[Premium Mercedes-Benz Tour] New Zealand South Island Central Route, 6 Days / 5 Nights (Queenstown to Christchurch)

Queenstown is located in the southwest of the Otago region on New Zealand’s South Island. Nearby Arrowtown, a former gold-mining town, preserves the remains of Chinese miners’ settlement in New Zealand—the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement. The city is built around the entrance to Lake Wakatipu, whose long, slender “S” shape is surrounded by spectacular mountains. The scenery is ever-changing, with the lake and mountains creating an almost otherworldly landscape. The town was named in 1850 in honor of Queen Victoria. Today, Queenstown is a world-famous holiday destination, both in New Zealand and beyond.

Located at Queenstown's highest point, the Skyline Gondola complex combines dining and entertainment and is a must-see attraction during your visit. The gondola ride, with views overlooking Queenstown from above, is one of the first attractions to draw visitors to the town. Ride the gondola to Bob's Peak and take in breathtaking scenery. Relax and admire Queenstown's dazzling views. Cafés, restaurants, a luge track, stargazing, Māori haka performances, and mountain biking offer a variety of activities to enrich your trip.

Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand’s third-largest lake and is shaped like a lightning bolt. Its unusual shape creates a distinctive “tide” effect (more accurately, a large seiche, or “standing wave”), causing the water level to rise and fall by about 10 centimeters every 25 minutes. According to Māori legend, a water monster named Matau sleeps at the bottom of the lake, and its heartbeat causes the water to “ebb and flow.” Visitors can fish in Lake Wakatipu all year round. The river mouths at the Greenstone and Lochy Rivers are especially popular, with abundant salmon sure to make your trip worthwhile.

Cruising Lake Wakatipu aboard Queenstown’s vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience Queenstown’s stunning scenery, and is loved by many famous guests and visitors, including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and President Clinton. This relaxing 90-minute cruise reveals Queenstown’s magnificent scenery in all its variety. You can also explore the 100-year-old steamship and discover Queenstown’s rich history. Visit the engine room to watch the huge steam engines at work, browse a collection of historic photos in the mini museum, see the wheelhouse, or sing along to the pianist. You can also enjoy wine and delicious snacks at the ship’s Promenade Café and Bar.

Walter Peak High Country Farm is located on the picturesque southwestern shore of Lake Wakatipu, making it a wonderful place to relax and unwind. The farm tour is packed with activities, is fun and interactive, and is suitable for the whole family. After stepping off the vintage steamship, you’ll receive a warm welcome from the farm’s host, who will show you around. First, visit the holding pens, where you can help feed the sheep and deer and even get a close look at Scottish Highland cattle. Then walk through the lakeside gardens to the Colonel’s Homestead and enjoy a traditional highland morning or afternoon tea (scones and pikelets). Afterward, farm staff will take you to the shearing demonstration. First, the sheepdogs round up the flock on the hillside, then the staff put on a sheep-shearing demonstration.

Surrounded by mountains and dotted with lakes, the area around Bob’s Peak offers beautiful scenery and a rich variety of vegetation. Take a sightseeing gondola to explore the surrounding landscape and gaze down at the pristine natural beauty.

The 4WD off-road adventure is a four-wheel-drive activity in Queenstown that takes you deep into remote areas of New Zealand. Explore the long history of gold-mining sites, the spectacular scenery of The Lord of the Rings filming locations, and the pastoral life of alpine farms. The entire off-road tour uses fully equipped Land Rover Defenders, ready to tackle any terrain. The journey crosses Skippers Canyon, Arrowtown and Paradise, sharing New Zealand’s pioneering history and showcasing the beautiful scenery of numerous film locations.

Mystery, heritage, fantasy and reality come together here. Dart River Valley is a must-visit destination for exploration! On this thrilling adventure, your jet boat will venture deep into the heart of the world-famous Mount Aspiring National Park. Take in breathtaking scenery and speed through winding glacial lakes by jet boat. Your knowledgeable and entertaining guide will share the region’s history and culture. Walk through ancient beech forests and see woodlands dating back 80 million years, as well as filming locations used to portray Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings.

