AN ACTION-PACKED HIKING ADVENTURE

Journey into Fiordland National Park

We'll leave beautiful Queenstown on a spectacular journey, one of the most dramatic in terms of scenery, so we'll take our time soaking it all in with photo stops and short walks along the way to Milford Sound.

Milford Sound Boat Cruise

If you're an early riser, enjoy a cup of coffee on deck at dawn and absorb the tranquil vibe of this beautiful fiord, surrounded by the vertical rock faces of the mountains. For a more relaxed wake-up, we'll bring you a cuppa in bed to your cabin before breakfast is served in the saloon. Often a pod of dolphins find us and join our bow or stern wake, and it's wonderful to watch them play in the waves, coming up to the boat, arcing right out of the water sometimes - great fun! 

Hike Routeburn Track to Key Summit

Climbing steadily up through the dense beech forest, this walk on the world-famous Routeburn Track is well worth the effort. The view from the top is one of Fiordland's most iconic scenes - across the snow-capped Mount Christina, Mount Tutoko and the rest of the Darran Mountains – tranquil mountain tarns, jagged peaks, vertical granite cliffs and glacial blue rivers rushing to the Tasman Sea, which is clearly visible down the Hollyford Valley. 

Arrive Te Anau

After a good dose of fresh air, we’ll drive through to Te Anau (your guides will help with pronunciation) where we’ll rest up for the night. A lovely place for a relaxed stroll or a run along the shore of Lake Te Anau this evening.

Biking near Queenstown

The air in Queenstown practically exudes adrenaline and physical activity, and visitors and locals alike feed off this buzz. You’ll see people out running, riding their bikes, climbing mountains or paragliding from the hilltops – living in nature's playground has its advantages! One of these is the fantastic new purpose-built bike trails that wind their way around the Wakatipu Basin. We'll be fitted with bikes in Arrowtown, an old gold mining town with rich Chinese mining history, then ride following the Kawarau River out towards the Gibbston Valley vineyards and the world’s first commercial bungy bridge.

Wine Tasting Central Otago & High Country farm near Mount Cook

We'll carry on to quaint Old Cromwell for a picnic lunch and some wine tasting before we head into the Mackenzie Basin near Aoraki/Mt Cook, where we'll stay for the next couple of nights. Tonight you'll be staying on a working high-country station. 'Station' is Kiwi for ranch and high country means it's pretty tough farming country but incredibly scenic. It's in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, which means you only have to wander outside for some world-class stargazing.

These are the mountains where Edmund Hillary honed his mountaineering skills before he and Tenzing Norgay became the first pair to summit Mount Everest in 1953. Mt Cook, or Aoraki "the Cloud Piercer" as the Maori named it, stands proudly as our highest peak at 3724m (over 12,000 feet).

Day 4 Continued

Whichever option you choose, you won't be disappointed. After a full day of activities, we'll meet up and return to the Hermitage (our accommodation) for dinner and a chance to trade stories of the day. We're staying another night within one of the best Dark Sky Reserves in the world so tonight you have another chance to simply walk outside to enjoy some of the best stargazing anywhere.

The scenery changes gradually but dramatically as we travel today and we'll see much more civilization as we go until we drop down through Burke's Pass towards the coast. 

Kaikoura Peninsula

Once we reach Christchurch, the South Island's biggest city, it's not far up the east coast to reach the small seaside town of Kaikoura. This is a stunning area just on the edge of a deep continental shelf, with towering inland and seaward Kaikoura mountain ranges on one side and the sea, running as deep as the mountains are high, on the other. The nutrient-rich water and startling geography create a mecca for marine life so keep an eye out for the whales, dolphins, fur seals and many more species that abound in these coastal waters.

Dolphin Swimming Kaikoura

The early bird catches the worm today! We’re up early enough to catch the sunrise out on the Pacific ocean and it's worth an early start today for the best chance of meeting some of the marine wildlife that calls this part of the world home. First up, we'll don wetsuits and swim with a pod of dolphins in their natural environment (providing the dolphins co-operate, which they almost always do). There are strict regulations in place to protect the dolphins and keep you safe in the water, which usually allows us to achieve our goal of safely swimming with the dolphins in a respectful manner. The small Dusky dolphins can be in pods of around 400 and are well-known for their acrobatics and interactive behaviour. The experience is a joyful one, whether you jump in for a swim or opt to watch from the boat. Our boats are well-equipped with swimming/snorkelling platforms and the tours are designed to be educational experiences that do not interfere with the natural behaviours and day-to-day lives of the dolphins. Enjoy every second as it’s always over too soon. Many people have told us this was the absolute highlight of their New Zealand trip.

Arrive Nelson

After an exciting morning, our travels take us to Nelson, the sunniest spot in New Zealand. With geography that captures everything from golden beaches and pristine waters to glistening forests and rugged mountains, it’s the perfect place to enjoy for a couple of days. The evening is free to explore on your own. 

Oh choices, choices...

