All South Island Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

13 hoursFree Cancellation

Located on the eastern shores of New Zealand’s South Island, Kaikoura is famous for the spectacular array of marine wildlife living off its shores—but to see the best of it, you have to take to the waves. On this tour, cruise into Kaikoura’s deep waters by speedy catamaran with running commentary throughout from your guide, and spot dolphins, seals, and sperm whales in their natural habitat.

Whale Watching in Kaikoura by Boat

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Take a scenic round-trip or one-way journey through the wilds of New Zealand’s South Island on the Taieri Gorge railway from Dunedin. Departing from downtown Dunedin’s attractive railway station, you'll gaze out over ever-changing corners of the New Zealand countryside inaccessible by road. With informative and entertaining live commentary on board, gain insight into the railway’s construction and the challenges faced by engineers—in addition to the epic views.

Taieri Gorge Scenic Railway Journey from Dunedin

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

2 hours 15 minutesFree Cancellation

Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

25 minutesFree Cancellation

The TranzAlpine train is often referred to as one of the world’s most scenic train journeys, and this tour will allow you to experience it. Enjoy the convenience of a day trip where all transport is taken care of— round-trip transfers in a luxury minivan, and a TranzAlpine train ticket are included. See Canterbury Plains, the Southern Alps, Lake Pearson, and get the chance to walk in Arthur’s Pass National Park.

TranzAlpine Train, Arthur's Pass and Castle Hill Day Trip

10 hoursFree Cancellation

4.9

(501)

from USD 222

Take the opportunity to enjoy some guided stargazing with this tour at Lake Tekapo. Peer through a high-tech telescope to marvel at the stars and capture images using our eVscope 2. Savor hot chocolate, cozy blankets, and roasted marshmallows under the night sky. Listen to enchanting stories and fascinating facts about the celestial wonders from your guide in English or Mandarin. Plus, take home complimentary photos snapped during the tour.

Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Discover volcanic landscapes and breathtaking scenery on New Zealand’s South Island on this Akaroa day trip from Christchurch and avoid the need to self-drive. Ascend the Banks Peninsula for beautiful views over Akaroa Harbour and the volcanic crater. Sample locally made cheeses and admire colonial architecture around Akaroa. Cruise by catamaran into the harbor, where diverse marine and bird life thrives, including rare Hector’s dolphins. Hotel transfers are included.

Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch

9 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Experience one of the South Island’s finest natural attractions on a Milford Sound cruise, boarding straight from the sound. A more intimate experience is guaranteed because the boat is only filled to half its capacity. Get up-close views of New Zealand fur seals, dolphins, and Fiordland-crested penguins while enjoying complimentary coffee, tea, and biscuits as you listen to the skipper’s narration.

Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation

A Milford Sound cruise is a must-do activity in southern New Zealand, but getting there independently can be stressful because of the rugged mountain roads. This full-day tour from Te Anau includes a hotel pickup and picnic lunch, so you don’t need to pack your own. Watch the views rather than the road by going with a guide and driver. See many spectacular sights along the way, including Mirror Lakes.

Premium Milford Sound Tour, Cruise & Lunch from Te Anau

7 hoursFree Cancellation

Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Explore Dunedin’s highlights in just half a day without running out of time on a small-group shore excursion city tour. Visit historic Olveston House, the University of Otago, and Baldwin Street, officially the world’s steepest street. Enjoy panoramic views from Signal Hill and free time in the Octagon. Transfers are available from the cruise port or Dunedin Railway Station. Group numbers are limited for a personalized experience.

Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Franz Josef Glacier 25-Minute Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

25 minutesFree Cancellation

Soar through the forest on the world’s steepest tree-to-tree zipline, 1,500 feet (450 meters) above Queenstown. Choose from three different courses, one with a thrilling 68-foot (21-meter) drop. Or, tone down the adrenaline a notch on a longer course, perfect for families with kids. Expert guides supervise your launch so all you have to do is take in the panoramic mountain and lake views.

Small-Group Zipline Adventure in Queenstown

2 hoursFree Cancellation

Travel along the spectacular Milford Road on a full-day Milford Sound tour from Te Anau. See native wildlife such as the endangered kea (an alpine parrot), seals, dolphins, and Fiordland crested penguins. Enjoy short walks to beautiful sights including the Chasm and Marian Cascade, and take a sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound. Includes entrance fees, boat cruise, morning tea, and hotel transfers.

Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau

9 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Enjoy mountain and lake views from a different angle when you cruise from Queenstown aboard the vintage “TSS Earnslaw” steamship or the modern “Spirit of Queenstown” catamaran across Lake Wakatipu to the Walter Peak High Country Farm. Refuel with a gourmet barbecue lunch featuring Central Otago specialties, salads, desserts, and local cheeses at the Colonel’s Homestead. Learn about local rural life during sheep-shearing and sheepdog demonstrations at the farm.

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Special Offer

Mt Cook & Tekapo Small-Group Tour from Christchurch with lunch

13 hoursFree Cancellation

Avoid the risk of driving to Milford Sound yourself and being distracted by the views. This group tour from Queenstown makes it easy—and safe—to visit the must-see natural attraction for a day. After a handy hotel pickup, embark on a dramatic journey through mountains, gorges, and the incredible Homer Tunnel. Make scenic stops along the way. Cruise Milford Sound in a catamaran, looking out for wildlife along the way.

Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown

12 hoursFree Cancellation

Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike

3 hoursFree Cancellation

25-Minute Remarkables Helicopter Tour from Queenstown

25 minutesFree Cancellation

Stargazing needs clear skies and little to no light pollution—usually at a remote location that’s hard to reach independently. Join a group and astronomer-guides as you travel from Tekapo to the University of Canterbury Mt. John Observatory, perched atop the mountain peak at 3,375 feet. At this world-class facility, powerful telescopes offer clear views of stars, solar systems, and constellations.

