Queenstown to Franz Josef via Wanaka Small Group Day Tour (1-Way)
Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
Experience the ultimate adventure along New Zealand's West Coast from Queenstown to Franz Josef via Wānaka. Our small group, fully-guided tour takes you to the picturesque Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, over the stunning Haast Pass and along the beautiful West Coast beaches to Franz Josef.
Led by our passionate guides, this tour goes beyond the destinations, offering secret stops, wildlife viewings, and delightful surprises along the way. Travel in comfort with modern minibuses, enjoy complimentary refreshments and provided lunch as you journey through one of New Zealand’s most picturesque regions.
At Cheeky Kiwi Travel, it's the journey, the stories, and the small group experience that truly set our tours apart.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children safety/booster seats available to hire for NZ$20 per seat
Tour duration includes travel time between locations
Lunch is provided - kindly advise any dietary requirements
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Cardrona
Located on the spectacular Crown Range Road between Queenstown and Wānaka, the Cardrona Hotel is one of New Zealand's oldest and most iconic hotels. Its rustic charm, spectacular mountain setting and rich history make it a must-see in Central Otago.
Wanaka
We’ll stroll down to the lakeside for that iconic photo of the Wānaka Tree. Soak in the beauty of this expansive lake, backdropped by Mt Aspiring and the Southern Alps—a paradise for photographers.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Snacks
Lunch
Luggage allowance - 1 large & 1 small per person
Scenic Flights / Heli Hike
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
One Way Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
48 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Cheeky Kiwi a reat company with a great guide Logan
Treadwell129,,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Collection from our motel was on time. We joined a full minibus, but there was ample room for our large suitcases. The seats were very comfy. Logan was a fabulous host on out trip very informative. The toilet stops,coffee stops and lunch were all great. Logan looked after us when we met up with friends in Greymouth. Lunch options were great. He brought our pre ordered lunch out to us so that we could spend every minute with our friends who live in Greymouth. They had come to meet us at Speighs. You can book the trip but not the weather but we enjoyed the best of both today. So glad we booked the trip. I would highly recommend Cheeky Kiwi and especially Logan as your guide . Thanks 👌
Great trip
annafY9585OI,,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a fantastic trip, filled with different stops, walks and views. So much packed into one day and with a friendly, welcoming and informative guide. With limited time in New Zealand this gave me a great taste of lots of different areas I'd love to come back to.
Well done. Highly recommend for fewer cars & planes in travel.
kentj884,,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Nice small group experience. Informative guide. Great stops for walking, sights, meal & bathroom breaks. Speaker in back would be helpful or connection to ear buds (wired or wireless). Combination of poor sound volume & unclear voice resulted in most of commentary missed (sitting in back row)
Queenstown to Franz Josef Experience
mariaiG3366UM,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kristina and Shura were wonderful and knowlegeable. Took us to wonderful places and gave us a thorough enjoyable experience. Thank you for a fantastic day.
Great way to get a taste of the western wilderness of South Island.
V216UJfionaf,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Informative fun tour guide/s and a very well designed itinerary with enough time to really get the feel of the location stops. Enjoyed the walks and commentary.
Glowing Time!!
Run131,,Jan 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Lynnette was our driver/guide for our tour from Queenstown to Franz-Jozef. She was wonderful and we had lovely time learning about the different areas we passed through and stopped at. The walks we did were so enjoyable and Lynnette was so good at telling what to look for. And thank you for the tip on the glow worms in Franz-Jozef. What a neat experience!!
Kristina gave an...
Folu F,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Kristina gave an excellent tour with lots of relevant commentary, she is very knowledgeable! She was also great at interacting with all the guests.
Part1 Queenstown to Franz Josef, wonderful! Looking forward to part 2
S685LVbenm,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00CheekyKiwi, wow! Our tour guide Martin was fantastic! We got picked up on time for part 1 of our tour, Queenstown to Franz Josef. What an excellent tour, and Martin was spot on for the entire day. Made the best recommendations and drove like a pro. Thank you!!!
Great trip
Discover739495,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This two-day trip from Queen Town to Christchurch is amazing! Professional and attentive guides, along the way to the Hotel Cedrona, Lake Vanaka, Lake Havaiya to the magnificent Rae River Falls and glacier views. Whether it is natural beauty, comfortable experience or photographing memories are super satisfying, really very worth participating and recommending!
Great trip to Franz Josef Glacier.
Carly L,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great guide and driver, friendly and knowledgeable. The route was scenic and feels like I saw so much of the South. Loved the walks and appropriate number of stops so didn’t feel rushed but felt like we packed in a lot. Very much enjoyed.
From NZ$290.00
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Operated by Cheeky Kiwi Travel