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Milford Sound to Queenstown: Scenic Flight with Hotel TransferYou board a small aircraft at Milford Sound and spend thirty-five minutes flying back to Queenstown instead of driving four hours. The flight climbs through the fiord past Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls, traces south to Sutherland Falls, crosses the Southern Alps, and descends over Lake Wakatipu with Queenstown in view. Hotel drop-off is included. Book only if you can work around weather — cancellations happen, and you'll need a backup plan to get out of Milford if the flight doesn't go.Is it for me?A good fit if you're leaving Milford Sound and want to see the landscape from above instead of spending four hours driving out — the flight is what makes that trade possible. Plan for weather: the flight is dependent on conditions, so you'll need either schedule flexibility or backup land transport arranged in case the plane doesn't go.
Wanaka River: Packrafting Adventure with Guide & LunchYou’ll paddle down the Matukituki River near Wanaka with a local guide, stopping for a riverside picnic lunch and swimming if you’re brave enough. Expect mountain views, glacier air, and plenty of laughs as you learn packrafting basics—plus hotel pickup and all your gear sorted so you can just show up ready for adventure.
Dolphin and bird watching tour Picton: Blumine IslandA guided wildlife and dolphin tour from Picton to Blumine Island, a Department of Conservation predator-free sanctuary where you search for dolphins in sheltered waters before landing on the island to see endangered land birds including the Orange Fronted Kakariki. The tour runs three to four hours with a marine biologist guide, light refreshments, and all National Park fees included; no bags are permitted on the island under DOC biosecurity rules.Is it for me?Book this tour if you have a free morning or afternoon in Picton and want to see endangered birds and dolphins without driving yourself — the guide handles the boat, the timing and the interpretation, so you focus on the sightings.
Kayaking Kaikoura: Pedal kayaks with fur seals at sunsetKayak Kaikoura's peninsula at sunset in a Hobie Mirage Drive pedal kayak, a hands-free vessel that lets you stay steady while fur seals, blue penguins and albatross move around you. A live English-speaking guide leads the 3-hour paddle; private transport picks you up and brings you back. Children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying in Kaikoura without a car—private transport handles the pickup, so you step straight from your accommodation into the kayak at golden hour. The pedal design also suits anyone who wants to watch wildlife without the arm fatigue of traditional paddling, or who wants both hands free to photograph the fur seals playing around the boat.
Christchurch sightseeing tour: Gardens, coast and mountain viewsA half-day guided tour of Christchurch takes in the central city landmarks—the Botanic Gardens, Arts Centre and Bridge of Remembrance—then moves outward to Mona Vale's landscaped gardens, the Sign of the Takahe on the Cashmere Hills, and the seaside suburb of Sumner. A local guide provides live commentary throughout; you choose a morning or afternoon departure. The morning option can be extended with admission to the International Antarctic Center and a Hagglund ride, adding roughly two hours.Is it for me?Choose the morning departure if you want the option to add the Antarctic Center and Hagglund ride; pick the afternoon slot if you prefer a shorter outing focused on the gardens, viewpoints and coast without the extra two hours. Both work for first-time visitors and anyone with a free half-day in the city.
Wanaka wine tour: 6 vineyards, 30 wines, lunch includedA full-day small-group wine tour in Wanaka and Central Otago takes you to 6 boutique vineyards where you taste approximately 30 hand-crafted wines, meet the owners and winemakers, and sit down to a five-course barrel-cooked banquet matched with five award-winning wines. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a guide who explains the region's geography, soils and winemaking characters. The tour runs 6.5 hours and suits everyone from complete novices to dedicated enthusiasts.Is it for me?Small groups mean you're tasting alongside other wine lovers rather than on a crowded coach, and the pace—6.5 hours with time at each vineyard and a proper sit-down lunch—lets you absorb what you're learning instead of moving fast to hit a checklist. Book this if you want to taste serious Central Otago wines and meet the people making them, without the logistics of driving between vineyards yourself.
25-Minute Helicopter Flight: Alpine Landing in Mount CookA 25-minute helicopter flight over Aoraki Mount Cook National Park that includes an alpine landing on Brass Peak or Liebig Dome, with views of Tasman Glacier, the braided Tasman Valley and surrounding snow-capped ranges. The flight departs from Mount Cook Airport with a live English-speaking pilot offering commentary throughout; the mountain landing lasts approximately 10–15 minutes. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure, and a minimum of 4 passengers is required for the flight to operate.Is it for me?Fly over Tasman Glacier and land in the Southern Alps for views of Aoraki, all within 25 minutes—perfect for experiencing the peaks without sacrificing your day.
