Top South Island Tours by Duration

Swap the cruise port for the Dunedin countryside on a half-day shore excursion that includes the Otago Peninsula. Your sightseeing tour covers highlights of the city center such as the Dunedin Railway Station, then travels to several village suburbs, stopping en route at scenic lookouts and for a beachside view of basking sea lions. Enjoy the personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 19 people.

Enjoy the tastes of the winemaking region of Central Otago without the stress of choosing a sober driver. Get picked up from your hotel and dropped back again at the end of the tour on this lunchtime drive around several celebrated wineries in the Gibbston Valley. Go behind the scenes at the country’s oldest wine cave and sample a range of varietals at each winery’s cellar door, from pinot noirs to a range of white wines.

Visit four boutique wineries of North Canterbury on a half-day wine-tasting tour with optional lunch. Departing Christchurch, you’ll taste a quality selection of wines in the up-and-coming Waipara wine region, including stops at Pegasus Bay, Waipara Hills, Torlesse Wines and Waipara Springs. Learn from a knowledgeable guide about Waipara’s unique terroir as you sip a range of superior reds and whites.

Travel along the spectacular Milford Road on a full-day Milford Sound tour from Te Anau. Have the chance to see native wildlife like the endangered kea (an alpine parrot), seals, dolphins, and the Fiordland crested penguin. Visit Gunns Camp, take short walks to beautiful sights including the Chasm and Marian Cascade, and take a sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound. Includes entrance fees, boat cruise with live commentary, morning tea, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Pair the fine wines of Central Otago with a gourmet lunch platter on this small-group wine-tasting tour from Queenstown. Visit at boutique wineries during your tour and drive through verdant valleys and vine-clad foothills rich in gold mining history. Numbers are limited to 12 people to ensure an intimate experience with other wine lovers.

Located in the heart of Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. Explore the stunning fiord by air and water during a half-day excursion. The exhilarating, round-trip helicopter flight from Queenstown includes a glacier landing on Mt. Tutoko. Perhaps spot dolphins, seals, and penguins during an unforgettable cruise.

See the glowworm caves of Te Anau on an underground adventure sure to charm visitors of all ages. An informative guide joins you on the 2hour and 15 minute Te Anau glowworm caves tour, starting with a cruise across Lake Te Anau. Then marvel at the shimmering illumination of thousands of glowworms as you glide through the quiet darkness of this magical underground world.

Located on the eastern shores of New Zealand’s South Island, Kaikoura is famous for the spectacular array of marine wildlife living off its shores—but to see the best of it, you have to take to the waves. On this tour, cruise into Kaikoura’s deep waters by speedy catamaran with running commentary throughout from your guide, and spot dolphins, seals, and sperm whales in their natural habitat.

See the Franz Josef Glacier from the air on a helicopter flight above ice falls, snowfields, and crevasses. Touch down on a snowfield to see the icy landscape up close, and take in sweeping views across the maritime glacier. This helicopter tour departs from a helipad in Franz Josef township.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to take a Milford Sound cruise while visiting UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. Departing from Milford Wharf, this boat cruises past Mitre Peak and waterfalls cascading down steep-walled mountains that rise straight up from the water. See Bowen Falls, Stirling Falls and Seal Point while searching the deep fiord for marine life including bottlenose dolphins and New Zealand fur seals.

Cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm aboard the TSS ‘Earnslaw,’ a vintage steamship. Stroll the lakeside gardens and enjoy a traditional morning or afternoon tea and take a walking tour of the farm. You’ll watch sheepdogs in action and see sheep shearing demonstrations. Treat yourself to home-baked goods and alpine views of the Remarkables mountain range. Savor a delicious afternoon tea and an amble through lakeside gardens before heading back to Queenstown by boat.

Travel from Akaroa Harbour on this shore excursion through the Banks Peninsula to Christchurch, whose city center was devastated by the 2011 earthquake. Drive past city landmarks in the old CBD and stroll the Christchurch Botanic Gardens with a knowledgeable guide. En route, take in the scenic splendor of the Southern Alps and the Canterbury Region.

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm and venture out on horseback with an expert guide. You'll board the vintage steamship TSS ‘Earnslaw’ for a round-trip ride across Lake Wakatipu then have morning or afternoon tea at the Colonel’s Homestead. Numbers are limited for a small-group experience on the horse trek, with views of the Remarkables mountain range.

