Heritage Journey ( 7 Days Tour )

Spend the first day of your journey exploring the fast-changing and funky city of Christchurch, South Island's largest city. Old English gardens contrast with pop-up bars and innovative precincts in this enduring centre. Favourite activities include punting down the Avon River, biking in the Port Hills, visiting Sumner Beach, or taking a day trip out to the French colonial settlement of Akaroa. For a truly magical experience try hot air ballooning over the patchwork Canterbury Plains.

Accommodation: 1 night, 5 or 4 star hotel

Meal : Breakfast

The scenic route to Lake Tekapo takes you through the expanse of the Canterbury Plains to Mackenzie country. Take time to explore some of the small towns you pass along the way.

At Tekapo, you'll find a beautiful opaque turquoise coloured lake and a huge number of outdoor activities to enjoy. Fishing, kayaking, bike riding, horse trekking and skiing are just some of the things you can do here. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities. Continue through high country tussock, past beautiful Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook village. The surrounding National Park is home to Australasia's highest peak and popular with mountain climbers, hikers and stargazers. Get on board a Glacier Explorers imagine a boat tour like none other. Surrounded by snow capped alps, you will be expertly guided through the ice age as you view the gigantic Tasman Glacier Ice wall, icebergs and the chance to embrace mother nature's legacy.

GLACIER EXPLORERS AVAILABLE FROM 01ST SEPTEMBER - JUNE YEARLY

Accommodation: 1 night, 5 or 4 star hotel

Meal : Breakfast and Dinner

Today as you make your way to Omarama, you'll travel through the towns of Twizel and Omarama. Twizel is a base for mountain climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, horse trekking, fishing, and hiking. It's also a great place to catch a sighting of the rarest wading bird in the world – the Black Stilt. In Omarama, you can visit the fascinating Clay Cliffs Paritea, which are constantly being exposed by the active Osler fault line. Head to Omarama hot tubs in the afternoon to soak and relax.

Accommodation: 1 night, 5 or 4 star hotel

Meal : Breakfast

Queenstown is home to almost any kind of adventure, get your adrenaline pumping with a bungee jump, jet boat ride, horse trek or rafting adventure. Soak up the stunning scenery and relax with a spa treatment, gourmet food, and wine or a leisurely round of golf. In the afternoon get on board the TSS Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak Station and enjoy a quintessential Kiwi experience – a delicious gourmet BBQ buffet meal and a farm demonstration in a stunning lakeside setting.

Accommodation: 1 night, 5 or 4 star hotel

Meal : Breakfast and Dinner

Today you'll travel to the heart of Central Otago. Explore the vineyards of Gibbston Valley, visit historic Cromwell or discover old gold mining in Bannockburn. From Alexandra, there are three routes to Dunedin. The bus follows the fruit route through the orchards of Roxburgh. If you're self-driving, you can also head north to Ranfurly where you can choose to travel via Dunback, or via Middlemarch through the Rock and Pillar Range. Dunedin itself has been a student town since the 1870s when Otago University first opened. Today it contains a beautiful array of historic buildings, imposing churches, palatial homes and New Zealand's only castle. Visit Larnach Castle New Zealands only Castle offers an insight into a wealthy Victorian lifestyle, complete with scandal and suicide.

Accommodation: 1 night, 5 or 4 star hotel

Meal : Breakfast

History and fascinating geology will flavour your journey north today. Be sure to visit the mysterious spherical boulders at Moeraki. According to Maori legend, these boulders are gourds washed ashore from the wreck of a great voyaging canoe hundreds of years ago. Totara Estate Centennial Park is the birthplace of New Zealand's frozen meat industry. The restored farm buildings show the workings of a 19th century New Zealand farm. Oamaru's elegant historic buildings are built from the local sandstone. Visit the Harbour-Tyne area for examples of the best-preserved historic commercial buildings in New Zealand. The Steampunk Museum and the town's pretty public gardens are also worth a visit. Head back to Christchurch in the afternoon.

Accommodation: 1 night, 5 or 4 star hotel

Meal : Breakfast