Monday 24 November. We arrive into Christchurch late morning and depart on a leisurely drive to Geraldine. Geraldine is a picturesque country town with an artistic streak and is the perfect stopover for an overnight stay. Visit the beautiful Barkers Store, take your time to browse the local stores and if you enjoy art, then we have arranged a visit to Badcock Gallery for a chat with internationally recognised local artist Susan Badcock. 

With the sun over the yardarm, we pop into Humdinger Gins for a tour, and tasting, of their award-winning boutique Gin Distillery before checking into our motel for the evening. 

Lunch, Dinner.

Tuesday 25 November. With our bags packed we depart the motel for a drive into Peel Forest where we go on a short bush walk (30min/1.6km). This track is on a good surface amongst big Totara and Kahikatea (many over 1,000 years old) and we make our way to a breathtakingly large lowland Totara that it is almost 3 metres across!

Peel Forest Scenic Reserve is a large forest with an accompanying village community that dates back to the mid 1800’s. So after our walk, we explore the area with a local resident and enjoy a wonderful lunch in the tranquilty of their locally sourced and hand crafted home.   

In the mid afternoon we depart for Tekapo, and If time allows, we’ll stop in at the Fairlie Bakehouse and Burkes Pass Gallery. Then on arrival to Tekapo, we’ll explore the grounds of The Church of Good Shepherd. Around this time of the year you’ll see the beautiful lupin flowers all along the lakeshore of Lake Tekapo - a truly spectacular sight. 

For the next two nights, we enjoy our stay in the comfort of Peppers Bluewater Resort.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Wednesday 26 November. Enjoy your morning as you please, maybe a walk around town or a visit to the lake? In the mid morning, we meet our local 4WD operators and head out for a comfortable scenic 4WD tour through the wilderness of the Mackenzie Country. We visit iconic backcountry musterers huts, travel through rivers & streams, view breathtaking waterfalls, glaciers, moraines, and big mountains. View endangered wading birds such as Banded Dotterels, Black Stilts, Wry Bill, and other species. A truly enchanting trip into this unique part of New Zealand. 

We arrive back at our lodging in the early afternoon and you may choose to relax for the afternoon or join your Tour Manager for a visit to the Lake Tekapo Hot Springs. 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Thursday 27 November. Today, we journey to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, staying at the luxurious Hermitage Hotel. Taking the road less travelled, we pass the Tekapo Military Camp, vast paddocks dotted with sheep, and historic huts before reaching the stunning emerald waters of Lake Pukaki.

We continue past the Tekapo B hydro power station, where the Tekapo Canal completes its journey into Lake Pukaki, before detouring to the shores of Lake Ruataniwha to visit a High Country Salmon farm. Chinook (King) salmon, introduced to New Zealand in the early 1900s, have thrived in the region’s pristine alpine waters. Here, we learn about salmon farming and enjoy a delicious lunch at the café.

After lunch, we continue our scenic journey, arriving at The Hermitage Hotel in the mid-afternoon. Each room offers a breathtaking view of the mountain. Spend the afternoon exploring the hotel or simply relaxing and soaking in the stunning landscapes around you.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Friday 28 November. Today, we fully embrace the unique beauty of this part of New Zealand with the ultimate ice adventure. Our day begins with a pleasant bus ride to the Tasman Valley, followed by a 25-minute alpine walk through the National Park. This well-maintained, flat track spans approximately 1.5 km. Upon arrival, we board our boat and cruise around the Tasman Glacial Lake, taking in the awe-inspiring view of New Zealand’s largest glacier. The towering ice wall is truly remarkable, with an astonishing history to match.

During the tour, you’ll explore and learn about the ever-changing glacial landscape as we journey across the terminal lake. Icebergs of all shapes and sizes periodically break off from the glacier, drifting into the lake and making each day’s experience unique. This is an opportunity to feel small amidst the towering lateral moraines, which rise almost 200 meters, reminding us of the glacier’s immense scale and the heights it has reached over time.

Part of the charm of The Hermitage Hotel lies in its serene location, surrounded by tranquil alpine scenery—an ideal setting for unwinding and recharging. After an active morning, enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. In the early evening, we gather in the restaurant for dinner.

Breakfast, Dinner.

Saturday 29 November. Two things can happen this morning, you can either choose to relax and unwind in the lavish surroundings of the hotel (maybe check out the Sir Edmund Hillary Museum), or you can join your Tour Manager on the Hooker Valley Walk. This is a 10km return track that leads up the Hooker Valley ending at the Mueller Glacier Lake. Along the way you will cross three swingbridges and encounter picturesque icebergs, glaciers and the beautiful Mt Cook Buttercup! And, if you’re not up to doing the full 10km then you are welcome to go as far as you are comfortable and return when it suits.  

After lunch, we take those adverturous travellers down to the Mt Cook Aerodrome for their Ultimate Alpine Adventure – an experience we highly reccommend. 

Breakfast, Dinner.

Sunday 30 November. After a few relaxing days at our alpine resort, it’s time to pack your bags and begin our journey home. We start by making our way through Twizel, heading towards Queenstown Airport for our flights. On this leisurely drive, we stop to explore the Omarama Clay Cliffs before entering Lindis Pass. Driving through this pass is a unique experience, with landscapes and scenery unlike anywhere else in New Zealand. After passing through the pass, we stop in Tarras for a special farwell lunch before continuing to Queenstown Airport where we say our final farewells and return home.

Breakfast.