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New Zealand South Island Itineraries & Tours

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
<p>Tranquility and awe abound with a tour of New Zealand. Remoteness and raw beauty make the region a must-see for adventurers and nature-lovers alike. Paddle through staggering fjords and hike along magnificent glaciers as you indulge in a spectacular wilderness. Explore the South Island’s kaleidoscopic landscape with an adventure tailored to you by Zicasso.</p>

Tranquility and awe abound with a tour of New Zealand. Remoteness and raw beauty...

Tranquility and awe abound with a tour of New Zealand. Remoteness and raw beauty make the region a must-see for adventurers and nature-lovers alike. Paddle through staggering fjords and hike along magnificent glaciers as you indulge in a spectacular wilderness. Explore the South Island’s kaleidoscopic landscape with an adventure tailored to you by Zicasso.

Life-Enriching Travel Designed Just for You

  1. 1

    Trips curated by the world’s top destination experts

  2. 2

    Concierge-level service leading up to and during your trip

  3. 3

    Unique, exclusive experiences and insider access

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Misty morning on the Southern Island New Zealand

Adventures of New Zealand's South Island

Places Visited: Christchurch, Mount Cook +3 more
Places Visited: Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Franz Josef, Greymouth 

9 Day Custom Tour

From $3,800

Go down the Shotover River by jet boat, Queenstown, New Zealand

Marvelous Highlights Tour of New Zealand’s South Island

Places Visited: Queenstown, Franz Josef Glacier +1 more
Places Visited: Queenstown, Franz Josef Glacier, Westhaven Inlet 

7 Day Custom Tour

From $2,900

Savor great taste while wine tasting in Otago, Wanaka region.

Best New Zealand South Island Vacation in 9 Days

Places Visited: Christchurch, Aoraki Mt. Cook +4 more
Places Visited: Christchurch, Aoraki Mt. Cook, Wanaka, Te Anau, Milford Sound +1 more

9 Day Custom Tour

From $3,700

Milford Sound in New Zealand

New Zealand South Island Itinerary in One Week

Places Visited: Christchurch, Queenstown +2 more
Places Visited: Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Abel Tasman National Park 

8 Day Custom Tour

From $9,200

Jet boating in Queenstown, New Zealand

Adventurous Two-Week South Island Family Vacation

Places Visited: Queenstown,   Blenheim +2 more
Places Visited: Queenstown,   Blenheim,  Christchurch, Doubtful Sound 

14 Day Custom Tour

From $7,900

Beautiful landscape of the South Island, New Zealand

New Zealand’s South Island Tour: Christchurch, Queenstown & More

Places Visited: Christchurch, Omarama +7 more
Places Visited: Christchurch, Omarama, Oamaru, Dunedin,  Queenstown +4 more

14 Day Custom Tour

From $16,000

Why Travelers Choose Us

Benefits of Using Zicasso

Plan Your Trip with
Top Travel Specialists
We connect you with the best boutique tour companies to plan your dream trip.
Your Itinerary Tailor-Made
Just for You
Travel with a personalized itinerary and experiences designed for you.
Travel Worry-Free
Every Time
24/7 support and local assistance for every moment of your vacation.
Couple sitting on the pier at Nelson Lake National Park

Romantic South Island Vacation for Couples

Places Visited: Queenstown, Milford Sound +5 more
Places Visited: Queenstown, Milford Sound, Christchurch, Kaikoura, Blenheim +2 more

14 Day Custom Tour

From $16,000

Queenstown with the Remarkables mountains in the background

New Zealand’s South Island: Leisure Tour for Seniors

Places Visited: Queenstown, Milford Sound +8 more
Places Visited: Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef, Hokitika, Punakaiki +5 more

14 Day Custom Tour

From $5,700

Surround yourself with the natural beauty of Kaikoure Island

Heritage Tour of New Zealand’s South Island: Powhiri to Pounamu

Places Visited: Christchurch, Kaikoura +10 more
Places Visited: Christchurch, Kaikoura, Mount Cook Village, Oamaru, Dunedin +7 more

13 Day Custom Tour

From $5,300

Lupins and Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand

Ultimate South Island Nature Tour: Fjords, Mountains & Beaches

Places Visited: Christchurch, Lake Tekapo +10 more
Places Visited: Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook Village, Wanaka, Queenstown +7 more

17 Day Custom Tour

From $7,000

Milford Sound in New Zealand

Best of New Zealand's South Island

Places Visited: Christchurch, Mt. Cook +6 more
Places Visited: Christchurch, Mt. Cook, Dunedin, Otago Peninsula, Te Anau +3 more

13 Day Custom Tour

From $11,400

Couple enjoying a sunset in New Zealand

Exclusive South Island New Zealand Tour for Couples

Places Visited: Christchurch, Kaikoura +2 more
Places Visited: Christchurch, Kaikoura, Marlborough Sounds, Queenstown 

9 Day Custom Tour

From $3,700

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Life-Enriching Travel Designed Just for You

  1. 1

    Trips curated by the world’s top destination experts

  2. 2

    Concierge-level service leading up to and during your trip

  3. 3

    Unique, exclusive experiences and insider access

We Work With the Best Travel Agents for South Island Itineraries

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Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.85 stars based on 1704 reviews.

