Serious Fun - Hiking & Adventure Tour in New Zealand

Serious Fun New Zealand Adventure Tours - hiking, biking, sea kayaking & custom trips



	Best of the South Island
	Past Travelers
	Itinerary
	Guides
	Included Activities
	Optional Activities
	Routeburn Track
	Routeburn Track Pictures
	Dolphin Swimming
	Dolphin Swim Pictures
	Lodging
	Meals
	Vehicles
	Scrap Book
	Trip Schedule
	Book It
	Book It
	Best of the South Island Winter Tour

New Zealand Hiking Tours Testimonials

“Overall the trip was excellent! We had a great group, with wonderful activities and sights. The meals, activities and lodgings were all top notch! Mark was knowledgeable, organized, affable, attentive to details, funny, and pretty cute too! He made this trip a great experience!”

Nancy Paolini - Best of the South Island, December 2003

“I thought the itinerary was VERY good, places we stayed excellent, food fantastic and there was enough free time when we needed it - and of course I couldn't say enough good things about the guide - Mark!”

Marcia Murphy - Boulder, CO. - Best of the South Island, December 2002

NEW ZEALAND Hiking Tours THE BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND

Are you looking for the ultimate South Island trip? Do you want to do the very best activities available? Would you like to sample the finest cuisine in New Zealand? Do you want a complete trip which includes everything in the price?

The Best of the South Island
This trip is exactly as the name suggests! It includes the best activities, accommodations and meals available in the South Island. Before you think this tour is expensive, take a close look at what is included in the cost.

We'll hike and sea kayak in the Abel Tasman National Park, do a private guided walk on Fox Glacier, swim with the friendly Dusky dolphins in Kaikoura, visit Milford Sound when the tourist crowds have left for an exclusive overnight cruise, and walk the famous Routeburn Track 3 day walk. Of course, the accommodations and meals are highlights too!

Compare this trip with other South Island tours and you will soon see that we don't just walk a track with a view of Fox Glacier, we get onto the ice; we don't just do a short part of the Routeburn Track, we do the full 3 day walk; we don't just spot the dolphins off the Kaikoura coast, we swim with them! All activities are included in the cost and highlight the best the South Island has to offer.

Swimming with the friendly Dusky Dolphins

Hike the famous Routeburn Track 3 Day Guided Walk

Brief Itinerary (Full Itinerary)

Day 1: Christchurch
Arrive in Christchurch and explore the most English city outside of England.
Day 2: Kaikoura / Swim with Dolphins / Seal Colony
Travel north to Kaikoura - the "Serengeti of the South Pacific" where the marine mammals will amaze. Get into the water and swim with the Dusky dolphins!
Day 3 & 4: Nelson / Abel Tasman National Park
The Abel Tasman is New Zealand's most popular National Park, and it isn't hard to see why. You can either do a full day walk through the park, or take to the water on a sea kayak.
Day 5: Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks / Paparoa National Park
Visit the stunning Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki on the rugged West Coast of the South Island.
Day 6 & 7: Fox Glacier / Westland National Park
Walk on the ice of the active Fox Glacier. Explore the ice caves and crevasses while learning about this very unique glacier.
Day 8: Wanaka / South West New Zealand World Heritage Area
Visit some local wineries in the Wanaka area and explore this beautiful town.
Day 9: Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
Cruise overnight on Milford Sound aboard our luxury boat. Go kayaking in the evening in search of penguins and dolphins!
Day 10: Milford Sound / Fiordland National Park / Te Anau
Wake on Milford Sound and then hike through Beech forest to an alpine lake nestled amongst stunning Fiordland scenery.
Day 11, 12 & 13: Routeburn Track / Mount Aspiring National Park Arguably the best track in New Zealand, the Routeburn is a 27 mile journey through one of the most beautiful National Parks in New Zealand. Click here to read more about the Routeburn Track.
Day 14: Queenstown / Depart
Queenstown is the "Adventure Capital of the World" and has hundreds of great activities to keep you busy!

Adventure Rating
1	2	3	4	5
Rating Explanation

Essential Details

14 Days exploring the South Island

All meals included except 1 dinner & 1 lunch

All activities included in the cost

Maximum of 12 travelers

Lake Matheson and the view of Mounts Cook & Tasman

Options

Kayaking with the seals in the Abel Tasman National Park!

If you don't want to do the Routeburn Track, you are able to do the first 11 days of this trip, ending in Queenstown. Also, if you would like to do the Milford Track rather than the Routeburn, we can organize this for you.

Activities & Inclusions

As mentioned above, this tour includes everything! The activities are first class, the accommodations exceptional, meals fantastic, transport very comfortable, and the guide... well, let's just say you will have made a new friend and won't want to leave!

Departure Dates 2008 - 2009


Mark Orbell Click here to read more about Mark	Rodney Garrard Click here to read more about Rodney

2008 Dates

Feb 3 - Feb 16, 2008

Mar 9 - Mar 22, 2008

Nov 16 - Nov 29, 2008

Dec 21 - Jan 3, 2009

2009 Dates

Feb 8 - Feb 21, 2009

Mar 8 - Mar 21, 2009

Exploring the caves and ice features of Fox Glacier!

Even if you don't want to swim with the dolphins, you can watch their acrobatics from the boat!

Numbers

The Best of the South Island tour is a very personal New Zealand experience. We keep the group sizes down so that you get more time with your guide and more interaction with local Kiwi's!
Minimum 4 / Maximum 12

Tour Cost (All Prices Include New Zealand Taxes)

14 Day Best of the South Island
NZ$5,950.00 pp

11 Day Best of the South Island
NZ$4,950.00 pp

Single Supplement (Explanation)
NZ$950.00 per person

Tour Map

The following tour map shows the route through the South Island. The tour begins in Christchurch and ends in Queenstown. If you wish to do the 11 Day version, then you will return to Queenstown after the Milford Sound cruise.

Contact us today to find out more about this great South Island trip! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us on our toll free number, or email us directly.