Milford Sound is located in Fiordland National Park in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. Carved by glaciers during the Ice Age, the fiord reaches a depth of 265 meters at Mitre Peak and is a world-renowned natural wonder. Take a cruise to admire the spectacular scenery and spot marine wildlife such as dolphins, Fiordland penguins, and seals. Known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and a “journey through a World Heritage site,” it is also celebrated as one of the world’s most beautiful alpine roads. Its winding natural scenery makes every turn feel like a painting.

Lake Tekapo, in the Canterbury region, is renowned for its picturesque scenery and has become one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist attractions. The lake is 27 km long, 6 km wide, averages 69 m deep, and reaches a maximum depth of 120 m. Unique turquoise rocks on the lakebed give the water a dreamy jade-green glow that is simply breathtaking. Visitors often describe Lake Tekapo as a “paradise on earth,” a pristine haven far removed from the bustle of everyday life, quietly surrounded by blue waters and mountains. Encircled by tranquil mountains, its calm, crystal-clear waters reflect the snow-capped Southern Alps, drawing photographers year-round. Lake Tekapo is ideal for fishing, boating, and water skiing. If you’re lucky, you might catch brown or rainbow trout; fishing beside this peaceful lake is a wonderful experience.

Lake Wanaka stretches 45 kilometers and covers 193 square kilometers. Its clear waters are a paradise for speedboating and kayaking enthusiasts and sailors. After filming the New Zealand season of Where Are We Going, Dad?, celebrity families Huang Lei and Duoduo, Yang Wei and Yang Yangyang, and Lu Yi and Bei’er came straight to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island for a holiday. This was one of the places they visited. Among the lakes of the South Island, Wanaka is like a shy young woman, hiding her beauty between Lake Wanaka, Lake Hāwea, and the Southern Alps, waiting to be discovered by curious visitors. Winter is Wanaka’s busiest season, when ski enthusiasts from around the world flock here to enjoy exceptional downhill skiing at Cardrona and Treble Cone, cross-country skiing at Snow Farm, and, of course, the thrilling heli-skiing at Harris Mountains.

Not far from Queenstown lies a historic gold-mining village. Arrowtown has a diverse range of small shops, including cafés, restaurants, art galleries, bars, and souvenir stores. It is also one of the filming locations for The Lord of the Rings. Take a stroll along the Arrow River, with historic buildings lining the streets, and learn about the lives of thousands of Chinese miners and the stories of Chinese gold seekers during the gold rush.

The Church of the Good Shepherd stands on high ground beside Lake Tekapo. Built in 1935, it was named after a sculpture of a sheepdog. Constructed entirely from blocks of stone, it is a classic feature of Lake Tekapo postcards. At night, the church looks especially beautiful beneath the starry sky and is also an excellent spot for photographing star trails. Its exterior is rustic and simple, yet full of character. Though small, it has a distinctive charm. The exterior walls combine the stones’ natural shades of dark gray, light gray, blue-green and brown, while the roof is made of black stone slabs. This rugged, natural appearance blends harmoniously with the open lakeside landscape.

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park lies in the west-central part of New Zealand’s South Island, extending 40–90 kilometres inland from the 450-kilometre-long West Coast. The park is long and narrow, stretching 64 kilometres and measuring just 20 kilometres across at its narrowest point. It covers 70,696 hectares, 40 percent of which is glaciated. The park is home to New Zealand’s highest peaks and largest glaciers. Of the 27 mountains in New Zealand that rise above 3,050 metres, 22 are located here, including the highest, Aoraki / Mount Cook, at 3,755 metres. In Māori, Mount Cook is also called Aoraki, meaning “Cloud Piercer.” The park extends south to Arthur’s Pass and west to the Main Range, in the most spectacular and scenic central section of the Southern Alps. Mount Cook is magnificent, and a short hike is a great way to take in the scenery and spot wildlife such as tahr and red deer.