This tour combines the rugged beauty of New Zealand's West Coast with the tranquility of the Canterbury Plains, creating an itinerary packed with diverse experiences and breathtaking views. Join Cheeky Kiwi Travel for this incredible 2-day tour from Queenstown to Christchurch via Franz Josef, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Travel with a small group for a more personalized and enjoyable experience.
Highlights
- Historic Cardrona Valley Hotel
- Lakes Wanaka, Hawea & Matheson
- Scenic stops along the way
- Hokitika Town & Gorge
- Arthurs Pass
Day 1
Your adventure begins in the vibrant town of Queenstown. Meet your friendly Cheeky Kiwi Travel guide and fellow travelers before setting off early in a comfortable, modern minibus. Your first stop is the historic Cardrona Hotel, with its rustic charm, you'll stop here for your photo opportunity. Next up is is the picturesque town of Wanaka, where you can stretch your legs and enjoy a stroll along the serene lakefront. Snap a photo of the famous Wanaka Tree, standing majestically in the lake.
Continuing your journey will see stops at the Lake Hawea lookout, Thunder Creek Falls, Bruce Bay, Ships Creek. Before long, we arrive at every photographer's dream: Lake Matheson. On a calm day, you can capture Mt Cook reflected elegantly across this picturesque lake. This walk will reward you with breathtaking views of the Southern Alps.
Finally, we arrive in the quaint village of Franz Josef. Here, you'll check into your comfortable accommodation, nestled amidst lush greenery with views of the surrounding mountains. The evening is yours to explore at your leisure – perhaps take a dip in the local hot pools, or enjoy a meal at one of the village’s cozy restaurants.
Day 2
Leaving Franz Josef, you'll head north to Hokitika Gorge, a treasured gem that consistently inspires awe, with its striking turquoise waters radiating an otherworldly beauty. Afterwards we arrive at the charming town of Hokitika, famous for its rich history of gold mining and greenstone (pounamu) carving. Take some time to explore the local shops and perhaps pick up a beautifully crafted souvenir.
After departing Hokitika we continue making our way across the country, stopping at Otira Gorge Lookout before arriving in Arthurs Pass Village. Here you have the option to grab a bite to eat, a coffee or maybe shop for some souvenirs, or you can walk to the Devils Punch Bowl, a 131 metre waterfall! Fitness is low to moderate as you walk through the bush and forest.
Our final stop is Castle Hill. A self guided walk among the weathered limestone rocks that once sat in the ocean! It's famed for its striking limestone rock formations and has several highlights that attract visitors: rock climbing, cultural significance, flora & fauna & maybe most famously, a filming location for several movies!
As the tour approaches its end, you'll arrive in the garden city of Christchurch. Reflect on your incredible journey as you’re dropped off at your central city location.
Inclusions
- Small Group Tour & Guide
- Lunch (please advise of dietary requirements)
- Bottled Water & Snacks
While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles, complementary refreshments and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.
Minimum Age: 1
Maximum Age: 99
Fitness Requirement: Moderate
Agent Restriction: NA
Group Size: 1 - 16
Operating Partner: Cheeky Kiwi Travel (2024 Verified)
Dietary Requirements: Lunch is ordered on the day, by the guide
Luggage Limit: 1 large & 1 small per person
What To Bring: Reliable closed in footwear , Rain jacket , Sun protection
Day One
Day Two
- Small Group Tour
- Lunch x 2
- Bottled Water & Snacks
- Photo Stops
Departures & Pickups
We offer pickup from the follow locations
Kamana Lakehouse 6:45am
Mercure 6:46am
Heritage Hotel 6:47am
Rydges Lakeland Resort 6:50am
Hotel St Moritz 6:51am
QT Queenstown 6:22am
Crowne Plaza 6:53am
Pinewood Lodge 6:54am
Queenstown Park Boutique 6:55am
Flaming Kiwi Backpackers 6:56am
Novotel 6:57am
Nomads Hostel 6:58am
Sofitel Hotel & Spa 7:00am
The Station Home of Adventure 7:00am
LyLo Queenstown 7:00am
Aspen Lodge 7:01am
Heartland Hotel 7:02am
Holiday Inn Express 7:03am
Ramada Queenstown Central 7:04am
Copthorne Hotel & Resort Lakefront 7:05am
Millennium Hotel 7:06am
Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Lakeview 7:07am
Swiss Belsuites Pounamu 7:08am
Oaks Shores Resort 7:09am
The Rees 7:10am
Holiday Inn Frankton Road (bus stop Frankton Rd) 7:11am
Sherwood Hotel (Bus stop Frankton Rd) 7:12am
Frankton Terminus (near Airport) 7:13am
Wyndham Garden 7:15am
Sudima 5 Mile 7:16am
Accommodation is not included in this tour
Bookings Terms & Conditions
These booking terms and conditions apply to bookings you make with Peterpans Adventure Travel PTY LTD (ACN 673 404 389) trading as Peterpans Travel (whether over the phone or by email) as well as online bookings you make on our website. We will rely on the authority of the person making the booking to act on behalf of any other traveller on the booking and that person will bind all such travellers to these terms and conditions.
The ticket(s) (“voucher(s)”) for your travel or experience are booked by us on your behalf with various Service Providers. Each Service Provider may have their own terms and conditions applying to your travel. It is important that you read the relevant and corresponding brochure for each of your bookings in order to understand all applicable terms and conditions. If you require additional information to that contained in the brochure then we recommend that you contact the Service Provider for further clarification.
BOOKING CONFIRMATIONS
Your responsibilities: Open tickets: You must book your travel dates in advance with the individual Service Provider as per the details provided on your voucher.
Tickets with booked dates: It is your responsibility to ensure you redeem your vouchers on the dates booked. If you wish to change these dates you must organise it with the Service Provider directly, with adequate notice. You must reconfirm all booked dates 48 hours prior to travel (minimum guide only) or in the manner stated on your voucher. If applicable, dietary requirements should also be confirmed at this time.
CANCELLATIONS and REFUNDS
Credit card fees, and additional fees paid to us for deposits of accommodation, transport and luggage storage are not transferable or refundable.
Please note that deposits on bookings are also non-refundable but may be used as credit towards future bookings.
Cancellations by service providers
If a service provider cancels your booking for any reason you WILL NOT be charged any cancellation fee and will be entitled to a full refund (other than any amount we are charged on your behalf by the service provider). ALL TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION is NON-REFUNDABLE, in some cases it may be transferable.
Cancellations by you outside of 14 days from the date of travel
Where you provide us with at least 14 days’ notice that you wish to cancel your booking for any reason, you will be charged a 10% cancellation fee and will be entitled to a refund (in addition to any amount we are charged on your behalf by the service provider) or can transfer, with no fee, any balance (in addition to any amount we are charged as a cancellation fee on your behalf by the service provider) to a new booking or credit voucher. ALL TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION is NON-REFUNDABLE, in some cases it may be transferable.
Cancellations by you within 14 days of the date of travel
Where you provide us with less than 14 days notice that you wish to cancel your booking for any reason, you will be charged a 30% cancellation fee and will be entitled to a refund ( in addition to any amount we are charged on your behalf by the service provider) or can transfer, with a $30 per product transfer fee, any balance (in addition to any amount we are charged as a cancellation fee on your behalf by the service provider) to a new booking or credit voucher. ALL TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION is NON REFUNDABLE, in some cases they may be transferable.
In addition, if a Service Provider charges us for the cancelled travel you must also pay us the amount that we are charged on your behalf by the Service Provider. It is, therefore, possible your cancellation fees could be up to 100% of the cost of the booking, regardless of whether travel has commenced (for example cancellations made within 24hrs of travel or certain flight bookings). The Cancellation Fee will apply in all cases where a tour is able to run. For example, if you are unable to reach a tour due to an “act of God” (for example a road is cut off due to flooding) the normal Cancellation Fee will apply if the tour still runs in your absence or would have run but for your absence. If a tour or other travel service is cancelled by the Service Provider, we will refund you in full the amount paid for the tour or other travel service. This full refund is subject to a fully refundable amount being given to our agency from the supplier who is cancelling. We highlight here that all suppliers have different cancellation terms.