Tekapo: Mt. John Observatory Guided Stargazing Experience

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation

Round-trip flights between Queenstown and Milford Sound save you hours of road-travel time in Fiordland National Park. Following a scenic flight with views of snow-covered peaks, remote valleys, and waterfalls, touch down for a cruise on Milford Sound. Traveling by both air and water takes you to dramatic places you'd miss by sticking to the road. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected central Queenstown accommodations.

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise Tour from Queenstown

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Enjoy an active adventure from Queenstown without having to plan any of the logistics on this half-day canyoneering trip that’s even suitable for beginners. Walk through an ancient beech forest to a steep-walled canyon, where you descend by zipline, abseil (rappel) down waterfalls, plunge into natural pools, float down narrow passageways, and cascade down chutes. Expert guides ensure your safety and provide alternate routes depending on your skill level.

Queenstown Half Day Canyoning Adventure

4 hoursFree Cancellation

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Must-Dos in South Island

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What are people saying about South Island

Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

Andrea_L, Oct 2026

Amazing day on a great tour

We had a great day on this trip. Our driver / guide was great (16th October) on the glass roof 6.30am tour. She gave lots of interesting information about the sights we saw and the stops. The scenery is stunning, I particularly enjoyed the drive as we passed through farmlands, along the Otago lakes and through Fiordland to Milford Sound. The boat trip was great, well organised on a smaller boat with plenty of view points on the upper and lower decks. We visited on a sunny day, but I’ve heard rainy or misty days are just as beautiful. We got up close to a waterfall for a ‘glacial facial’ and were lucky to see bottlenose dolphins racing alongside our boat. We also saw a couple of young fur seals lounging on the rocks. At a stop on the trip into the Fjord we saw the cheeky kea parrots who put on a show as well as running all over the van roof. The ride back was equally as beautiful with chill time to enjoy the scenery. The stops were well planned to grab coffee and some snacks - and the mirror lake was my favourite view stop. Amazing day! Thank you.

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

azpoohk, Oct 2026

Spectacular views on a small group tour

We had a spectacular trip. It’s a long but gorgeous ride to and from Milford Sound, but the driver gave good commentary along the way. There were good opportunities to stop and take photos. A good lunch was provided. The van seamlessly connected with the cruise through Milford Sound. There was also an option to fly back to Queenstown, but I enjoyed the gorgeous ride back. Long day but well worth it.

Milford Sound Cruise

Adrianne_K, Oct 2026

Pure Miford

Great tour of milford sound with Pure Milford. The staff were very friendly, knowledgable, and engaging. The skipper did an excellent job of manuvering the boat close to the shore, and the commentary was interesting and engaging. I had a great time. Thanks Pure Ilford for a great excursion.

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise Tour from Queenstown

Graham_B, Oct 2026

My son and I booked this...

My son and I booked this packaged as a way to get the views and get to Milford Sound without the road travel. Turned out far better than expected! Michael's knowledge and the way he explained the history, geography and sights of the mountains was what made more than just a flight. Learnt so much before we even got to the cruise, and then learnt even more on the flight back. Would recommend this to anyone, such a great day, skip the drive, and see the most amazing scenery.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Peter_E, Oct 2026

Doubtful Sound Is A Must See

This was an outstanding experience!! From the boat across Lake Manapouri , to the bus ride over Wilmot Pass, to the cruise of Doubtful Sound and back everything was exemplary. The beauty and grandeur of the mountain pass coupled with the majesty of the sound are indescribable with mere words. Our bus driver, Josh, kept us informed and entertained, the staff on both boats were exceptionally helpful and friendly. We particularly appreciated the food service on the Doubtful Sound cruise, which included hot beverages to order assorted cold beverages and premade sandwiches. On the advice local New Zealanders we chose the Doubtful Sound tour instead of Milford Sound. Doubtful Sound, while not as easy to get to, is larger and not as commercial as Milford. Ours was the only ship in the Sound. A truly enchanting day we will always remember.

Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience

Junaid_R, Oct 2026

A Brilliant Boutique Milford Sound Cruise

We really enjoyed our Milford Sound cruise. The smaller boat made it feel much more relaxed and the amenities on board were great. The skipper was fantastic very witty, knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. Such a fun and memorable way to experience Milford Sound. Would definitely recommend!

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

Rich_W, Oct 2026

Steamship/lunch/sheep dog adventure

Fun adventure on a 1912 steamship to Walter Peak. The boat ride across the lake was scenic, and educational if you take advantage of going below deck to see the inner working of the ship - very hot down there but worth it to see for a few minutes. The BBQ lunch was plentiful and excellent. You won’t leave hungry. The “farm” really started the sheep dog - who was excellent. We did not see a shearing demo, but was quite fun to see the sheep dog herd those sheep!

Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown

Susan_F, Sept 2026

Thankyou.

Absolutely amazing day. From pick up to drop off, we enjoyed the whole trip. For a long 12 hr day, not once were we disappointed or felt the day drag. Our driver was amazing, the views spectacular from the beginning, the cruise was a once in a lifetime experience, not one complaint. Comfortable bus ride and amazing nature views. 1000% recommend. Thankyou pure Milford.

Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

Thomas_B, Sept 2026

Love it.

At first, I was really nervous because I was worried I might get thrown out of the boat, especially when it started turning! But once I found my bearings and got comfortable, I was able to relax and really enjoy the experience. By the end, I was even confident enough to put my arms up while the boat was turning! Such a fun and thrilling experience! I’d definitely do it again!