Fill in this quick form to receive your FREE personal holiday quote from us...
Home » 10 Day South Island Self Drive Tour Packages »
Experience the famous Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow with this fantastic New Zealand holiday package. Visit Wanaka for the Warbirds show in 2024 and explore the highlights of the South Island, including Dunedin, Doubtful Sound, and Queenstown.
The Warbirds airshow books up far in advance, so we highly recommend making plans as early as possible–at least a year prior to travel.
Our Warbirds packages include event tickets, accommodation, rental car, and sightseeing experiences. In other words, we package together everything you need for an unforgettable experience.
Read on for full details of this 10 day Warbirds Over Wanaka holiday package.
Driving time Queenstown to Wanaka 67 km / 41 miles, 1.5 hours
Arrive in Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Collect your rental car from the airport and drive over the Crown Range to Wanaka, admiring the fantastic views along the way. Be sure to stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel for a refreshment before your arrival into Wanaka, an alpine town boasting panoramic views and a relaxing atmosphere.
Stay 4 nights in Wanaka.
Enjoy the Warbirds Practice Day. In addition, a special World War I centenary celebration on the Wanaka lakefront will be free for locals and visitors. The aim is to educate new generations about the role aircraft and New Zealand pilots played in the Great War 100 years ago. Come and see these extraordinary aircraft flying over Lake Wanaka.
Package includes a Silver Single Day Pass, which can be booked for today or the following day. The Silver Pass provides tiered seating for the Airshow along the runway, with onsite amenities but with no covered facility. Refreshments include a selection of different coffee and food stalls with tasty morsels, craft beers and wine, within 50 metres of the stand (own cost). Please enquire for upgrade options.
Today the choice is yours, enjoy the last day of Warbirds Over Wanaka or relax and explore Wanaka.
Driving time Wanaka to Dunedin 275 km / 170 miles, 4 hours
Drive through historic Central Otago – past farmland, orchards, and vineyards – to reach Dunedin, one of the best
Stay 2 nights in Dunedin.
Nestled on the spectacular Otago Peninsula, Larnach Castle is Dunedin’s must see visitor attraction. Visit the Castle and discover its rich history that dates back to 1871 and explore the exquisite gardens, which have attained a Garden of International Significance award from the New Zealand Gardens Trust. Enjoy entry to the Castle including the tower, ballroom cafe, gift shop, Castle gardens, grounds, historic stables and outbuildings and receive an informative brochure for your self-guided tour of the Castle, gardens and grounds.
Driving time Dunedin to Te Anau 289 km / 179 miles, 4 hours
Venture inland to heartland New Zealand as you travel to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park.
In the afternoon, explore a mysterious underground world of rushing water before drifting in silent darkness beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glowworms. Your Te Anau Glowworm Cave adventure begins with a cruise across beautiful Lake Te Anau. Board the catamaran Luminosa to cross to the western side of the lake. On arrival, there is time to view the interesting displays at Cavern House before your friendly guides accompany you underground in small groups. As you explore by path and small boat, your senses will be overwhelmed. In this mysterious underground world, discover fossils and rock formations and view rushing waterfalls and whirlpools. Learn how the caves are still being carved out by the incredible and relentless power of nature before gliding through silent darkness to the glowworm grotto. The delicate incandescence of thousands of tiny glowworms is a magical sight!
Stay 2 nights in Te Anau.
Driving time Te Anau to Manapouri 21 km / 13 miles, 20 minutes
Doubtful Sound and the Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise are the next step up from Milford Sound! In Manapouri, board your luxury catamaran and cruise across picturesque Lake Manapouri, followed by a trip across Wilmot Pass, pausing along the way to experience the dense Fiordland rainforest and view Doubtful Sound glistening far below. In Doubtful Sound, you will board another catamaran for a three-hour cruise through this pristine fiord. During the cruise, your knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will share with you their passion for the region through their commentary. They will answer questions, point out landmarks and provide you with information about the varied wildlife you may encounter, including dolphins, fur seals and the rare Fiordland crested penguin.
Driving time Te Anau to Queenstown 174 km / 108 miles, 3 hours
Venture past Lake Wakatipu, a picturesque glacial lake framed by rugged mountains, on your return to Queenstown.
Relax and explore Queenstown this afternoon, with the option to visit the Kiwi Birdlife Park, the Underwater Observatory, or the Ivan Clarke Gallery; ride the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak for panoramic views over the Wakatipu Basin, or simply enjoy a lakefront stroll or a bit of boutique shopping.
Stay 2 nights in Queenstown.
Board the TSS Earnslaw and experience the leisurely 90 minute cruise across Lake Wakatipu showcasing some of Queenstown’s spectacular alpine scenery while offering plenty of time to explore a piece of Queenstown’s living history – the over one hundred year-old TSS Earnslaw. Inside, a visit to the engine room reveals the giant steam engines at work. Close by you’ll be able to view the collection of historical photos in the mini-museum, check out the bridge and even join a sing-along with the pianist. Or, if you’d rather, kick back, enjoy a wine or beer or some café food at the on-board Promenade Café and Bar. You can choose to undertake just the cruise (included), or upgrade with a visit to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a guided farm tour, horse trek, independent cycling, gourmet barbecue lunch or dinner.
In the evening, raise a glass to a fantastic holiday!
Drop your rental car off at Queenstown Airport and depart Queenstown at your leisure.
The Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We ensure your stay will be memorable, with excellent accommodation, comprehensive Warbirds tickets, and top experiences around the South Island.
As you plan your Warbirds Over Wanaka holiday, you may wish to browse our other Warbirds itineraries:
And if you have booked one of our Warbirds Over Wanaka packages in the past, each itinerary offers a different set of destinations and experiences, which means you will not end up repeating the same itinerary.
Contact New Zealand Travel Organiser today to begin planning your unforgettable Warbirds Over Wanaka holiday.
Fill in this quick form to receive your FREE personal holiday quote from us...
Contact your personal New Zealand Travel specialist today...
Family Packages
NZ Self Drive
Coach Tours
Luxury Packages
7 Day
14 Day
South Island
North Island
Guided Tours
Ski Packages
10 Day
21 Day
7 Day
14 Day
View All
10 Day
21 Day
7 Day
14 Day
30 Day
10 Day
14 Day
View All
10 Day
21 Day
14 Day
View All
10 Day
21 Day
10 Day
North Island
South Island
South Island
Honeymoon
Golf
10 Day
14 Day
21 Day
