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
Duration: 12 hours
Minibus
Pickup included
Reviews
56 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful trip!
L7063SGmartav,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful trip, amazing landscapes, very well organized, and Shura is a really nice and friendly driver.
Scenic one-way trip with expert, personable guide!
41pl,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Hanna was a wonderfully enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and personable guide for our day trip to Franz Joseph! She expertly paced our day so we could take in all the dynamic and stunning sights along the way: lakes, mountains, forests, beaches, waterfalls, and glaciers! Hanna did this all while safely driving and traversing the roads. She made a long day feel so memorable and worthwhile with her easygoing nature, extensive knowledge of New Zealand and deep respect for the Māori people and culture. Thank you Hanna!
Intimate and personal
Benjorama3,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic, intimate tour taking in lots of incredible sights on the road between Queenstown and Franz Josef. Colin was a wonderful guide, the lunch was spot on at Hard Antler in Haast (I can recommend the venison burger) and the complimentary WiFi on the minibus was a nice touch. Cheeky Kiwi Travel really do offer a more personalised experience than most and utilising smaller transport means they can get to places the larger buses can’t access. Also, do not pass on the freshly-baked cheese scones at the Cardrona Hotel for breakfast!
One for the bucket list
ingridd809,Mar 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Couldn't have wished for a better day to appreciate the Geography. Culture and history given to us by a driver who parted with a world of knowledge and pride and some very clever (and some corny)humour. All the makings of a great day..
Amazing adventure on the west coast packed with tons of activities
Sightseer22259089145,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Despite of the rain and skipping most of the longer hikes Jess did an amazing job keeping us entertained. A lot of activity packed in it including hikes and the included lunch at the pub in Hast was very yummy! Highly recommended. I also recommend to spend two nights in Fran’s Joseph to be able to do a hike or scenic flight to see the glacier. Glacier not visible from the town.
Excellent driver Ashur
krismede123,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent driver. She knew all details. She wanted to help. She went out of her way to show the glacier
Great relaxed way to explore
annadG5081PF,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A lovely relaxed tour up to Franz Josef, Shura was super accommodating, going above and beyond to be flexible and helpful throughout the trip and always checking in with the group to ensure everyone was happy with the schedule and the coach was super comfortable, the best we have had in New Zealand! We had snacks and water provided and the lunch stop was also delicious - a local restaurant with flexible menu options. The stops were all well timed and super scenic and we had ample time to stretch our legs and take photos, previous tours have been much more rushed. Our group ranged from mid 30s to mid 80s for a range of backgrounds. Shura’s commentary was interesting and knowledgeable and she made the effort to chat with the group and get to know us all - it was a great day!
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)
From NZ$290.00
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