Dunedin & Larnach Castle shore excursion: Small group guided tourA guided shore excursion in Dunedin covering the Otago Peninsula with stops at Baldwin Street (the world's steepest street), Signal Hill, Dunedin Railway Station and Larnach Castle, New Zealand's only castle. Groups stay under 22 people; a live English-speaking guide leads the route; castle entry is included; pickup from the cruise ship is included and the operator guarantees return in time for departure.Is it for me?The six-hour commitment and the windy peninsula drive mean this tour suits travelers with a morning or afternoon free and a tolerance for winding roads—the guide handles all the navigation and timing, so you show up and the day unfolds without you building it.
Franz Josef & Fox Glacier: 60-Min Helicopter with 2 Snow LandingsYou fly over four glaciers in 60 minutes with two included snow landings—one for photos, one on the Shackleton Glacier with Mount Cook views. The helicopter departs from Franz Josef, and the full experience including check-in and transport takes about two hours. All fees and taxes are included, and you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle to and from the pad.Is it for me?Book this if you want to land on a glacier and stand on snow without arranging the logistics yourself—the operator handles transport, timing, and weather decisions, which is what makes two landings possible in a single morning or afternoon.
E-bike wine tasting tour Wanaka: Lake Dunstan to BannockburnThis small-group e-bike tour departs Wanaka on the flat Lake Dunstan cycleway, riding 16 kilometers to Cromwell's heritage precinct, then seven kilometers to Bannockburn's vineyards and dining spots. You get a 20-minute orientation, private transport to and from the trailhead, use of an e-bike with a spare available, and the freedom to choose which of six wineries or food venues to visit at your own pace. The tour runs six hours total, with roughly two hours of actual riding on a beginner-friendly trail; a driver collects you when you're ready to return to town.Is it for me?The ride is easy—flat trail, e-bike motor, about two hours of actual pedaling—so it suits anyone who wants to taste wine without the drive or the fitness demand. If you're arriving in Wanaka with a free afternoon and no rental car, this removes the transport problem and lets you reach Bannockburn's wineries on your own terms.
Kayaking Kaikoura: Private wildlife tours with fur sealsPrivate wildlife kayaking in Kaikoura pairs you with a dedicated sea kayak guide to paddle traditional double kayaks along the Kaikoura Peninsula coastline. The operator holds New Zealand's only marine mammal permit for kayak-based dolphin, seal and whale viewing, and guarantees fur seal sightings on every tour. The experience runs about three hours total, with roughly ninety minutes of paddling time, and includes all equipment, spray skirts, and a guide trained in local marine life and safety.Is it for me?The paddling itself takes roughly ninety minutes of steady effort on open water, so this suits anyone comfortable with that physical demand and water conditions. The private format gives you flexibility on pace and stops, which works well for families with younger children, photographers wanting time to frame shots, or anyone seeking an exclusive experience rather than a group departure.
Kaikoura Helicopter Whale Watch: Sperm Whales from AboveKaikoura Helicopter Whale Watch is a 30-minute aerial whale watching flight departing from a beachfront helipad in Kaikoura, where you search for sperm whales, humpbacks, dolphins and fur seals over the region's deep-sea canyon. A headset with microphone connects you to your pilot's live commentary throughout the flight. All flights operate under Department of Conservation guidelines and are subject to weather conditions; if conditions prevent departure, rebooking or voucher use at Wellington or Christchurch bases is available.Is it for me?The helicopter gives you a vantage point no boat-based whale watching can match—you're looking down at the animals and the landscape from above, which is what makes the deep-sea canyon and the scale of the whales visible in a way that changes how you see them. Book this if you want to see whales from an angle a standard tour doesn't offer, or if you're on a cruise ship with limited time in Kaikoura and want to cover the most ground in 30 minutes.
Blenheim Wine Tour: 3–4 Wineries, Afternoon TastingsYou get picked up from your hotel, visit three to four wineries across Marlborough, taste wines chosen to show the region's range, and return by late afternoon. Hotel drop-off is included. Bring food beforehand and decide on the day whether you want to follow the guide's picks or steer toward specific producers.Is it for me?Right for wine drinkers who want to understand Marlborough without arranging their own transport or timing—the flexible route means you can follow the guide's expertise or chase down a specific producer, and the afternoon window fits easily into a South Island itinerary.
