Exploring New Zealand's South Island

Abel Tasman, Mt. Cook, Fiordland National Parks, and Stewart Island

Overview

New Zealand is an unspoiled landscape of snow-capped mountains, sparkling fiords, deep and ancient forests, untamed coastlines, and rural farmland. This small group adventure immerses you in New Zealand’s South Island, from the rugged tracks and coastlines of Abel Tasman National Park and Kaikoura in the north of the island to the soaring inland mountain country and its spectacular glacial-fed lakes to the deep, wild valleys and towering waterfalls of Fiordland National Park. The trip rounds out to perfection on the ornithologically significant landscape of Stewart Island, where Kiwi (or Tokoeka) birds outnumber residents by the thousands, blue penguins and the rare yellow-eyed penguins waddle among rocks, and roadways are traded for walking tracks immersed in untouched nature.

Diverse outdoor activities reflect the style of New Zealand: guided hiking through densely vegetated granite and marble formed coastline tracks to sandy beaches, wine-tasting in the Marlborough region, whale watching off the eastern coast, biking (or ebiking!) a segment of the Alps-2-Ocean trail, a memorable waka “Māori canoe” excursion, cruising through Doubtful Sound, evening kiwi watching, and more! End each adventurous day in distinctive accommodations with warm Kiwi hospitality — from sophisticated eco-resorts to a charming island hotel.

Commit to one of the most off the beaten path destinations in the world on this authentically crafted experience through New Zealand’s South Island!

Price From

$13,895 USD
Trip Type

Small Group Adventure
Departure Dates

Oct 17 - 30, 2026
Nov 6 - 19, 2026
Jan 30 - Feb 12, 2027
Mar 5 - 18, 2027
Oct 16 - 29, 2027
Nov 6 - 19, 2027
Mouse over or tap the departure dates to see trip prices.
Duration

14 days / 13 nights
Trip begins/ends
Nelson, New Zealand / Invercargill, New Zealand

*Price per person based on double occupancy. Trip price includes all lodging, meals, ground transportation, guide services and activities as described in this itinerary.

Call Toll-Free 800-445-2995

Do you want to customize this trip?

We customize trips all the time! Email us today: [email protected].

Trip Details

Trip Highlights

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Unique Lodging: Kimi Ora Eco Resort near Abel Tasman National Park and an overnight aboard a boat in Doubtful Sound are a few highlights.
Activities, Activities, Activities!: Waka (Māori canoe) paddling, hiking, wine tasting, whale watching, a train ride, biking, a boat cruise, evening kiwi tour…the full experience!
Local Kiwi Guides: In true Off the Beaten Path style, local guides connect curious travelers to all things local, real, welcoming, warm, and enchanting.

The Essentials

Exploring New Zealand's South Island

Trip Type: Small Group Adventure

Territory: Oceania

Region: New Zealand

Trip Price: From $13,895

Single Supplement: $2,095

On-Trip Airfare: $300

Duration: 14 days/13 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Nelson, New Zealand / Invercargill, New Zealand

Minimum Travelers: 4 travelers

Maximum Travelers: 12 travelers

Select Terms & Conditions

Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.

Energy Index

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

Exploring New Zealand's South Island

The Energy Index for this trip is “Nice & Active” at elevations ranging from sea level to 3,000 feet. Activities include hiking 3 to 5 miles per day, with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 700 feet. Other notable activities are waka (Māori canoe) paddling and biking (ebike options). Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip.

Make It Private

Make this trip all yours!

Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!

Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.

In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!

Trip Highlights
The Essentials
Energy Index
Make It Private

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Unique Lodging: Kimi Ora Eco Resort near Abel Tasman National Park and an overnight aboard a boat in Doubtful Sound are a few highlights.
Activities, Activities, Activities!: Waka (Māori canoe) paddling, hiking, wine tasting, whale watching, a train ride, biking, a boat cruise, evening kiwi tour…the full experience!
Local Kiwi Guides: In true Off the Beaten Path style, local guides connect curious travelers to all things local, real, welcoming, warm, and enchanting.

