Our mid-morning departure allows time to discover some city cafes and see one of the parks in the ‘Garden City’, or a bit of a sleep in if you flew in late the previous evening. Our drive south takes us to Lake Tekapo, famous for its stunning turquoise waters and the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd, perched daintily by the lake. Hike up through wilding conifers and tussock grasslands to the summit of Mt John. Revel in the 360-degree views of the Patagonia-like landscape. The sweeping Mackenzie Basin is a sparsely populated region in the rain shadow of the Southern Alps; tawny-brown drylands, braided riverbeds and startling glacial lakes extend to the horizon. We arrive at Aoraki/Mount Cook in the late afternoon where we can relax and enjoy breath-taking views of New Zealand's highest mountain (3,724 metres). Includes lunch and dinner.
Today we hike up to Sealy Tarns and enjoy the awesome views of Mt Sefton, Mueller Glacier and across the Hooker Valley to Aoraki/Mount Cook. If you’re feeling energetic, join the guide for a further climb from the tarns up to the crest of Mueller Ridge for even wider views of this impressive alpine landscape. Those not wanting to climb to Sealy Tarns or Mueller Ridge can take the flatter option and walk up the Hooker Valley (unguided), enjoying close up views of the Mueller and Hooker Glaciers on the way. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Before leaving the Mount Cook area we travel up the Tasman Valley towards the longest glacier in New Zealand, the Tasman Glacier. Like most glaciers in the world the Tasman Glacier is retreating and the terminal lake increases in size every year. This dynamic environment is dotted with icebergs of all shapes and sizes from the collapsing terminal wall of the glacier. We will be able to see all of this as we take a short walk through the glacial moraine to the shores of the terminal lake. We drive to secluded Lake Ohau, stopping to have lunch and a swim if the sun is shining. This is also where we ditch the van and head into the hills for an overnight adventure. It normally takes a couple of hours to hike up through beech forest beside the mountain stream of Freehold Creek, to a quiet campsite just below the tree line. Pitch a tent and take a seat around the campfire as you listen to the creeks waters rush past. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Leaving most of our gear at the campsite, we ascend above the treeline this morning into a brilliant alpine basin, home to a variety of native alpine plants including the Mt. Cook Lily (Ranunculus lyalli), the world’s largest buttercup. If you’re feeling energetic, join the guide for a dash up to the ridgeline above the basin and onto the Ohau range (1915 metres), where you get a superb vista of the surrounding Southern Alps, Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Mackenzie Basin. In the afternoon we wander back down the valley and hike straight to our accommodation for the night – Ohau Lodge or hop in the van and drive the final 3kms. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
After savouring the buffet breakfast and morning coffee we head to Wanaka. The drive follows the Mackenzie Country south before climbing over the tussock lands of the Lindis Pass into the southern lakes district. We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the shores of Lake Wanaka before skirting around the lake to Aspiring National Park. We hike up the Matukituki Valley beneath some fine peaks enjoying the views from the trail as it meanders up the river flats. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We return back down the valley, before turning up the Rob Roy side stream and climbing abruptly to the bushline. This gorgeous trail through virgin beech forest emerges into a splendid alpine basin below the bulking mass of the Rob Roy Glacier. Keep an eye out for cheeky kea (alpine parrot).
We will have a picnic lunch before we begin the remarkable drive over the Crown Range. From the summit there are breath-taking views across the Wakatipu Valley and lakes. The Wakatipu Basin is home to world-renowned wineries. To celebrate the conclusion of our trip we will stop at one of the wineries for a wine tasting where we can toast our success and begin retelling the trip stories! Includes breakfast and lunch.
