Sir Edmund Hillary Tours: The 10 Best Destinations You’ll Experience
If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the heart and soul of New Zealand by rail and luxury coach, the Sir Edmund Hillary tours offer an unforgettable way to do it.
This iconic New Zealand rail journey weaves together the very best of the South Island, from snow-capped peaks to coastal wildlife and world-class wine regions showcasing the country’s natural wonders, welcoming towns, and rich history.
Travelling aboard some of New Zealand’s most scenic trains, guests experience breathtaking landscapes, comfortable travel, and the spirit of adventure that defined Sir Edmund Hillary himself. Along the way, you’ll stay in charming towns and experience the local character of ten remarkable destinations that make this journey truly special.
Here are the 10 best destinations on the Sir Edmund Hillary Tours, each one offering its own magic and memories.
1. Christchurch – The Gateway to the South
Framed by the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean, Christchurch is the perfect place to begin or end your journey through New Zealand’s South Island. Known affectionately as the “Garden City,” it’s a destination where heritage and innovation coexist beautifully, from the charm of its restored heritage tramways to the creativity of its revitalised city centre.
Before or after your Sir Edmund Hillary train tour, take time to explore some of the city’s most captivating Christchurch attractions. Glide along the Avon River on a traditional punt, stroll beneath the grand trees of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, or delve into the icy world of the International Antarctic Centre, where you can experience the wonder of modern-day Antarctica without leaving town.
As the starting point for two of the country’s most celebrated rail journeys, the TranzAlpine and the Coastal Pacific, Christchurch stands proudly at the crossroads of discovery. It’s a fitting gateway for travellers embarking on South Island rail tours and New Zealand rail holidays, where every journey promises scenery, warmth, and a touch of adventure.
2. Franz Josef – Rainforest, Ice, and Adventure
Your journey west unfolds across the dramatic Southern Alps, revealing one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in West Coast New Zealand. Luxury coaches carry you through a world of tumbling rivers, deep valleys, and lush native rainforest before arriving in the welcoming alpine village of Franz Josef, a place where nature’s contrasts take centre stage.
The legendary Franz Josef Glacier, one of the few in the world that descends almost to sea level, has long drawn adventurers and explorers to its frozen slopes. The town itself grew from this spirit of exploration, once serving as a base for early mountaineers seeking to conquer the Southern Alps.
Visitors can follow in their footsteps with a guided glacier walk, soar above the ice on a scenic flight, or time allowing, simply unwind in the natural hot tubs surrounded by native bush. It’s a destination that perfectly captures the essence of scenic rail journeys NZ, dramatic, untouched, and unforgettable.
3. Queenstown – The Adventure Capital
Nestled between the soaring peaks of the Remarkables and the shimmering expanse of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown New Zealand is a place where scenery and spirit collide. Long celebrated as the heart of adventure travel NZ, this alpine resort town offers both thrill and tranquillity in equal measure — from heart-pounding jet-boating and alpine hikes to world-class dining and lakeside relaxation.
After crossing the Southern Alps, guests settle into lakeside comfort at the centrally located Novotel, where mountain and water views set the tone for exploration. By day, a Lake Wakatipu cruise reveals the grandeur of the surrounding peaks, while evening brings the glow of restaurants and wine bars that capture Queenstown’s cosmopolitan charm.
4. Walter Peak – A Journey Through Time
Step back into a gentler era with a TSS Earnslaw cruise across the glittering waters of Lake Wakatipu — a journey as timeless as the landscape itself. This beautifully restored 1912 Edwardian steamship carries you from the heart of Queenstown to the tranquil shores of Walter Peak High Country Farm, where the rhythms of traditional rural life unfold in a setting of alpine grandeur.
During your Walter Peak farm tour, watch skilled shepherds at work, see sheep-shearing demonstrations up close, and wander through lovingly tended lakeside gardens. The experience is crowned with a gourmet barbecue lunch, served against a backdrop of snow-dusted peaks and mirror-still waters.
This classic Queenstown day trip captures the essence of the South Island, heritage, hospitality, and heart offering a memorable connection between New Zealand’s pioneering past and its breathtaking natural beauty.
5. Te Anau – Gateway to Fiordland
Cradled between the still waters of Te Anau Lake and the towering peaks of Fiordland National Park, Te Anau feels like the calm breath before nature’s grandest performance. This peaceful town, where mist drifts over the lake at dawn and sunsets paint the mountains gold, is the perfect base for exploring New Zealand’s most awe-inspiring landscapes.
During your two-night stay, the beauty of the region unfolds gently. A serene boat ride across the lake leads to the magical Te Anau glowworm caves, an underground world lit by thousands of tiny blue lights. Above ground, you visit the Takahe Sanctuary which offers a glimpse of one of the country’s rarest native birds, thriving in its protected alpine setting.
Surrounded by pristine wilderness, Te Anau captures the very soul of the South Island: tranquil, timeless, and utterly captivating.
6. Dunedin – Heritage and Wildlife
Gracefully set between rolling hills and the wild Pacific coast, Dunedin is a city where old-world elegance meets the untamed spirit of the South Island. Its tree-lined streets, grand Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and flourishing café culture make it one of New Zealand’s most distinctive urban gems.
