Takahe Select: The Ultimate South Island New Zealand Loop (Christchurch Start)

This 11-day loop out of Christchurch takes in the South Island's big landscapes without cutting corners on comfort — golden beaches, glaciers, fiords and the country's highest peaks, all in one circuit that finishes back where it started.

You'll be in twin-share rooms throughout, in proper 3-4 star hotels, motels and lodges rather than hostel dorms, so it suits people who want a decent night's sleep as much as the scenery. A local guide travels with the group the whole way, filling in the history and stories behind the places you pass through.

The pace is steady and social — a mixed-age group typically in their 20s to 50s, with days built around a few big-ticket experiences rather than constant movement.

What you'll do

• Walk the golden sands of Abel Tasman National Park
• Head into the rainforest and glacier country around Franz Josef
• Take in Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Mackenzie Country
• Spend time in Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure hub
• Cruise Milford Sound past Mitre Peak on a full day trip to Fiordland