South Island Luxury $$$

A luxury South Island itinerary based on that prepared for some high-profile clients.

NZ Nature and Luxury

This is a draft itinerary originally developed for a high-profile UK couple focussing on top lodges, nature, birdwatching and fishing in the South Island.  The cost is estimated at NZ$50k for a couple.  This is for a guided itinerary.  A self-drive itinerary would cost NZ$32,500.   

January 18th

Arrival in Christchurch.  Meet your driver/guide and be taken quickly to your accommodation, Otahuna Lodge.  Please advise if you woud like a massage on arrival.

January 19th

Drive 90 minutes to the north to Claremont Estate.   This is a delightful high-country station where sheep and deer are farmed.  The house is a renovated historic homestead.  The hosts, Richard and Rosie Goord are a true gentle couple.  Either before or after lunch we recommend a tour of the estate with Richard.  Quite apart from being a beautiful property, it also has some unique geological features which make it fascinating.

January 20th, 21st

Today we suggest travelling up to the Marlborough wine region.  After a 3 hour drive, arrive at The Convent   The hosts again are gentle people and the property is beautiful.  Depending on how fast you would like to move, we can include a wine tour before dinner or simply let you relax.  For dinner, we recommend Herzog's winery, New Zealand's only official Michelin restaurant.

On 21st January, we recommend exploring the Marlborough Sounds by boat.  The very best guides - a 6th generation Maori/European couple, also come with a classic launch.  Built especially for the sounds with a keel designed to run aground on inaccesible beaches, the vessel is authentic, comfortable, but not sophisticated.  Previously our luxury clients have enjoyed her and the guides very much indeed, but if you prefer a more modern vessel, please let us know.  Today we envisage a relaxed cruise of the Sounds, setting ashore at a number of unique places and making the most of the guides' knowledge of native bird and plant life.

January 22nd

Drive two hours over to the Nelson region and stay at Eden House  While in the area, we recommend a lunch on the Nelson waterfront at an excellent seafood venue. 

That afternoon, there is a choice of two possible options.  One is to see the Abel Tasman National Park, either by launch, yacht or helicopter.  The other is to take a road trip to Farewell Spit right at the top of the South Island.  Or alternatively, you could take it easy at Eden House.

January 23rd 24th, 25th, 26th

The West Coast of New Zealand is wild, sparsely populated, and quite beautiful.

January 23rd incorporates a 4 hour drive through beautiful gorges, and along a spectacular coastline.  For accommodation that night we suggest Kapitea Lodge.

January 24th - we suggest a 2-hour drive to Franz Josef glacier, followed by a helicopter excursion and landing on two glaciers and around Mount Cook.  Then another three hour spectacular drive to Silver Pine  This is a smaller lodge but its situation is one of the most spectacular in the country.

January 25th we suggest a fishing day.  A top guide can come to the lodge and take you away for some wilderness fly fishing.  This can be by vehicle (towing a boat), or by helicopter.   

January 26th we suggest a day with an alpine guide and a helicopter discovering some really beautiful, unknown and out of the way places.  Our guide is the first New Zealander, male or female, to climb Everest without the aid of oxygen.  She can also walk at a relaxed pace!  Another possibility is for her to use a 4WD vehicle to access remote places.  Or we can leave today free and decide on the day what we feel like doing. 

Another possible day in this area is a custom mini-event which we have successfully run twice.  After a one-hour helicopter trip through the mountains, with an experienced pilot scaring up wild animals, set down at a remote river and transfer to an authentic jetboat driven by a wild West Coaster.  Travel down the shallow river for 30 minutes before reaching the estuary mouth.  Meanwhile the helicopter is supporting two divers who will join you with a bagfull of crayfish which we can cook up on a driftwood bonfire.  Then do the same in reverse.  If you like this day, one possibility would be to stop at this river on the way down from Franz Josef, and then fly the rest of the distance to Silver Pine on January 25th.  This would reduce road travelling time from 5 hours to 3 hours. 

January 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th

January 27th - drive a gentle two hours into and through Queenstown.  We can take the road through the Crown Ranges, stopping at the famous Cardrona Tavern.  Then onto historic Arrowtown for a look through some lovely boutiques.  Then into Queenstown and onto your lodge, Punatapu. This is a gentle, sophisticated lodge with a top grade resident chef and a history of resident artists.  An excellent place to unwind after a busy few days.

Options for activities from Queenstown are:

(1)  A helicopter day trip to Milford Sound.  This is spectacular and a 'must see'.  Usually we like to schedule this early on, so that if poor weather intervenes as it often does over Milford, we have plenty of days in hand to reschedule.  We have costed this in and scheduled it for the first available day - January 28th.

(2)  Behind the scenes wine tour of emerging Central Otago Wines.  We have scheduled this in for January 29th.

(3)  A day riding horses used in the Lord of the Rings amidst scenery also used in the film.  We have scheduled this for January 30th.

(4)  A helicopter day trip to the Caitlins and Otago Peninsula to meet an excellent conservationist who will take you through the flora and fauna of the region as well as to a secluded private bay where you can get very close to the New Zealand Sealion and New Zealand Penguin.

(5)  A day four wheel driving (Land Rover) in spectacular scenery

(6)  More fishing, either fly fishing or sea fishing in Fiordland

(7) Day walks in spectacular places

If there is an option here you would really like to try, it is worth booking in advance.  Others can be accessed on an ad hoc basis when we are in Queenstown.  Obviously, booking guarantees availability but flexibility is enjoyable too.

January 31st

Fly to Christchurch and catch your onward connection.  Or if you prefer, we can drive the previous day through the beautiful central lakes and spend a final night at Otahuna on January 30th before flying out.