New Zealand Trails

5-21 day, all-inclusive, guided adventure tours

Intro Map Itinerary Reviews Dates Activity Level Accommodation FAQs

South Island New Zealand Tour - Pure South

A distillation of the very best.

We’ve cherry-picked the very best destinations, hikes and experiences, combining them into an unforgettable 7 day South Island adventure. Day walk amongst the Southern Alps on our legendary Great Walks. Soar over peaks and valleys on a scenic plane flight, Alaska-style, deep into the Kiwi backcountry. Explore Milford Sound and day walk in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

If you’re short on time or you’re just after the epic highlight reel, our Pure South itinerary is the perfect bite-sized morsel. It’s everything you’ve heard about and want to see during your time in New Zealand but weren’t sure how to piece together in such a short time.

With our wonderful Kiwi guides looking after all of the details of your holiday, you’ll quickly feel the stresses and strains of everyday life melt away. All you need to do is relax and enjoy the adventure. This is 7 days of the very best of the South Island and while you probably won’t want to go home at the end of it, you’ll be satisfied knowing that you made the absolute most of every moment! We think of it as a distillation of the very best!

Activity Level 2 to 4Designed for you to have maximum flexibility. You can scale your activity level up to a 4, down to a 2, or anywhere in between every day so you can enjoy New Zealand at a pace that's right for you. Walk on well-formed tracks and enjoy a mixture of day walks and activities that showcase the best of New Zealand. You can find a full breakdown of our activity levels plus details of each activity including elevation maps for each hike on our Pure South Activity Levels page here.

Trip Style: Throughout the trip you’ll enjoy delicious home-cooked and restaurant meals to fuel you for the adventurous days of walking and activities, and sleep soundly at night in comfortable ensuite accommodation that we have chosen specifically for their fantastic locations.

Click here to download the Pure South itinerary

7 Days

South
ISLAND

map
Starts

Queenstown

Finishes

Queenstown

Activity level 2 - 4

Accommodation

Very comfortable lodging

Price
NZD$9799 NZD$9799 AUD$7699 USD$5799 +tax GBP£4499 CAD$7899 +tax
ALL INCLUSIVE!

Enquire Book now

Pure South Route Map

PS 7 Day

Pure South Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day

1

Kepler Track
Te Anau

Includes

Lunch
Dinner

Meals
Activities
Hiking
Accommodation

Te Anau

PS March Guest couple Kepler Track
8 Kepler Track with New Zealand Trails kepler track wetland group hike2

Day 1 – Welcome & Hike Kepler Track

We’ve distilled down the very best experiences on the South Island for our Pure South trip, making sure you don't miss a thing on your New Zealand adventure! And it all starts today!

After meeting your guides and fellow travellers in Queenstown, you’ll embark on your long-awaited New Zealand adventure.

Hike the Kepler Track

The Kepler Track is renowned for its vivid green moss, native beech forest, and stunning mountain ranges. We’ll walk the section from Rainbow Reach up to Moturau Hut. Following the Waiau River through beech forest and wetlands until we emerge out onto the spectacular viewpoint at the lakeside Moturau Hut. Cast your eyes out over beautiful Lake Manapouri, framed against a backdrop of Fiordland peaks. What a way to welcome you to New Zealand! Afterwards, we’ll head to our accommodation in Te Anau for a delicious home-cooked meal and the chance to rest up before tomorrow’s adventures.

Tonight we stay in Te Anau*

Day

2

Cruise Milford Sound
Hike Routeburn Track

Includes

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Meals
Activities
BoatCruise Hiking
Accommodation

Te Anau

Key Summit Routeburn Track
2. Solo guests with Fiordland Waterfalls Milford Cruise

Day 2 – Cruise Milford Sound & hike the Routeburn Track

It’s time to rise and shine for your first full day of activities. We’ll head straight to Milford Sound where we’ll explore the glacially carved fiord on a peaceful morning cruise. After our relaxing morning on the water, it’s time for a day walk on your second Great Walk, the Routeburn Track, before ending the day back at your accommodation in Te Anau.

Cruise Milford Sound

This morning, we’ll head to Milford Sound for our scenic boat trip. Enjoy the crisp, fresh air as you explore our most iconic fiord. Have your cameras ready as you snap reels of photos of cascading waterfalls, towering peaks and native wildlife in action. Eventually, we’ll cruise back to dock to discover Fiordland National Park on foot, with a hike on part of the Routeburn Track.

