Accommodation
Iconic luxury lodges, remote alpine chalets and ultraluxe villas
Experiences
From the farmyard to the vineyard
Itineraries
From Northland to Southland and the West Coast to the East Cape
The Southern Alps tear down the centre of the South Island, completely separating the rainforests, glaciers and beaches of the West Coast with the high country stations, mountains and lakes of Aoraki Mount Cook and the Mackenzie Country.
When travelling by road between Queenstown and Christchurch, you have the choice of two routes, via Aoraki Mount Cook or the West Coast. But the choice is not an easy one!
The Mackenzie Country region, which is home to Aoraki Mount Cook, is a region of vast bare countryside, covered in only tussocks of gold, yellow and brown. The landscape is studded with contrasting lakes of bright blue which dazzle against the countryside. And, covered in snow and ice, are the Southern Alps and Aoraki Mount Cook, which are seemingly towering right over you at every turn.
The remote West Coast is a narrow strip of land between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea, packed full of scenic wonder. The lifeblood of the region is its rain. The rain keeps the rainforests lush and moss-laden, in spectacular shades of green. It keeps waterfalls flowing off the great heights of the Southern Alps and into deep gorges of crystal clear water. And it keeps the glaciers so well fed that they extend right the way down the mountainside and into the rainforests, the only place in the world where this occurs.
Luxury Destinations Aoraki Mount Cook & The West Coast
Explore a selection of our favourite locations
Luxury accommodation Aoraki Mount Cook & The West Coast
Experience some of our favourite places to stay
Luxury Experiences Aoraki Mount Cook & The West Coast
Discover a few of our favourite activities
Itinerary inspirations
These itineraries have been designed to inspire you with a small selection of the many unique adventures to be had in this beautiful region. Once you have a feel for the destinations and experiences that best resonate with you, we will tailor every element of your perfect luxury travel itinerary, exclusively for you.
Hike the fantastically scenic Hooker Valley Track
Travel to Aoraki Mount Cook to walk the iconic Hooker Valley Track. One of the most scenic hikes in the country, the Hooker Valley Track manages to pack in panoramic mountain views, a glacier, an iceberg filled lake, a picturesque boardwalk, and not one but three swing bridges, all into a three hour return walk!
- Inclusions
2 nights’ accommodation (2 nights at Lakestone Lodge including dinner and breakfast), and 3 days rental vehicle including full insurance and GPS.
Take a fly fishing break to the Ahuriri Valley
In a quiet valley deep in the Mackenzie Country runs the Ahuriri River, named one of the five best fly fishing destinations in the world! Surrounded on three side by the snowcapped Southern Alps, it’ll be hard to take your eyes off the scenery, let alone the trout rich waters flowing beneath you.
- Inclusions
3 nights’ accommodation (3 nights at The Lindis Lodge including pre dinner drinks, dinner and breakfast), 4 days rental vehicle including full insurance and GPS, and a full day private guided fly fishing day with all gear.
Take a weekend break to the West Coast
On New Zealand’s remote West Coast can be found two glaciers that are quite unlike any others in the world. Just half an hour apart, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier each carve their way so far down the Southern Alps that they reach the rainforests of the West Coast at ground level. In under ten minutes you can lift off from the local village and land on the most pristine part of either glacier for a guided hike across its icy interior. Walk through ice caves, peer into crevasses of bright blue, and hear cracking or the endlessly moving ice.
- Inclusions
3 nights’ accommodation (3 nights at Rainforest Retreat including breakfast), 4 days rental vehicle including full insurance and GPS, shared helihike of Franz Josef Glacier, and admission to Glacier Hot Pools.
many many many thanks!!!!!!
We have been blown away by everything - hotels, food, people, golf, wine - the list is endless. You did an amazing job
Planning a 7 week trip is daunting enough without the complications of COVID cancellations, rebookings, and closures. Yet every connection, every transportation detail, every accommodation, every meal, everything was flawless.
From our arrival in Sydney .. to our last stop in Queenstown .. we will carry with us the best memories of our trip and all of your efforts. The incredible private boat tours .. the bespoke wine tours with the best guides .. our accommodations .. and the excellent itinerary and pacing, made for a perfect trip.
We can't thank Southern Crossings enough for making this trip all, and more, than we had imagined. You allowed us to see the best of your countries: the people, the beauty, the culture. Five stars, a blue ribbon, and a gold medal to everyone at Southern Crossings!
