Wanaka Warbirds and Southern Wheels 7 day tour

Wanaka Warbirds & Southern Wheels

7 day small group tour to the Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow

Our Southern skies and wheels tour begins at Mandeville Airfield and ends at Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell. In Invercargill on Burt Munro’s trail we visit Classic Motorcycle Mecca and Transport World. At Te Anau we jet boat the Waiau River and at Wanaka the three-day gold pass gives you the best seats at this iconic air show.

Watch the official Warbirds over Wanaka video below to see what the show is all about.

WHAT TRACY LOVES ABOUT THIS TOUR: This is your chance to check out amazing “Southern Man” collections of motor cycles, trucks and planes culminating in the Warbirds Over Wanaka Air Show. There’s a spin on the water too as we ride the Fiordland Jet down the Upper Waiau River to Manapouri.

$5,990 (NZD) pp twin
$6,990 (NZD) pp single

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Day 1

Fly to Queenstown - Gore - Invercargill

We drive south to Mandeville Airfield which dates back to the biplane barnstorming days after WW1. It’s home to the Croydon Heritage Museum and factory, internationally renowned for restoring vintage aircraft.

At Gore we meet Jim Geddes our guide for the Eastern Southland Gallery and the Hokonui Moonshine Museum which tells the colourful history of illicit whisky stills and we sample a dram of whisky. We continue south to Invercargill and Ascot Park Hotel, our home for two nights, and dine in this evening.

The vintage planes at Croydon Aviation Heritage Centre
Meet Jim Geddes our guide to the Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Eastern Southland Gallery

Accommodation

INVERCARGILL - ASCOT PARK

At Invercargill’s premier hotel, Ascot Park, relax in the indoor heated pool, enjoy a sauna or spa or stroll the beautiful gardens.

What we love about Ascot Park – A modern and comfortable place to stay. Experience southern hospitality at one of the several onsite bars.

Day 2

Oreti Beach - Motorcycle & Transport Museums

Our first stop in town is E. Hayes & Sons, and Burt Munro’s Indian Scout, then Oreti Beach, famous as Burt’s racetrack.

We drive out to Bluff to the much photographed sign at the bottom of the South Island. Later we browse the astonishing collection of wheels accumulated by a Southland family over several generations at Classic Motorcycles and Bill Richardson’s Transport World.

Burt Munro’s Indian Scout
Bill Richardson’s Transport World

Accommodation

INVERCARGILL - ASCOT PARK

At Invercargill’s premier hotel, Ascot Park, relax in the indoor heated pool, enjoy a sauna or spa or stroll the beautiful gardens.

What we love about Ascot Park – A modern and comfortable place to stay. Experience southern hospitality at one of the several onsite bars.

Day 3

Invercargill - Waiau River - Te Anau

Leaving Invercargill we head out to Riverton and visit the Te Hikoi Museum then call into popular surfing spot, Colac Bay. We lunch at Orepuki Beach Cafe and from Tuatapere head northwards through farmlands.

We walk over the historic Clifden Suspension Bridge built in1898 and in use for motor vehicles until 1978. Near Te Anau we ride on the Fiordland Jet down the beautiful reaches of the Upper Waiau River to cruise out on Lake Manapouri. We stay at Distinction Te Anau Hotel and dine in this evening.

A stunning Fiordland jetboat ride
The backroad into Fiordland, from Invercargill to Manapouri

Accommodation

TE ANAU - DISTINCTION HOTEL

Located on the Te Anau lake front, a short stroll from the Te Anau town centre, Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas is perfectly situated to make the most of this beautiful area.

What we love about Distinction Hotel – Surrounded by extensive, colourful gardens and overlooking spectacular Lake Te Anau and the Fiordland ranges, this 4 star hotel and villa accommodation sets the tone for your stay in one of the world’s most breathtaking regions.

Day 4

Te Anau - Cardrona - Wanaka

Drive through the Southland countryside to Lake Wakatipu and over the Crown Range to Wanaka Airfield in time for lunch.

Your three day Gold Pass gives you the best seats at the show in front of the runway and the air show programme. We stay three nights at Edgewater Hotel and dine in each evening.

From Lake Wakatipu to Wanaka over the Crown Range, with a stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel
Relax for three nights in lakefront accommodation at Edgewater Resort

Accommodation

WANAKA ACCOMMODATION

At Wanaka we stay at either the Edgewater Hotel or the Oakridge Resort Wanaka. Both relaxing accommodations are surrounded by beautiful nature and have excellent restaurants serving creative New Zealand cuisine prepared with the best ingredients found in the Central Otago region.

What we love about Wanaka – along with its spectacular lake of the same name, we love being surrounded by the beauty of the Southern Alps.

Day 5

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Air Show

We breakfast at Edgewater and arrive at the Air Show for the 10am start.

Enjoy all the action from your grandstand seat and lunch at a cooking station where chefs prepare the food in front of you. The show finishes at 4pm and we sightsee around Wanaka in the late afternoon.

Enjoy your Gold Pass access to the show with the best seats in the house, free souvenir pack and more
Free time to explore town and the lake after the show

Accommodation

WANAKA ACCOMMODATION

What we love about Wanaka – along with its spectacular lake of the same name, we love being surrounded by the beauty of the Southern Alps.

Day 6

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Air Show

The final day of the Show – take the chance to mingle with the pilots and walk the flightline and enjoy the spectacle in the sky.

Towards the end of the day we sightsee in Wanaka and take a stroll along the lakeside trail in front of our hotel.

Another full day of fun at the Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow

Accommodation

WANAKA ACCOMMODATION

What we love about Wanaka – along with its spectacular lake of the same name, we love being surrounded by the beauty of the Southern Alps.

Day 7

Wanaka - Cromwell - Arrowtown - Queenstown - Return flight

After breakfast we depart Wanaka for Cromwell. We lunch at Highlands Motor Sport Park, visit the museum, take our coach for a spin round the track, and check out what else is on offer.

Later in the afternoon we drive through the Kawarau Gorge to Arrowtown to enjoy this leafy town at its autumn best before continuing to Queenstown Airport.