Australia, New Zealand Vacation Review: Sydney, Queenstown,...

The itinerary was awesome! We had a few snafus with hotel reservations, but they were quickly resolved. The tours were perfect and all private, with excellent guides. The pace made good use of the time we had and maximized seeing the most locations in our time frame. The hotels were beautiful (especially the one in Queenstown, WOW!) and the rooms were perfect for our needs (kitchens and laundry). It was so great having everything pre-booked and guided, as it allowed us to relax and enjoy the trip and not worry about logistics. It was a trip of a lifetime.

I would highly recommend this Zicasso travel agency! When traveling so far away, it made such a difference to have everything coordinated by a professional. I have had many people ask how we managed to do so much with the time we had. Now, I don't think I can travel any other way.

Reviewed By Laura S.

Australia, New Zealand Travel Review: Uluru, Great Barrier...

In planning our trip to Australia and New Zealand, the representative for this travel company listened to our desires and incorporated them into an itinerary that met our needs. All of the tours, guides, transfers, and drivers were very good. Most of the tours were small group, which we prefer, although a couple of tours were as large as 24. The guides on all of our walking tours were incredibly informative. We learned so much.

We have traveled with our companion on nine trips through Zicasso. This is the first time we have felt that the partner travel company did not take all of our circumstances into account. We clearly stated we were older travelers. However, changes to our accommodations after the initial proposal had us walking 20 minutes to town in one place and uphill on the return. Staying in apartment-style lodgings, we were a mile from the nearest store to get breakfast supplies. Another of our hotels had an incredible number of stairs. When we expressed our disappointment in one of these to our agent by email, we got no response. Our planner was on holiday and no one else seemed to be checking her emails.

The recommendations for suggested activities on our free days were also generic and frequently were for activities that required a car to reach. It seems this company plans a lot of self-driving trips and the fact we were not driving was not reflected in our suggestions.

Reviewed By Deborah W.

New Zealand Travel Review: Maori Experience, Gardens, Glowworm...

This was a great trip. We enjoyed many of the activities, especially the Māori experiences, the garden tours, the glowworm cave, the first wine tour on Waiheke Island, the kiwi hatchery, and Arthur’s Pass. The guides were excellent. All were courteous, prompt, and knowledgeable, and showed a high degree of enthusiasm. The reasons we give this travel company four instead of five stars is due to the poor hotel room we had in Queenstown, the slow response from the company concerning the hotel room, and the fact that they gave us no help in choosing restaurants or making reservations. One change I would have made in the itinerary would be to have just one wine-tasting day instead of two. The other activities were wonderful… fine choices.

Reviewed By Carol S.

New Zealand, Australia Vacation Review: Queenstown, Auckland,...

Zicasso’s trip planner did an excellent job. Communication and the quality of the experiences were everything we'd expected and more, especially in New Zealand. The accommodations were first rate; the highlight was the lodge in Queenstown. The guides and drivers were professional and knowledgeable, especially those in Queenstown and Auckland. We loved the dedicated website for reference, as well as the detailed booklet and maps for both countries. 

For future itineraries, I would add another day in Queenstown and a full day in Christchurch. If days were limited, I would recommend one less day in Auckland and/or skipping the drive/train from Franz Josef. 

The only complication was the day we spent 10 hours going to and coming from Milford Sound.  I recommend doing Milford Sound by plane/helicopter from Queenstown, which would also permit seeing the glaciers/southern alps from the air. The only things we missed were the zoo in Auckland and the Blue Mountain day tour in Sydney. Next trip!

Reviewed By Russ G.

New Zealand Vacation Review: South Island, Wildlife, Scenery,...

Thank you Zicasso, thank you to the team who organized this super discovery journey on the South Island. Top organization, exchanges, documentation, advice, and responsiveness. Our agent's kindness and availability convinced us to go with you in the preparation of our two-week stay, self-drive holiday. Thank you again and I wish you all the best for the future.

Reviewed By Ildiko E.

Australia, New Zealand Vacation Review: Queenstown, Milford...

Zicasso's travel consultant was wonderful to work with. She listened very closely to our trip desires and met every one of them. She was very responsive before and during the vacation. She was accommodating with changes and worked with us on every step to make it a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I would highly recommend her and this tour company for future trip arrangements.

Australia and New Zealand were great. I would definitely spend more time in the rural areas vs the cities. However, Queenstown was awesome and we tend to enjoy the outdoors more than city life.

Thank you for a terrific trip!

Reviewed By Greg W.