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Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter 2027

Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter 2027

Duration: 12 Days

Price: from NZ$8,495

Departure From: Christchurch

Departure Date: July 2027

Tour Type: Escorted Tour

Meal Plan: B&B and selected meals

Physical Grading: 2/5

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Inspired by one of the greatest and most iconic adventurers of all time, the Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Tour is a 12-day South Island rail and coach journey capturing the magic of New Zealand in winter.

Experience snow-capped mountains, alpine valleys, and historic towns as you combine world-class train journeys with the comfort of luxury touring.

Beginning and ending in Christchurch, the Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Tour showcases the very best of the South Island. Board the legendary TranzAlpine train across the mighty Southern Alps, discover Franz Josef Glacier on the wild West Coast, and spend two nights in Queenstown, New Zealand’s alpine adventure capital. Continue to the spectacular Fiordland National Park, followed by a visit to Invercargill, the southernmost city in New Zealand.

Your winter adventure continues aboard the historic Taieri Gorge Railway and the exclusive Mainlander charter train, travelling via Dunedin to the charming Victorian stone town of Oamaru. From there, return inland to Aoraki / Mt Cook for a stay at the iconic Hermitage Hotel, where a member of the Hillary family will share personal stories about the man whose name defines this remarkable journey.

The Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Tour is more than just a holiday—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime New Zealand winter rail tour that celebrates adventure, scenery, and heritage. Seats are limited, so book early to secure your place on this unforgettable South Island winter experience. Get in touch to tailor-make your ideal holiday with our tour experts, or click the link to see the full range of Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Tours, including Spring/Summer 2026/2027 departures.

“Adventure for the sake of a dream, for the pleasure of searching”

Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Edition Tour 2027 Highlights

  • Discover Christchurch aboard a beautifully restored heritage tram, gliding through the city’s elegant streets and gardens.
  • Journey on the world-famous TranzAlpine train, crossing the Southern Alps with panoramic views of mountains, rivers, and deep gorges.
  • Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw Vintage Steamship, a classic vessel still powered by its original coal-fired engines.
  • Savour a gourmet BBQ lunch at the historic Walter Peak Homestead, set in a stunning high-country lakeside location.
  • Ascend Queenstown’s Skyline Gondola and enjoy a memorable Stratosfare lunch with sweeping alpine vistas.
  • Experience the untouched beauty of Doubtful Sound on a full-day trip and cruise through its serene fiord landscapes.
  • Visit the Takahe Sanctuary to encounter one of New Zealand’s rarest and most iconic native birds.
  • Explore the Te Hikoi Museum and uncover Southland’s rich stories of Māori culture and European settlement.
  • Marvel at the Bill Richardson Transport World, home to the world’s largest private collection of classic vehicles.
  • Traverse dramatic canyons and viaducts on the Taieri Gorge Train, Otago’s most celebrated heritage railway.
  • Relive the past on a Dunedin Railways journey to Victorian Oamaru, a town renowned for its beautifully preserved architecture.
  • Immerse yourself in the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at Aoraki/Mt Cook, celebrating New Zealand’s greatest adventurer.
  • Enjoy an inspiring presentation from a Hillary family guest speaker, offering a personal insight into Sir Edmund’s legacy.

Learn more about the Sir Edmund Hillary Tour Highlights in our guide

Sir Edmund Hillary – Aoraki/Mount Cook

The Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer rail tour series was recently voted as a World Travel Award Winner. Click Here for the full range of Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Tours

Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Edition – Optional Excursions

Franz Josef Helicopter Flight – Enjoy a sensational helicopter flight over the Southern Alps and famous West Coast Glaciers. A real highlight for the adventurers.

Te Anau Glow Worm Tour – A special experience crossing Lake Te Anau by boat and then enjoy heading underground into glow-worm caves which were only rediscovered in 1948

Larnach Castle Tour & High Tea -Enjoy a guided tour of New Zealand’s only Castle including the tower, gift shop, Castle gardens, grounds, historic stables and outbuildings. Your ticket also includes High Tea served in the Ballroom Cafe, a real treat!

Tasman Glacier Flight – Enjoy a flight in a helicopter or plane in Mt. Cook to explore the stunning snow covered mountains and glaciers in Tasman Valley.

Larnach Castle Dunedin situated on the beautiful Otago Peninsula – an optional excursion

Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Edition Tour 2027 – Rail Highlights

The TranzAlpine Train
On this fabled TranzAlpine package you are offered an unforgettable journey from Christchurch to Greymouth, widely celebrated as one of the world’s most spectacular rail experiences. Travel in comfort through the patchwork fields of the Canterbury Plains, cross soaring viaducts, and wind through the dramatic Southern Alps before descending into lush West Coast rainforest. This is the ultimate showcase of New Zealand’s winter alpine landscapes, all from the comfort of your panoramic carriage.

