Dedicated Minibus, Hotel Pickup
13 hours · NZ South Island Tours & Travel
from $144 per person Check availability →
One-Way Transfer To Queenstown
Christchurch to Queenstown One-Way Tour via Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo
from $226.63 per person
Check availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 14 hours
- Meeting point
- Christchurch Bus Interchange
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Cheeky Kiwi Travel
Overview
This tour turns the long drive from Christchurch to Queenstown into a full day of sightseeing, and that is its whole appeal. Instead of flying over the South Island, a small group of no more than 15 travellers crosses it by road in about 14 hours, stopping at Lake Tekapo, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, Lindis Pass and several smaller spots along the way. The day starts early, at 06:30, from the Intercity stop on Lichfield Street outside the Christchurch bus interchange, and ends with a drop-off in Queenstown that can usually be arranged at most centrally located hotels.
Two hours inside the national park is the centrepiece of the route, enough for a short walk or time to simply sit and look at Aoraki. Lunch is included, with dietary requirements collected at booking, and water is provided on board. Several travellers describe the day as a better option than flying between the two cities, since the road takes in lakes, high country and mountain scenery a plane skips entirely.
It suits people relocating between the two cities who want the scenery explained rather than watched through a window. It does not suit anyone who wants long, unhurried stops: most photo stops run to about 10 or 15 minutes, and one reviewer wished for more time at the lakes and less at the shops.
From$226.63 per person
Duration14 hours
Rating4.7 from 128 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Small Group & Fully Guided Tour
- Lunch
- Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person
- Water available
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- WiFi on board
- Booster seat (Safety/booster seat for children aged 7 & younger; please advise if you prefer to provide your own)
Not Included
- No toilet on board
Run byCheeky Kiwi Travel
Itinerary
- Meet in ChristchurchThe tour departs at 06:30 from the Intercity stop on Lichfield Street, outside the bus interchange in Christchurch Central City.
- Geraldine stopA 20-minute break in Geraldine, free to enter, usually the first chance to stretch legs.
- Lake TekapoA 10-minute photo stop at the lake, with Lake Pukaki passed by on the drive.
- Aoraki Mount Cook National ParkTwo hours inside the park, the longest stop of the day and the main reason many travellers book.
- High Country SalmonA 15-minute stop at the salmon shop.
- Lindis PassA 10-minute stop at the pass, free to enter.
- Jackson OrchardsA 10-minute stop at the orchards, free, with the Kawarau Bungy Centre passed by on the way.
- Arrive QueenstownA 15-minute arrival window in Queenstown, with drop-off available at most centrally located hotels.
Starts InChristchurch
Duration14 hours
What To Expect From The Tour
A 14-hour day with an early start asks for some preparation, and the pattern of short stops is worth understanding before booking.
- Pack for weather. The tour runs in all weather conditions, and travellers are advised to dress appropriately. Layers are the safe call for a day that moves between high country and mountain village stops.
- Short stops. Most stops run 10 to 15 minutes, with only the Mt Cook stop measured in hours. One reviewer wished for more time at the lakes and less at the shops, so set expectations accordingly and decide in advance what to photograph fast.
- Plan the walk. The two hours at Mt Cook allow a short walk or a relaxed visit. A moderate amount of walking on uneven surfaces is involved, so comfortable shoes are the practical choice.
- Food and luggage. Lunch is included, dietary requirements given at booking, and water is provided on board. Each traveller can bring one large and one small piece of luggage, which makes the tour workable as a one-way relocation.
- Two guides. Some travellers describe a driver and vehicle change around Mt Cook, with a different guide for each leg of the day. Reviews are mostly positive about the guides, praising their local knowledge and commentary across the day.
- Small group. The tour is capped at 15 travellers and runs as a fully guided small group. One reviewer found the vehicle cramped for such a long day, so anyone needing extra legroom should weigh that.
Common issues. The honest gripes cluster around comfort and pace. One person found the van cramped for a 14-hour day, and another described a pickup delay with a substitute vehicle that was over capacity. Some felt the 10-minute stops at the lakes were too short and would have traded the salmon and orchard stops for more time outdoors. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with severe mobility difficulties, it needs a minimum number of travellers to run, and cancellations less than 24 hours before the 06:30 start are not refunded.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
Included are a fully guided small-group tour, lunch with dietary requirements taken at booking, water, an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi, space for one large and one small bag per person, and a booster seat for children aged 7 and younger, with the option to bring your own instead. A stop at High Country Salmon. There is no restroom on board the vehicle.
Where Does The Tour Start And Finish?
It starts at 06:30 from the Intercity stop on Lichfield Street, outside the Christchurch bus interchange. It finishes in Queenstown, and drop off at most centrally located hotels there is possible. Pickup in Christchurch is not stated, so travellers should check the booking page for that.
How Long Is The Tour And How Much Time At Mt Cook?
The full day runs about 14 hours from Christchurch to Queenstown. Two hours are spent at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, the longest stop, which is enough for a short walk or time at the village.
Is The Tour Suitable For Children Or People With Limited Mobility?
Children 7 and younger can have a booster or safety seat, and infant seats are available. However, the tour is not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for travellers with severe mobility difficulties, because it involves uneven surfaces and a moderate amount of walking.
Can I Bring My Luggage?
Yes. Each traveller can bring one large and one small piece of luggage, which is why the tour works well as a one-way transfer between the two cities. Reviews confirm luggage travelled with the group.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
A full refund requires cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time, with no refunds or changes inside that window. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers and good weather to run; if it is cancelled for either reason, travellers are offered a different date or a full refund.
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