Hike the Routeburn Track to Key Summit

Once back on dry land, we’ll head deeper in Fiordland’s wilderness, for a day walk on the world famous Routeburn Track up to Key Summit. A well-formed track leads us through lush beech forest and past tall tree ferns, with velvety mosses blanketing the rich earth underfoot. Native birdsong provides a beautiful soundtrack to our walk and as we climb higher, views of the Darran Mountains and Hollyford Valley stretch out beneath us providing a fitting reward for our efforts. You’ll sleep soundly tonight in your lakefront accommodation in Te Anau.

Tonight we stay in Te Anau

Day

3

Hike Rocky Mountain
Explore Wanaka

Includes

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Meals
Activities
Hiking Sightseeing
Accommodation

Wanaka

best of Pure South amazing lake views
New Zealand guided hiking trips up Rocky Mountain in Wanaka 9. Guest couple at Rocky Mountain summit

Day 3 – Explore Wanaka & hike Rocky Mountain

Today we leave the rainforests of Fiordland behind and head for the high-country lakes of Central Otago. We’ll then head over the Crown Range to the pretty mountain resort town of Wanaka and gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park, where we’ll spend the next two nights. 

Explore Wanaka

A short but incredibly scenic drive over New Zealand’s highest sealed road at 1022m takes us into Wanaka, a favourite holiday spot for us Kiwis. Nestled at the foot of snow-capped mountains, this lakefront town is Queenstown’s more relaxed cousin, although its equal in stunning scenery. It’s a great place to explore on your own for a bit – be sure to try out some of the local delicacies including meat pies, fantastic coffee, uniquely flavoured gelatos and craft beers.

Hike Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain Track

This afternoon we'll take a hike to Diamond Lake to appreciate the sweeping views out over the Southern Alps and Lake Wanaka. You’ll have the option of carrying on up the Rocky Mountain trail if you’d like. It’s a steady climb and one that will no doubt get your heart pumping, but with each passing step, the scenery just gets better and better, making it all worth it at the top.

Tonight we stay at Te Wanaka Lodge

Day

4

Mt Aspiring National Park
Siberia Valley

Includes

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Meals
Activities
Plane Hiking Jetboating
Accommodation

Wanaka

PS Jan Siberia Valley2
Flying into New Zealand South Island Siberia Valley 4. Group in Jetboat Siberia Valley

Day 4 – Scenic flight into Mount Aspiring National Park, Hike & Wilderness Jet boat

Get ready for a real Kiwi backcountry experience - this is the stuff legendary holiday tales are made of! We’ll begin the day with a scenic flight deep into the heart of Mt Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We land in an isolated valley where we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch with views that will knock your socks off. Sufficiently fortified, we’ll hike back down to the river where a jetboat will be waiting to whisk you back to civilisation and your comfortable bed in Wanaka.

Scenic Flight into Mount Aspiring National Park

Today's adventure begins on one of Southern Alps Air’s Cessna bush planes, taking in expansive views of the 355,000ha Mount Aspiring National Park. Look out across winding rivers, virgin beech forest, glaciated valleys, alpine lakes, glaciers and the towering Southern Alps, before landing on the remote Siberia Valley air strip. Once on the ground, we'll head up the valley to a backcountry hut with outrageous views of the surrounding peaks. 

Hike Siberia Valley

After a tasty picnic lunch on the deck of the hut, we'll begin our walk along a well-marked track through the thick forest linking the Siberia Valley to the Wilkin Valley wilderness below. Be on the lookout for native birds along the way and the many photo opportunities as you immerse yourself in nature. The track was originally used by Mount Albert Station to take stock into the valley for grazing.

Wilderness Jet Boat Trip

Jet boats were invented in 1954 in New Zealand by Sir William Hamilton for the shallow waters of our braided rivers. Jet boating originally started on the Wilkin River in 1968 transporting venison out of the mountains before hiking and commercial work became more commonplace. On reaching the Wilkin River at Kerin Forks, a jet boat will be waiting to take us for a thrilling 30-minute ride down the Wilkin and Makarora Rivers back to the Makarora Village. Get a whole different perspective on this dramatic valley as you watch the landscape rush by and feel the wind in your hair.

Tonight we stay at Te Wanaka Lodge again*

Day

5

Kayak Wanaka
Hike and explore Tekapo

Includes

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Meals
Activities
Hiking Kayaking
Accommodation

Mt Cook Region

kayak wanaka
8. Guests in the lupins Lake Tekapo 3. Guest couple Mt John

Day 5 – Kayak on Lake Wanaka & explore Tekapo

We’ll start the day off with a peaceful guided kayak trip on Lake Wanaka. Nestled at the foot of the towering Southern Alps, Lake Wanaka is the perfect spot for a peaceful kayak trip. We'll join our specialist guides this morning on a paddle out to Ruby Island.