Exploring New Zealand's South Island

Trip Type: Small Group Adventure

Territory: Oceania

Region: New Zealand

Trip Price: From $13,895

Single Supplement: $2,095

On-Trip Airfare: $300

Duration: 14 days/13 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Nelson, New Zealand / Invercargill, New Zealand

Minimum Travelers: 4 travelers

Maximum Travelers: 12 travelers

Select Terms & Conditions

Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.

Energy Index

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

Exploring New Zealand's South Island

The Energy Index for this trip is “Nice & Active” at elevations ranging from sea level to 3,000 feet. Activities include hiking 3 to 5 miles per day, with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 700 feet. Other notable activities are waka (Māori canoe) paddling and biking (ebike options). Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip.

Make this trip all yours!

Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!

Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.

In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!

Itinerary

Day 1: Nelson and Abel Tasman National Park

Arrive in Nelson and transfer to Abel Tasman National Park for three nights at a charming and luxurious eco-resort.

Day 2: Abel Tasman National Park

Enjoy a fabulous day of hiking on Abel Tasman National Park's famed tracks (Kiwi for “trails”). Tracks wind from headlands across tidal flats, through estuaries, beside the pristine waters of Tasman Bay, and from one gorgeous crescent-shaped beach to the next. Enjoy a fabulous dinner at your eco lodge tonight.

Day 3: Abel Tasman National Park

Today, team up on a traditional guided waka (Māori canoe) tour. Enjoy sightseeing and wildlife viewing, while immersing into Māori culture as you learn about navigation and local legends. Enjoy dinner in the quaint beach town of Kaiteriteri.

Day 4: Marlborough Sounds and Blenheim

Migrate into the Marlborough Region, with a stop at a local winery for a tasting and walk with the winegrower. Then, you're off to Blenheim on board the Coastal Pacific Train for a picturesque journey down the South Island’s east coast. Enjoy fabulous views as you travel along rugged coastlines and across remote beaches to the small coastal town of Kaikoura.

Day 5: Kaikoura to Christchurch

The east coast of the South Island is brimming over with active marine life of all types. Embark on an exciting whale and marine life watching tour this morning. In the late afternoon, drive to Christchurch for dinner and a night in the historic center of town.

Day 6: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo

Enjoy a morning walk through Christchurch’s downtown area before transferring inland through the Canterbury Plains to the foothills of the “Southern Alps”. Enjoy stops along the way in this fertile valley until arriving at your lodging along the shores of Lake Tekapo. Enjoy dinner on your own in the charming town of Tekapo.

Day 7: Hooker Valley and Mt. Cook

A spectacular day of hiking awaits. Explore Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park's Hooker Valley, home to the highest peak in New Zealand. Cross swing bridges and encounter picturesque icebergs, glaciers, and majestic mountains. Don’t forget your camera!

Day 8: Lake Tekapo

Bike the level landscape and enjoy superlative views of the "Southern Alps" as you capture a portion of the Alps-2-Ocean Trail. Today's segment of the scenic trail is very level - limiting exertion and opening abundant opportunities to take-in the spectacular scenery. Enjoy a picnic lunch along your route.

Day 9: Lake Tekapo to Te Anau

Migrate further south along the eastern slope of the Southern Alps. Opportunities abound for exploring, including capturing magnificent views of Aoraki / Mt. Cook across Lake Pukaki, stopping at the lookout at Lindis Pass, and partaking in the juicy history surrounding stone fruit growing in Cromwell. Sleep on the shores of Lake Te Anau tonight.

Day 10: Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park

Spend your first of two days in Fiordland National Park with an exploration of Milford Sound's towering peaks, cascading waterfalls, and jaw-dropping views. Abundant opportunities for hiking and a fabulous picnic lunch round out your day’s explorations.

