Original
Explorer
Queenstown Southern Loop
6 days • 4.7
4.5
Excellent
31 reviews
6 days
Start
Queenstown, New Zealand
Finish
Queenstown, New Zealand
Trip Code
PHSQ
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
5 breakfasts
Transport
Private vehicle, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Lodge (1 night), Motel (2 nights)
From £1,632(6 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Soak up the silence of Milford Sound on a cruise across its waters – you’ll be left speechless by the hundreds of tumbling cascades and deeply forested mountains.
Explore the Catlins, an untamed coastal wilderness home to rugged cliffs, dense forest, and spectacular hidden waterfalls.
Cross the Foveaux Strait to unspoilt Stewart Island, a haven for hikers and birdwatches and the place to spot a wild kiwi.
Enjoy two nights and one full day to explore the wilderness of Stewart Island, cruising the bays and inlets to spot penguins and seabirds and walking along its forested coastal tracks.
Is this trip right for you?
With six days in the lesser visited regions of the South Island, you’ll have time to visit places others don’t.
This trip involves some walking over varied terrain and is best suited to travellers with a good level of mobility. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.
This trip is the second part of a combination of 2 trips. Some of your fellow travellers may arrive into Queenstown off another trip. Please see our 'New Zealand South Island Adventure' (trip code PHSQC) for details.
Itinerary
Discover the silent Sounds, spectacular scenery and Stewart Island of the south
Explore the rugged reaches of the South Island on this six-day trip with Intrepid, beginning and ending in Queenstown. Make your way to the shores of the South Island’s biggest lake and sail the silent waters of glacier-carved Fiordland National Park with an unforgettable cruise on Milford Sound. Cross to the sometimes forgotten corner of Otago – the rugged cliffs of the Catlins – to hike to coastal caves, then span the gap to untouched Stewart Island to explore the wilderness, listening out for the call of the kiwi. Crafted to give the right amount of active adventure and time to relax, this is the perfect southern getaway.
Inclusions
Meals
5 breakfasts
Transport
Private vehicle, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Lodge (1 night), Motel (2 nights)
Included activities
Milford Sound - Nature Boat Cruise
Milford Sound - Leader-led walk to Milford Lookout
Milford Sound - Walk to Mirror Lakes & Lake Gunn
The Catlins - Leader-led walk to Nugget Point & McLean Falls
Stewart Island - Scenic Ferry Crossing
Optional activities
Te Anau - Glow Worm Cave with Cruise & Guide - NZD135
Stewart Island - Village & Bay Trip - NZD59
Stewart Island - Wild Kiwi Encounter - NZD249
Stewart Island - Beaks & Feathers Kiwi Spotting - NZD175
Stewart Island - Ulva Island Explorer - NZD129
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
















Important notes
START & FINISH TIMES
This trip will begin on Day 1 at 10:30am at the Heartland Hotel Queenstown, and concludes at 2pm on Day 6. Please take this into account when making onward travel arrangements.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Reviews (31)
5 stars
26
4 stars
3
3 stars
1
1 star
1
Lisa
May 08, 2025
Excellent trip to explore hidden gems of the South Island. Short and sweet with a wonderful trip leader and second-to-none natural scenery
Henry
Apr 03, 2025
The Southern Loop tour was a great opportunity to relax, and learn about a part of NZ that I did not know much about. Guides were friendly, knowledgeable and brought the sights to life with vivid stories and local insights. Highly recommended for the curious traveler who is keen to check out interesting places and meet interesting people along the way.
Joshua
Mar 24, 2025
Really enjoyed this trip although short had a grand time overall had a group of 9 of us including myself. Connor our tour leader was brilliant on everything. My favorite parts of the trip was the catlins, te anau jet boating and the beautiful stewart island. The lesser know parts of new zealand.
Elsa
Jan 27, 2025
It was a perfectly organized, wonderful trip in one of the most beautiful countries in the world! I love NZ!
George
Dec 03, 2024
Big thanks to our leader Pete for a great few days exploring the south of the South Island! The scenery, walks and wildlife we spotted made this a really enjoyable trip.
Christine
Oct 09, 2024
We were very impressed with this tour. The smaller group sizes, accommodation, itinerary and amazing tour guide (leader) made it very positive experience. We would definitely recommend!
Julie
Sep 27, 2024
Wonderful well planned trip .Beautiful scenery during September.Take extra layers if needed
Grace
Mar 07, 2024
This is my first time in New Zealand. The experience that I never forget. I love the Country and the people around as well the Landscape. It's my first time to see a lot of herds, along the way to Stewart Island. And also the World Heritage site of Millford Sound. And when we are at Te Anue. We have the experience of Jet Boat on the river. And that was exciting 😄. Over all I Love this experience. I have something to tell to my grand Daughter.
ieshea
Feb 04, 2024
Enjoyed trip seeing my own country for the first time to south island enjoyed all locations. Milford sounds so beautiful including Stewart island totally recommend intriped for organising everything. thanks to lexi tour guide for her knowledge and driving us.
Tomoe
Dec 17, 2023
It was my first time to join Intrepid and my experience was 5 out of 5
Friends and Family Travel is an agent of Intrepid Travel. All Trip content and associated images are copyright of Intrepid Travel.
You are protected
Contact Information
Call us at
0208 058 4003
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM GMT.
Contact our customer support
contact@friendsandfamily.travel
We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

© 2024 Friends and Family Travel | All rights reserved.