Packages/New Zealand/New Zealand South Island Self-Drive Package

New Zealand South Island Self-Drive Package

10 days / 9 nightsNew ZealandChristchurch, Lake Tekapo, Queenstown,

UnbeatableAdventureFamilyFriendsGroup
Best forFirst-time self-driversTrip paceDrive, then settleHotel changes3 Hotel BasesExperienceLakes + Fiords
New ZealandScenic view of New Zealand self-drive tourLake TekapoQueenstownMilford SoundArrival at Christchurch Airport
7D/6N
1Night inChristchurch
1Night inLake Tekapo
4Night inQueenstown
1 Departure from Queenstown
10-DAY ROUTE
  1. 1
    Christchurch1 night
  2. 2
    Lake Tekapo1 night
  3. 3
    Queenstown4 nights
  4. ✈
    Departureend of trip

Tour Overview

Christchurch · Lake Tekapo · Queenstown · Wanaka · Milford Sound — 9 Nights

A 7-day New Zealand self-drive package from India — Christchurch to Queenstown one-way, best from October to April when the alpine roads are fully open. From ₹1,74,999 per person (twin share, land package — international flights excluded); tell us your dates and your preferred car, hotels, and route notes, and arrive ready to go.
Book this New Zealand South Island Self Drive package with Atravelq for transparent starting prices, a customisable itinerary, destination guidance, and dedicated travel concierge support before and during your trip.

Key features of this package

6 Nights / 7 DaysCompact self-drive
4-Star Hotels4 nights, one Queenstown base
Daily BreakfastAt the hotel
Rental CarAutomatic · one-way hire
Top ExperiencesMilford + Tekapo stars
CustomisableChange the trip your way

Itinerary — day by day

ChristchurchLake TekapoQueenstownDeparture

DAY 01

Arrival & Car Pickup

Christchurch Airport → Depot · City night
CHRISTCHURCH
Arrival at Christchurch Airport
ARRIVAL
Land at Christchurch — the depot is inside the airport precinct, so you're driving within the hour.
PICKUP
Automatic SUV handover takes about 30 minutes; New Zealand drives on the left, and the quiet airport roads are a gentle place to start.
CHECK-IN
City hotel with parking; keep the day light after the long flight.
EVENING
Riverside Market is a 5-minute walk from most central hotels — dinner solved.
Hotels

Automatic Compact SUV (Example)

One-way hire · Unlimited kms · GPS & insurance

  • Car Automatic compact SUV — easy for first-time left-side drivers, comfortable for two adults and bags.
  • Included One-way CHC → ZQN hire, unlimited kilometres, standard insurance, GPS and 24/7 roadside assistance.
  • Note Final vehicle class and insurance-excess options are confirmed in the quotation.
Transfers

Christchurch Airport → Rental Depot

Car pickup on arrival day

  • Pick up The depot sits inside the airport precinct — a short walk or 5-minute shuttle.
  • Handover Licence check and vehicle walkaround, about 30 minutes; the team talks you through left-side basics.
  • Documents Carry your licence and the voucher shared before travel.
Activities

Milford Sound Coach + Cruise

Included full-day tour from Queenstown

  • Coach 291 km each way through Fiordland — the coach drives so you and your rental both rest.
  • Cruise Nature cruise past Mitre Peak and Stirling Falls; sit portside outbound for the waterfall pass.
  • Note Cruise category and pick-up time confirmed in the final quote; weather-dependent.
STAY · ChristchurchMEALS · -PICKUP · CHC depotDRIVE · 15 minCLASS · Compact SUVKMS · UnlimitedROUTE · CHC → ZQNSTATUS · SuggestedTYPE · Depot pickupDURATION · 30 minROUTE · CHC AirportSTATUS · IncludedDURATION · 12 hrsTYPE · Coach + cruiseFROM · QueenstownSTATUS · Included
DAY 02

Christchurch → Lake Tekapo

227 km · ~3 hrs · Dark-sky night
LAKE TEKAPO
beautiful view Lake Tekapo new zealand
BREAKFAST
At the hotel before an easy start — no rush, the road is simple.
DRIVE
227 km across the Canterbury Plains, approximately 3 hours; Geraldine is the halfway coffee-and-fuel stop everyone uses for a reason
LAKEFRONT
Church of the Good Shepherd and that turquoise water — photos are best after 4 PM once the day coaches leave.
OPTIONAL
Add a Dark Sky Project tour tonight; Tekapo's sky genuinely looks different.
Hotels

