South Island Wildlife and Stars.
Whales and dusky dolphins at Kaikōura, Hector’s dolphins at Akaroa, a dark-sky night at Lake Tekapo, Aoraki / Mount Cook, and the penguins and albatross of the Otago coast — eight days down the east of the South Island.
What is the South Island Wildlife and Stars itinerary?
Eight days from Christchurch to Dunedin: two nights in Kaikōura for whale watching and dusky dolphins, Hector’s dolphins on Akaroa Harbour, a guided dark-sky night at Lake Tekapo, the Hooker Valley at Aoraki / Mount Cook, Ōamaru’s blue penguins and the Otago Peninsula’s royal albatross. Quoted at net rates, white-label.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
Why it runs in this order.
North up the coast first, so Kaikōura’s whale and dolphin boats get two mornings in case the sea cancels one, then south through the Mackenzie Country to the Otago coast. It ends in Dunedin, which has domestic connections, so nobody drives back to Christchurch.
Who it suits: Nature and wildlife clients, special-interest groups and photographers, and families with children old enough for boat trips — each operator sets its own age policy, confirmed at quotation.
Destination guides on this route: Christchurch, Kaikōura, Akaroa, Lake Tekapo, Aoraki / Mount Cook, Ōamaru & Waitaki, Dunedin.
Services this programme draws on: Wildlife & nature experiences, Stargazing & dark sky, Guides & driver-guides.
The programme.
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Day 1Christchurch
Arrive Christchurch. An afternoon at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, where guests can see kiwi and other native species, is an easy start after a long-haul flight.
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Days 2–3Kaikōura
North up the coast to Kaikōura, about two and a half hours. Fur seals rest around the Kaikōura Peninsula, and DOC asks visitors to stay at least 20 m away. Next morning, a Whale Watch Kaikōura trip to look for the resident sperm whales, or a dusky dolphin swim or watch with Dolphin Encounter (swimmers 8 and over), with Albatross Encounter as a further option. Every boat is subject to sea conditions.
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Day 4Akaroa
Back through Christchurch to Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, about four hours in all. A harbour nature cruise of about two hours to look for Hector’s dolphins, one of the world’s smallest dolphins, and an evening Pohatu Penguins tour to Flea Bay where the season allows.
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Day 5Lake Tekapo
Across the Canterbury Plains to the Mackenzie Country, around four hours. The Church of the Good Shepherd on the lakeshore, then the Dark Sky Project’s guided summit tour on Mount John after dark, in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
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Day 6Aoraki / Mount Cook to Ōamaru
Past Lake Pukaki to Aoraki / Mount Cook Village, around an hour and a quarter, for the Hooker Valley Track, a flat walk of about three hours return to a glacier lake. Outside winter, the Tasman Glacier lake boat tour is the alternative. Then down the Waitaki valley to Ōamaru, a little over two hours, for the blue penguins coming ashore after sunset.
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Day 7Dunedin
South to Dunedin, about an hour and a half, via the Moeraki Boulders. The Royal Albatross Centre at Pukekura / Taiaroa Head, the world’s only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross, then an evening with a guide for New Zealand sea lions and hoiho, the yellow-eyed penguin.
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Day 8Dunedin
Out from Dunedin Airport on a domestic connection.
Drive and ferry times are approximate and depend on stops, weather and road conditions.
What the net rate covers.
- Seven nights in hotels and lodges to the client’s category
- Private vehicle with driver-guide, or a rental car for confident self-drive clients
- A Kaikōura whale-watch or dolphin trip and an Akaroa harbour nature cruise
- The Dark Sky Project summit tour at Lake Tekapo
- Evening blue penguin viewing at Ōamaru and the Royal Albatross Centre on the Otago Peninsula
- 24/7 duty desk
What it does not.
- International and domestic air
- Meals beyond breakfasts
- Weather-dependent scenic flights, quoted separately
- Travel insurance
When to ask.
Six to nine months normally; longer for December to February, when Kaikōura boat seats, Lake Tekapo rooms and the small stargazing tours fill first.
Send the brief — party size, dates, hotel category and what the client cares about — to b2b@explera.co.nz and we will quote this programme, or the version you want, at net rates.
South Island Wildlife and Stars — what agents ask.
How long is the South Island Wildlife and Stars itinerary?
7 nights. North up the coast first, so Kaikōura’s whale and dolphin boats get two mornings in case the sea cancels one, then south through the Mackenzie Country to the Otago coast. It ends in Dunedin, which has domestic connections, so nobody drives back to Christchurch.
How far ahead does it need booking?
Six to nine months normally; longer for December to February, when Kaikōura boat seats, Lake Tekapo rooms and the small stargazing tours fill first.
How is this programme priced?
A confidential net rate to the travel agent, which you mark up yourself. Explera DMC New Zealand does not publish prices and does not sell to your client — the programme runs white-label under your brand.
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Explera DMC New Zealand is the B2B New Zealand DMC for South Island Wildlife and Stars. We contract the accommodation, transfers, licensed guides and experiences at net rates, so you sell South Island Wildlife and Stars with one accountable ground partner and your own branding. Send the brief to our New Zealand DMC desk for a net service quotation.
Start quoting New Zealand at net rates this week.
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