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  • Overview
  • Inclusions
  • Location
  • Itinerary
  • FAQ
  • How It Works

NZ Adventure South Island

Experience
Tour
Destination
New Zealand
Duration
9 days
Operated by
IntroTravel

Trip overview

From the soaring southern alps to bright blue lakes that put Instagram filters to shame, New Zealand’s South Island is full of spectacular natural beauty and good times galore. Ready to cruise Milford Sound, hike rugged landscapes, jet boat through canyons, explore Lord of the Rings filming locations, hit up the nightlife in Queenstown, and more? Our South Island NZ Adventure is the trip designed for you. Taking you around the best of the South over 9 action-packed days, NZ Adventure is our NZ Intro package without the jobs program, perfect for those travelling on a tourist visa. Oh, and did we mention you’ll be doing all this with an experienced group leader and a new crew of mates? Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

Inclusions

What's Included

  • Airport pickup
  • 8 nights accommodation
  • Queenstown city tour
  • canyon jet boating
  • Milford Sound cruise
  • Lord of the Rings tour
  • hike Mount Iron
  • Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park hiking
  • hot springs star gazing experience
  • plus all transport, some meals, group leader, 24/7 assistance in NZ, help with all onward travel after NZ Adventure.

Meals

5 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Accommodation

You'll spend 8 nights in hostels in the heart of some of New Zealand's most vibrant cities.

Transportation

Your included airport transfer will take you to our hostel in Queenstown.

Ask a question

Chat with us online now, or we can call you back for free, 24 hours Mon-Fri.

Trip itinerary

Day 1

Arrive & Meet your Group – Kia ora! Landing in Queenstown, we’ll meet you at the airport and take you to our hostel to settle in and refresh. Tonight you’ll meet up with the rest of your travel crew and get excited about all the adventures yet to come in New Zealand!

Day 2

Queenstown & Jet Boating – Today we’ll show you around stunning Queenstown, a backpacker hub known as the adventure capital of New Zealand. The good news is that our first jolt of adrenaline isn’t far off, as this afternoon we’ll rush through Skippers Canyon at over 80 km/h on a jet boat ride. Tonight we’ll top off our first day of exploring by seeing what Queenstown has to offer after dark! (B)

Day 3

Cruise Milford Sound - Leaving Queenstown, today we’re heading to the majestic Milford Sound. We’ll hop on a boat to cruise around the fjord, feeling tiny amongst sheer cliff faces, ancient forests, and plunging waterfalls. Keep your eyes peeled for seals lazing about! If we’re lucky, we might even spot some seals lazing about. This evening we’ll get cosy in Te Anau, a charming town in the heart of Fiordland. (B, L)

Day 4

Travel to Wanaka – Driving through awe-inspiring landscapes that will have our jaws on the floor, we’ll stop at some notable Lord of the Rings filming locations nestled in the mountains. After soaking up the Tolkien-esque vistas and taking thousands of photos we’ll arrive in Wanaka, a dreamy resort town hugging the sapphire lake.

Day 5

Discover Wanaka - Waking to the views of snow-capped peaks, today we’ll enjoy all that Wanaka has to offer. First up: a visit to the insta-famous ‘Wanaka Tree’, followed by a hike up Mt Iron that will reward our efforts with incredible views of Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea, and Mt Aspiring National Park. This is the great outdoors at its finest. (B)

Day 6

Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park – Waving goodbye to Wanaka, we’ll enjoy a scenic drive through the southern alps towards Tekapo. Known for its milky turquoise hue, Lake Tekapo is an alpine oasis - so have your phone charged and camera ready! This afternoon we’ll strap on our comfy shoes and stretch our limbs hiking the iconic Hooker Valley track. One of the most well-known walks in the South Island, this walk winds us through the valley to grant unforgettable views of Aoraki/Mt Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand. (B)

Day 7

Lake Tekapo – Today we’ll have ample time to explore Lake Tekapo and its surrounds. Opt for another hike, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd, or find a classic Kiwi meat pie to munch on. This evening we’ll have the exclusive chance to learn about the convergence of Maori mythology and modern science whilst relaxing at Tekapo Springs. Within an official dark sky reserve, this is one of the world’s best places for star-gazing, and watching the skies whilst soaking in 37.5 degree naturally-heated pools is probably the best way to do it.

Day 8

Onward Travel Planning – On arrival back in Queenstown, we’ll help sort out any onward travel for the rest of your time in New Zealand. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Eager to book a skydive, bungy jump, or ski pass? We’ve got you. Tonight we’ll get together one last time for our farewell dinner and night out in Queenstown! Sweet as, bro. (D)

Day 9

Check Out – This morning your unforgettable South Island adventure comes to an end. Check out and journey home, stay in Queenstown, or continue the next leg of your travels with the new friends you’ve made! Whatever your plans, we’ll be there to help every step of the way. (B)

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Frequently asked questions

Why go with Global Work & Travel?

As the world’s leading gap-year and “work & travel” company, we offer you the ability to not only choose from a number of awesome experiences all over the world but, we'll be your support system from the very first moment you become a Global Traveller! We provide a premium service that allows you to pick the destination of your dreams, get our visa & pre-departure assistance, book great flights and organise the perfect travel insurance or tours for when you arrive. Plus, we’ll back it all up with some cool and exclusive tech features that are with you the entire time.