Copthorne Lakefront Queenstown (Example)

Popular upgrade · Lake Wakatipu views · Breakfast included

  • Location Short reach of the town centre and waterfront.
  • Breakfast Daily breakfast included
  • Upgrade A polished 4-star lakefront option with parking for your four settled Queenstown nights.
  • Note Christchurch and Tekapo stays are confirmed as comparable 4-star options with parking.
Transfers

Rental Depot → Queenstown Airport

One-way drop on departure day

  • Drop-off Return fuelled at the ZQN depot; the terminal is a few steps away, no shuttle needed.
  • Tip Refuel in town the night before — the airport-adjacent station queues at peak hours.
  • Terminal Walk straight in for check-in and security.
Activities

Tekapo Dark-Sky Evening

International Dark Sky Reserve · Optional guided tour

  • Stargazing Tekapo sits in an International Dark Sky Reserve — even the free lakefront view is remarkable on a clear night.
  • Upgrade Add a guided Dark Sky Project session for telescopes and the full story.
  • Note Cloud-dependent; the lakefront and Church of the Good Shepherd are the fallback, and they're not a bad one.
STAY · Lake TekapoMEALS · BreakfastDRIVE · 227 km (3 hrs)HIGHLIGHT · StargazingNIGHTS · 4CITY · QueenstownMEALS · BreakfastSTATUS · SuggestedDURATION · EveningTYPE · StargazingWHERE · Lake TekapoSTATUS · Optional/free
DAY 03

Tekapo → Queenstown

256 km · Lake Pukaki & Lindis Pass · 4 nights begin
QUEENSTOWN
Tekapo to Queenstown New Zealand
CHECK-IN
Four nights in Queenstown; park the car and unpack properly — you're done moving hotels.
BREAKFAST
At the hotel — catch the lake in morning light before leaving.
DRIVE
256 km via Lake Pukaki and the Lindis Pass, approximately 3.5 hours.
PUKAKI STOP
The Mount Cook viewpoint on SH8 is the best 15 minutes of the whole drive — don't skip it.
Activities

Add-On Experiences

Glenorchy drive · Gondola · Jet boat · Arrowtown

  • Add-ons Glenorchy paradise road (Day 5), Skyline Gondola, Shotover Jet or a half-day in Arrowtown.
  • Booking Optional experiences are added to the final quotation on request.
  • Timing Everything slots into Days 5–6 without touching the route.
STAY · QueenstownMEALS · BreakfastDRIVE · 256 km · (3.5 hrs)HIGHLIGHT · Lake PukakiDURATION · FlexibleTYPE · OptionalCITIES · Queenstown regionSTATUS · Add-on
DAY 04

Milford Sound Day (Coach + Cruise)

Included full-day tour · Your rest-from-driving day
QUEENSTOWN
Milford Sound day
BREAKFAST
Early — pick-up runs around 7 AM from central Queenstown.
COACH
Milford is 291 km each way; the included coach does it so you arrive fresh and your rental stays parked.
CRUISE
Glide past Mitre Peak and Stirling Falls — the boat noses close enough to feel the spray.
RETURN
Back by about 7:30 PM; keep the evening unplanned.
STAY · QueenstownMEALS · BreakfastHIGHLIGHT · Milford cruiseTOUR · 12 hrs
DAY 05

Queenstown & Glenorchy at Your Pace

Free day · Paradise road option · Town at leisure
QUEENSTOWN
NZ’s prettiest short drives
BREAKFAST
At the hotel, then the day is yours — and so is the car.
EVENING
Sunset from Queenstown Gardens’ point — free and unbeatable.
GLENORCHY OPTION
The 46 km lakeside road to Glenorchy is one of NZ’s prettiest short drives — an easy half-day there and back.
OPTIONAL
Or stay in town: Skyline Gondola, jet boat, or gold-rush Arrowtown 20 minutes away.
STAY · QueenstownMEALS · BreakfastOPTION · Glenorchy 46 kmOPTIONS · Customisable
DAY 06

