South Island Southern Encounter
5 Nights / 6 Days South Island Wildlife Tour
Dunedin, Otago Peninsula wild life tour, Catlins Coast, Stewart Island, Ulva Island Birding, Te Anau and Doubtful Sound cruise.
Start Dunedin, finish Queenstown. 5 Nights/ 6 Days
This tour is suitable for adults and requires a moderate level of fitness. Level of comfort 4.5 star.
This is your chance to experience the unique bird life and marine life of New Zealand, visiting the largely untouched southern regions of New Zealand. A ’wild south’ tour, our focus is on the rare native wildlife that inhabit our coastal beaches, southern fiords and lush rainforests. Our tour of the Otago peninsula highlights the Royal Albatross colony, New Zealand fur seals, Blue and Yellow-eyed penguins. Stewart Island hosts our half day bird and forest tour of predator free Ulva Island, and 2 hour guided walking tour visiting coastal and wilderness areas of Stewart Island. Back to the South Island, continuing our southern encounter we visit Te Anau, entry point to the Fiordland National Park and from near here you will board a cruise boat to experience Doubtful Sound, a fiord lying within the far reaches of the National park. Your wilderness cruise will visit hidden waterways, view rugged peaks, marine life and experience pure untouched beauty. This is a very special part of New Zealand.
Day 1. Dunedin and Otago Peninsula
We begin our tour in Dunedin, where you will be picked up from the airport or your accommodation and discover some of the architectural history of this beautiful and vibrant Scottish city. Early afternoon begins your walking tour of the Otago Peninsula with absolutely unrivalled viewing of Yellow eyed and Blue penguins, Furseals and Lion seals within a private conservation area, this wildlife tour has been rated one of the best in New Zealand. Good footware and a reasonable fitness is required. During this eco tour you will also join the 1 hour Royal Abatross colony tour viewing these magnificent seabirds nesting or soaring high in their natural enviroment.
Returing back to Dunedin, your first nights accommodation located in the heart of Dunedin, in easy reach of many fine restaurants and bars.
Tour includes: Pick up from the Dunedin airport, Elm wildlife tour, Royal Albatross colony
Accommodation: 4.5 star apartment
Day 2. Dunedin to Stewart Island via Catlins Coast
Today our southern encounter tour takes us via the beautiful Catlins coast, a major highlight of the Southern Scenic Route. Our drive takes us through the rural heartland and podocarp forest, visiting Nugget Point lighthouse, Catherdral caves or the Curio bay petrified forest at low tide. Discover the regions rugged coastline, hidden lakes and waterfalls. Wildlife abounds with sightings of Hector dolphins in the surf, penguins, sea lions and native birds all possible.
Driving further south we pass through the town of Invercargill and onto the very southern tip of the South Island, Bluff township, made famous for its ‘Bluff Oysters’, here we board our 1 hour ferry to Stewart Island. Settle into your accommodation at the Stewart Island Lodge, nestled amongst native bush.
Drive time 3.5 hours
Tour includes: Breakfast, guided tour of the Catlins coast
Accommodation: 4 Star lodge
Day 3. Stewart Island
This morning begins early with a half day Ulva Island birding tour, this island is a predator free sanctuary for native birds, only a 10 minute boat ride away. Your tour will provide informative and entertaining commentary on birds seen, their behaviour, bird song, habitat and conservation. Returing early afternoon you are free to relax, before your early evening 2 hour guided walking tour of Stewart Island’s forest and coastline. On this small group eco tour you will discover the island’s unique cultural and natural heritage.
While on Stewart Island, the weather can be variable at any time of the year, we recommend that you bring a good selection of warm layers, raincoat and umbrella for your comfort!
Tour includes: Breakfast, Ulva Island birding tour and 2 hour Stewart Island walking tour.
Accommodation: 4 star lodge
Day 4. Stewart Island to Te Anau
Today we board the ferry back to the South Island, and spend the morning visiting some iconic southern attractions, the Bluff hill lookout over Foveaux Strait and Oreti beach, made famous by Bert Munro and the ’worlds fastest Indian’ movie. A short stop in Invercargill before continuing driving the Southern Scenic route north to Te Anau via Fiordland National park, New Zealand’s largest protected wilderness region. Staying in Te Anau township for 2 nights we arrive here early afternoon where you have time to explore the town and take a walk about the deep clear waters of Lake Te Anau, one of the largest lakes in New Zealand, or take an optional guided tour of the popular Glow worm caves across the lake.
Drive time 3 hours
Tour includes: Breakfast
Accommodation: 4.5 start boutique lodge
Day 5. Te Anau to Doubtful Sound – return
Departing early from Te Anau we drive 30 minutes to Manuapouri and the site of the Underground Power Station. Your Doubtful Sound experience begins with a cruise across the clear waters of Lake Manapouri. Then it’s a short drive up over Wilmot Pass, stopping to view the dense rainforest far below. On reaching Deep Cove, board a catamaran for a 3 hour Doubtful Sound cruise, enjoying the incredible landscapes of rainforest and rugged peaks, untouched beauty and pure remoteness. Sightings of Bottlenose dolphins and other marine and bird life are all possible in this deep fiord carved out by glaciers many thousands of years ago. Returning the same way, you will arrive back in Te Anau by late afternoon.
Tour includes: Breakfast, and Doubtful Sound Cruise
Accommodation: 4.5 star boutique lodge
Day 6. Te Anau to Queestown
Our final day of our southern encounter tour, today we drive north toward Queenstown the adventure capital of New Zealand and back to civilisation. Enjoy the mighty Remarkable mountain range, beautiful Lake Wakitipu, the wind farm at Mossburn and a dryer climate that prevails in the region of Central Otago. Arrriving early afternoon in Queenstown our tour finishes here, we say our farewells and allow you to continue on exploring more of beautiful New Zealand.
Drive time 2.5 hours
Eco tour includes: Breakfast
As this Southern encounter tour visits some remote regions, we highly recommend booking your vacation well in advance to secure availability.
Book this tour or combine this tour with our very popular South Island wine tour to create an incredible 10 Day Wildlife and Wine South Island experience!