From
NZ $3,545

Trains, Fiords and Glaciers

6 days
Start and end in Christchurch
3.7
3 traveler reviews
Trains, Fiords and Glaciers - Thrifty Tours
From
NZ $3,545
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Plan your adventure:
  • In-depth Cultural
  • Family
  • Self-Guided
  • Private
  • Explorer
  • Personalized
  • Coach / Bus
  • Christmas & New Year
Self-guided
Independent exploration, backed by expert advice and support
Guided in English
Age range 1 to 100
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore the wonders of the Taieri Gorge
  • Let loose in the adventure capital of Queenstown
  • Visit Lake Wanaka, Hawea and the West Coast glaciers
  • Discover the natural beauty of Milford Sound

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Christchurch to Dunedin by Intercity coach
  2. Day 2 Today head into Queenstown via the Southern Scenic Route
  3. Day 3 A full day tour into Milford Sound including a cruise
  4. Day 4 A full day to explore Queenstown at leisure. Entrance to the Skyline Gondola is included
  5. Day 5 Travel through Lake Wanaka, Hawea and the Wild West Coast to Glacier Country
  6. Day 6 Today cross the Southern Alps on the world famous TranzAlpine Scenic Train
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Thrifty Tours

Number of tours

28

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

100%

It's all about enjoying the flexibility of travelling where you want when you...

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Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • AB
    · August 27th, 2023
    Everything worked perfectly, no hitches, fairly straightforward, and we had plenty of time to ourselves. An unforeseen 3rd party accident meant a reshuffle which was catered for, without a drama. Thanks. South Island, in August is a treasure !
    Show more
    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    Hi Andrew! It is great to hear you enjoyed the South Island in August. It is such a beautiful time to visit with the snow-capped Southern Alps. Thank you for sharing your experience.
    Trip date: August 2023
  • JT
    · March 24th, 2023
    Two legs of the trip was on Intercity buses,...
    Show more
    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    Hello James, We are thrilled to know that you had a great time and thank you for sharing your experience with us, we value your feedback, and thank you very much for your time. The Thrifty Tours Team
    Trip date: February 2023
  • DF
    · March 20th, 2023
    Recurrent issues not correctly dealt with, even after sending e-mail to the ground tour operator. Would not recommend this tour to anybody else and would appreciate a correct response should you wish to improve your service or even answer my complaints. From old coaches, to not getting sitting together on another trip, to no show of private transfers late at night, to looking forward to spending end of tour “in a luxury coach”, as advised by tour operator, to instead getting a car with driver guide who had finished up a job the night before and being told he was now doing the job to transfer us from Queenstown and insisting we stop at far too many beautiful sights which we were not wanting to do, to sitting with our driver for lunch (could hardly say that we would have prepared to spend lunch on our own, to being put in a motel on first night of tour, where outside door would not lock and reception “it will be fine, we have cameras ! and which was far below standards, even by the standard of the other two lovely motels we happily were accommodated in. To being put in a hotel on final night that had only opened with no bar and no dinner facilities, despite the fact we did not get to hotel till after 8.30 pm as again the taxi transfer booked for us had taken another fare as train was late and we had to wait for 20 minutes for him to come back. I am personally in the tourism industry for 40 years in Ireland and I can honestly say that this was the worst trip that could ever be offered to our age group, late 60’s, despite we are fit and healthy as the buses, with delays etc means you get into a destination, usually after 8pm and are expected to be back on the road at 7am to see the next amazing thing that NZ has to offer . Yer you advertise it as up to 99 years which is false advertising. Also we spoke with two ladies on same tour from the Uk and they go double the accommodation, plus additional ferry from north Island and train to Christchurch for less than we paid for a 5 overnight trip!!
    Show more
    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    We apologise that your recent Independent Coach Tour of the lower South Island did not live up to your expectations. We want you to know that our team was quick to respond to your initial email at the beginning of your tour and provided an in-country... Show more
    Trip date: March 2023

Dates & Availability

6 days
Trains, Fiords and Glaciers
From Christchurch to Christchurch

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What our customers ask about this tour

    The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
    • Are there any hidden costs?

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    • Can you accommodate dietary requirements?

      Specific dietary requirements can typically be accommodated with advance notice. Please specify any dietary needs when you make your booking.

    • Is there a single supplement fee for solo travelers?

      Solo travelers may be required to pay a single supplement fee if they wish to have a private room, depending on accommodation availability.

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    Good to Know

    Tour ID: 141105

    • Currency
      $
      New Zealand Dollar
      New Zealand
    • Plugs & Adapters

      Type I
      New Zealand
    • Visa
      • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
      • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
    • Payment information
      • For any tour departing before June 21st, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 21st, 2025, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Thrifty Tours. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
      • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Thrifty Tours will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
      • The following cards are accepted for "Thrifty Tours" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
    • Cancellation Policy
    • Accessibility
      Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.