New Zealand Rail Journeys
A wintery scene as the TranzAlpine crosses the Southern Alps

The Taieri Gorge Railway
Departing from the resplendent Dunedin Railway Station — a masterpiece of Edwardian architecture — the Taieri Gorge Railway is Otago’s most scenic rail journey. Traversing spectacular viaducts, narrow tunnels, and steep ravines, this route offers breathtaking views of rugged, untouched landscapes that are otherwise inaccessible. The journey blends engineering marvels with natural splendour, making it a highlight of South Island rail travel.

Taieri Gorge Railway
The Taieri Gorge Railways winds its way from Dunedin to the Central Otago Plateau

The Mainlander Train
The Mainlander is an exclusive charter train, reserved solely for guests of the Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Edition. Travelling from Invercargill through Dunedin to Oamaru, it revives a classic route once served by New Zealand’s great intercity expresses, bringing back the romance of rail to the South Island’s deep south. Along the way, guests are treated to sweeping coastal views, rolling farmland, and historic townships — landscapes rarely experienced by passenger train today. Purpose-operated for this journey, the Mainlander combines comfort with nostalgia, offering a unique opportunity to travel a storied rail line in a way that blends history, scenery, and indulgence.

Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Edition Tour Dates

Prices are based on per person sharing. Single supplements apply to all tour prices, rates shown below. All tours depart from and conclude in Christchurch across 12 days, 11 nights and includes 11 cooked breakfasts, 8 sumptuous dinners (including your Welcome Dinner), 9 lunches including a Gourmet BBQ lunch at Walter Peak Homestead and Stratosfare buffet lunch in Queenstown.

Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Winter Tours 2027 Departures

Departures from ChristchurchPricing & Notes
10 July 2027$8,495 pp
24 July 2027$8,495 pp
7 August 2027$8,495 pp
14 August 2027$8,495 pp
21 August 2027$8,495 pp
28 August 2027$8,495 pp

Please see below for a detailed itinerary and booking conditions or Contact Us Now to check for availability. LOCO Journeys can offer you pre-tour and post-tour departure activities, flights and accommodation, just ask at the time of booking.

LOCO Journeys offers New Zealand’s most extensive choice of rail tours matching your budget, travel style and duration. Click here for alternate New Zealand scenic train and railfan tours.

Tour Inclusions

  • Four star hotel accommodation
  • 11 cooked breakfasts, 8 sumptuous dinners and 9 lunches
  • South Island rail journeys as shown
  • Sightseeing and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
  • Tips and gratuities to local guides, drivers, train staff etc.
  • Deluxe air-conditioned coach transportation
  • Baggage handling of one suitcase per person
  • Lunches include gourmet BBQ lunch at Walter Peak Homestead and a buffet at Skyline Queenstown Stratosfare Restaurant.
  • Services of experienced Tour Leaders

Pricing Notes

  • Advertised price based on per person, twin share
  • Non-refundable deposit of 20% of tour cost per person is due at time of booking. You date of full payment will be advised at the time of booking.
  • A single supplement of NZ$1,595 is available upon request
  • Price is subject to change unless paid in full
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Tour Itinerary

