The Southern Drift


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Trip includes
- Small group (average 16 guests) 20 included meals 11 Nights premium accommodation
Itinerary

On arrival at Christchurch Airport you'll be driven by private car to your hotel. Spend some time at leisure to relax or explore on your own. Perhaps visit the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. In the evening meet your Journey Director for a Welcome Reception.
Hotel Montreal Christchurch
Welcome Reception
It's all aboard the TranzAlpine train. Rated as one of the world's great scenic railway journeys, you'll travel in comfort across the Canterbury Plains through to the Southern Alps. From Arthur's Pass, visit the small town of Hokitika, the heritage and cultural centre...
We explore this area on a walk with a local guide, who will take you up alongside the Waiho River bed following the glacier’s path of retreat, and will explain the history behind mighty Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Later, you may want to get up clos...
This morning it’s time for an adventure as we travel in a purpose-built fully enclosed river jet boat and journey down the Haast River. After a lunch stop at Makarora we head to Queenstown, taking time to stop to explore the historic gold-mining village of Arrowtown. ...
Enjoy Queenstown your way! Perhaps view The Lord of the Rings film locations on a scenic tour of Queenstown and Glenorchy or spend time having a relaxing massage in the spa. Why not sit back and enjoy a peaceful cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard New Zealand’s oldest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station, for a gourmet BBQ dinner?
The Rees
Full Breakfast
Make the most of your extended stay in Queenstown. Perhaps join a wine tour and taste some of Central Otago’s world-renowned Pinot Noir; take a jet boat ride down the mighty Shotover River. Or simply relax, shop or enjoy time at one of the many cafés and restaurants w...
Travel south along Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau, which is nestled on the shores of the South Island’s largest lake. Stop for lunch at a local farm, where you will hear stories of life on the land and meet a cuddly animal or two. Continue through the rainforest of the UNES...
We leave the majestic Fiordland National Park for the fertile sheep-dotted pastures of South Otago through to Gore, the country music capital of New Zealand, for a lunch stop. Journey to Invercargill, New Zealand's southernmost city. This commercial hub is full of gra...
Board a ferry at Bluff and cruise to Stewart Island, known by locals as Rakiura the Maori reference to Glowing Skies. It has been described as rugged, pristine and tranquil – and rightly so as 97% of the island is designated National Park and Conservation Estate. This...
Enjoy a relaxed start in Invercargill before departing for Dunedin. Visit Dunedin Craft Distillers, the first distillery in Aotearoa New Zealand and one of only a handful worldwide, to produce botanical spirits from surplus bread and bakery products that would otherwi...
Travel up the east coast of the South Island via Omarau and Timaru. Once back in Christchurch embark on a sightseeing tour of the city to learn about its rebirth after the devastating 2011 earthquake. This evening, toast your tour at a Celebration Dinner with your new-found friends and Journey Director.
Hotel Montreal Christchurch
Full Breakfast, Celebration Dinner
Say farewell to your fellow travellers as your Inspiring Journey comes to an end and we transfer you by private car to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight.
Full Breakfast
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

