Queenstown to Franz Josef Day Tour via Wānaka Small Group

Twelve hours from the Southern Alps to the West Coast rainforest, with stops at four lakes and a 28-metre waterfall

A one-way guided day tour from Queenstown to Franz Josef for groups of up to 15 travellers, crossing Wānaka, Haast Pass and the West Coast with a local guide. The route includes Lake Wānaka, Blue Pools Track, Thunder Creek Falls, Ship Creek, Bruce Bay and Lake Matheson, with lunch, snacks and water provided throughout. Moderate walking on uneven surfaces. Not suitable for wheelchair users or those with severe mobility difficulties.

Step-by-step itinerary

Queenstown to Franz Josef via Wanaka

• Visit Cardrona Hotel
• Photo at Wānaka Tree
• Cross Clutha River and photo stop
• Walk Blue Pools Track
• View Thunder Creek Falls
• Explore Ship Creek dunes
• Stop at Bruce Bay rainforest
• Walk Lake Matheson

The experience

You start in Queenstown and finish in Franz Josef, so this is a one-way journey designed to move you south and west across the South Island in a single day. The minibus holds a maximum of 15 travellers, which means smaller crowds at the stops and a pace that lets the guide linger at the places worth lingering. Pickup is included, and you'll travel in a modern minibus with space for one large bag and one small bag per person.

The route crosses the Crown Range Road to Wānaka, where you'll walk down to the Wānaka Tree for a photograph with Mt Aspiring and the Southern Alps as the backdrop. From there, the journey heads west past Lake Hāwea and into Mt Aspiring National Park, where the Blue Pools Track is a 3km round trip on easy terrain: the Makarora River runs in shades of blue the source material describes as breathtaking. Thunder Creek Falls, a 28-metre drop from a hanging valley, comes next via a 5-minute walk. The guide will point out secret stops and wildlife along the way, and lunch is a sit-down meal from a set menu, with snacks and bottled water available throughout.

The final stretch follows the West Coast, where the landscape shifts from mountains to rainforest and ocean. Ship Creek offers an easy 1km walk through the dunes to the Tasman Sea. Bruce Bay sits where native forest meets open water. Lake Matheson, your last major stop before Franz Josef, is an easy walk that often reflects Mt Cook on calm days. The entire journey takes 12 hours, so plan for a full day and arrange accommodation in Franz Josef for the evening.

What’s included

• Fully guided small group tour with a local English-speaking guide.
• pickup from Queenstown.
• modern minibus with luggage space for one large and one small bag per person.
• sit-down lunch from a set menu.
• snacks and bottled water throughout the day.
• safety or booster seat for children aged 7 and younger (advise the operator if you prefer to provide your own).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (4 to 14 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 28 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Cheeky Kiwi Travel

Is this one for you?At 12 hours, this tour fills the entire day, so plan your Queenstown morning around the pickup time and arrange accommodation in Franz Josef for the evening. The one-way format means you're not returning to Queenstown, so book this when you're ready to move south and west across the South Island.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the walk at Blue Pools Track like?

Blue Pools Track is a 3km round trip on easy terrain in Mt Aspiring National Park. The Makarora River runs in striking blue tones, and the walk is well-marked and manageable for most fitness levels.

Can I bring luggage on this tour from Queenstown to Franz Josef?

Yes, you can bring one large bag and one small bag per person, and there's dedicated luggage space in the minibus. This allowance is designed to work for a one-way journey where you're finishing in Franz Josef.

Does the guide speak English?

Yes, the guide is a local English-speaker who brings knowledge of the region to each stop and shares details about the landscape, wildlife and history along the route.

What happens at Lake Matheson?

Lake Matheson is an easy walk where Mt Cook often reflects in the water on calm days. It's a photographer's stop and one of the final major sights before you arrive in Franz Josef.

Is lunch included, and what are the options?

Yes, lunch is a sit-down meal from a set menu provided by the operator. Snacks and bottled water are also included throughout the day.

How much walking is involved overall?

The tour includes several short walks: 3km at Blue Pools Track, 5 minutes at Thunder Creek Falls, 1km at Ship Creek, and an easy walk at Lake Matheson. All are on easy to moderate terrain, though surfaces are uneven in places. The tour is not recommended for wheelchair users or those with severe mobility difficulties.