Kaikoura Whale Watching Helicopter Tour: 45-Minute Ocean SafariA 45-minute helicopter tour over Kaikoura Canyon where you spot sperm whales, humpback whales, orcas and other marine life from the air, then land on a remote coastal site with panoramic views of the Kaikoura Ranges and ocean. The flight includes a live English-speaking guide, life jackets and headsets; pickup is arranged for you.Is it for me?The flight is 45 minutes in the air with a landing partway through, so it fits a morning or afternoon without consuming a full day. If you want to see whales from a perspective impossible from the water—their full body, their behavior, the scale of them—this is the only way to get it in Kaikoura.
Wine Tasting Wanaka & Central Otago: Meet the WinemakersA wine tasting and sightseeing tour of Central Otago's five key regions—Wanaka, Pisa, Cromwell, Bannockburn and Bendigo—with tastings at local wineries, a shared gourmet lunch platter, and a guide who drives. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; minimum age is 18.Is it for me?Hotel pickup means you don't need a rental car or navigate the five wine regions yourself—the day unfolds from your accommodation, and the guide handles the route while you focus on the tastings and the winemakers.
Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike: Land on New Zealand's longest glacierA 3-hour heli-hike combines a scenic helicopter flight to Tasman Glacier with a 2-hour guided walk on the ice itself, landing at 1200m above sea level in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. The helicopter passes the Tasman Glacier Lake and the Hochstetter Icefall on the return. All gear—crampons, walking boots, waterproof layers and poles—is provided, and the guide is live and in English. Children from age 10 are welcome, though moderate fitness is required and the tour depends on weather conditions.Is it for me?The three-hour window—helicopter, hike and return flight combined—fits a free afternoon without eating into a full day, so you can explore the glacier and still have time for other stops in the Mount Cook region. If you need a longer glacier experience or prefer to walk from the valley floor, a different tour may suit you better.
Glacier Helicopter Mt Cook: 55-minute flight with landingYou board at Mount Cook Airport, circle the Southern Alps for 55 minutes with live commentary, and land on the Tasman Glacier for photos and a short walk on the ice. Headsets let you hear the guide, and small groups mean you're not crammed in. Departure time is confirmed the day before, and weather can cancel the flight, so flexibility matters.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see the Southern Alps and three major glaciers without spending a full day on the ground. The 55 minutes and small-group format mean you're not rushed, and the glacier landing gives you time on the ice itself—just plan for weather delays, since mountain conditions can shift fast.
Franz Josef Glacier Helihike from Queenstown: Glacier ice walkA day trip from Queenstown combining round-trip scenic flights to Franz Josef Glacier with a two-hour guided hike across the ice. You fly north over the Pisa Mountains and Southern Alps, land at the glacier base, strap on crampons, and spend two hours exploring ice formations with an experienced guide before a helicopter lifts you back to the airstrip and a return flight to Queenstown. The glacier is the fastest-moving commercially guided glacier in the world, so the ice features change constantly. Collections from Queenstown hotels are included, as is all hiking gear.Is it for me?This tour suits small groups and solo travelers who are comfortable with moderate physical activity and want to experience a glacier without arranging flights or transport themselves. The fixed itinerary and included pickups mean the day holds together without building it piece by piece.
Dunedin Heritage & Wildlife: Private City Tour with Local GuideYou’ll explore Dunedin’s quirky streets, spot royal albatrosses soaring above Otago Peninsula cliffs, stroll historic gardens or castles at your own pace, and hear local stories from your guide. With hotel pickup and flexible stops included, you’ll get both city heritage and rare wildlife moments you’ll remember long after the trip.
Picton Shore Excursion: Marlborough Wine TourA guided wine tasting tour in Marlborough's cellar doors, departing from Picton's cruise terminal and timed around your ship's schedule. You visit between 3 and 5 boutique wineries over 4 to 6 hours, tasting the region's world-famous wines with a local guide who knows the stories behind them. Transport, cellar door fees and return to the ship are included; lunch at a vineyard restaurant is at your own cost.Is it for me?This is a shared small-group tour with a fixed schedule timed to your ship's departure, which suits cruise guests who want to taste Marlborough wines without arranging transport or worrying about missing the ship — if you prefer a private group or want to customize the stops, the operator offers Premium Private Tours on request.
Destinations
- Akaroa›
- Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu)›
- Blenheim›
- Canterbury›
- Christchurch›
- Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula›
- Fiordland & Milford Sound›
- Fiordland National Park›
- Franz Josef & Fox Glacier›
- Greymouth›
- Hanmer Springs›
- Havelock›
- Invercargill›
- Kaikoura›
- Lake Tekapo›
- Marahau›
- Motueka›
- Nelson›
- Picton›
- Port Chalmers›
- Queenstown›
- Stewart Island / Rakiura›
- Te Anau›
- Wanaka›
