Kia Ora, welcome to Wildsouth Discovery.
So, why Wildsouth Discovery?
We work closely with our clients to understand their New Zealand travel wishes and desires and to understand the style of tour that they would like. We will provide you with the advice and information that will give you a sound understanding of the best way to achieve your perfect tour.
We are passionate locals who love sharing our magical world with our guests. It’s a place of dramatic scenic beauty that will electrify your senses and capture your heart: golden beaches, ancient forests, crystal-clear lakes, glaciers and majestic alpine landscapes.
As locals with over 27 years’ of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, we know this island intimately, and we can guarantee our discerning guests will experience a magnificent journey, and take away memories they will treasure for a lifetime.
We believe that size does matter, and that is why we keep things personal offering only unique, private small-group experiences. Explore with us, the iconic destinations as well as lesser and visited places on our scenic luxpeditions in our fully customised deluxe tour vehicles. On each day, you will be hosted and guided and we are passionate about sharing our backyard and its stories.
Our tours are for solo travellers and couples or for groups of more travelling together, such as family groups, friends and special interest groups.
Give us a call today on 03 332 3665 (within NZ), +64 3 332 3665 (Outside NZ) or email us using our contact form, outlining where you’d like to go, and some of the things you’d like to see and do, and then let us do the rest.
We can tailor the perfect trip to suit you and your fellow travellers, in style and comfort.
Wildsouth Discovery Guided Experiences
Private Tours and Luxpeditions
At Wildsouth Discovery, we do offer some “off-the shelf” tours but mostly, we design “Tailored Journeys.”
Join us on a journey of exploration, discovery and inspiration through the South Island of New Zealand. The custom tours that we offer are private, completely personalized and created for the discerning traveller who expects a high level of luxury, service and attention to detail.
We are passionate about creating and personally guiding exclusive, tailor made tours. Our emphasis is always on quality for visitors wanting that “extra something”, and a memorable and wonderful stay.
Read more about our Tailor-Made Tours
Customised Tours in South Island
9 day Tour
Akaroa Day Tour
Arthur's Pass Day Tour
Kaikoura Heli-Day Tour
Journeys, expeditions and safaris
• Would you like to experience a special kind of vacation with a boutique tour operator?
• Would you enjoy travelling on an exclusive private tour?
• Do you enjoy doing gentle guided walks?
• Do comfort, fun, exploring, discovering and learning appeal to you while travelling?
• Do you find first-class service, superb food and exquisite accommodations very desirable?
• Are you interested in history, geology, wildlife, ancient pristine landscapes or perhaps just magnificent scenery?
• Do you enjoy getting ‘off the beaten track’?
If you can answer yes to one or more of these questions, then perhaps you should join one of our Companion Luxpeditions!
It’s an unforgettable moment when you round a corner to a remote and beautiful location, and stop for a delicious picnic morning tea, a picnic lunch or a picnic stop for a glass (or two) of NZ wine and cheese.
Whether it is a bush morning tea with a stunning view, a relaxed picnic stop in a secluded spot or a private celebratory lunch looking out at a mountain, there’s just something special about eating al fresco.
Going the extra mile and offering guests the special delight of a picnic experience in our varied outdoors is one of the hallmarks of what Wildsouth Discovery prides itself on… definitely something to consider before you book your next trip.
We strive to create unique, lifelong memories for each and every guest that travels with us.
By tapping into our broad experience and our deep knowledge of the South Island’s unparalleled beauty, heritage and culture, we ensure everyone gets the most from every moment of their tailor-made and personally-guided journey.
Vision
Creating lifelong memories through unique travelling experiences
Purpose
Sharing our experience and knowledge with guests to explore and discover South Island’s beauty, heritage, and culture
Mission
Providing exclusive companion luxpeditions through our customised, personally guided tours
In 2009, Brian was nominated as one of 3 finalists for the 2009 ITOC (Inbound Tour Operator’s Council) – Operator of the Year Award. The award recognises New Zealand tourism operators who offer outstanding tourism experiences for inbound travellers, and are selected by leading inbound operators based on feedback they receive directly from international clients.