Take a window seat for a scenic round-trip flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound, and see the splendor of Fiordland National Park from the air and sea. Board a cruise and pass dramatic waterfalls and Mitre Peak as you travel to the Tasman Sea. Then soar over the Southern Alps on your return.

Arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand, Milford Sound offers a sweeping landscape of jagged snow-capped mountains, shimmering fjords and lakes, towering waterfalls and emerald greenery. Travel with a small group by coach from Queenstown to Fiordland National Park to explore this lush wilderness, including a boat cruise on the Milford Sound. You also see The Remarkables mountain range, Lake Wakatipu—New Zealand's longest lake, and Lake Te Anau—the South Island’s the largest lake.

The glacial waters, soaring cliffs, and thundering waterfalls of Milford Sound are spectacular from all angles, and this half-day tour takes in all the highlights. Enjoy thrilling aerial views of the Fiordland National Park on a round-trip flight from Queenstown, and marvel at Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, and Mount Pembroke on a scenic Milford Sound cruise. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Board the TSS "Earnslaw," a vintage steamship, for an evening cruise on Queenstown’s scenic Lake Wakatipu. Arriving at Walter Peak High Country Farm, you’re treated to a sumptuous barbecue dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead. Sink your teeth into roasted meats and seafood, homemade desserts, and a New Zealand cheeseboard. After dinner, see farm demonstrations or purchase a drink and simply relax in the bar.

Let a professional and courteous driver collect you from the Queenstown airport, help you with your luggage and drop you off at the doorstep of your accommodation. This shared transfer to your Queenstown hotel offers a hassle-free arrival. Shuttles stop just outside baggage claim. Airport transfers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Enjoy two trips in one on this good-value jet boat tour: a guided tour of Skippers Canyon and a thrilling ride on the Shotover River. Zip up some of the narrowest canyons on the Upper Shotover, and learn about the gold mining history of the area from your knowledgeable guide on the journey there. This combined tour is ideal for history buffs and adrenaline seekers.

Explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula on a full-day shore excursion that includes Larnach Castle & Gardens and Speight’s Brewery, two of the region’s top destinations. With an experienced guide to lead the way, you’ll discover the fascinating city of Dunedin, step back in time at New Zealand’s only castle, then visit a historic working brewery with deep southern roots. This 6.5-hour tour includes all entrance fees and guided tours, as well as pickup and drop-off at Port Chalmers.

Take in the vast scale of Milford Sound from the air and water with a half-day trip that includes round-trip flights and a catamaran cruise. You’ll board a small plane that accommodates up to 7 passengers, lift off above the ridges and lakes of Fiordland National Park, then cruise Milford Sound all the way to the Tasman Sea. Watch for fur seals and penguins, and pass through the mists of Stirling Falls before meeting the pilot for the return trip to Queenstown.

Enjoy unobstructed views of the Remarkables and the Southern Alps during a catamaran cruise on Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. Cruise accross the lake, stopping at Bob’s Cove to soak up the views from New Zealand's longest lake. Listen to the captain’s entertaining commentary about the natural landmarks and wildlife as you relax indoors or on the outdoor decks. You have a selection of morning and afternoon cruises to choose from.

Tour the western end of Queen Charlotte Sound on a half-day paddling adventure from Picton. Settle into your sea kayak and follow an expert guide from the waterfront to sheltered coves and remote beaches. Search the waters for eagles rays, cormorants, little blue penguins, New Zealand fur seals and dolphins while you learn about the natural history of the Marlborough Sounds. Numbers are limited to ensure a small-group experience.

Discover some of New Zealand's finest wines on a full-day tour of the Central Otago wine region from Queenstown. Visit multiple wineries, sip wine in Australasia's largest wine cave, enjoy a gourmet lunch, and sample locally made cheeses. You also visit the Cromwell Heritage Precinct and learn about the Otago Gold Rush. Numbers are limited to 12 people on this small-group wine tour that includes wine tastings, lunch, transportation, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Discover one of the jewels in the crown of New Zealand's spectacular South Island on this full day Milford Sound hiking tour with cruise. Travel along the Milford Road from Te Anau and enjoy panoramic views over the beautiful countryside. Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise through the fjord and out to the Tasman Sea, and gaze over soaring clifftops and plummeting waterfalls. Afterward, choose from a series of guided walks in the area or take an unguided hike on the Routeburn Great Walk to Key Summit.