Day 1 | Christchurch (D)
A tram-ride voucher is included at hotel check-in, so you can explore “The Garden City” Ōtautahi Christchurch at a leisurely pace. Tour registration to meet your fellow explorers and tour guides runs from 2:30pm – 5:00pm. An “Ice-Breaker” welcome drink, tour briefing and dinner will be held at the Distinction Hotel Christchurch restaurant at 6:00pm.
Your journey begins at Christchurch Railway Station, where the iconic TranzAlpine awaits. Often regarded to be one of the world's great train journeys for the scenery through which it passes. The journey is 223 kilometres one-way, taking almost five hours. You will see epic vistas, travel the edges of the ice-fed Waimakariri River, traverse the majestic Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps, and see large tracts of native beech forest. On arrival in Greymouth — the "Pounamu Pathway" is a newly opened immersive visitor experience highlighting the rich Māori culture, history, and West Coast heritage — crafted by Wētā Workshop. Luxury coaches await to transport you to your hotel in the ruggedly beautiful Franz Josef.
Wake up to enjoy the option for a helicopter tour of the Franz Josef glacier. Leaving Franz Josef, we travel down the West Coast through the Haast Pass, journeying through large tracts of native rain forest and over the Southern Alps. This remote area has a ruggedly beautiful landscape of vast rainforests, gushing waterfalls and snow-capped mountains, with a lunch stop at the Hard Antler Café in Haast and a pause at the Thunder Creek Falls lookout. Continuing through Makarora on the border of Mount Aspiring World Heritage Park, we pass by the crystal-clear waters of Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea and Lake Dunstan. The adventure playground of Queenstown then awaits! Cap off a special day as we take in The Remarkables Mountain Range and the view of Lake Wakatipu from the hotel.
Wake up to join a winter lake cruise with TSS Earnslaw Cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet BBQ lunch, then enjoy the afternoon on your own exploring Queenstown.
Before departing Queenstown, enjoy unforgettable views sky-high on the iconic Queenstown Gondola, followed by a buffet lunch on top of the world at the Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar, looking out over Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. We then travel by luxury coach to Te Anau (via Mossburn), the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Take in the breathtaking winter landscapes, and for those who wish to add a unique experience, an optional guided glow-worm cave tour at Te Anau makes for a truly magical evening.
Today we journey into the remote wilderness of Doubtful Sound — the deepest and one of the largest of the South Island fiords. From Te Anau we travel to Manapouri and cruise across the lake, then cross the Wilmot Pass by coach to reach the fiord, where a scenic cruise awaits. Far less visited than Milford, Doubtful Sound is a place of profound stillness — sheer cliffs, tumbling waterfalls and resident wildlife including fur seals, dolphins and, at times, penguins. In winter, fresh snow on the surrounding peaks and quiet, mist-wrapped waters make the experience especially atmospheric. We return across Lake Manapouri to Te Anau in time for dinner.
As we depart Te Anau, the morning begins with a visit to the Takahē Bird Sanctuary. Takahē are the stars of the show, and meeting these prehistoric-looking characters is a 'must do' for Fiordland visitors — the sanctuary is a large part of the success of the Takahē Recovery Programme. We then follow the Southern Scenic Route south, stopping for lunch at the Tui Base Camp Bar & Restaurant in Tuatapere before continuing to Riverton, one of the country's oldest settlements, where the Te Hikoi Museum showcases how Māori and Europeans adapted to life in this rugged southern region. We continue to Invercargill — the southernmost city in New Zealand.
This morning, visit Invercargill's Bill Richardson Transport World, home to over 300 classic vehicles — an extraordinary private collection, lovingly restored and beautifully presented. We then board a recently re-established train, "The Mainlander", which weaves its way through the rolling hills and lush rural landscapes of the deep south, to Dunedin.
In the morning, we explore the remote Taieri Gorge by Dunedin Rail over river gorges, weaving our way through a myriad of historic tunnels and guide you to the historic Wingatui Viaduct, a marvel of 1880s construction that remains the largest wrought iron structure in New Zealand. An afternoon at leisure is planned, or there is the optional excursion to Larnach Castle for a decadent high tea & garden tour.
Departing Dunedin by The Mainlander Train, we continue to hug the coast towards Oamaru, with a lunch stop at the Harbour Street Café. We then detour inland via Waitaki Valley & Omarama by coach and onwards towards the spectacular Aoraki Mt Cook. Here, we find the home of the tallest mountain in New Zealand, which helped Sir Edmund Hillary to develop his climbing skills in preparation for the conquest of Mt Everest. Recognised as part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, the National Park is a breath-taking environment of glaciers, terminal lakes, turbulent rivers and Australasia's tallest peak, the mighty Aoraki Mt Cook soaring above at 3,724 metres.
Enjoy a leisurely morning and then a visit to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, which is a tribute to New Zealand's global icon as well as discovering New Zealand's colourful transport, climbing and hotel history. Followed by an afternoon scenic drive through the National Park, surrounded by the silent splendour of the Southern Alps. An optional helicopter flight with a glacier landing (the "Tasman Taster") is available. Morning optional activities also include a scenic ski plane flight with expert pilots navigating their way over the glacial lake, passing soaring mountain tops over NZ's longest glacier — the 600 metre thick, Tasman Glacier. Guest speaker is a Hillary family representative in the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Theatre before dinner. The optional Planetarium Show takes place in the theatre after the Hillary presentation.
Depart Aoraki Mt Cook by coach and travel back towards Christchurch via Tekapo, Geraldine and Rakaia, with a lunch stop at Barkers of Geraldine. On arrival in Christchurch, the tour comes to an end.

For more information about this tour, price queries and updates on specials, please Enquire Now.