Most people leave the Northern Hemisphere on a Saturday evening, arriving in Auckland early Monday morning. You’ll lose a day crossing the dateline – but you get it back on the way home! It’s a short flight from Auckland to Christchurch on the South Island where we’ll meet you. We then head to Lake Tekapo for a hike along the lakeshore before emerging above the treeline on Mt. John for breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Then we’ll carry on to the remote and beautiful Lake Ohau Lodge. The lodge is tucked in beside an alpine lake, with stunning views stretching across to Aoraki/Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps – the ideal spot to soak in the hot tub and star gaze! Today is a relaxed introduction to New Zealand. Depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll probably find jetlag is no big deal. For instance, it’s a 12 to 13-hour direct overnight flight from the west coast of the USA to Auckland so you’ll appreciate the gentle start to your New Zealand adventure. Accommodation: Lake Ohau Lodge. Includes lunch and dinner.
Nestled against the hills, Lake Ohau Lodge has a special reputation for high country hospitality and contemporary high country food. From the lodge, enjoy panoramic views overlooking the alpine lake up to the majestic Aoraki/Mt Cook. A restaurant, bar and spa pool will add to your experience of this uniquely Kiwi lodge.
After a late breakfast on the balcony overlooking Lake Ohau, we’ll take an impressive hike at the head of Lake Pukaki, up the Hooker Valley to a glacial lake complete with icebergs! This is a great spot for lunch and on a clear day, the views of Aoraki/Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, are stunning. We’ll return to the lodge where we’ll enjoy a sumptuous dinner.
An option today is to spend the day skiing at the small and friendly Ohau Ski Area, one of the South Island’s more remote backcountry ski fields (for approx. US$125 including gear rental). Accommodation: Lake Ohau Lodge. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Enjoy a second night in comfort at Lake Ohau Lodge, with panoramic views of the lake and the majestic Aoraki/Mt Cook.
After leaving Wānaka, we’ll venture up the Matukituki Valley and hike two to three hours into Mt. Aspiring National Park to reach our home for the evening – a spacious mountain hut nestled in a valley in the middle of nowhere. The track meanders past majestic peaks, fresh mountain streams, and natural beech forest. You’ll be carrying a sleeping bag, a few spare clothes, and some food, so your pack won’t weigh much more than a regular day pack. The scenery is off the charts with Mt. Aspiring rising 3033 meters (9951 feet) into the blue sky. It’s amazing how far you’ll feel from civilization after this relatively short walk! Tonight your guide will whip up dinner in the backcountry kitchen while you relax by the fire. Accommodation: Mt Aspiring Hut (Mt Aspiring National Park) or Lake Wanaka Lodge, Wānaka. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Aspiring Hut is an historic stone hut in the spectacular Matukituki Valley. Its large picture windows offer a tantalising partial view of Mt Aspiring with full views of the spectacular mountain ranges just a short walk away. Facilities are basic but comfortable, with bunk beds, mattresses, wood stove, common room, and flush toilets.
We have a leisurely start today, enjoying breakfast and a cuppa while admiring the view, before hiking back to the trailhead. Along the way, we might encounter the cheeky kea – they’re really inquisitive and like to get pretty close at times! After regrouping in Wānaka, we'll head out for a bike ride along the lakeshore, and then it’s a short but dramatic journey over the Cardrona Saddle to Queenstown, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, our base for the next couple of days. Accommodation: Heritage Hotel, Queenstown. Includes breakfast and lunch.
The vistas from Heritage Queenstown are awe-inspiring - soak in the view of the towering Remarkables mountain range, rising from the rippling waters of Lake Wakatipu from the comfort of the hotel. Crafted from centuries-old schist stone and cedar, this comfortable and sophisticated Queenstown hotel is the perfect place to relax after a day adventure.