Kayak Lake Wanaka to Ruby Island

Ruby Island is a small island about 1km off the shores of Lake Wanaka. It has quite the interesting history and was the rather unlikely site of a tearoom and Saturday-night 'cabaret' back in the 1920's and 30's. Now it is a popular kayak and picnic destination for the locals. This morning we'll take a guided kayak trip to explore Lake Wanaka and Ruby Island.

Hike Mt John

This afternoon we’ll make our way to the Mackenzie Country and Lake Tekapo, an area of jaw-dropping beauty, wide-open skies, glacial lakes and distant towering peaks. Our afternoon hike takes us on a steady climb up Mount John though forest and tussock to the observatory at the top. As we walk, we’ll look out over 360-degree views across the impressive Mackenzie Basin flats and surrounding mountains and lakes. After our hike, we’ll check out the famous and much-photographed Church of the Good Shepherd, as well as Tekapo’s statue to the working dog, commissioned in 1968 by local farmers to pay tribute to the role these intelligent canines played in working the land.

Tonight we stay in the Aoraki/Mt Cook region

Day

6

Aoraki/Mt Cook
Your choice

Includes

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Meals
Activities
Accommodation

Mt Cook Region

Shona Hore or Chris WON 1 copy
5. Amazing glacier views happy guests Mt Cook National Park Majestic Mt Cook3

Day 6 – Your Choice in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Home to not only its namesake, known as “the Cloud Piercer” to Māori looming at 3,724 metres (over 12,000 feet), Aoraki Mount Cook National Park boasts a further 19 peaks topping more than 3,000 metres. These are the mountains where Edmund Hillary honed his skills before becoming the first to successfully summit Mount Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1953. This incredible outdoor playground is a hiker’s paradise, and you have several experiences to choose from today. Get up close to the icebergs on a glacier boat tour, or even splurge on a heli-hike if you’d like. Check out the many hiking tracks and trails, or simply explore the village at your leisure. Whatever you decide, it’s an incredible place to spend the day.

After a full day of activities, we’ll meet up and return to our accommodation for a tasty meal and a chance to trade stories from the day as well as gaze up at the impressive night sky in this internationally recognised Dark Sky Reserve.

Tonight we stay in the Aoraki/Mt Cook region again*

Choice 1

Hike to Red Tarns

Offering phenomenal views of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the surrounding mountains the Red Tarns Track is one of Aoraki/Mt Cook's hidden gems. On a calm day, you'll enjoy incredible mirror-like reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook that will leave a lasting memory of this magical spot.

Choice 2

Walk the Hooker Valley Track

This is one of the South Island’s most popular glacier country trails. Looking down from swing bridges over rushing rivers, you’ll walk a track that leads to an alpine lake complete with icebergs. For those with an interest in New Zealand flora, the Hooker Valley is one of the best places to see Mount Cook lilies in season.

Choice 3

Free time around Mount Cook Village

Today is a great opportunity to explore on your own. Visit the museum and planetarium at the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre. Take some short walks around the area or just soak in the views with a coffee and good book.

Day 6 Optional Add-ons

Below are some of the optional add-ons you can also enjoy:


Glacier heli-hiking

Take a helicopter up to land high on the Tasman, New Zealand’s longest glacier. In the company of an experienced guide, you’ll don crampons to explore the dramatic ice caves of this frozen wonderland. If you book this optional add-on it will replace this morning's hike to Red Tarns, after which you'll rejoin the group for an afternoon on the Hooker Valley Track.

NZD$875

Glacier lake boat tour

Hop aboard a Zodiac boat and set off across the iceberg-filled lake for an up-close encounter with the Tasman Glacier’s terminal face. If you book this scenic boat tour it will replace this morning's hike to Red Tarns, after which you'll rejoin the group for an afternoon on the Hooker Valley Track.

NZD$195
Day

7

Hike Arrow River
Explore Arrowtown

Includes

Breakfast
Lunch

Meals
Activities
Sightseeing Walking
Accommodation

Finish in Queenstown.

1. Two guests Swing bridge on Arrow river trail
3. Kawarau River copy Masterpiece Arrowtown2

Day 7 – Explore Arrowtown and hike the Arrow River Trail

Today we leave the mountains of Aoraki/Mt Cook and head for the high-country lakes of Central Otago. On the way, we'll explore the Clay Cliffs of Omarama. This geological phenomenon were formed millions of years ago from layers of silt and gravel deposited by ancient lakes and rivers. These layers were then uplifted and tilted by an active fault and subsequently eroded, giving them their dramatic appearance. This afternoon we'll explore the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown before walking one of our favourite local trails. 