- PoolLass
We live in Christchurch and have visited Akaroa on a few occasions. It's a picturesque setting and we tend to do similar things each time ... walking the village, browsing... read more the shops, enjoying a lunch. But .... what joy, going on the trip with hosts, Paula and Brian. For a start, the fact that neither my husband nor I had to drive, meant we were both able to sit back and enjoy the scenery, instead of watching the road. Brian drove us to parts we'd never explored before and stopped at breath-taking views. A delicious morning tea was provided, as we took in the tranquility of the area. We walked a short track and there before us was the best view of Akaroa and the harbour, we've ever seen. Photographic opportunities filled the day. Apart from enjoying the relaxed travel, we were also amazed to hear the local history and Maori legends of the area, which Brian related so well. The boat trip out on the harbour was wonderful, with many encounters with the dolphins, seals, bird life and even penguins. Our Granddaughters (in their teens) thought the day was totally fantastic. The return trip was equally enjoyable with additional refreshments and pleasant views. Whether you are from overseas or a local, we highly recommend this superb day out.
April 25, 2020drt928We sent the most amazing 4 days with Brian & Paula. They met us at the airport and gave us a great city tour of Christchurch, then delivered us to... read more our hotel. An amazing day in North Canterbury at a sheep/beef farm watching the sheep dogs work the animals, the shearing of the sheep and hand feeding alpacas, including an incredible jet boat trip. A day at Akoroa Harbor for a harbor cruise to see Hector Dolphins, lunch at a delightful restaurant, and walkabout of a charming town. A train trip to Arthur's Pass National Park and Otira Gorge. Brian & Paula met us at the pass and we drove for many incredible views, tea and treats along the way, as well as a stop at a very good restaurant for lunch in the middle of no where. Another stop at a Merino sheep ranch - amazing day! Final day we were picked up at our hotel and personally dropped at the charter bus that took us to the cruise ship dock. All of this plus restaurant recommendations and many conversations and laughs along the way. Not only were Brian & Paula great guides, but we felt like we spent 4 days with "good friends". Certainly our favorite part of visiting New Zealand.
January 25, 2024Daniel GAmazing tour, excellent hosts - Brian and Paula are among the best guides that South Island has to offer, and I feel truly lucky to have had them along for my journey. They know their... read more way around the island, how to avoid the tourist traps and get off the beaten track, and (most importantly) how to plan one hell of a trip. The accommodations and vehicles we used were extremely comfortable, the food was nothing short of amazing, and the locations (both large and small) were beautiful. Would recommend to anyone planning a trip to South Island, even returning visitors!
July 27, 2018 - Dani L
Wonderful! - This was our first visit to New Zealand. We did not have the luxury of taking the recommended minimum of a month to travel the country--we had only a week... read more for the South Island and opted to go with professionals to help us maximize our time there. We didn’t attempt to “do it all” but we did have some requirements. As we made inquiries Brian was keen to call so we could better discuss what we wanted to do. Brian made suggestions and designed an itinerary that incorporated our priorities and South Island highlights: hikes, scenic views, night sky, wildlife, bird watching and wine drinking. I was concerned about spending too much time driving rather than hiking but to get around the large distances one must drive. However, the vehicle is very comfortable, the scenery is spectacular and journeys were broken up with hikes, picnic lunches, afternoon teas or wine and cheese. In fact, because of the bespoke itinerary we struck a perfect balance between seeing different places and walking and being active. Our travels included lodging in superb accommodations: Arrowtown Boutique Hotel and Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, which added more value to our Wildsouth Discovery experience. Brian and Paula are delightful hosts who work hard to make your trip easy in a relaxed and easy-going way. They shared their love for New Zealand and knowledge of geography, natural history and “secret” places and provided us with views of dolphins, birds, glaciers, breathtaking scenery and more all in one short week.
March 13, 2019fatmanindustriesA Day to Remember: Arthur's Pass and the Otira Gorge with Expert Guiding - First, Brian and Paula rescued our day. With the train fire, our plan was in Jeopardy. No worries, they scooped us up from our hotel in Christchurch, and... read more we drove in style and comfort. We stopped countless times on the way for scenic vistas--a photographer's dream--and their knowledge about the history, personalities, plants and trees, and the places (Castle Hill Rocks, Southern Alpes, Waimakariri River) was staggering. Not sure we managed to ask a question that was a stumper. Four well-traveled adults agreed these guides were terrific. Very full day, and returned to hotel at 6:30pm.