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand (if not the world!) and all the comforts of civilization are packed into this tiny resort town: restaurants galore, stylish lounge bars, day spas, and boutiques. You’ll also find incredible optional activities here, including horse trekking, a gondola, fishing, winery tours, a historic steamship, bungy jumping, jet boating, and skydiving as well as some great hiking opportunities. Or you can just soak up the atmosphere by the fire at one of the local cafés or pubs. Your guides will happily share their favorite haunts and point you in the right direction for your free day today. Alternatively, you can go skiing or snowboarding for the day at one of four nearby ski areas (approximate cost US$150 for ski or snowboard hire, transport and lift pass – available as snow conditions suit, generally from June to September). Accommodation: Heritage Hotel. No meals included.
Enjoy a second night at the Heritage Hotel, Queenstown. With inspiring mountain and lake views, it is your superbly comfortable base from which to explore this vibrant resort town.
After breakfast, you’ll travel to Lake Te Anau to hike the Kepler Track, one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’. Unlike most of the other ‘Great Walks’, which evolved from Maori greenstone trails or pioneer exploration routes, the Kepler Track was custom-made, built for pleasure rather than necessity. The track has been carefully crafted to show walkers all the very best features of Fiordland, from the prolific bird life and tussock high country, to the huge mountain ranges and vast glacier-carved valleys. This evening you’ll take a boat journey across Lake Te Anau to a glittering grotto of glow worms. These fascinating bugs light the way in a 200 metre system of caves, underground waterfalls, sculpted walls and swirling pools. From the darkness of the glow worm caves, you’ll head back into the light of Te Anau where you'll stay the night. Accommodation: Matai Lodge, Te Anau. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Enjoy the quiet setting of Matai Lodge as you gaze over the spectacular backdrop of the Fiordland mountain ranges. The Lodge offers modern and comfortable ensuite studio rooms with a communal living area only available to guests of the Lodge.
This morning you’ll head towards Milford Sound on one of the most dramatically scenic drives in the world. You’ll pass through the Eglinton Valley, and wind your way through the mountains of Fiordland. Your drive takes you through the Homer Tunnel, an astounding feat of human engineering which must be seen to be believed. Once you arrive you’ll have the opportunity to explore Milford Sound and hopefully spot some friendly fur seals and dolphins. You’ll jump on board a boat cruise, where you’ll gaze in wonder at the waterfalls tumbling down enormous vertical rock faces all around, and journey right out to the entrance of the fiord. This afternoon, you’ll explore the Fiordland wilderness on foot to check out some of its endemic flora and fauna, like the kea (Nestor notabilis), New Zealand’s notoriously cheeky and intelligent alpine parrot and the kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticate), the world’s largest fuchsia. Accommodation: Matai Lodge, Te Anau. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Enjoy a second night at the relaxing Matai Lodge in Te Anau.
This morning, you’ll journey past beautiful rolling farmland and around the edge of Lake Wakatipu back to Queenstown. You’ll have a couple of hours to spare here to catch up on some shopping, grab a coffee or head off on a local hike - your guides will have plenty of suggestions. Lunch today is an opportunity for you to explore more of the outstanding food scene in Queenstown by yourselves - ask your guides about their favourite places to eat! Afterwards you’ll head through the stunning Southern Lakes district and over the Haast Pass to the West Coast – a long stretch of gorgeous, rugged coastline with a population of only 40,000 people. You’ll mingle with the ‘coasters’ tonight in the tiny township of Haast, exchanging tales of your adventures at the local pub in front of a roaring fire. Accommodation: Heartland World Heritage Hotel, Haast. Includes breakfast and dinner.
Dwarfed by the mountains, rivers, beaches and lush rainforest of the South Westland World Heritage Area, the Heartland Hotel Haast provides the perfect resting spot. The warm and comfortable accommodation, roaring fire and delicious cuisine options, ensure a welcoming stay. The hotel offers a café, bar and restaurant, as well as free wifi.
