All South Island Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

Pilot’s Choice: 2 Glaciers & Snow Landing – 35min

35 minutesFree Cancellation

Swap the cruise port for the Otago countryside on a half-day shore excursion that covers Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. Your sightseeing tour covers city-center highlights, such as the Dunedin Railway Station, then travels to the wildlife-filled peninsula, stopping en route at scenic lookouts and for a beachside view of basking sea lions. Enjoy personalized attention from your guide on this small-group shore excursion with port transfers.

Dunedin Shore Excursion: Small-Group Tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Watch the spectacular stars above the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve on a tour that starts with a guided constellation tour, and ends in the warm waters of Tekapo Springs. Using a floating hammock in the hot pools is ideal for an evening of stargazing that won’t leave you with a sore neck, and access to an indoor star projector means you’re guaranteed to see stars in any weather.

Tekapo Star Gazing Tour - Soak in the Stars

1 hour 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

Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike

3 hoursFree Cancellation

*WORLD EXCLUSIVE FLIGHT* Join this tour for the unique opportunity to fly in both a Ski Plane and Helicopter, the only flight like it in the world! Fly up in either a ski plane or helicopter on this incredible 45 minute flight which includes a Tasman glacier landing (10-15 minutes) we switch aircraft for the flight home! Flying through the remarkable Tasman Valley and landing on the snow covered peaks with this scenic option is an unforgettable experience and a WORLD EXCLUSIVE FLIGHT with both the ski plane and helicopter! Get your camera ready!! Check in closes 30 minutes prior to the flight time

45-Minute Mount Cook Ski Plane and Helicopter Combo Tour

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

If you’re pressed for time and can’t spend multiple days hiking in Abel Tasman National Park, this small-group tour packs a lot into a day. Cruise around Split Apple Rock, then anchor at Tonga Island Marine Reserve. Take the opportunity to explore the park on your own terms: go snorkeling at the beach, paddle a kayak, or disembark and take a bush walk to enjoy the views from another angle.

Abel Tasman Cruise- Best Day trip

6 hoursFree 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

Explore Fiordland National Park's Doubtful Sound on this full-day cruise from Manapouri. Enjoy a scenic cruise across Lake Manapouri, then a short coach journey over Wilmot Pass, with stunning views. Cruise the 25-mile (40-kilometer) stretch of Doubtful Sound, looking out for fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and Fiordland crested penguins while listening to your naturalist guide’s commentary. A highlight is when the engines are cut so you can appreciate the silence.

Special Offer

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

7 hoursFree Cancellation

UNESCO World Heritage-listed Milford Sound is an icon of New Zealand’s South Island—a dramatic fjord ringed by jagged cliffs and cascading waterfalls. This cruise checks off all the highlights, affording spectacular views of Bowen Falls, Sinbad Gully, and Mt. Pembroke, passing mighty Mitre Peak, and gliding out along the Tasman Sea coast. It starts and ends at Milford Sound itself so the rest of your day is free.

2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

Castle, Coast & City Tour - 8 pax max - Castle Entrance Included

5 hoursFree Cancellation

Off Road Quad Bike Adventure Tour in Franz Josef

Cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm aboard the TSS Earnslaw, a vintage steamship (or a replacement vessel when the steamship is undergoing maintenance). Stroll the lakeside gardens, watch a farm show, and see sheepdogs in action. Take a guided tour and enjoy free time to stroll. Savor a delicious afternoon tea with scones before heading back to Queenstown the same way you came.

Queenstown Lake Cruise and Walter Peak Farm Adventure

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

For those looking to explore one of New Zealand's most scenic drives, the Premium Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Tour from Te Anau is the perfect option. Join knowledgeable and experienced guides on a journey through lush rainforests, glacier carved valleys, and alpine lookouts, with plenty of opportunities for short walks and photo stops along the way before embarking on your cruise. Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and lunch as you take in the stunning scenery and learn about the fiord's fascinating history and wildlife from the welcoming crew. Finish with a refreshing dance under the Stirling Falls before heading back to Te Anau.

Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Tour from Te Anau

7 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

The Fox Glacier is widely considered among New Zealand’s most impressive natural attractions—but it’s impossible to appreciate its beauty from ground level. On this tour, take to the skies by helicopter for panoramic views over the glacier, and trek deep into the icy wilderness with your guide—where the forces of nature work their magic. With safety kit and crampons included, see the best of the Fox Glacier up-close.

Heli Hike Fox Glacier

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Experience the rugged beauty of remote Milford Sound from Wanaka, all in half-a-day. With a choice of morning or afternoon flight departures, fly over lush national parks, epic glaciers, and alpine lakes, before touching down in the Sound. Enjoy a scenic cruise, keeping an eye out for some of the local inhabitants including seals, penguins, and dolphins, before returning to Wanaka by plane.

Milford Sound Glacier Flight & Cruise from Wanaka

4 hoursFree Cancellation

Discover one of the jewels in the crown of New Zealand's spectacular South Island on this full day Milford Sound hiking tour with cruise. Travel along the Milford Road from Te Anau and enjoy panoramic views over the beautiful countryside. Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise through the fjord and out to the Tasman Sea, and gaze over soaring clifftops and plummeting waterfalls. Afterwards, enjoy short guided walks and explore Fiordland's spectacular natural scenery with a local nature guide.

Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau

9 hoursFree Cancellation

Special Offer

Instead of glimpsing snippets of extraordinary beauty from the Milford Road, travelers in the know enjoy the entire landscape in context on this cruise of Milford Sound. Turn your attention across the horizon to see glacier-carved cliffs rising from the inky waters below to frame up the perfect shot to preserve the moment. Opt for a shorter "classic" cruise, with multilingual commentary via app, or the longer "signature" cruise with live commentary.

Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ

Embark on a cruise of Fiordland’s Doubtful Sound, starting from an easy-to-find location in Te Anau village. Travel by coach to Manapouri Lake for a short boat ride, followed by a bus trip over Wilmot Pass. En route, stop for alpine views of Fiordland National Park, park of a UNESCO-listed landscape, before taking in the dramatic landscapes, soaring peaks, and wildlife of Doubtful Sound on a cruise.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau

9 hoursFree Cancellation

Discover the best of Christchurch on this unforgettable highlights tour, featuring three of the city's most iconic attractions. Step aboard the heritage Tram, glide along the picturesque Avon River on a traditional punt, and soar above the city on the Christchurch Gondola for spectacular panoramic views. Combining history, scenery, and local charm, this tour is the perfect way to experience Christchurch's top sights in one memorable day.

Lyttelton Shore Excursion City Highlights with 3 best Attractions

7 hoursFree Cancellation

Christchurch to Queenstown One-Way Tour via Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo

14 hoursFree Cancellation

Visit both the Franz Josef Glacier and the Fox Glacier on a single tour on this flight tour that includes a snow landing. Depart from either Franz Josef or Fox villages, to suit your plans. Get up close to the blue ice of these mammoth glaciers and snap unbelievable aerial and ground-level photos. Learn about the glaciology and environment of the area through your pilot's guided commentary.

Twin Glacier Franz and Fox, snow landing (allow 30 mins - departing Franz Josef)

30 minutesFree Cancellation

25-Minute Remarkables Helicopter Tour from Queenstown

25 minutesFree Cancellation

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Must-Dos in South Island

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What are people saying about South Island

Heli Hike Fox Glacier

Reagan_S, Oct 2026

Fun-tastic Trip!

Very professional tour guides. Shout out to Toa and Rob. They adjust their climbing pace to accommodate and match that with the groups slowest member. Also, we were late for 10 mins and they were happy to wait for us. Thank you team! @Rob - I owe you an energy gel.

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

Amy_A, Oct 2026

Great small group tour with unforgettable sights

A full day of beautiful sights! Pick up and drop off were very easy, right to our hotel. Colin was a great guide. The tour stopped at several spots along the way to Milford sound. They were beautiful spots to take in the scenery and snap a photo. The small group size and smaller bus was also nice. Lots of snacks and water available during the trip. The boat tour company they partner with was also a good size, with coffee and tea provided on board.

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise Tour from Queenstown

Stephan_A, Oct 2026

The best experience of seeing New Zealand!!

As a Captain on. Boeing 787 Dreamliner I was super impressed with the pilots and their skill, knowledge and professionalism. Jason was our pilot for our experience and he was supremely capable and made the flight for myself and my family unforgettable. I would be remiss to say that this kind of experience is singular (even after 1000s hour of my own flying time) in its indescribably beautiful terrain over, between and through mountains and fjords. The boat cruise down the fjords was equally spectacular!! The whole experience is a must and myself and my family will cherish the memories. I wish Jason, Josh, Sam and the rest of the pilot staff at True North the very and absolute best in their future flying careers!!! Fair winds and blue side up always boys!! Cheers

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

Grazyna_M, Oct 2026

Monikas Birthday Celabebration

My daughter Monika and I celebrated her birthday in Queenstown. The team at Viator organized a fantastic welcome experience for her a perfect start to our entire trip to the featuring the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise. The lunch was incredibly delicious, and the team’s birthday song and cake were very much appreciated. The farm show after lunch was so interesting—truly wow! We both highly recommend the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise. Thank you so much for a wonderful New Zealand experience - we will be back!

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!

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Sarah_B, Sept 2026

Raw Beauty Wilderness Doubtful Sound

Everything about this experience was 100% brilliant. The staff were fantastic, knowledgeable and friendly. The food was awesome - heaps of options. Doubtful Sound itself was breathtaking. When the boat turned off its motor the experience of silence was awe inspiring and spiritual. Simply beautiful. Thank you to everyone involved. Do not miss this tour.

Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown

Jo_B, Sept 2026

Milford Sound

This was an amazing trip in which we saw beautiful country on the way to Milford Sound. Driver provided commentary along the way which was very informative and helpful. Boat ride was fun, got to see many waterfalls and beautiful scenery. Only downside was the drive back was very long and got in early evening.

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!

Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike

Dakkota_M, Aug 2026

A once in a lifetime...

A once in a lifetime experience. Sarah was our guide and she was incredibly knowledgeable about the glacier, and made sure to take us on a fun and beautiful adventure across the glacier. The company was very honest about potential weather cancellations, and handled a surprise cloud cover with very practiced calm. Highly recommend doing this tour!

Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ

Stacey_M, June 2026

Marseu Family

Our booking was thru RealNZ for the cruise aboard The Haven. Fantastic cruise, the captain was hilarious so glad i booked with them. The whole experience was an Unbelievable and unforgettable experience. I highly recommend anyone ever thinking of seeing Milford Sound, do it because this will be one experience you will never ever forget.