South Island Hotels & Resorts

Depart from Queenstown for this full-day tour of the Central Otago Wine Region in the company of a wine-certified guide. Explore, taste and savour the flavours at four separate vineyards, both boutique and well established, around the wine regions of Bannockburn, Cromwell and Gibbston. A delicious lunch is served at the Bannockburn Hotel, where the restaurant has a 200-strong wine list. Try a range of varieties during the day including Blanc de Noir, Rosé and Pinot Noir, and a wine flight paired with a shared cheese platter at your final stop.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 9.30am • Departs Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday
• Operates November to March
• Group experience

Depart from Blenheim for this full-day tour which journeys through the renowned Marlborough wine region. Visit wineries and enjoy two fine wine experiences before continuing on through the Marlborough Sounds for a unique seafood cruise. Learn about the local history, visit a marine farm and stop to sample some fresh seafood paired with a glass of sauvignon blanc before your return journey.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Depart from Queenstown and travel along through the picturesque Southland farming country to Te Anau. Continue to the Fiordland National Park and the renowned Milford Road. This corridor to the fjord unveils a different side of New Zealand, with its majestic mountains and winding rivers. Throughout the journey, there will be multiple stops for photo opportunities, short walks, and the chance to learn about the fascinating local facts and stories. Embark on a nature cruise that takes you beneath the towering peaks of the fjord. Admire spectacular alpine scenery and look out for unique wildlife including dolphins and seals, before heading back to Queensland.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7.30am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Discover locations from The Lord of the Rings films on this 4x4 off-road adventure which departs from Queenstown. See The Remarkables (The Misty Mountains), Deer Park Heights (The Battle of the Wargs) and the Kawarau Gorge (Argonath/Pillars of the King) plus many more. Continue to Arrowtown and experience some off roading as you follow a gold mining road up the river where you can try gold panning before enjoying views of the Wakatipu Basin from Skippers Canyon.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 8am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Journey aboard the renowned TranzAlpine train from Christchurch and Greymouth via Arthur’s Pass. Enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery as the train crosses the Canterbury Plains and heads through the Southern Alps where it wind its way through the Waimakariri Gorge. The train arrives in Greymouth at 12:45pm which allows you plenty of time to pick up a hire car and continue your journey to the glacier region. The excursion also operates in reverse or as a return. You can upgrade to the Scenic Plus Dining experience which includes local delicacies which are created on board using the finest farm-to-rail produce.

• Duration: full day
• Times: 8.15am to 7pm
• Departs daily from October to April
• Departs Friday to Monday between May and September
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Every whale watching tour is different. Sperm whales are yearround residents so your chances of spotting one are very high. You can also see dusky dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and albatross year round. Dependent on season you can also spot Humpback whales, Pilot whales, Blue whales and Southern Right whales. There are also opportunities to see orcas as well as the world's smallest and rarest dolphin - the Hector's dolphin.

• Start times: 7.15am, 10am, 10.30am, 12.45pm, 3,30pm
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

The landscapes surrounding Queenstown are legendary and you'll get to witness their beauty on this half-day scenic tour. The adventure begins as you head to a viewpoint for a panoramic vista of the town and its jaw-dropping backdrop and stop off for a quick peek at the Shotover River. There'll then be some time to explore Arrowtown, a historic settlement that built up around the gold mining industry, and watch the thrill-seekers at Kawarau, the site of the world's first commercial bungy jump; you can even have a go if you are feeling brave enough (at an extra cost). The next stop is a local winery where a tasting and shared cheeseboard is included (a non-alcoholic alternative is available for non drinkers). Before the return back to town, you'll hop on board a boat for a half-hour trip on Lake Whakatipu.

• Duration: half day
• Start time: 8.30am
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Eighteen wines, four tastings, 6 hours; this whistlestop and award-winning tour of some of the Gibbston region's finest cellar doors gives you an unforgettable introduction to New Zealand's Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Chenins. Head to one of the areas founding wineries, home to the country's largest cellar, and Kinross, where five wine labels are sold and the lunch stop on this tour (payable locally). Mt Rosa Wines and The Church Cellar door follow, the former with a rich sheep-farming heritage and the latter with more of a religious past.

• Duration: 6 hours
• Start time: 10am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience