A Grand Tour: Top to Toe South Island 14 Day Tour

Plenty of options to take a punt on the river, indulge in some serious shopping, wander museums and art galleries, or chill out (literally in one exhibit!) at the Antarctic Centre. One of our favourates though is the scenic drive through Banks Peninsula to French themed Akaroa. 

This iconic hotel has just won the World Luxury Hotel 2016 award in the Historical Hotel category for the Australasia and Oceania region. A night’s stay in this opulent Italian High Renaissance Palazzo style building and you will understand why. Designed by Joseph Clark  Maddison and opened in 1913, the hotel is listed as a…

Here you have the benefits of a hotel, together with the personal service of a boutique bed and breakfast. Built in 1861, Eliza’s historic B&B was for much of its life a family home, before becoming a Boutique Hotel in 1981. Now, you can enjoy the classic charm of this historic building the leadlight windows,…

Nestled in the beautiful Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, The Hermitage Hotel is the perfect base, home to a selection of restaurants and bars as well as a range of activities to allow you to explore the wonder of Aoraki/Mt Cook.

All sorts from energetic hikes to scenic flights, or for those who like to look even higher for their inspiration, you’re in an International Dark Sky Reserve. The star gazing is on a clear night quite literally brilliant. Earth & Sky offer tours up to the observatory at the nearby Lake Tekapo with out of…

An iconic destination on any road trip. New Zealands tallest mountain defines the majestic Southern Alps. Burkes Pass brings us into Lake Tekapo just beforehand, with the almost equally iconic Church of the Good Shepherd overlooking the crystal clear lake.

Meandering is a great one here – plenty of opportunities with boutique shops and historical buildings, (you can even pan for gold), taking in ArtHouse movies at Dorothy Browns Cinema in Arrowtown, or dining at the world famous Saffron Restaurant.

Country atmosphere, city convenience – a perfect balance. Cycling & hiking trails lead directly from this luxury Queenstown bed and breakfast to vineyards, winery restaurants & lakeside Only 15 minutes from downtown-Queenstown, but a world removed.  

Sometimes we may overnight around Lake Wanaka, sometimes at the quaint tree lined avenues of Arrowtown, but both reside in the glorious Wakatipu region of central Otago.

There’s golf – even the club manager still gets distracted with the views apparently….! There’s also a fantastic National Transport & Toy Museum and the eclectic sofa clad Cinema Paradiso.

Secluded and romantic, boutique but quirky, The Arrow Private Hotel provides Arrowtown boutique accommodation which is distinctive, stylish and which offers a few pleasant surprises.

A luxury resort located on 500 acres of stunning countryside with a golf course….

The main reason we overnight in Te Anau is for the Milford Sound cruises just 2 hours away – along one of the best alpine drives in the world. Leave early to miss the midday crowds. Doubtful Sound Cruise is also an option but will take up the whole day. If you don’t fancy a cruise,…

Another gorgeous lakeside setting, Te Anau is the gateway to the Fiordland National Park. 

Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas offers chic, elegant accommodation for the perfect Fiordland getaway. Surrounded by extensive, colourful gardens and overlooking spectacular Lake Te Anau and the Fiordland ranges, this 4 star hotel sets the tone for your stay in one of the world’s most breathtaking regions.

Relax in one of our fourteen spacious,  warm and luxuriously appointed 5 star motel apartments, super king & king beds in all units, all with views of Lake Te Anau and the mountains of Fiordland National Park.

The main reason we overnight in Te Anau is for the Milford Sound cruises just 2 hours away – along one of the best alpine drives in the world. Leave early to miss the midday crowds. Doubtful Sound Cruise is also an option but will take up the whole day. If you don’t fancy a cruise,…

Another gorgeous lakeside setting, Te Anau is the gateway to the Fiordland National Park. 

Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas offers chic, elegant accommodation for the perfect Fiordland getaway. Surrounded by extensive, colourful gardens and overlooking spectacular Lake Te Anau and the Fiordland ranges, this 4 star hotel sets the tone for your stay in one of the world’s most breathtaking regions.

Relax in one of our fourteen spacious,  warm and luxuriously appointed 5 star motel apartments, super king & king beds in all units, all with views of Lake Te Anau and the mountains of Fiordland National Park.

