Pure South Adventure

Today we leave the rainforests of Fiordland behind and head for the high-country lakes of Central Otago. 

Our first stop is a hidden trail tucked along the shore of Lake Wakatipu, a local's haunt and one of our best kept secrets. You'll hike alongside the shoreline of the impressive Lake Wakatipu, the longest lake in New Zealand. You'll be met with sweeping views across the Remarkables mountain range and the high country station Cecil Peak. Ask your guides to point out Hidden Island if you can't quite spot it! 

This afternoon we'll head over the tussock-covered Crown Range, through the tiny alpine village of Cardrona onto the peaceful mountain resort town of Wānaka. Known as Queenstown's more relaxed sister, the lakeside town of Wānaka is the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park. We’ll spend the next two nights here exploring the area. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We'll start our day exploring another local favourite - Rocky Mountain. The track offers sweeping views out over the Southern Alps, Mt Aspiring National Park and Lake Wānaka. With each passing step, the scenery just gets better and better, it’s a steady climb, but well worth the effort - and there’s certainly no rush to the top. As always, your guides will have several options for you to choose on the day, depending on how much activity you'd like. 

This afternoon, we'll head north through a land of wide-open skies, braided rivers, turquoise lakes, and snow-capped peaks. This is Mackenzie Country where we'll spend the next few nights in the largest dark sky reserve in the Southern Hemisphere. Recognised for its exceptionally clear, unpolluted night skies, the reserve offers some of the best stargazing in the world, with minimal light pollution and breathtaking views of the southern night sky.

We'll have the next two days here as our base to explore the very best hiking trails that Aoraki Mount Cook National Park has to offer. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Today we leave the mountains of Aoraki Mt Cook and travel into the high-country landscapes of Central Otago, where we’ll explore the rich history and character of Arrowtown. A bustling gold mining settlement during the Otago gold rush of the 1860s, Arrowtown remains one of New Zealand’s best-preserved historic towns, with restored cottages, tree-lined streets and stories of the miners who once searched the Arrow River for gold.

This morning we’ll walk the scenic Arrow River Trail, following dramatic rocky gorges and peaceful willow-lined pathways once frequented by early prospectors. Along the way, you’ll also have the opportunity to plant a native seedling to leave a small legacy of your own here in New Zealand.

This afternoon we finish our adventure in Queenstown. It’s time to say goodbye to your guides, travel companions, and new-found friends as we drop you at the airport or your accommodation. We hope to see you again soon in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Includes breakfast and lunch.