AAT Kings Reviews & Ratings
Trusted Customer
Mar 2025
The Southern Drift
Every accomodation was excellent. Beds were all very comfor...
Trusted Customer
Mar 2025
The Southern Drift
The tour director was absolutely perfect, knowledgeable, articulate and witty. Coach was genuinely “business class “ and the driver was safe and added usefully to th...
Thomas Edmund Zalaski
Mar 2025
The Southern Drift
Our tour was wonderful. Our tour guide Hope made the tour interesting and she shared her heritage and personal experiences in the South Island. She made our group fe...
Georgina Andrews
Oct 2024
The Southern Drift
What a wonderful adventure the Southern Drift was. From beautiful scenery, interesting excursions, first class accommodation and meals, luxury coach, friendly fello...
Other AAT Kings Reviews
Maureen Goossens
Apr 2025
Spirit of New Zealand
The coach trip from beginning to end was fantastic, Isabel's know...
Trusted Customer
Apr 2025
It's okay but there is much more room to improve. Hire a competent person.
See my previous comment. I was expecting little better. I was not happy about mandatory tips per person not per family, per day and minimum $10 per day rate. And al...
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Logistics
Accommodation
- Hotel Montreal Christchurch
- Te Waonui Forest Retreat
- The Rees
- Milford Mariner
- The Langlands Hotel
- Distinction Dunedin Hotel
Cancellation by the Traveller
Travel arrangements for any member of the party may be cancelled at any time by written notice by the person who made the booking.
If notice of cancellation is received by the Provider before final payment is due (see The Table), the deposit will be retained. If cancellation is made after final payment is due cancellation fees will apply (see The Table). These cancellation fees represent the costs incurred less any expected recoveries. Please also refer to Air cancellation Section where applicable.Notice of cancellation must be made in writing directly to the Provider or through your Travel Agent. Please also refer to the Provider's Gold Seal Additional Protection.
If a person in a party cancels and there is a room change caused by this cancellation (such as a twin share to Single, or Triple to twin share), charges for the new room type will be the responsibility of the remaining party. The charges detailed in the Summary Terms table (which includes GST), representing costs incurred by the Provider in cancelling your travel arrangements, will apply when notice of cancellation for your trip is given after the booking is confirmed. Please also refer to the Provider's Gold Seal Additional Protection.
If a guest fails to join the trip on the day of departure, cancellation fees will be 100% (unless the guest notifies us of the delay and joins the trip later at their own expense).
Cancellation fees as per The Table apply to additional accommodation and/or chargeable transfers prior to and after the trip, itinerary extensions or cruise reserved through the Provider.
Cancellation fees and charges will include any amounts that we have paid or have contractually committed to pay to third parties to deliver your travel arrangements which we cannot reasonably recover (for example payments made or due to airlines and hotels). Any payments we have made to third parties will only be refunded to you once we have deducted the above cancellation fees and charges and once we have actually recovered the amounts from the third parties.
All cancellation fees as per The Table are additional to any cancellation fees or other charges that may be levied by your Travel Agent.
Gold Seal Protection premiums are non-refundable.
If the reason for your cancellation is covered under your insurance, you may be able to reclaim these charges from your insurer. You are responsible for making the claim to your insurer. We will provide you with documentation to support your claim.
Cancellation by the Provider
The Provider reserves the right, to modify or cancel any trip, accommodation, in-destination activity or arrangement, definite or not, at any time.
Cancellation due to Failure to Pay
If full payment is not received by the due date (see The Table), The Provider has the right to cancel your reservation and no refund will be made. The Provider will not be responsible for lost reservations.
Cancellation due to Force Majeure Events
If The Provider cancels a trip as a result of a Force Majeure Event, a future travel credit (FTC) to the value of funds paid to date, less any unrecoverable third-party costs incurred, will be provided. All FTCs will be valid for 24 months from date of issue.
Where a trip is terminated mid-trip due to a Force Majeure event, if we provide you with any alternative services or assistance (such as hotels or travel) then you agree to pay for these costs.
Cancellation due to Events other than Force Majeure Events
If the cancellation by the Provider is not as a result of a Force Majeure Event, the Provider will provide an alternative comparable trip (if available). If an alternative is not available, then a refund will be made. The Provider is not liable for any cancellation or change cost or penalties incurred on other travel arrangements, including air travel, that may be affected thereby.
The Provider is not responsible for other travel arrangements that you or your party have made outside the Provider and which are affected by our cancellations.
For more additional details, see the booking conditions of TruTravels at the following web address: https://www.aatkings.com/about-us/booking-conditions-published-5-august-2024/
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 11 Full Breakfast (B)
- 5 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 1 Local Dining Experience (LD)
- 2 Lunch (L)
- 1 Celebration Dinner (CD)
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