All refunds will occur in the local currency and will be refunded to the same card that payment was made with. If your credit card uses a different currency, the amount refunded may be different from the original amount paid due to exchange rate fluctuations. We are not liable for these fluctuations, or any fees your bank charges.
Please note that in the case of natural disasters (e.g. flood, fire, cyclone, etc.), many Service Providers do not offer refunds, and we may therefore be unable to provide a refund to you. We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover this situation.
The 10% or 30% agency cancellation fee does not apply to: Dive Courses where you fail a Dive Medical test; or Skydives cancelled by the Service Provider within 3 days of booking due to weather, in which case a full refund will apply.
Where a refund or other payment applies, you may choose to transfer the full cost of your booking to another tour. However, a transfer fee of $30 may apply. While we aim to process refunds swiftly, high-demand situations (such as natural disasters) may result in delays.
We strongly recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy at the time of booking to protect yourself against unexpected cancellations and changes. Depending on your policy, your insurance provider may cover up to 100% of cancellation fees and other costs incurred. Cancellation fees for tours and bus bookings can be up to 100%, so having appropriate coverage can help minimise financial risk.
Please act responsibly and with respect on your travels. All Service Providers reserve the right to cancel bookings based on recommendation from another provider due to misconduct/misbehaviour during another stage of their trip. We will treat this as any normal cancellation and charge the above-mentioned Cancellation Fee, plus any Service Provider fees.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We endorse the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that all travellers take out travel insurance. It is your personal responsibility to purchase your own travel insurance to cover any liability which may be incurred to us or a Service Provider and other travel misadventures that you wish to be insured against. We recommend that you source travel insurance with a low excess payment, to make claiming on cancelled tours worthwhile.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
We endeavour to package tours that will meet your expectations. However, we take no responsibility for any matters that arise with regard to or during individual tours or arrangements with individual Service Providers. We appreciate your feedback, whether complaints, compliments or suggestions. However, to the extent permitted by law we will not be responsible to you for any loss, expense or damage that you may suffer during any particular tour, accommodation or travel, no matter the cause. These matters are the responsibility of each individual Service Provider and you agree that you will not hold us liable in any such circumstance.
TOUR DETAILS
The inclusions, departure details and itinerary points of each tour and activity listed on our websites are current as of the last product update. We endeavour to reflect up-to-date information on all website pages but will not be held accountable for changes from suppliers which are yet to be reflected on site. Upon booking we ask that you review details listed in your vouchers as these will be the most reliable.
PRICES
We endeavour to package the best value tours available at the best prices. However, we take no responsibility for price fluctuations arising from changes in the prices charged by Service Providers occurring before final payment. The price of your travel is subject to change until such time as you pay for the travel in full.
EXTRA COSTS
Many tours have extra costs and you should be aware that there may be added expenses. These expenses will differ for each Service Provider but some of the more usual extras may include: EMC Tax, Stinger suit Hire, Luggage storage, Sleeping Bag Hire, Linen Hire, National Park Fee, Food, Insurance, Accommodation, Equipment Hire, Petrol Levy. We will alert you to extra costs to the extent reasonably practicable. However, you must also check with each individual Service Provider when you confirm your voucher.
PASSPORT and VISAS
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid passports, visas and re-entry permits which meet the requirements of immigration and other government authorities. Any fines, penalties, payments or expenditures incurred as a result of such documents not meeting the requirements of those authorities will be your sole responsibility. All travellers must have a valid passport for international travel and many countries require at least 6 months validity from the date of return and some countries require a machine-readable passport. Transfers between tours may incur a $30 administration fee.
By proceeding with a purchase via our Call Centre or Website you declare that you have read, understood, acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions of this booking and if your booking is accepted, you will be bound by these terms and conditions.