Kiwis look forward to the weekend, when we can wake up and ponder which adventure we will take on that day. Will it be on water, foot, snow or bike? There are so many options, and in some places, it’s even possible to go surfing and skiing on the same day, which is really living the dream! Most of us have a garage full of ‘toys’ at the ready with various bikes, boats/kayaks and paddles, and at least a few pairs of well-worn hiking boots on standby, ready for the next adventure. The hardest part is narrowing down the options.

We'll split up in Nelson for our multi-day adventures – hikers will head to Nelson Lakes National Park and kayakers to Abel Tasman National Park. The hiking is in incredible backcountry and is best suited to those who are comfortable walking on rugged terrain. You'll be carrying a light pack while your guides carry the bulk of the gear. The sea kayaking is the gentler option but not without its challenges. You don’t need to be a technical expert for either and don't hesitate to talk to us if you're not sure which option is right for you.

Hike Paparoa National Park

The hike today is one like no other, set amongst dense temperate rainforest, not unlike the scenery in the movie Jurassic Park, with towering limestone cliffs, tannin-stained rivers and the sound of the crashing ocean in the background. We’ll hike deep into the forest where your guides will tell you about the interesting flora and fauna and maybe even give you some ‘bush tucker’ to taste if you’re game. We’ll pop back out at the ocean and spend some time checking out the fascinating Pancake Rocks, with their curious stacks and thundering blow holes before heading south to Hokitika.

Explore Hokitika

We’ll take the time to stop for a look around the quirky town of Hokitika, home of Pounamu (greenstone/jade) carving (an ancient Maori tradition) and also, when it's on, the Wild Foods Festival. Wild Foods festival-goers have the opportunity to try crocodile bites, chicken feet and grasshoppers amongst other scary sounding tastes, and the day ends with groups lighting bonfires along the beach as far as the eye can see. We’ll generally be sticking to more familiar fare on our visit, but you can branch out if you're feeling adventurous!

A short onward drive away from civilization and down a seemingly quiet lane, we’ll arrive at the tiny settlement of Okarito, where driftwood scatters the beach and a small number of people (less than 30) enjoy a simple and uncomplicated existence. Okarito is a little-known spot, a huge hit with visitors and somewhere we can never resist returning to.

Kayak Okarito Lagoon

Get into the Okarito pace of life today – it’s laid back, unrushed and simple. We’ll start this morning by taking to sea kayaks to discover the Okarito Lagoon just a short walk down the road. This quiet inlet of branching waterways is home to over 70 bird species, including white herons (Kotuku), royal spoonbills and pied stilts. You can quietly cruise the waterways and enjoy the rainforest surrounds and the backdrop of the Southern Alps in the distance.

Hike Okarito Trig

After lunch, you can take yourself down to the beach for some peace and quiet, walk the sands, make driftwood ornaments, or if you’re feeling more energetic, your guide will take you up to the Okarito Trig. This hike offers yet more amazing views of mountains, seas and the lagoon you got to know this morning. We’ll stay overnight again at Okarito and if we're lucky we can enjoy one of its famous sunsets, perhaps over a beach bonfire.

Fox Glacier

The West Coast road is a journey that was recently voted by Lonely Planet readers as one of the best coastal drives in the world. Rivers, rainforests and tumbling glaciers meet lonely beaches; and it’s easy to see why people are mesmerised by this barren place. We’ll travel this morning to the small township at the foot of Fox Glacier. Fox Glacier tumbles 13km from the Southern Alps ending in lush rainforest at just 300m above sea level on the West Coast. This is one of the most accessible glaciers anywhere so we have an easy hike today to learn about the geology and surrounding area and get dramatic views of the terminal face.    

West Coast Beaches

We’ll finish our journey down the coast with a couple of stops on isolated rocky beaches, where we often have the whole beach to ourselves. Keep your eyes out for Hector's dolphins (our smallest dolphin) dancing in the surf, and search for little pieces of greenstone on the beach. To finish our day, we’ll climb back over the Southern Alps via the Haast Pass to the beautiful relaxed mountain town of Wanaka where we’ll spend our last night together.

Hike Diamond Lake

Today we’ll stretch our legs in the morning air with a hike to Diamond Lake, where we’ll be able to see out over the Southern Alps and Lake Wanaka, then carry on all the way to Rocky Mountain for even better views above the tree line. It’s a perfect end to your trip, with 360 degree views of the whole area and Lake Wanaka, one of the largest lakes in New Zealand. If you’re not keen on a hike, there is plenty to explore in the township or take a short stroll along the lakefront and soak up the last of the fresh New Zealand mountain air before your trip home.

Finish in Queenstown

After lunch, we’ll drive over the short but spectacular Crown Range road and back into Queenstown, where we will drop you at the airport or your Queenstown accommodation. After your epic South Island adventure, you’ll leave us feeling like you’ve seen the very best of New Zealand and you’ll be ready to come back and show your friends around – now that you’re practically a local!