Great scenery, great company, great yarns. South Island Tours offers this and more on its small group off-road tours.
The company started 32 years ago, offering specially developed tours for 4WDers. Expanding over the decades, the company now offers a wide range of tour experiences that include opportunities to travel over private farm properties that would not otherwise be accessible for 4WDing.
Using tracks on private farms, South Island Tours provides 4WDers with the unique opportunity to stay on farms and share a meal and plenty of yarns with the family.
Drive tracks in country that is not available to the public and enjoy views from mountain tops where few people have been.
In recent years the company has added another 4WD option to Central Otago, starting from Tekapo with a tour up the Godley River. Enjoy three days with the company’s local Maniototo guide who will talk through all the history and local tales of the region. Go 4WDing on historic trails with views over the vast plateaus of Otago including the Hawkdun Range. Limited places available for 2025.
The D’Urville Island tour is a special opportunity to travel by barge across French Pass in the outer Marlborough Sounds. On the island it’s even possible to do some fishing and have the catch cooked that night. Again, there are limited places available for 2025.
Highlights of all the tours include meeting fair dunkum farmers on their own land There are stunning views on every tour with mountains, river valleys, braided rivers, sea views over the Pacific Ocean, wide expanses of tussock grasses to the manuka bush-clad hills that South Island high country is all about.
Along the way there are magnificent gardens as well.
Tour commentary is provided on the move over two-way radios, giving an insight of the rich history and many stories of a bygone era of NZ farming.
Booking a South Island Tours trip also supporting farmers and multiple small Kiwi businesses.
The guided tour options include small group tours for seniors to discover the hidden gems of our regions, a range of guided cycle tours, or fabulous guided 4WD tagalong tours where you bring your own 4WD to explore off the beaten track destinations.