Wanaka Day Trip

Crown Range there, lakeside back · That lake tree
QUEENSTOWN
Wanaka tree, Wanaka, New Zealand
BREAKFAST
At the hotel.
EVENING
Last full evening in Queenstown — the waterfront queues thin out after 8 PM.
DRIVE
67 km over the Crown Range — NZ’s highest sealed road — with the 1863 Cardrona Hotel as the classic halfway stop.
WANAKA
Lakefront walk and the famous lake tree; return via the Kawarau Gorge for a different view home.
STAY · QueenstownMEALS · BreakfastDRIVE · 134 km roundHIGHLIGHT · Crown Range
DAY 07

Car Drop-off & Departure

ZQN depot return · Fly out of Queenstown
DEPARTURE
Fly out of Queenstown
BREAKFAST
At the hotel — one last lake view.
DROP-OFF
Return the car fuelled at the Queenstown depot; checkout takes about 15 minutes and the terminal is steps away.
DEPARTURE
Board your onward flight with Atravelq trip support until departure.
STAY · -MEALS · BreakfastDROP · ZQN depotBUFFER · 20 min

Visual journey

Lake TekapoLake TekapoQueenstownQueenstownMilford SoundMilford Sound

Why this route works

Drive first, settle after
Two driving days get you to Queenstown — then the car mostly rests while you day-trip from one unpacked base.
The greatest hits, one week
Tekapo’s dark-sky night, the Lake Pukaki run, a Milford cruise and the Crown Range to Wanaka — the South Island’s best, in seven days.
Easy to personalise
Add a Glenorchy drive, stargazing tour, jet boat or an extra night before the quote is locked.

What's included & excluded

✓ INCLUSIONS

  • ✓Hotel accommodation on twin-sharing basis
  • ✓Daily breakfast
  • ✓Airport or railway pickup and drop where applicable
  • ✓Intercity transfers as per route
  • ✓Selected sightseeing mentioned in itinerary
  • ✓Atravelq travel concierge support during the trip
  • ✓Vehicle rental or self-drive support as per final plan

✕ EXCLUSIONS

  • ✕Visa fee and VFS/embassy charges unless specifically included
  • ✕GST and TCS
  • ✕Travel insurance unless mentioned
  • ✕Personal expenses
  • ✕Meals not mentioned
  • ✕Optional tours and attraction tickets not specified
  • ✕Early check-in or late checkout
  • ✕Anything not listed under inclusions
  • ✕Fuel
  • ✕Parking tolls
  • ✕Security deposit
  • ✕Excess insurance waiver unless mentioned

Cancellation, Refund, Date Change & Travel Credit Policy

Cancel 10+ days before travel and choose a 70% USDC refund or 100% Atravelx Travel Credit

Cancel 10+ Days Before Travel: Choose 70% Refund or 100% Travel CreditCancel an eligible holiday package 10 or more calendar days before the scheduled departure date and choose between a 70% refund of the eligible package amount in USDC (after a 30% cancellation charge) or 100% of that amount as Atravelx Travel Credit.
10-Day Window

10+ Calendar Days Before Departure

Option A: 70% USDC Refund

A 30% cancellation charge applies to the eligible package amount. The remaining 70% is refunded in USDC. Approved refunds are processed within 45 working days of written approval.

10+ Calendar Days Before Departure

Option B: 100% Atravelx Travel Credit

The 30% cancellation charge is waived. 100% of the eligible amount paid is issued as an Atravelx Credit Note, denominated in USDC, for future eligible travel services.

Less Than 10 Calendar Days Before Departure

100% Non-Refundable

No refund and no Travel Credit will ordinarily be provided.

After Travel Commences / No-Show

Non-Refundable

No refund or Travel Credit for no-shows, unused services, partly completed holidays or cancellation after travel has begun.

