Milford, Hollyford and Stewart Island Trails

This morning we drive a short distance to the windswept coastal town of Bluff. Here, we meet the morning ferry for the one hour (approx) crossing to Stewart Island, off the southern coast. Home to New Zealand's newest national park and the remote community of Oban, we arrive on Stewart Island ready for some walking activity. After a casual lunch we walk for about 10km (4hrs) on part of the Rakiura Track with lovely coastal views and prominent bird life. We will probably take a water taxi one way and the availability of this will influence the direction and location of our walk. Arriving back into Oban village late in the afternoon, we have time to check into our accommodation, freshen up and explore the various options on offer for tomorrow. It's then time to regroup for dinner. The fresh local Blue Cod, or the famous Bluff Oysters are a 'must try'. Accommodation: Bay Motel or South Sea Hotel, Stewart Island. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Departing on the early ferry from Stewart Island back to the mainland, we then travel through small towns and rural landscapes to Te Anau, on the edge of the World Heritage Fiordland National Park. Here you can enjoy a fine walk on one of the lower reaches of the Kepler track, passing through wetlands and mosses and ancient native forests. There are a couple of options for return hikes to remote and secluded bush-clad bays on either Lake Manapouri or Lake Te Anau; the choice will depend on the weather. This evening we have a briefing on the upcoming Hollyford adventure and enjoy dinner with an air of anticipation for the next couple of days. Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore, Te Anau. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After a hearty breakfast we journey once again by jet boat up Lake McKerrow to the Hollyford River, the dramatic mountain scapes leaving us in awe of the beauty of this region. A little further along we leave the boat to commence our 20km hike along the Hollyford Valley, following the footsteps of early explorers through native beech forest speckled with elegantly flowing waterfalls. The undulating track brings us to the trail head, with a lunch stop and interesting interpretation of our surrounds along the way. We then drive to our accommodation back in Te Anau, and meet again in the evening for our final dinner. Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.