Today we’ll hike into a stunningly beautiful mountain basin, set directly underneath the towering peaks of the Southern Alps, with an awesome highlight – natural hot pools! It’s a challenging six to seven-hour hike 17 kilometers (10 miles) up the Copland Valley with a gradual elevation gain, but it’s absolutely worth it. Our guides are pretty tough and they’ll carry the lion’s share of the load. All you’ll be carrying is a backpack with your sleeping bag, a few spare clothes, and a share of our food. Tonight, we stay in one of New Zealand’s most spacious backcountry huts, a comfortable two-level building. One of the best things about hiking this track in winter is that we may well have the hut all to ourselves! While you soak in the natural hot pools your guide will whip up a hearty dinner. Accommodation: Welcome Flat Hut, Westland National Park. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Welcome Flat Hut is a modern, two-storey lodge in the remote wilderness of Westland. Prolific birdlife and towering mountains surround this well-equipped but basic hut. Accommodation is in upstairs bunk rooms with kitchen and living areas downstairs. Toilets are flush. The nearby natural hot pools are perfect to relax and recover from the challenging but stunning walk.
Today we’ll hike further up the track for even more amazing scenery and views of multiple glaciers clinging to the top of the mountain valley. If you prefer, you can have a relaxing day at the hut – soak in the hot pools, enjoy the stunning scenery, or relax with a good book. Either way, the hot pools are without a doubt the star attraction here, closely followed by the dramatic scenery. Accommodation: Welcome Flat Hut, Westland National Park. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Experience a second night of remote wilderness at the Welcome Flat Hut. Relax in the nearby hot pools while surrounded by towering mountains.
An early start sees you on the track and walking back to the trailhead. You’ll be feeling sprightly today after a relaxing evening in the rejuvenating hot pools and with the slightly downhill gradient, you’ll be in ‘cruise mode’ on the outward hike. Once back at the trailhead we’ll rest our bodies with a scenic journey up the coast to the township of Franz Josef where we’ll stay for the next couple of nights. Nestled in the rainforest-clad foothills of the Southern Alps, Franz Josef is the heart of New Zealand glacier country. Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Set amongst six acres of native bush in the heart of Franz Josef township, the Rainforest Retreat offers truly unique, spacious and stylish accommodation. Nestled in the rainforest, a range of accommodation embraces the surrounding environment and offers either forest floor or mid-canopy native bush views.
This morning you'll take a short journey over to Okarito, a little known beach community on the coast. You'll take to the water in sea kayaks and glide along a picturesque lagoon, set against a stunning backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Okarito is home to the only native white heron colony in New Zealand, as well as lots of other amazing birdlife including the Okarito Brown kiwi. Once back in Franz Josef you’ll have the option to take another hike to the terminal face for exceptional glacier views or relax in the hot tub, before enjoying a traditional Kiwi roast dinner. Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Enjoy a second night at the Rainforest Retreat, immersed amongst the spectacular mountains and bush of the West Coast.
This morning the drive will take you along the coast to Hokitika to check out local art galleries and a pounamu carving workshops ('pounamu' is the Māori word for jade or greenstone). After lunch, carry on to Punakaiki, where you will hike the Inland Pack Track through temperate rainforest and limestone canyons in the footsteps of the gold miners who established this trail over a century ago. While you’re in Punakaiki, you’ll also check out the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes – aptly named limestone formations that have been sculpted through relentless pounding by the Tasman Sea. Tonight you’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner for the last night of your trip. Accommodation: Scenic Hotel, Punakaiki. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Located within the Paparoa National Park and with stunning views of the Tasman Sea, Scenic Hotel, Punakaiki offers comfortable, environmentally friendly accommodation. The resort is situated only 300m from the famous Punakaiki Blowholes. Rooms are spacious and modern ensuring your evenings are spent in comfort.
This is the last day of your two-week trip around the South Island. You’ll leave after breakfast for the four-hour drive to Christchurch, and arrive early in the afternoon for flights back to Auckland. Any flight after 5pm is ideal. International flights from Auckland usually leave early evening, so if you’re crossing the dateline you’ll get home some time on Sunday, even though you left on Sunday evening! Flights to Europe, of course, take a little longer. Wherever you’re travelling to, you’ll go back refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest and great times you’ll have had in New Zealand. Includes breakfast and lunch.