Spectacular lake and mountain views from every suite in this peaceful lakeside hotel. Featuring its own pebbled beach and jetty, close to ski fields and vineyards and bordering the Queenstown Trail, the Villa del Lago is a 3 minute car ride to the town centre. All suites have unsurpassed lake and mountain views and outdoor terraces…

This charming European styled boutique hotel combines both bed & breakfast with genuine New Zealand hospitality. Superbly situated in a quiet, central Queenstown location just three minutes walk to the shops and restaurants. You will love the stunning views of the town, lake and mountains or take time to enjoy a quiet sunny moment on our private…

Experience the sophistication of Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel, a haven of stylish 5 star accommodation for all seasons. A boutique hotel with a modern romantic style and exclusive service awaits you in the heart of New Zealand’s adventure capital. Stay in designer luxury Queenstown accommodation, set in peaceful parkland, and savour views of Queenstown’s majestic mountains.…

Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa offers a refined 5-star experience in the heart of Queenstown – the French art de vivre amidst the pure dramatic grandeur of New Zealand

Showcasing breathtaking panoramic lake and alpine views, The Rees Hotel Queenstown is a sophisticated five star hotel situated right on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, just a gentle walk to Queenstown’s town centre. The Rees Hotel offers a variety of spacious and luxurious accommodation options including 60 hotel rooms and 90 apartments all with private…

Come and experience our private boutique hotel, where you can come home to relax, unwind and share your wonderful travelling experiences, whilst right in the heart of Queenstown (less than 2 minutes walk from our vibrant town centre). We take great pride in offering you luxurious accommodation with 13 private ensuite rooms (the majority offering…

Sedate, stately and steam powered – the TTS Earnslaw takes you out round the lake and the Kingston Flyer takes you out round the hills. Both have tea on board – piping hot as you’d expect – how jolly civilised…. 

The Gondola has the steepest ascent in the Southern Hemisphere but boy is it worth it for the views. And for those of you who always fancied yourself as James Bond On Her Majesty’s Secret Service can re-enact the final toboggan scene to get back down…but on sleds with wheels racing over concrete not ice.…

Choose from Millbrook Resort, The Hills, Kelvin Hills and Jacks Point all stunning courses that blend beautifully with the dramatic local scenery…..it’s very hard to stay focused on that minuscule little white thing….

Where do we start? There’s the obvious adventure stuff Queenstown is known for where you can throw yourself off things (bungee jumping) or have something else feel like it’s going to throw you off things (jet boating, zip lines, mountain biking). Personally we prefer a different kind of ‘seat of your pants’ – driving up…

Watch life at one of the worlds favourate playgrounds play out….

It’s rare you can get this up close and personal with glaciers anywhere else in the world…but you don’t have to don ice boots and crampons to take in their majesty. Fox is the smaller, quieter and more rural one, but either deserve a viewing. 

The adventurous amongst you can book ice hikes or heli hikes…..or just take scenic flights to take in the views like no other. Whether you’ve got cold or not, there are some Hot Pools at Franz Josef to warm up and chill out at…

Scenic 4 star Hotel Franz Josef Glacier sits at the edge of the Westland World Heritage Park, and is just moments from one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural attractions, the Franz Josef Glacier. 

Distinction Fox Glacier Te Weheka Hotel is your ideal luxury hotel accommodation in Fox Glacier village – a charming township in the beautiful alpine West Coast region of New Zealand’s South Island. Its location provides a real sense of privacy and peaceful seclusion, while being only a short stroll to the main street of the Fox…

This is an exceptional part of the world, to be enjoyed more deservingly from the comfort of your outstanding bed and breakfast accommodation at Westwood Lodge, in the heart of Glacier Country. Westwood Lodge is architecturally styled to reflect the New Zealand West Coast forest environment with the warmth of natural timber throughout the rooms.