Hike from Arrowtown to the Kawarau Bungy Bridge

Welcome to our backyard! Queenstown and the surrounding area is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with many purpose-built tracks and trails ideal for hiking. We’ll travel to the historic Arrowtown, a quaint old gold-mining settlement just a short drive from Queenstown. Today we will be walking the Arrow River Bridges Trail, one of our favourite hidden gems here in Queenstown.

This afternoon, we'll finish our adventure in Queenstown. It’s time to say goodbye to your guides, travel companions, and new-found friends as we drop you at the airport or your accommodation. If you’re joining us to explore the North Island, we’ll ensure a smooth transition for you. If not, we hope to see you again soon in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

For logistical reasons, we may make small changes to our itineraries or accommodation from time to time.

Don’t take our word for it...

Brenda Smith 1000
My experience with New Zealand Trails was wonderful and one I would love to do again in the future. Everything was so well planned and smooth. Our guides made every day a joy! The country we travelled through was spectacular and what a pleasure to spend time in some of the most beautiful places in New Zealand. I really appreciate the maturity of our two guides. They brought experience, knowledge and confidence to all that we did and I felt very comfortable with that.
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Brenda Smith - February 2024

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Jennifer and Graham Gillen 1001
We set out hoping for a “trip of a lifetime” to celebrate a 60th birthday but to also take in the sights and activities we had seen and heard so much about from friends and in films. With only about a week of time we felt the Sound island highlights gave us that opportunity- between the cruise on Milford sound, bush plane and jet boat rides, heli-hike, hiking near Mount Cook. I can’t believe we did so many DIFFERENT things in just 7 days. There was a sense of accomplishment for a couple of 60-year olds and a true sense that this was a trip we would remember the rest of our lives and recommend to friends and family seeking an active vacation.
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Jennifer & Graham Gillen - February 24

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Pure South Accommodation

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Frequently asked questions

It's very important to us that you have all your questions answered about our Pure South trip. We’ve collected some of the questions we get asked most often and answered them below. Or visit our general FAQ page here for more answers!

And if you still can’t find the answers you need, give us a call or send us an email and we’ll help you out!

How fit do I need to be for the Pure South?

What is the accommodation like on the Pure South?

What time does the Pure South trip start and finish?

What's not included on my Pure South tour?

What's included on my Pure South tour?

What hikes are included in the Pure South trip?

What activities are included on the Pure South trip?

Will I have WiFi or internet access throughout the trip?

Is there electricity at all of the places we stay on the Pure South trip?

Tell me about your safety standards

What National Parks and Great Walks does the Pure South trip visit?

What kind of people will be on my Pure South trip?

Do I have to pay extra if I'm travelling by myself?

Do you need any outdoors experience for the Pure South trip?

How many people will be on my trip?

What does going on a guided trip entail?

Can you help with pre/post-trip accommodation and flights?

How do we get around New Zealand? What happens with my luggage?

How much time will we spend in the vehicle?

More frequently asked questions

Activity Level

The Pure South trip is an activity level 2 to 4, designed for you to have maximum flexibility. You can scale your activity level up to a 4, down to a 2, or anywhere in between every day so you can enjoy New Zealand at a pace that's right for you. Walk on well-formed tracks and enjoy a mixture of day walks and activities that showcase the best of New Zealand. 

Elevation Maps & Hike Information

Tour dates

Short on time? No worries. Discover the highlights of the South Island over 7 incredible days as you hike, cruise and soar over iconic New Zealand sights. You’ll enjoy tasty home-cooked meals and local restaurant cuisine, resting your head at night in very comfortable and perfectly located accommodations.

If you have a little more time up your sleeve, experience the best of both North and South over 12 days by combining this trip with our Sweet North or Great Walks - North.

Find your ideal dates below using the date picker and keep an eye on availability as our small groups fill up fast.

Thinking of visiting New Zealand in the next year or so?

We only run a limited number of departures each year and as you can see below, they fill up months in advance! Most of our guests lock in their trips at least a year out from travelling so they don't miss out on their preferred dates. If you have specific dates in mind, let’s chat!

2024

Pure South
16 Dec 2024 - 22 Dec 2024
Full - Sold out.
Full
Sold out.
Pure South
30 Dec 2024 - 05 Jan 2025
Full - Sold out.
Full
Sold out.

