenic drive past Lake Pukaki; Mt. Cook area sightseeing; alpine salmon lunch. (Hotel: Tekapo 4★)

Day 5 — Tekapo → Wanaka → Arrowtown → Queenstown
Travel through classic Alpine scenery to Queenstown. (Hotel: Queenstown 4★)

Day 6 — Queenstown
Free day in Queenstown (optional activities available). (Hotel: Queenstown 4★)

Day 7 — Queenstown → Milford Sound → Te Anau
Milford Sound cruise with buffet lunch included; overnight in Te Anau. (Hotel: Te Anau 4★)

Day 8 — Te Anau → Dunedin → Oamaru
Dunedin sightseeing then Oamaru (Blue Penguin viewing included). (Hotel: Oamaru 4★)

Day 9 — Oamaru → Christchurch (Departure)
Transfer to Christchurch for departure (recommended flights after late afternoon).

Note: Sequence of visits may be adjusted by local operator for operational reasons (flights, weather, road conditions). We recommend travel insurance.

What’s Included

• 8 nights in 4-star hotels (standard room, Ctrip rating standard)

• Daily meals as specified: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners (including 3 signature meals)

• Private coach / vehicle transfers and airport pickup/drop-off (comfortable vehicles, min 5 seats where applicable)

• Bilingual driver-guide service (Chinese & English)

• Kaikōura whale watching ticket (included)

• Milford Sound cruise + buffet lunch (included)

• Select attraction admissions as noted in itinerary

Not Included

• International flights and airport taxes

• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)

• Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, pay-per-view, minibar, etc.)

• Optional activities and upgrades (listed below)

• Excess baggage fees, customs duties on personal goods

• Vehicle use during free-time unless otherwise arranged

• Gratuities (unless specified)

Optional Activities (advance booking recommended)

The following popular add-ons are available (language & activity notes included). Prices & availability vary—please request when booking.

• Tekapo stargazing experience (Chinese-language options available)

• Mt. Cook scenic helicopter + glacier walk (English guide; participant restrictions may apply)

• Mt. Cook scenic flight / helicopter experience (45-minute alpine sightseeing; age/weight/height restrictions may apply)

• Te Anau glowworm cave visit (transfer & entry)

• Queenstown adrenaline options: skydiving, bungy (age/height restrictions apply)

• Queenstown TSS Earnslaw steamship experiences (various meal & activity combinations)

• Jetboat / shark boat / other high-adrenaline rides (age limits and safety rules apply)

• Any other locally arranged experiences (horse riding, cruises, helicopter flights)—book early to secure spots

Important activity notes (examples from supplier): some aerial and adventure activities require minimum ages and physical requirements (e.g., many flights/heli ops require participants ages 6+ and minimum weight/height thresholds). Please confirm details at time of booking.

Travel & Booking Notes

• Departure days: Tours depart weekly (example: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays). Minimum 2 guests for guaranteed departure.

• Rooming: Standard room allocation; single supplements apply for solo occupancy (single room surcharge charged).

• Holiday surcharges: Surcharges apply for high-season and special dates (Christmas/New Year, Lunar New Year, national public holiday periods, Easter, selected peak dates). Please inquire for specific dates.

• Itinerary changes: Operator reserves the right to alter the order of visits or substitute attractions due to weather, flight changes, road conditions, or local events. If an attraction is closed, it may be replaced or refunded for the ticket portion if applicable.

• No liability for missed attractions: If a guest misses an attraction due to late arrival, missed flights, or circumstances outside operator control, refunds are not guaranteed. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

• Vehicle & service flexibility: For operational efficiency, guests may be transferred between vehicles or assigned different driver-guides during the tour.

• Overtime / Additional charges: Standard vehicle service time is 10 hours per day (typically 08:00–18:00). If itinerary exceeds allotted time due to guest reasons, an overtime fee applies (payable locally to driver). Please indicate special timing needs when booking.

Cancellation & Change Policy (booking terms)

• Free cancellation: Cancellations made 30 or more days prior to departure are eligible for a full refund (subject to booking status).

• Partial refund / retention: Cancellations made within 15–30 days prior to departure are subject to a significant retention of the tour fee (supplier applies a high cancellation charge).

• No refund: Cancellations within 15 days of departure are non-refundable.

• No-show: Failure to join on departure day will be treated as voluntary cancellation—no refund.

• Additional bookings & hotel extras: Refund eligibility for third-party or extra hotel bookings follows each supplier’s policy.

• Force majeure: In events such as severe weather, strikes, or other uncontrollable circumstances, the operator may cancel or alter the itinerary; refunds or compensation are at the supplier’s discretion and subject to terms. Travel insurance is recommended.

Important Practical Details

• Check-in / flight recommendations: For day-1 airport pickup, arrive before mid-morning (example: before 11:00) to receive the courtesy city walk; for final day return flights, we recommend late-afternoon departures (check exact suggested times on booking).

• Meals: Specific meals are included as listed; additional meals or special dietary requests should be communicated in advance.

• Hotel upgrades: Hotels are assigned at standard room level; upgrades or special room views may be arranged for an additional cost—please request at booking.

• Children policy: Adult price applies to ages 12+. Child rates available for ages 2–12 (when sharing bed); infants under 2 require separate arrangement—please contact us to confirm.

• Local tickets & optional items: For popular optional activities, early booking is advised to secure availability. If guests purchase tickets independently and the itinerary changes, the operator may not be able to accommodate those external bookings.

• Special notes on safety & suitability: Some activities involve climbing stairs or uneven terrain; guests with mobility or medical concerns should notify us in advance. Pregnant travelers and certain age groups may be restricted from specific activities—please consult when booking.

Booking & Contact

To customize this itinerary, add optional experiences, or confirm availability, please contact our travel specialists. We are happy to tailor the route, rooming, and experiences to match your preferences and timing.