Full policy details

Cancellation Policy
  • 10 or more calendar days before departure: a 30% cancellation charge applies to the eligible package amount. Choose a 70% refund in USDC or 100% of the eligible amount as Atravelx Travel Credit.
  • Less than 10 calendar days before departure: 100% non-refundable. No refund or Travel Credit is ordinarily issued.
  • After travel commences, or no-show: non-refundable. No refund or Travel Credit is ordinarily available.
  • Days are counted as calendar days to the scheduled departure date, in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The timestamp on your written request fixes when Atravelx received it.
  • Cancellation requests must be made in writing through an authorised Atravelx channel: your concierge, info@atravelx.com or WhatsApp +91 92500 00511. A phone call alone does not cancel a booking until it is confirmed in writing.
  • Quote the booking reference, the lead traveller's name and the services affected. Atravelx may ask for identity or payment verification before acting on a request.
  • A reason is not needed to qualify under the 10-day window.
  • Cancelling some travellers, rooms, nights or services is a package amendment, not a cancellation. It does not qualify for the 10-day refund or credit on its own, and it can change the per-person price for the remaining travellers.
Atravelx Travel Credit
  • Travel Credit is issued as an Atravelx Credit Note for 100% of the eligible amount actually paid, denominated in USDC.
  • The 30% cancellation charge is waived when you choose Travel Credit instead of a refund.
  • Credit can be used towards any eligible service booked through Atravelx: holiday packages, stays, flights, transfers, sightseeing, car rental, visa assistance and other eligible services.
  • Travel Credit is non-cash. It cannot be withdrawn, exchanged for cryptocurrency or fiat currency, or transferred to another person, unless Atravelx agrees in writing.
  • The validity period and expiry date are stated on the Credit Note.
  • Prices at the time of the new booking apply. Travel Credit does not hold the same hotel, room, destination, dates, itinerary, supplier, activity, package or price.
  • If the new booking costs more, you pay the difference in USDC. If it costs less, the balance stays on the Credit Note under its terms.
  • Once you choose Travel Credit, the choice is final. It is not later converted into a refund.
Date Change Policy
  • Request date changes 10 or more calendar days before the scheduled departure date.
  • A date change is not guaranteed. It depends on hotel, transfer and activity availability, supplier approval, revised room rates, seasonal pricing, blackout dates, peak-season supplements, transport costs, fare differences, supplier amendment charges and revised itinerary costs.
  • If the revised package costs more, you pay the difference in USDC. Supplier amendment or date-change charges may also apply.
  • A date change is confirmed only when Atravelx confirms the revised arrangements in writing.
  • Requests made less than 10 calendar days before departure depend on supplier approval and cannot be guaranteed.
  • A postponement or date change is not a cancellation. It does not by itself create a refund or Travel Credit entitlement.
Bundled Holiday Packages
  • Atravelx holiday packages are booked and priced as bundled travel arrangements made up of several interconnected services.
  • Individual components of a confirmed package cannot ordinarily be cancelled separately.
  • Removing a service does not automatically entitle you to a proportionate refund or Travel Credit.
  • Any request to remove, replace or modify a component is treated as a package amendment, subject to supplier approval, availability, revised pricing, amounts recoverable and applicable charges.
  • A value shown against an individual service does not mean it was separately contracted or can be independently cancelled.
Visa & Travel Documentation
  • Travellers are responsible for a valid passport, the right visa, transit visas, entry permits, immigration documents, health documentation and any other paperwork required by the destination or a transit country.
  • Visa decisions are made solely by the relevant government, embassy, consulate or immigration authority. Atravelx does not guarantee approval, processing time or appointment availability.
  • A visa refusal, delay or failure to obtain a visa does not override the cancellation conditions unless Atravelx confirms otherwise in writing.
  • Government, embassy, visa application centre, biometric, courier and processing fees may be non-refundable once paid or submitted.
Refund Processing & Timeline
  • Atravelx acknowledges a cancellation request within 2 working days. Acknowledgement confirms receipt, not eligibility or amount. After reviewing the booking, Atravelx confirms in writing which services are cancelled, the refundable and non-refundable components, the deductions and the refund amount.
  • Approved refunds are processed within 45 working days from the date Atravelx confirms in writing that the refund is approved.
  • The 45 days do not run from the booking date, the date you first asked to cancel, or the departure date.
  • Working days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the United States and India.