Day 11: Doubtful Sound in Fiordland National Park

Continue your explorations of Fiordland National Park with an overnight wilderness cruise through the dazzling, remote Doubtful Sound, the deepest and second longest fiord in New Zealand. Capture sightings of wildlife as you cruise through deep, clear waters among the towering mountains draped in dense rainforest.

Day 12: Doubtful Sound to Stewart Island

Transfer to Stewart Island, the lesser-known and smallest of the three islands that comprise New Zealand. The island is a nature and bird lover's paradise, with birds outnumbering people by the thousands and tracks exceeding roadways in multiples. After your flight, check-in at a quaint local inn and head out for an evening brown kiwi, (or tokoeka), viewing tour followed by a local dinner.

Day 13: Stewart Island and Ulva Island

Boat from Stewart Island to Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary. Our experienced local guide will lead us around the island, providing insight into the birdlife, flora, and fauna of the island, helping us spot some of New Zealand’s rarer birds. Return to Stewart Island for further explorations and/or a chance to relax at the beach. Enjoy a final farewell dinner to celebrate this amazing adventure!

Day 14: Departures Home from Invercargill

Depart the inn and return by air to Invercargill for connecting flights home.

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Lodging

Kimi Ora Eco Resort

Set on a 12-hectare forested property minutes from the Kaiteriteri beach, Kimi Ora Eco Resort is a boutique resort where luxury and environmentally conscious practices beautifully coexist with the surrounding landscapes. Founder Dietmar Glaser, originally from Germany, set out to create a place where people could relax, connect with nature, improve their health, and eat delicious, locally-sourced meals, naming it Kimi Ora - the Maori phrase meaning "seek health".

Anchor Inn Beachfront Motel

A modern and stylish motel, the Anchor Inn is superbly located on the Kaikoura waterfront with the majority of rooms enjoying magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and the mighty Kaikoura ranges. The Anchor Inn is superbly located on the Kaikoura waterfront, within close proximity to the town centre and some of Kaikoura's best restaurants.

Chateau in the Park

Located on 5-acres in the heart of Christchurch, Chateau on the Park provides guests with a tranquil stay in the vibrant city. Home to a vineyard, beautiful rose garden and moat, you will feel seclude from the world while only steps away from some of the city's best restaurants, shops and sites.

Peppers Bluewater Resort

Peppers Blue Water Resort is overlooking the pristine waters of Lake Tekapo. Located just a few blocks from the main town area, you'll be well within walking distance to all this quaint little area has to offer, and have easy access to the areas many incredible sites just outside of town, such as the stunning Mt Cook and the Mackenzie region. This full service location will have all you need for a wonderful stay.

Fiordland Lodge

Set on the shores of Lake Te Anau, in a UNESCO World Heritage area, the Fiordland Lodge offers one-of-a-kind accommodations and comfort just outside of Milford Sounds. On the rural, pastoral plains that give way to the rugged fiords of the far southwest of New Zealand, and looking across the lake to three million acres of pure wilderness, you will find luxury, style and comfort on what would otherwise seems to be the end of the world. The restaurant onsite offers spectacular views of lake Te Anau and the surrounding Kepler and Murchison mountains and prepares each of their meals with only the highest of quality of seasonal and regional ingredients. There is no better lodge to return to after a day of exploring this unique and incredible area - relax by the open fire and enjoy a good book in the library or share your stories from the day with fellow travelers.

RealNZ Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

RealNZ has been offering creative, one-of-a-kind adventures on New Zealand’s South Island since 1954, when Les and Olive Hutchins founded the company in Fiordland National Park. Enjoy a beautiful overnight cruise as you drift through the Fiords and take in the sights. With a passion for the conservation of the environment, RealNZ has made impactful contributions each year to dolphin research, protection programs for endangered birds, and the eradication of non-native flora and fauna.

The Bay Motel

Located on New Zealand's third largest island, The Bay Motel is the perfect base for your Stewart Island adventure! Located just a five minute walk from the shops and restaurants of the Oban township, The Bay Motel offers easy access to all that Stewart Island has to offer - and features expansive views over Halfmoon Bay and the surrounding bush.