February 12, 2017lesleybQ4799RJAdventures in the South Island! - If you are looking to avoid masses of tourists & find the real essence of the South Island, then you can do no better than touring with the lovely duo... read more of Brian & Paula. They are fantastic hosts who love and enjoy showing us their beautiful country. We went on a 5-day trip and learnt a lot, had masses of fun and I can't recommend them highly enough. They tailored our trip to our exacting specifications and tight time scale. Great vehicle, which was very comfortable with large seats and nothing was too much trouble for them with picnics and yummy home-made chocolates to boot!
March 14, 2017 - James T
Outstanding private guides of the South Island - Our travel agent had recommended Wildsouth Discovery tours to us for our week in Christchurch. Brian Lucas and his partner Paula Sinclair were everything we could have expected and more.... read more Brian met us at the airport at midnight and got us to our B & B, he and Paula picked us up after our breakfast and began with an orientation of the city itself and its attractions, gradually expanding in term of geography to the coastal peninsula where we saw fur seals and dolphins, on a whale watch out in the Pacific, and up on the TransAlpine train to Arthur's Pass in the Southern Alps. They provided a portable tea for us wherever we went, including Paula's home made chocolate cookies, and they took us to their vacation home in Akarora for wine and more chocolates. They were the essence of kindness and consideration. We consider them to be close friends. We had a wonderful time because of them.
July 29, 2018Geoff MWonderfully Tailored Experience - We spent an amazing 10 days touring the beautiful South Island of New Zealand with Brian and Paula. They put together an itinery that exactly matched our requirements for a... read more stress free and not too adventurous holiday with some luxury thrown in. Brian and Paula's knowledge and passion of the flora, fauna and Maori culture was amazing and by the end of the trip we were well educated in all three. Just a couple of highlights were Brian's ability to show us some out of the way places and scenery that you won't find in the travel brochures and Paula's amazing home cooked treats for morning and afternoon teas (and wine). Nothing was too much trouble and Brian and Paula went out of their way to ensure we had a memorable holiday. We have no hesitation in recomending Wildsouth and will travel with them again when we have the opportunity to revisit the South Island.
May 24, 2023Gabrielle PWonderful day with fantastic hosts - We were lucky enough to get to go on this fantastic tour on a gorgeous summer day in New Zealand while there recently for our wedding. Brian and Paula were... read more our hosts and picked us up in their super comfy touring van from our accommodation. We were greeted with smiles and hospitality from Brian and Paula who quickly got us settled into the van and on the way to middle earth!
The trip out to Mount Sunday was so comfortable and we felt very cared for and looked after- little extras such as a comfort stop along the way for tea and biscuits made it feel like going on a day out with friends which was lovely. The van has very comfortable seats with furry cushions which really makes the trip so much more pleasant- you could tell that Brian and Paula had put a lot of thought into making each detail unique and comfortable and had gone above and beyond to change things to make them even better for us.
Brian and Paula were wonderful hosts- Paula in the back providing a solid and calm presence and Brian up front chatting knowledgeably about the locations and places we were going. It was clear that they both have a love for the land and love sharing this with others.
Mount Sunday was absolutely beautiful and Brian and Paula gave us the freedom to climb the hill at our own pace, exploring the beauty and sites. At the top of Mount Sunday Brian even produced a sword which we excitedly waved around and took photos posing as our favourite lord of the rings characters. It was a fantastic touch which really added to the experience of being up in such a great place (and made taking photos that more fun!).
On the way back from Edoras we were happily surprised to stop off by Lake Clearwater and we paddled around in the water a bit, skipping stones and enjoying the beauty of the lake. While we did this Brian and Paula were setting up a wonderful lunch for us on the shore with a picnic table, wine, homemade chutneys, cheese and more! It was truly wonderful and such a kind and personal experience- we hadn't expected this and we were a bit overcome with how thoughtful this was and this was a highlight of the trip for us. Sitting by the lake, eating Paula's homemade chutney and looking at the beauty around us was magical.
