New Zealand: South Island Adventure Holiday
About this trip.
The South Island in nineteen days
Nineteen days is enough time to take in the South Island slowly, which is really the only sensible way to do it. This is a country of fiords, glacier-fed lakes, alpine passes and a coastline that rarely settles into one mood for long. The population thins quickly once you leave Christchurch or Queenstown, and the landscape rewards travellers willing to put hours on the road between stops. A nineteen-day window means proper walking days can sit alongside the driving, rather than treating the island as a drive-by.
A drive-and-hike format
This is a self-drive holiday with walking built in — eighteen nights on the road, with a hire car as the connecting thread between hikes. You move under your own steam: choosing when to leave each morning, where to stop for lunch, when to push on. Macs Adventure handles the route planning, the accommodation bookings and the day notes; you pick up the car and do the rest yourself.
The "drive & hike" label matters. This is not a coach tour, and it's not a pure walking holiday either. Expect a mix of full days on foot and longer transfer days where the driving itself is the point. The walks cover the highlights of the South Island, which the operator's title makes no secret of — the pace assumes you want a representative cross-section rather than a single deep dive into one valley.
Bookings and logistics
The trip runs nineteen days and eighteen nights, with prices from £3,799. That headline figure typically reflects twin-share accommodation and the planning side; car hire, any internal flights, and most meals tend to sit outside it on Macs itineraries, so it's worth reading the inclusions list line by line before you commit. The published price is also a "from" figure, which means it will move with season, room type and group size.
It suits travellers who are happy driving on the left in unfamiliar conditions — South Island roads are quiet but the distances are real, and the alpine sections can turn technical when the weather changes — and who are comfortable spending several hours a day on foot across varied terrain. Walking fitness matters more than technical skill: the ability to manage a long undulating day, with a pack, in changeable weather, is the relevant benchmark.
Couples and small groups tend to book this kind of self-guided itinerary. Solo travellers are accommodated, but should expect a single supplement on the accommodation side.
The shape of the trip.
What's typically in the price, what isn't.
A general guide for walking holidays of this kind. Check the operator's booking page for the final inclusions on this specific trip.
Typically included
- ✓Hotel accommodation, double or twin en-suite rooms
- ✓Daily breakfast at each hotel
- ✓Luggage transfer between hotels on every walking day
- ✓Detailed route notes with maps and GPX files
- ✓24/7 support line in English for the duration of the trip
Typically not included
- ×Flights to and from the country of travel
- ×Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ×Lunches — typically a village picnic or café stop
- ×Some evening meals — depends on the specific itinerary
- ×Alcohol beyond any wine included with set dinners
- ×Optional room or transfer upgrades
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
Other walking holidays on Mooch in the same spirit. All prices per person, from the operator.
