18 to 35s Essential New Zealand: South Island

Kia Ora! Welcome to New Zealand. Your adventure begins in Christchurch – known for its rich Maori heritage and English-inspired architecture and gardens. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, you may like to stroll through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens or stop by the Canterbury Museum to learn about the region’s cultural heritage. After your welcome meeting, maybe head out as a group for a tasty meal at one of the city’s lively restaurants.

This morning, take a city tour of Christchurch. After a devastating earthquake destroyed much of the downtown area in 2011, the city has begun to rebuild in innovative and creative ways. Stop by the Christchurch Cathedral, which stood as a symbol of the city before collapsing in the earthquake and has now been replaced with an architecturally striking and quake-proof structure made from cardboard! After, say goodbye to Christchurch and drive inland to the striking Lake Tekapo. An eye-catching combination of purple lupins (season dependent), turquoise waters and snow-dusted peaks makes this one of the most photo-worthy spots in the country. On the way, you'll stop at Fairlie for a Southland-style lunch of mince pies and cheese rolls. When you arrive in Tekapo, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd, which sits on the shores of the lake. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore Tekapo at your own pace – maybe stargaze from the summit of Mount John or unwind at the Tekapo Springs Hot Pool.

Today, set out on an adventure to Queenstown. When you arrive, jump on the Skyline Gondola and take in the panoramic views of Coronet Peak, the Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil. Then, race downhill on a luge (part go kart, part toboggan). Later, grab dinner at Fergburger – a popular ‘hole in the wall’ style restaurant known for their gourmet burgers. The rest of the night is free for you to continue exploring. Maybe head out into Queenstown’s vibrant nightlife – your leader will have the best recommendations of where to go.

The day is all yours to discover Queenstown and the surrounding areas. There are loads of options to get your heart rate up – maybe shoot down the river on a jet boat, go river kayaking, spend the day at Milford Sound, or join a 4WD adventure through landscapes that inspired the Lord of the Rings movies. If you’d like to take things a little slower, you could walk around Lake Wakatipu for a good dose of fresh air and some epic views.

This morning, travel to Arrowtown – a historic gold mining town known for its charming buildings and beautiful scenic hill landscapes. When you arrive, walk through the town and hear stories of what life looked like at the peak of the goldrush era. Continue to Kawarau Gorge – a scenic river gorge in Central Otago, carved by the Kawarau River. Finally, head to Gibbston Valley and join a wine tasting at the largest wine cave in the country, in the region's oldest vineyards. Tonight, travel back to Queenstown and enjoy your final night on the shores of the lake.

Hit the road and take in the scenic views as you head to Makarora Blue Pools Track. Spend the morning walking through native forests, over a swing bridge and along a boardwalk to the viewing platform to see the striking Blue Pools. Along the way, look for large trout feeding in the pools and learn about the ecosystem of this beautiful river gorge and surrounding landscape. Then, travel to Franz Josef Glacier (also known as Te Wahi Pounamu, meaning ‘the place of greenstone,’ due to the region’s abundance of this culturally and spiritually significant stone). When you arrive, spend some time exploring the area.

Set off on the Franz Josef Glacier Forest Walk this morning. As you walk through the rainforest and along the Waiho River, you’ll pass cascading waterfalls and towering peaks. Soak in panoramic views of the Franz Josef Glacier when you reach the end of the track, then spend the rest of the day however you’d like. Maybe kayak on the Glacier Lake, carve your own Pounamu necklace or relax in the Waiho Hot Tubs.