On the way back we had another comfort stop which was planned and obviously well thought out by Brian and Paula- wherever we stopped it was clear they had scouted it out and chosen the spot because of it's beauty and unique experience. We had tea and chocolate by some lovely waterfalls and then Brian and Paula returned us to our accommodation around 630ish.
I would highly recommend Wildsouth Discovery to any travellers in NZ- I felt very looked after and comfortable that Brian and Paula would have done whatever they could to help make our trip memorable. If you are looking for a more personal touch with lovely people and fantastic views don't go past these guys! Thanks Brian and Paula, your tour was a highlight of our trip to NZ!
February 15, 2017 - cljs25
To Rohan! - This tour was arranged by a friend and it was such an amazing experience - I am so grateful to Brian and Paula for making it a memorable experience. ... read more The South Island is naturally beautiful, but a comfortable, professional and thoughtful tour makes it even better. Brian and Paula are very focused on the details and making sure the entire trip - from pickup to drop off - is personalised and of high quality. A tea break en route to Mount Sunday and a lovely lakeside lunch were nice additions to the tour. The scenery where they filmed Rohan/Edoras for Lord of the Rings is amazing, and Wildsouth Discovery made it even better! Thanks!
February 13, 2017PoolLassDiscovering our own back yard. - We enjoyed 8 action-packed days, visiting places on the South Island's West Coast that we'd previously either driven past, or simply not realised, were available to explore.... read more Because of Brian & Paula's knowledge of the area, no highlights were missed. With their explanations of the history, Maori legends, and botanical information, we were able to fully understand and appreciate what we were experiencing. Their choices for accommodation and meals was top notch, without costing a fortune, and really showed how much effort they put into exploring all the aspects, prior to our trip. All of these features, together with not having to drive, mean we can highly recommend traveling with Wildsouth Discovery. Wonderful Hosts & Guides.
October 31, 2020Debbie DAmazing - Brian and his wife Paula gave us the best tour we’ve ever had. Not only did they know facts about the area they took us places a regimented tour... read more wouldn’t. They even took us to a Harley dealer before the end of our day! A picnic in the hills with cheese, wine and homemade treats topped it all off. Recommend them 100000000%.
April 2, 2019 - Nassim S
Unforgettable Journey through New Zealand's South Island with Wildsouth: A Review - My family and I had an incredible 10-day exploration of the stunning South Island of New Zealand in the company and under the guidance of Brian and Paula. Their itinerary... read more perfectly aligned with our desire for a relaxing and adventurous vacation, infused with some luxurious touches. Brian and Paula's extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for explaining and showcasing the natural beauty of New Zealand, Maori culture, and the history of New Zealand were truly impressive. They were so kind and sweet, and especially my children loved them. I must say that without them, this amazing trip would not have been possible. Among the numerous highlights were Brian's skill in revealing hidden gems and scenic spots not featured in typical travel brochures, as well as Paula's delightful homemade treats for morning and afternoon teas, along with wine, cheese, and caracaras. Brian and Paula consistently went above and beyond to ensure our holiday was unforgettable, and we wholeheartedly recommend Wildsouth. When the opportunity arises to revisit the South Island, we will undoubtedly choose to travel with them again. I highly recommend this tour, as you could not find a better one than this.
December 26, 2023maewhartonAmazing custom tour!!! - My husband and I had an amazing 9 days with Brian touring us around the South Island! We had worked with him to develop our custom tour and it... read more turned out perfect! He understood our desire to go more off-the-beaten path and to have extra opportunities to walk/hike. Brian knows the island very well, including hidden gems and the best places for great views and food, he guided us superbly. We also enjoyed special treats contributed by Paula, often at gorgeous stops for tea or coffee. I appreicated the extra resources in the van including maps and binder of cultural information. We really felt like we learned and saw alot of NZ! We highly recommend Wildsouth Discovery!
April 6, 2023ClareDunedin'Wildsouth discovery' West Coast South Island NZ trip - The many bush walks were my favorite part of my South Island adventure.
Wildsouth discovery is an excellent way to explore many locations in the South Island of New... read more Zealand.
Brian and Paula planned a small group tour for us that was flexible accommodating the groups interests and abilities. Their knowledge of history, flora and fauna brought the itinerary alive.
As hosts and guides they are outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed my 8 day West Coast adventure and recommend them highly.
October 20, 2020
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