NZ South Island High Country Tour
Drive through high-country sheep stations that are normally closed to the public, from the Canterbury plains to Queenstown, with a farm stay or lodge bed every night.
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NZ South Island High Country Tour
Tell us your trip details and we'll put together a complimentary Stradora Expedition Pack for the journey.
12 nights through New Zealand
New Zealand’s high country is mostly private land, and this is a way onto it. Twelve nights from Christchurch to Queenstown, driving across working sheep stations that are normally closed to the public, in a convoy behind the guide.
The shape of the days is unusually civilised. Departures are around half past eight and arrivals by mid-afternoon, which leaves the rest of the day at whatever farm stay, lodge or hotel the night is spent in. Mt Aspiring Station and a remote farm lodge near Queenstown are among them. There is an optional scenic flight and a jetboat ride, weather permitting, and the trip finishes with a farewell dinner above Queenstown at Stratosfare.
The driving is genuine off-road across public and private land rather than gravel roads, but the comfort level is a long way from the operator’s Australian desert treks. Nobody camps on this one, and the Southern Alps provide the scenery from the Canterbury plains all the way across to Otago.
Australian 4X4 Treks include thirteen days of 4WD hire, an automatic Hilux or D-Max, so no vehicle of your own is needed, along with every night’s accommodation, four cooked breakfasts, seven picnic lunches and twelve dinners, plus the guide and lead vehicle. Flights, diesel, alcohol and insurance are separate, and there is a relocation fee if the vehicle is returned in Queenstown rather than Christchurch. Bringing an approved 4WD of your own brings the price down. Priced in Australian dollars per vehicle for up to two people.
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Photography and film: the operator
NZ South Island High Country Tour
Afternoon briefing in Christchurch and collection of vehicles
Afternoon briefing in Christchurch and collection of vehicles.
Around ten days of guided off-road driving across public and private high-country land, typically leaving at 8.30am and arriving by mid-afternoon, sta
Around ten days of guided off-road driving across public and private high-country land, typically leaving at 8.30am and arriving by mid-afternoon, staying in farm stays, lodges, resorts and hotels, including Mt Aspiring Station and a remote farm lodge near Queenstown. Optional one-hour scenic flight and two-hour jetboat ride, weather permitting.
Arrive Queenstown for a farewell dinner at Stratosfare
Arrive Queenstown for a farewell dinner at Stratosfare.
Depart; vehicles returned in Queenstown or Christchurch
Depart; vehicles returned in Queenstown or Christchurch. Full itinerary is only issued after deposit.
What's included
- 13-day 4WD hire (automatic Toyota Hilux or Isuzu D-Max)
- accommodation in farm stays
- lodges
- resorts and hotels
- 4 cooked breakfasts
- 7 picnic lunches
- 12 dinners
- optional scenic flight and jetboat ride (weather dependent)
- farewell dinner at Stratosfare
- Queenstown
- guide and lead vehicle
Not included
- Flights to and from New Zealand
- diesel (around $400)
- alcohol
- entrees and desserts
- travel insurance
- vehicle relocation fee of $880 if returned in Queenstown
Ready to drive it?
12 days, from £4,116pp