Optional Experiences

Enjoy the scenic ferry cruise between the North and South Islands in style by upgrading to the Premium Lounge ticket. This gives you access to an exclusive onboard lounge with spectacular views, comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi and charging points, delicious complimentary food and beverages, and attentive service, all in a peaceful, child-free setting.

Take a 25-minute helicopter experience, including a snow landing, exploring either Franz Josef or Fox Glacier. Gaze across immense ice formations and rugged West Coast terrain before stepping onto a snowy glacial plain, with the glacier and landing location selected according to the weather and daily ice conditions.

Take a 35-minute helicopter experience, including a snow landing, flying above both Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers as their immense ice flows lead into the Southern Alps. Land on the snow at the head of one glacier and step outside to admire the deep valleys and rugged landscape carved by these moving rivers of ice.

Cruise across Lake Te Anau to its remote western shore, then join a small-group guided journey through twisting passages shaped by rushing water. Follow the cave path before gliding silently by boat beneath the luminous glow of thousands of glowworms, then return to Te Anau across the lake.

Venture deep into Queenstown’s rugged backcountry aboard a fully equipped 4WD, following the famous Skippers Road, described as one of the world’s most adventurous roads, as it clings to sheer cliffs high above the Shotover River. In the expert hands of your driver-guide, take in sweeping views across the canyon and discover the legends, pioneering characters and historic mining operations that shaped this remote landscape. Enjoy light refreshments and try gold panning in the river before returning to Queenstown.

Rediscover the magic of Middle-earth on a half-day 4WD adventure through the spectacular landscapes surrounding Queenstown. Visit filming locations from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, including the Misty Mountains and the Pillars of the Kings, while your driver-guide brings the scenery to life with little-known facts and memorable behind-the-scenes stories. Follow a historic gold-mining road, cross the Arrow River and try gold panning before enjoying morning or afternoon tea.

Immerse yourself in Central Otago’s food and wine with tastings at four premium locations, a guided visit through New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave and a five-dish gourmet lunch cooked in retired oak barrels, matched with five wines. Your experienced wine guide shares the landscapes, history and winemaking stories of the region, with an opportunity to visit historic Arrowtown if time allows. Travel through the contrasting Gibbston, Cromwell and Bannockburn wine subregions on a premium small-group tour aboard a luxury Mercedes-Benz minivan.

Discover Central Otago’s boutique wine scene with fully hosted tastings at four premium vineyards, each showcasing a different side of the region’s winemaking character. Enjoy a platter-style lunch of locally sourced produce at Carrick Winery, accompanied by four estate wines and panoramic views across Lake Dunstan, with a visit to Old Cromwell Town if time allows. Travel through the contrasting Gibbston, Cromwell and Bannockburn wine subregions on a premium small-group tour aboard a luxury Mercedes-Benz minivan.

See Queenstown from a breathtaking new perspective on a scenic helicopter flight above the Whakatipu Basin. Take in panoramic views across Queenstown, Lake Whakatipu and towards Glenorchy before touching down in a serene, remote alpine setting. Step outside to admire the surrounding mountaintops, glacier-carved shores and sweeping high-country grasslands, with informative commentary from your pilot throughout the experience.

Journey from Queenstown to Glenorchy before boarding a jet boat for an exhilarating two-hour adventure along the braided, glacier-fed Dart River. Travel deep into Mount Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Area, where towering peaks, ancient forest and an ever-changing river landscape surround you. Along the way, knowledgeable guides bring the wilderness to life with Māori legends, stories of the Greenstone Trail and insights into the region’s natural environment.

Race into the spectacular Shotover River Canyons on a high-speed jet-boat ride available exclusively with Shotover Jet. Reach speeds of up to 90 kilometres per hour as your experienced driver powers through narrow canyon passages, skims close to rocky walls and performs exhilarating 360-degree spins. Purpose-built boats, pristine river scenery and continuous twists and turns combine in approximately 25 minutes of pure excitement.

Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where you can choose a gourmet long lunch or dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant. Enjoy a buffet of local and homegrown produce cooked over a wood-fired barbecue, surrounded by lakeside gardens and alpine views. After your meal, watch a sheep-herding and farm dog demonstration, wander through the gardens, then cruise back to Queenstown.

Take a 25-minute helicopter experience through the rugged high-country landscapes of the Ben Ohau Range, with views across mountains, glaciers and ancient glacier-carved valleys. Touch down in a remote alpine setting and step outside to admire the sweeping panorama, with a snow landing possible when seasonal conditions allow.

This approximately three-hour adventure includes travel into the Tasman Valley and a scenic 1.5-kilometre alpine walk through Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. At Tasman Glacier Lake, board a specially designed boat for around one hour of cruising among floating icebergs while learning about New Zealand’s largest glacier and its ever-changing environment.