South Island Trips, Summer 2020 – 2021

• Domestic travel to and from Christchurch (the start/finish point)
  On request, ISENZ can book flights through Air New Zealand on your behalf. Flights are non-refundable by ISENZ. Consider purchasing Flexi Fares to be on the safe side
• Optional activities
• Between-meal snacks
• WiFi, internet use, or laundry costs at holiday parks
• Additional accommodation before and after the trip. Supervised accommodation will be arranged on request in Christchurch for any students needing to stop over in Christchurch to make connections. The cost is $50 per night.

All prices are as of August 2020 and are subject to change. Check the activity websites for up to date pricing and any discounts/deals on offer. Prices are in NZD$.

• Swimming with the dolphins in Kaikoura (Dolphin Encounter): $190 to swim (special ISENZ group discount). Spectator only $65/$105 (Child/Adult).
• Whale watching in Kaikoura – $85pp Educational Rate (group of 5+), or $60/$120 (Child/Adult) for group under 5.
• Stargazing Tour in Tekapo – $74
• Bungy Jump (Kawarau Bridge, Nevis, Ledge) – Queenstown: $205-$275 (Adult), $155-$245 (Child/NZ Student) depending on which jump you choose.
• Sky diving – Queenstown: $299 – $479 (depending on the jump altitude, 12,000 or 15000ft). Additional costs for taking a GoPro or photographer, from $199 – $359 depending on the package. Discounts may apply, check NZONE Skydive website.
• Nevis Swing: $225 (Adult), $175 (Child), $195 (NZ Student), $50 (Spectator)
• Ledge Swing: $165 (Adult), $115 (Child), $135 (NZ Student)
• Canyon Swing: Solo $159 – $249, Tandem $278 – $458 (for 2 people)
• Kawarau Zipride – Queenstown: $50 (Adult) $40 (Child)
• Tandem Paragliding (Skyline or Coronet Peak) – Queenstown: from $199
• Tandem Hang Gliding – Queenstown: from $215
• Helicopter flights over Queenstown and the Remarkable Mountain Range – prices start from about $270
• Four Wheel Drive Tours – Lord of the Rings: 4 hours from $225 (Adult) $99 (Child). Full day from $455 (Adult) $205 (Child). NZ student discounts may apply.
• Horse-trekking – Queenstown: approximately $100 – $200 for 1.5 – 4 hours (Child rates may be offered)
• Hydro Attack ride in a semi-submersible shark – Queenstown: $129 (early bird), $155 (non-earlybird)
• Canyoning – Queenstown (16+ years): From $239 for half day
• Paint-ball – Queenstown: $60 for 200 balls, $80 for 400 balls, $100 for 600 balls. Group bookings only.
• Bubble Soccer, Archery Combat, Human Foosball, Rope Challenge – Queenstown: $30 per activity. Group bookings only.

Optional activities are not limited to the above. You may request other activities to what is listed here, as long as it can be done in Queenstown or Kaikoura during optional activity times, and you obtain written parent permission. Some activities such as white water rafting require students to be 18+ or accompanied by a guardian over the age of 18, so may not be possible.

Trip starts in Christchurch. Students arrive this morning or the night before. Meet your Trip Leaders and discuss the trip ahead! Explore Christchurch city centre – visit the earthquake memorial wall, the Cardboard Cathedral, discover the amazing street art, or go shopping in the inner-city retail precinct.

Travel north to Kaikoura, a beautiful little town on the east coast known for its abundant wildlife, especially dolphins, whale, and native seals. Enjoy some relaxing time on the picturesque beach or walk around the peninsula to a native seal colony. Stay over-night in Kaikoura.

Day 2: Nelson, Motueka

The morning starts off early for those wanting to go swimming with dolphins or whale watching (both optional activities). Travel inland on to Nelson via the Marlborough region, known for its world-famous wine making industry and vineyards. Stop at Peloris Bridge along the way.

Travel on to “Sunny Nelson” and explore the city centre in the afternoon, or head to Tahunanui Beach for a swim, if it’s sunny! Carry on to Motueka where we stay over-night.

Day 3: Abel Tasman National Park, Buller Gorge, Westport

In the morning we go sea kayaking to the iconic Split Apple Rock, a striking geological rock formation in the Tasman Bay. Picnic lunch by the beach at Kaiteriteri afterwards. Travel through Murchison and Buller Gorge.

Walk the Buller Swing Bridge across the mighty Buller river then take a short bush loop walk around White’s Creek faultline (the epicentre of the 1929 Murchison earthquake where the ground instantaneously rose more than 4.5 metres!). Zip line back over the river on the Buller Comet Line Ride (optional).

Travel onto Westport, a small coastal town on the West Coast known for its rich coal mining history, rugged beaches and nearby native fur seal colony. Stay over-night in Westport.

Day 4: Punakaiki, Greymouth, Franz Josef

Travel down the rugged west coast, which is ranked as one of the best scenic drives in the world. Stop to visit the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, a limestone landscape of pancake-shaped rock formations, blowholes and surge pools.

Continue onto Greymouth to try your luck with gold panning at Shantytown, a faithful recreation of a 1900s gold rush village. Take a ride on a vintage steam or diesel train. Travel inland to Franz Josef. Stay over-night in Franz Josef.

Day 5: Franz Josef, Fox, Haast Pass, Wanaka

Walk to the lookout platform at both Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers *if the Fox Glacier walkway is open*. Alternatively, a walk around Lake Matheson, famous for mirror views of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Stop at Knights Point Lookout for lunch then head on to Thunder Creek Falls to try out a fun optical illusion! Travel inland through Haast Pass to Wanaka, stopping along the way for scenic 180° panoramic views of Lakes Hawea and Lake Wanaka beneath stunning mountainous backdrops. Stay over-night in Wanaka.

Day 6: Wanaka, Te Anau

Visit Wanaka town centre or the instagram popular “Wanaka Tree”. Off to Puzzling World for a morning of fun, mazes and optical illusions. Lunch in Cromwell then travel south towards Queenstown, stopping at the original AJ Hackett Kawarau Bungy Centre to watch some bungy jumping in action.

Travel onto Te Anau, known as the gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. Stay overnight in Te Anau along side the South Island’s largest glacial lake, Lake Te Anau.

Day 7: Te Anau, Milford Sound

Drive to Milford Sound in Fiordland through very rugged mountain country, making stops along the way at Mirror Lakes, Homer Tunnel and The Chasm. Take a boat cruise through Milford Sound viewing the iconic Mitre Peak, cascading waterfalls, fur seals and dolphins. Travel back to Te Anau in the early evening. Stay overnight in Te Anau.

Day 8: Queenstown

Travel back north to Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital” of New Zealand, where we spend the next two nights. Lunch by Lake Wakitipu, before heading up the Skyline Gondola for an afternoon of Luge riding (3x rides each), and incredible views of “The Remarkables” mountain ranges that overlook Lake Wakatipu. Time afterwards to explore Queenstown’s centre and make last minute bookings for optional activities (if you haven’t already pre-booked prior to arrival.) Stay overnight in Queenstown or nearby in Arrowtown.

Day 9: Queenstown

Optional activity day! Experience one or two of the many adventure activities Queenstown has on offer. Go sky diving, paragliding, bungy jumping, ride the Nevis Swing, go canyoning, 4WD-ing, and much more (additional costs).

Day 10: Queenstown, Tekapo

Take a thrilling jet boat ride through the Shotover River Canyons on the famous Shotover Jet. After lunch we head on to Tekapo via the Lindis Pass. Stop along the way for scenic views of Mt Cook from the Lake Pukaki Lookout.

Continue on to Lake Tekapo, which (along with Lake Pukaki) is known for it’s distinctive turquoise colour, due to containing rock flour from surrounding glaciers. Lots of swimming opportunities today! There is also the possibility to do a Stargazing Tour tonight (optional).

Day 11: Tekapo, Christchurch

Visit Tekapo Springs for a morning of water fun. Bounce and climb through a giant inflatable obstacle course or take a slide on a 150-metre downhill waterslide! Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd, a picturesque little church situated alongside Lake Tekapo. Travel on to Christchurch, stopping for lunch in Geraldine.

Airport drop-offs and Goodbyes in the late afternoon/early evening. For those needing to stay an extra night in Christchurch, supervised accommodation is available for $50 per night.

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