As a Global Traveller, you’ll get exclusive access to gWorld, our personalised app where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global. This is where you will find exclusive Marketplace deals for discounts with our brand partners, a unique social network to connect you with other Global Travellers when you’re overseas, access to our Academy with an ever-growing range of skills & languages to learn as you travel, invites to bucket-list side trips with other travellers, local meet-ups and so much more. Think all of your favourite apps merged into one, but like, better?

And it doesn't even stop there. We continue to be there from the moment you land with a dedicated 24/7 emergency team, over 100 staff and ongoing support ensuring that you have the tools you need to feel like a local. That’s why 65,000+ Global Travellers from all over the world have chosen to turn their travel dream into reality with us and we can proudly brag that we’ve got the most & best reviews in the biz!

Why should I book now?

Covid-19 threw us a curve ball and pretty much halted all travel. This means that we have a backlog of travellers, just like you, who are desperate to get out and explore the world! Global Work & Travel works on a first-in-best-dressed basis. Booking earlier ensures that you don’t miss out on the best intake, season, placements and more! We recommend our travellers take 6-12 months to plan their trip for a reason - to make sure you’ve got everything organised perfectly, stress-free.

As a Global Traveller you’ll get exclusive access to gWorld, our personalised app where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global. This is where you will find exclusive Marketplace Deals, a unique social network to connect you with other like-minded Global Travellers, access to our Academy with an ever-growing range of skills & languages, and so much more. Think all of your favourite apps merged into one, but like, better?

Why not give yourself something to look forward to by booking that trip!

Can I travel with a friend?

Yes you can! Simply tell your Trip Coordinator after booking that your friend is also going and they can link your profiles. For most of our trips we should be able to have you and your friends placed together or nearby. Meaning that you can live, work, play & travel together!

But wait there's more! Not only can you travel the world with your besties at your side, you can also earn some extra cash towards your own trip just by referring your friends to Global Work & Travel. You can learn more about the great referral rewards program inside your gWorld account once you join.

And for those who decide to go-it-solo, we’ve made it easier to meet other Global Travellers in the same region as you. Just like any other social platform, you’ll be able to interact, share, chat and meet with some really cool people who are doing trips just like you!

What happens if COVID affects my trip?

If you have to make any changes to your departure date, you’re protected with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee and our Ultimate Corona Booking Flexibility. With this, we will change your trip dates for free. If this doesn’t fit around you and you can’t go on your trip anymore, we will give you a 100% refund in the form of a Trip Credit with us (See terms). If you’re unable to use it, you can also transfer that credit to someone else for them to put towards any trip too.

If you’re affected by Covid-19 while you’re overseas, you will have all the support you need from our team or partners in-country as well as have access to our 24/7 Global Emergency Line. We recommend travellers purchase Global Travel Cover travel insurance that provides Covid-19 medical protection too.

Do I need to be vaccinated to book?

As border restrictions for countries begin to ease, being fully vaccinated will maximise the number of locations you can visit. So while you are not legally required to be vaccinated, and it’s also not a requirement to travel with us, it will limit some of the countries that you can visit and may make it harder to travel through over the next 12-18 months. We highly recommend our travellers look at the current travel restrictions of their destination, speak with a medical professional or get in touch with our team for travel advice.

What happens if I want to cancel my trip?

Our Ultimate Corona Booking Flexibility means you can change your trip’s start date up to 84* days before departure without incurring any charges when you rebook it for any time (or even any other trip) in the next 2 years from your original start date.

In the event that you want to cancel your booking altogether, if you give us over 84* days notice you can do so with only a 50% cancellation fee. Your refund of the balance will come in the form of a Store Credit which you can put towards booking absolutely anything travel related with your Travel Concierge within the next 2 years!

*Some select trips excluded, including Teach (Spain, Italy & Czech Republic) and USA (Summer Camp, Working Holiday and Hotel Professional), and others as listed in Booking Conditions.

How it works

Make your decision

Choose your trip style and destination, and confirm your spot with a deposit. Then, open your gWorld account and celebrate, the hardest part is over and the fun is about to begin.

We become friends

You’ll be matched with a personal Trip Coordinator who knows all the ins & outs. They’ll guide you through everything we need to do together, so you can leave your worries behind.

Time to go

We’ll get your tickets in-hand and your transfers ready. Then, our in-country team or partner will have everything prepared for your arrival. It’s now time for the real adventure to start.

24/7 support

Never stress, knowing we’re there with you when you need us with ongoing & unlimited local team support and check-ins. And just in case, we’ve got an emergency team on stand-by, 24/7.

Still have questions?

Why go Global

Flexible trips

The unexpected can happen sometimes. Can't travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.

Worldwide support

Know that someone is always ready to assist throughout the journey & they’re only a call, tweet, comment, text or double tap away, 24/7.

We're the experts

With over 10 years in the industry and a team of over 100 passionate pros, you can bet we know our stuff better than anyone else.

Partner network

We have over 1,200 partners around the globe, so we have access to plenty of exclusive opportunities to make your trip the best it can be.

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