2025

Pure South
06 Jan 2025 - 12 Jan 2025
Nearly Full - Only one spot left!
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Pure South
13 Jan 2025 - 19 Jan 2025
Full - Sold out.
Full
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Pure South
20 Jan 2025 - 26 Jan 2025
Nearly Full - Only one spot left!
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Only one spot left!
Pure South
27 Jan 2025 - 02 Feb 2025
Full - Sold out.
Full
Sold out.
Pure South
03 Feb 2025 - 09 Feb 2025
Full - Sold out.
Full
Sold out.
Pure South
10 Feb 2025 - 16 Feb 2025
Full - Private departure. Sold out.
Full
Private departure. Sold out.
Pure South
10 Feb 2025 - 16 Feb 2025
Full - Sold out.
Full
Sold out.
Pure South
17 Feb 2025 - 23 Feb 2025
Full - Sold out.
Full
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Pure South
17 Feb 2025 - 23 Feb 2025
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Full
Sold out.
Pure South
24 Feb 2025 - 02 Mar 2025
Full - Sold out.
Full
Sold out.
Pure South
03 Mar 2025 - 09 Mar 2025
Full - Sold out.
Full
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10 Mar 2025 - 16 Mar 2025
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17 Mar 2025 - 23 Mar 2025
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24 Mar 2025 - 30 Mar 2025
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31 Mar 2025 - 06 Apr 2025
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Pure South
20 Oct 2025 - 26 Oct 2025
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Pure South
27 Oct 2025 - 02 Nov 2025
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10 Nov 2025 - 16 Nov 2025
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17 Nov 2025 - 23 Nov 2025
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24 Nov 2025 - 30 Nov 2025
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01 Dec 2025 - 07 Dec 2025
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08 Dec 2025 - 14 Dec 2025
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22 Dec 2025 - 28 Dec 2025
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29 Dec 2025 - 04 Jan 2026
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2026

Pure South
12 Jan 2026 - 18 Jan 2026
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19 Jan 2026 - 25 Jan 2026
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02 Feb 2026 - 08 Feb 2026
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16 Feb 2026 - 22 Feb 2026
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02 Mar 2026 - 08 Mar 2026
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16 Mar 2026 - 22 Mar 2026
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30 Mar 2026 - 05 Apr 2026
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26 Oct 2026 - 01 Nov 2026
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09 Nov 2026 - 15 Nov 2026
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23 Nov 2026 - 29 Nov 2026
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07 Dec 2026 - 13 Dec 2026
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Pure South
21 Dec 2026 - 27 Dec 2026
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2027

Pure South
11 Jan 2027 - 17 Jan 2027
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Pure South
25 Jan 2027 - 31 Jan 2027
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Pure South
08 Feb 2027 - 14 Feb 2027
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Pure South
22 Feb 2027 - 28 Feb 2027
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Pure South
08 Mar 2027 - 14 Mar 2027
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Pure South
22 Mar 2027 - 28 Mar 2027
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Pure South
05 Apr 2027 - 11 Apr 2027
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Pure South
25 Oct 2027 - 31 Oct 2027
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Pure South
08 Nov 2027 - 14 Nov 2027
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Pure South
15 Nov 2027 - 21 Nov 2027
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Pure South
29 Nov 2027 - 05 Dec 2027
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Pure South
06 Dec 2027 - 12 Dec 2027
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Pure South
27 Dec 2027 - 02 Jan 2028
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2028

Pure South
03 Jan 2028 - 09 Jan 2028
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Pure South
10 Jan 2028 - 16 Jan 2028
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Pure South
24 Jan 2028 - 30 Jan 2028
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Pure South
31 Jan 2028 - 06 Feb 2028
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Pure South
21 Feb 2028 - 27 Feb 2028
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Pure South
28 Feb 2028 - 05 Mar 2028
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Pure South
13 Mar 2028 - 19 Mar 2028
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20 Mar 2028 - 26 Mar 2028
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Pure South – ready to book?

Ready to start your New Zealand adventure?

A distillation of the best hiking New Zealand and the South Island has to offer, as well as unique Kiwi experiences and action-packed adventures, our Pure South is a smorgasbord. All you need to do is relax and enjoy the adventure.

What’s included:

Local guides, small groups

All food (except where noted on itinerary), transportation and activities

All inclusive

All accommodation

NZD$9799 AUD$7699 USD$5799+tax GBP£4499 NZD$9799 CAD$7899+tax
per person (twin or double share)

pure south island tour of new zealand2

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