Situated on New Zealand’s wild West Coast, 30 minutes north of Greymouth and 300m south of the famous Pancakes Rocks and Blowholes, the Resort is surrounded by the Paparoa National Park and is only a stone’s throw from the beach. The rooms are designed in harmony with the local environment to maintain a sense of…

One attraction here is the Pancake Rocks, although it’s appeal is somewhat dependent on the interaction of tides and sea surges.  The West Coast Tree Top Walkway 20m above the ground is worth a diversion. However the main appeal is the drive itself, weaving it’s way along the wild west coast, through its unpretentious towns then…

Rated as one of the top drives in New Zealand to get here, it’s a small but dramatic stop off on our way to the Top of The South.

Highly rated by us as it features the gorgeous coastal roads our videos were made on, also traversing nearby vineyards and gentle rolling hills, which offer an entertaining final drive. 

A small but very delectably formed lunch stop overlooking a picturesque estuary, with boutique eateries and shops. 

It doesn't get much more dreamily desirable than this.....charter a yacht exclusively with Gourmet Sailing, and be surrounded by glorious crystal blue seas and stunning mountain vistas. Overnight accommodation is available and the crew are dedicated to providing unparalleled service and exceptional cuisine. Must be booked prior to Road Trip.

Why not start or finish at Melrose Historic House and Gardens, which occupying a prime position in the Nelson ‘Dress Circle’ at Brougham St, offers elegant dining and superb high teas in their cafe surrounded by Victorian grandeur. Click here for more information and opening times…..and there’s plenty of room for parking!

Highly rated by us as it features the gorgeous coastal roads our videos were made on, also traversing nearby vineyards and gentle rolling hills, which offer an entertaining final drive. 

A small but very delectably formed lunch stop overlooking a picturesque estuary, with boutique eateries and shops. 

It doesn't get much more dreamily desirable than this.....charter a yacht exclusively with Gourmet Sailing, and be surrounded by glorious crystal blue seas and stunning mountain vistas. Overnight accommodation is available and the crew are dedicated to providing unparalleled service and exceptional cuisine. Must be booked prior to Road Trip.

Why not start or finish at Melrose Historic House and Gardens, which occupying a prime position in the Nelson ‘Dress Circle’ at Brougham St, offers elegant dining and superb high teas in their cafe surrounded by Victorian grandeur. Click here for more information and opening times…..and there’s plenty of room for parking!

Wine, dine and recline. With the legendary Queen Charlotte walking track, more vineyards than you can shake a vat of grapevine sticks at, and the Marlborough Sounds, a marvelous maze of inlets, coves and places to get away from it all. 

Blenheim provides many and varied opportunities for wine tasting tours, (alternative transport provided!), cruises on the Marlborough Sounds, or just visiting gardens and the vicinity as you desire.  

Chateau Marlborough offers luxury 5 star Blenheim hotel accommodation in the heart of one of New Zealand’s most famous wine regions. Rated in the top ten hotels to stay in Blenheim on TripAdvisor. 

Marlborough Vintners Hotel which offers the highest standard in luxury accommodation in a peaceful and picturesque vineyard setting. This 5 Star Hotel has a well-earned reputation for style and sophistication delivered with warm hospitality, a stone’s throw away from some of the best wineries in the world.

Hotel D’Urville offers luxury boutique hotel accommodation in the heart of one of New Zealand’s most famous wine regions. 

Two hours apart and both fairly small towns, they both make great use of water & hills and encompass just about my favourate drive in the whole of New Zealand, the coastal road down the east coast.

Whale watching is the thing to do in Kaikoura, and most trips have a pretty high success rate of spotting them.

Well appointed hotel set in delightful surroundings in the heart of Hanmer Springs, within walking distance to all Hanmer has to offer…..including those hot springs, open late into the evening.

Small but perfectly formed it makes a lovely stop off. Relax in the natural thermal mineral, sulphur and freshwater pools with beauty treatments and massages on site for some serious pampering.

Two hours apart and both fairly small towns, they both make great use of water & hills and encompass just about my favourate drive in the whole of New Zealand, the coastal road down the east coast.

Whale watching is the thing to do in Kaikoura, and most trips have a pretty high success rate of spotting them.

Well appointed hotel set in delightful surroundings in the heart of Hanmer Springs, within walking distance to all Hanmer has to offer…..including those hot springs, open late into the evening.

Small but perfectly formed it makes a lovely stop off. Relax in the natural thermal mineral, sulphur and freshwater pools with beauty treatments and massages on site for some serious pampering.