After the excitement of Queenstown, travel south to Te Anau then Milford Sound and revel in the tranquility and spectacular scenery that this area offers. Dunedin is next with its Scottish heritage and NZ's oldest University. This tour concludes with northward travel back to Christchurch.

Each package includes

• Daily Coach Travel as specified with InterCity and Newmans Coachlines
• YHA Accommodation - 8 nights pre-booked accommodation 
• Transport from Airport to YHA hostel on arrival
• YHA New Zealand Backpacker Map which includes an extensive range of discounts for sightseeing and adventure activities throughout New Zealand
• Tranzalpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth
• Milford Sound cruise.

Tour itinerary

Day One - Christchurch 
Kia Ora! Arrive in Christchurch - the Garden City - and transfer to Christchurch City YHA. Christchurch is known as the most English city in New Zealand and is the largest city in the South Island. There are many options available to fill in your day, some examples are shown below:

• Ride the tram around the inner city
• Visit the Arts Centre or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
• Punt on the Avon
• Ride the gondola up Mount Cavendish - an extinct volcano
• Stroll through Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens
• Visit the International Antarctic Centre

Overnight: YHA Christchurch City Central

Day Two - Christchurch 
Today is a free day to explore this city or you may choose to take a day trip to Akaroa - Canterbury's oldest town. Akaroa was an early French settlement, which is reflected today in the street names and early architecture. This town is home to the world's smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hectors Dolphin. Take a cruise on the harbour for a chance of sighting one, you may also see little blue penguins and seals!

Overnight: YHA Christchurch City Central 

Day Three - Christchurch to Franz Josef (via Greymouth)
TranzScenic Train departs Christchurch at 08:15
Arrive Greymouth at 12:45
InterCity Coach departs Greymouth at 13:30
Arrive Franz Josef at 17:05

Sit back and enjoy a spectacular rail journey across the South Island. The TranzAlpine excursion is rated in the top six rail journeys in the world. The TranzAlpine travels over huge viaducts, through gorges and river valleys before tracking across New Zealand's greatest mountain range - the Southern Alps.

At Greymouth, board the coach for Franz Josef. The township of Franz Josef is surrounded by Westland National Park.

Overnight: YHA Franz Josef Glacier

Day Four - Franz Josef
This glacier was first explored back in 1865 by Austrian, Julius Haast. Haast named the glacier after the Austrian emperor. The glacier is currently moving forward at about 30 centimetres a day. You may choose to take part in a glacier walk, alternatively you may prefer to view the glacier from the air. If you take the helicopter flight option, you will experience an on-glacier landing.

Overnight: YHA Franz Josef Glacier

Day Five - Franz Josef to Queenstown
Newmans Coach departs Franz Josef at 07:45
Arrive Queenstown at 16:29

Leave behind the picture postcard scenery of the West Coast and travel inland to Queenstown - New Zealand's adrenalin capital. In 1862, two shearers discovered gold in the Shotover River and began the gold rush that led to the birth of Queenstown.

Overnight: YHA Queenstown Lakefront

Day Six - Queenstown
Today you can explore Queenstown at your leisure. The town of Queenstown is on the shores of Lake Wakatipu - meaning place of the giant. The lake "breathes" every five minutes - the water level rises and falls. Maori legend tells of an evil giant who abducted a Maori maiden. He was set alight by the maiden's rescuer and his burning body melted the surrounding glaciers to form a huge water-filled crater. Only the giant's beating heart survived, which is the cause of the lake's regular rising and falling.
This evening be sure to take in a Maori concert and hangi.

Options:

• Ride the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob's Peak for inspiring views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains
• Ride the Shotover Jet
• Bungy-jump
• Cruise aboard the steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu
• White water rafting
• Parapenting
• Wine trail
• River surfing
• Ride the double decker bus over to Arrowtown - one of the few goldmining towns to survive the Gold Rush of the 1800s

Overnight: YHA Queenstown Lakefront

Day Seven - Queenstown to Te Anau (via Milford Sound)
Great Sights Coach departs Queenstown at 07:15
Arrive Milford Sound at 13:15 
Red Boat Cruise from 13:35 to 15:20 
Great Sights Coach departs Milford Sound at 15:30
Arrive Te Anau at 17:15

Travel south along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau - gateway to Fiordland National Park and the Milford Track. Leave Te Anau behind and you're on your way to Milford Sound. The drive into Milford Sound is through Fiordland National Park and is truly spectacular. Numerous photo stops will be made along the way. Milford Sound is the only fiord accessible by road. Upon arrival in Milford, board the Real Journeys vessel for a one and a half hour cruise on the Sound. Majestic waterfalls, crested penguins, Mitre Peak, dolphins, seals and sandflies - Milford Sound has it all.

At the end of the cruise, reboard the coach and return to Te Anau.

Overnight: YHA Te Anau

Day Eight - Te Anau to Dunedin
InterCity Coach departs Te Anau at 08:00
Arrive Dunedin at 12:40

Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of the South. The name Dunedin is in fact, the Celtic word for Edinburgh. Dunedin was settled in 1848, but shortly after the first settlers arrived gold was discovered in Otago. Dunedin quickly became the commercial capital of New Zealand and the richest city in the province. Today Dunedin is largely a student town - it is home to New Zealand's first (and finest) university.

Options:

• Cruise on the Otago Harbour
• Ride the Taieri Gorge Railway
• Visit the albatross colony or Larnach's Castle (New Zealand's only castle)
• Stroll through the grounds of Otago University

Overnight: YHA Dunedin, Stafford Gables

Day Nine - Dunedin to Christchurch
InterCity Coach departs Dunedin at 12:50
Arrive Christchurch at 18:55

This afternoon farewell Dunedin and board the coach for your journey to Christchurch. Travel along the coastline, past the Moeraki Boulders. These spherical boulders were formed in the seabed over 60 million years ago by the gradual accumulation of lime salt. Each boulder weighs several tonnes and measures up to four metres in circumference.

Travel through Oamaru, Timaru and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

Tour ends upon arrival in Christchurch.

Package price

01 October 2009 - 30 September 2010

Twin - NZ$984
Multishare - NZ$912

Please note meals and optional activities are not included in the price of the tour.

Cancellations and amendments

• Passes are non-refundable and non-transferrable once travel has commenced 
• Cancellations received at least 7 days prior to proposed date of arrival in New Zealand will be entitled to a refund less a cancellation fee of NZ$50 per person
• Cancellations received in the period which is between 2 and 7 days prior to the proposed date of arrival in New Zealand shall be entitled to a refund less a cancellation fee of NZ$100 per person
• Cancellations received less than 48 hours prior to the proposed date of arrival in New Zealand shall not be entitled to a refund
• It is recommended that all passengers have comprehensive travel insurance

To view the See NZ Travel Packages Terms & Conditions - click here

YHA New Zealand responsibility

In organising these packages, YHA New Zealand is acting as a package organiser. YHA New Zealand does not operate the air, sea and land transport in these packages and does not accept responsibility for any act or omission on the part of those actually performing these services.

If you have any further questions about this package check out our list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Alternatively, you can contact the YHA New Zealand Customer Services Team.