  • Refunds are calculated and paid in USDC. The refund is the eligible package amount in USDC as shown on your invoice, less the cancellation charge and any supplier deductions.
  • If you paid in another cryptocurrency, the refund is still the USDC value of the eligible amount at the time of payment, not the number of coins you sent. Atravelx is not liable for changes in the market value of any coin between payment and refund.
  • Refunds are sent to the wallet address the payment came from, on the same network. If that is not possible, you may nominate another wallet, which Atravelx verifies in writing before sending. Atravelx is not responsible for funds sent to a wallet address you supplied incorrectly.
  • If you paid by card or bank transfer through an Atravelx payment partner, the refund goes back to that payment method where the partner supports it. Otherwise another method is agreed in writing.
  • Blockchain confirmations, payment partners, card issuers and banks may add time before the funds show in your wallet or account.
  • Where Atravelx cancels a confirmed booking for reasons within its reasonable control, all amounts received for the cancelled services are refunded in full, initiated within 7 working days. An alternative itinerary or Travel Credit may be offered, but you are not required to accept it instead of the refund.
  • An approved refund is not replaced with Travel Credit unless you expressly agree, or the supplier itself provides only a credit or voucher under conditions disclosed before booking.
Supplier-Specific & Non-Refundable Services
  • Certain services carry their own cancellation, refund or amendment terms: airline tickets, visa fees, embassy, consulate and visa-centre charges, travel insurance, rail tickets and passes, cruise and ferry bookings, event, concert, sports and attraction tickets, special-event bookings, non-refundable hotel rates, supplier deposits and any service identified as non-refundable.
  • Where supplier-specific conditions were communicated in the quotation, invoice, voucher, booking confirmation or service conditions before payment, those conditions apply to that service.
  • Blockchain network fees paid when you sent your payment are not part of the package amount and are not refundable.
No-Show, Unused & Partially Used Services
  • No refund or Travel Credit is ordinarily provided for: no-shows, cancellation after travel has commenced, voluntarily unused services, partly completed holidays, missed hotel nights, missed transfers, missed activities or sightseeing, missed trains or other transport, traveller delays, failure to report at the required time, services missed because of documentation issues, or services missed for reasons attributable to the traveller.
  • If a supplier voluntarily approves a refund in an exceptional case, Atravelx passes on the recoverable amount in USDC under the applicable supplier and booking conditions.
Booking Acceptance
  • By confirming a booking and making payment, you accept the cancellation, refund, date-change, bundled-package and Travel Credit conditions in this policy.
  • Conditions stated in writing for an individual booking (quotation, invoice, voucher or booking confirmation) supplement this policy. Where a supplier's terms are stricter and were disclosed before payment, they apply to that service.
  • A booking is governed by the version of this policy shown on the package page on the booking date, unless a later version is more favourable to you or Atravelx agrees otherwise in writing.
  • For events beyond Atravelx's reasonable control (severe weather, natural disasters, epidemics, war, civil unrest, strikes, government restrictions, border or airport closures, supplier insolvency and similar), refunds, credits, postponements or alternatives depend on the affected supplier's policy and the amounts recoverable. Atravelx helps coordinate with the suppliers.
  • Nothing in this policy restricts any statutory right available to a consumer under applicable law.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in this New Zealand South Island Self Drive package?
This New Zealand South Island Self Drive package includes the services mentioned in the itinerary such as accommodation, daily breakfast, transfers, selected sightseeing and Atravelq trip support. The exact inclusions depend on hotel category, travel dates and final quote.
Can this New Zealand South Island Self Drive itinerary be customised?
Yes, this New Zealand South Island Self Drive itinerary can be customised for honeymoon, family travel, hotel upgrades, flight city, activity preferences, number of nights and budget.
Is airfare included in the New Zealand South Island Self Drive package price?
The current pricing basis is: Flights included. Atravelq can provide both land-only and flight-inclusive options depending on the package and travel dates.
What is the best time to book this New Zealand South Island Self Drive tour package?
The best time to book this New Zealand South Island Self Drive tour package depends on season, airfare, visa timeline and hotel availability. For peak dates, early booking usually helps secure better rates and better hotel choices.
Does Atravelq help with visa guidance for New Zealand South Island Self Drive?
For international trips, Atravelq provides visa guidance and document support. Visa approval depends on embassy rules, traveller profile and submitted documents.

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