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

Founded in July 1863, Christchurch Botanic Gardens began with the planting of an English oak tree to mark the marriage of Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Prince Albert Edward, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Over time, the natural wetlands and sand dunes have been transformed into a beautiful park filled with flowers. Covering 30 hectares, it features 10 distinctive gardens, most of them within the Avon River precinct. Enter the gardens from Rolleston Avenue, by Canterbury Museum, to enjoy the annual flower-bed displays, then cross the lush green Archery Lawn to reach the Rose Garden. Home to more than 250 fragrant rose varieties, the garden blooms in a dazzling array of colours and scents throughout the year.

Punting on the Avon River is one of Christchurch’s most iconic attractions. Whatever the season, you can glide along the peaceful, beautiful Avon River aboard an elegant boat, while a skilled punter guides you past Christchurch’s romantic city scenery. In spring and summer, you’ll see sunlight softly falling on the sparkling water as ducklings play happily in the river; in autumn and winter, you can enjoy the enchanting waterside scenery.

Known as the “Garden City,” Christchurch is New Zealand’s third-largest city. Founded 150 years ago, it is filled with beautifully laid-out gardens. Since most early settlers were English, the city’s historic buildings reflect the Victorian era in Britain. The English have even given Christchurch a new definition: “a city outside Britain that feels very much like Britain.”

The University of Otago is located in Dunedin, the capital of the Otago region of New Zealand. Founded in 1869, it was New Zealand’s first national university and is also the country’s oldest university. The university covers nearly 2,000 hectares and boasts beautiful surroundings and a rich academic culture, offering a comfortable and peaceful environment. Trees shade the campus, with landscaping covering 60 percent of its area, alongside both historic and modern buildings. A visit to the University of Otago gives you a full appreciation of its leafy grounds. You can admire its distinctive historic and modern architecture and experience the university’s vibrant cultural atmosphere. The campus is home to a wide variety of plants and trees, including rare and valuable species from New Zealand and around the world. Its gardens are filled with flowers and fragrance, making a stroll through them feel like entering a sea of blossoms.

First Church is a Presbyterian church built in 1873. Its 60-meter spire stands as a solemn symbol of religious authority. The interior retains the distinctive features of a typical 19th-century Presbyterian church, and its vivid stained glass is striking. The beautiful window above the communion table resembles real flower petals, earning it the name “Rose Window.”

Built in 1906, the railway station still stands today, restored to its former glory after extensive renovations. This grand building, designed in the Flemish Renaissance style, is constructed from black basalt and decorated on the exterior with white Oamaru limestone. Its impressive scale and splendor earned its architect, George Troup, the nickname “Gingerbread George.” Every October, the South Island’s major fashion show is held here, on what may be the world’s longest catwalk. Today, only one train still uses the station, making a ride on it a perfect sightseeing trip through the local scenery. Much of the ground floor has been converted into restaurants, while the second floor houses an art gallery and a sports hall of fame. Visitors can enjoy the outdoor views from the well-preserved ground floor or stroll through the station and admire its splendid interior.

Baldwin Street is about 3.5 km north of Dunedin city centre and is listed in the Guinness World Records as the steepest street, with a gradient of 35% (not 35 degrees). The street is 350 m long, with a horizontal distance of about 161.2 m and a vertical rise of 69.2 m from bottom to top. The steepest section has a gradient ratio of 1:2.86. Every year, the street hosts a “race up the hill” and a “jellybean race” (participants’ numbers are written on ping-pong balls, which are placed in a barrel and released from the top; the winner is the ball that reaches the finish first). Some young people have even ridden downhill in rubbish bins and been injured.

Oamaru’s white-stone townscape features a number of well-preserved historic New Zealand buildings. In the late 19th century, Oamaru prospered through gold mining, quarrying, and timber processing. Some of this wealth was used to build beautiful limestone buildings. Tyne Street, with its distinctive character, is also a shopper’s paradise. Oamaru Harbour is home to little blue penguins, and yellow-eyed penguins can be seen from a special viewing point. Oamaru’s public gardens are well worth a visit, with a Victorian rotunda and an Oriental-style garden.

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.

The castle’s wooden furnishings are among New Zealand’s finest collections of antiques. Its distinctive architectural style combines Gothic Revival architecture with British colonial-era design. Two hundred craftsmen built the exterior, while three British sculptors spent 12 years decorating the interior. Its lavish interiors feature Italian plaster ceilings, Venetian glass walls, a marble bathtub weighing one ton, and the only Georgian-era spiral staircase in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dunedin boasts rare natural scenery and abundant wildlife. In its nature reserves, you can observe rare yellow-eyed penguins, Hooker’s sea lions, and New Zealand fur seals from very close range. Visit Taiaroa Head, where you may also encounter the great albatross. The Otago Peninsula and the area around the lagoon are also rich in wildlife to explore.

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.