The city’s story is steeped in the riches of the Central Otago gold rush, which transformed Dunedin into New Zealand’s wealthiest city in the late 1800s. That prosperity is still visible today in its ornate stone buildings and beautifully preserved landmarks, none more striking than the Dunedin Railway Station. Often described as the “Gingerbread House” of New Zealand, this Flemish Renaissance masterpiece dazzles with intricate detailing, mosaic floors, and stained glass, a fitting departure point for journeys into the surrounding landscapes on Dunedin heritage tours.
Beyond the city, the Otago Peninsula beckons with dramatic coastal vistas and some of New Zealand’s rarest wildlife, from yellow-eyed penguins and fur seals to the magnificent royal albatross that nest on its cliffs. Whether exploring its natural wonders, discovering hidden historic treasures, or simply enjoying a coffee in the sun on the Octagon, Dunedin offers a perfect blend of culture, beauty, and authentic southern hospitality.
7. Oamaru – Victorian Elegance and Steampunk
Oamaru is a town that wears its history proudly. Built from the creamy limestone known as Oamaru stone, the town’s grand façades gleam in the coastal light, a testament to its prosperous 19th-century past.
A short stop here offers time to wander through the Oamaru Victorian Precinct, where cobbled lanes, ornate architecture, and lovingly restored warehouses tell stories of a bygone era. Today, this historic heart is home to galleries, artisan workshops, and eccentric touches of steampunk flair, a living celebration of creativity and heritage that makes Oamaru one of the most memorable towns along the South Island’s east coast.
8. Blenheim – The Heart of Marlborough Wine Country
Bathed in golden sunshine and surrounded by rows of neatly sculpted vines, Blenheim sits at the heart of the Marlborough wine region, New Zealand’s most celebrated landscape of flavour and craft. Here, the air carries the scent of ripe grapes and warm earth, and the rhythm of life slows to match the long, lazy days of the vineyard.
The gentle hills that encircle the town are home to some of the world’s most renowned Blenheim vineyards, where cellar doors invite visitors to sample crisp whites and full-bodied reds in breathtaking rural settings. This is the birthplace of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a varietal that has become a global icon, vibrant, aromatic, and as distinctive as the land itself.
With its endless sunshine, mountain-framed valleys, and a sense of easy sophistication, Blenheim captures the essence of Marlborough: relaxed, refined, and full of flavour.
9. Aoraki Mount Cook – Alpine Majesty
Rising sharply from a sea of tussock plains, Aoraki / Mount Cook commands the horizon with a quiet, humbling power. At 3,724 metres, it is New Zealand’s highest peak — a place where glaciers spill into turquoise lakes, and the air itself feels charged with the grandeur of the Southern Alps. Recognised as part of the Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, this region is one of the world’s last great alpine wildernesses, a landscape shaped by ice, wind, and time.
It was here that Sir Edmund Hillary honed his mountaineering skills, climbing among these rugged peaks long before conquering Everest. That same spirit of adventure endures in Aoraki today, where the silence of the valleys and the clarity of the night sky invite a deeper kind of reflection. From the windows of the Hermitage Hotel, guests can watch the mountain change with the light, from first dawn glow to starlit stillness, a living masterpiece of shadow and snow.
Aoraki is more than a destination; it is an encounter with the sublime where nature’s beauty, New Zealand’s history, and the spirit of exploration converge in perfect harmony.
10. Kaikōura – Where the Mountains Meet the Sea
Few places capture New Zealand’s natural drama quite like Kaikōura, where snow-capped mountains plunge straight into the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. This striking coastal town, framed by the towering Seaward Kaikōura Range, perfectly embodies the phrase “where the mountains meet the sea.” It’s a place defined by its wild beauty — and by the extraordinary life that thrives just offshore.
Here, the deep ocean trench that runs close to the coast creates one of the world’s most accessible marine environments, home to pods of dusky dolphins, fur seals, and the magnificent sperm whale — Kaikōura’s most famous resident. Joining a whale watching tour offers a rare and humbling encounter with these ocean giants, set against a backdrop of mountain peaks and endless sky.
Two nights at the new Shoreline Sudima Hotel Kaikōura allow time to savour the region’s peaceful rhythm: the scent of sea air, the call of seabirds, and the sense of standing at the edge of something vast and untamed. Kaikōura is more than a stop along the journey, it’s a reminder of how closely New Zealand’s land and sea are intertwined.
A Journey Inspired by Exploration
What makes the Sir Edmund Hillary tours so special is not just the destinations, it’s the journey between them. Travelling by rail allows you to relax and truly absorb the scenery: alpine peaks, turquoise lakes, native forests, and endless skies. Every leg of the tour reveals another layer of New Zealand’s beauty and hospitality.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning traveller, this itinerary offers the best of the South Island in one seamless experience. From the dramatic glaciers of the West Coast to the rolling vineyards of Marlborough, the tour mirrors the spirit of adventure, curiosity, and appreciation for nature that defined Sir Edmund Hillary himself.
So if you’re seeking inspiration for your next great journey, look no further than the 10 best destinations on the Sir Edmund Hillary Tours. It’s more than a rail holiday it’s an experience that captures the essence of New Zealand.
For a detailed brochure dedicated to the Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Tour contact us and we are happy to email this to you. LOCO Journeys can offer you pre-tour and post-tour departure activities, flights and accommodation.
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 Tours
Please note: not all of the destinations featured in this article are visited by all the Sir Edmund Hillary tours. The itineraries do vary from season to season.
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