Pure South 7 Days – Activity Level Guide
How fit do you need to be for the Pure South trip?
The Pure South trip is an activity level 2-4* and is designed for you to have maximum flexibility. With our small groups of no more than 14 people and two New Zealand guides, we offer you plenty of options every day. You can scale your activity level up to a 4, down to a 2, or anywhere in between every day so you can enjoy New Zealand at a pace that's right for you. Walk on well-formed tracks and enjoy a mixture of day walks and activities that showcase the best of New Zealand.
Activity Level 2*. These boots are made for walking...but not too far. You enjoy the outdoors and like to explore, but at a pace that's right for you. You like to take your time so you can enjoy your surroundings, learn from your guides and soak in the experience.
Activity Level 3*. You love staying active on your holiday and know that travel isn't a race, it's just as much about the journey as the destination! Fresh air, experiencing new activities with your guides and ending the day with a delicious meal and great conversation leave you feeling invigorated.
Activity Level 4*. You know sometimes the best views need to be earned and you love a wee bit of a challenge. You're comfortable spending a good portion of the day on your feet exploring on well-formed trails with your guides and moving towards your goal.
"You are working with a fabulous canvas on the South Island. I appreciated the mixture of mountain, forests, river etc. Your guides are first-class people....The schedule had nice little off ramps, or options to it. After the Siberia Valley, my wife was able to take a down day and enjoy Wanaka, while I hiked Mt Iron."
Bruce Farrand | Canada
You can view a day-by-day breakdown of the activities and hikes below, and if you have any questions at all get in touch, we love to chat!
Day 1: Hike the Kepler Track
After meeting your guides and fellow travellers in Queenstown, we’ll head to Fiordland National Park and our first hike of the trip, the Kepler Track. This is one of our ten Great Walks and winds through lush native beech forest. This stunning trail is the perfect introduction to hiking in New Zealand.
Day 2 – Kayak Fiordland National Park
Trips departing prior to April 31st, 2027 - Milford Sound
This morning, we'll begin our day with an unforgettable journey through the heart of Fiordland National Park. Our destination? The iconic Milford Sound. Once we arrive, we'll hop aboard our scenic cruise to soak it all in – thundering waterfalls, sheer rock faces that seem to climb almost vertically from the waters below, and the magic of the Fiord all around. It's a morning you won't forget.
This afternoon, you’ll explore Fiordland both on foot and by paddle. First, you'll explore a beautiful section of the Milford Track, arguably New Zealand's most iconic Great Walk. Rather than a fixed distance on the track, you’ll have a turnaround time, so whether you are keen to keep up a good pace or prefer to stroll and take it all in, you'll have plenty of opportunities to soak up the scenery. The track itself is well formed and easy underfoot, with stunning views along the way. After our time on the Milford Track, it’s time to hop into kayaks and paddle out onto the still waters of Milford Sound.
Trips departing after October 1st, 2027 - Doubtful Sound
This morning, we'll begin an unforgettable journey deep into Fiordland National Park. Our destination? The remote and wild Doubtful Sound. We'll cross Lake Manapouri by boat, then travel through ancient beech forest over the Wilmot Pass. As we descend into Doubtful Sound, the fiord's towering peaks and cascading waterfalls open up around us, and a hush falls that gives this place its old nickname, "the Sound of Silence." It's a morning you won't forget.
This afternoon, you'll explore Fiordland by kayak. We'll paddle Doubtful Sound's still, sheltered water, with our expert local kayak guides. The water is calm and easy on the arms, well-suited to paddlers of any experience.
Day 3 – Jack’s Point to Kelvin Heights
Today we’ll hike the picturesque trail from Jack’s Point to Kelvin Heights (a favourite amongst us locals). We will admire the magnificent alpine scenery and panoramic views of the Remarkables mountain range and Cecil Peak whilst tracing the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The total walking time today is around 3 hours.
Day 4 – Blue Pools Track and Scenic helicopter flight and hike in Wānaka
Today, we are heading out on an adventure you will remember forever. We'll begin the day with a hike to the famous glacial blue pools in Mt Aspiring National Park before heading to Makarora for an unforgettable helicopter flight. We'll take a scenic helicopter ride over the heart of Mt Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site before landing on a private station along the shores of Lake Wānaka. We'll walk along a well-marked track taking in the incredible views of Lake Wānaka and its surrounding peaks. After our walk, we'll return to Wānaka by boat, enjoying the stunning views from the water.
Day 5 – Hike Rocky Mountain Track to Lake Wanaka Lookout
There are a couple of options today depending on your mood – if you’d like a relaxed morning, you can enjoy exploring the lakeside town of Wanaka. If you’re keen to stretch your legs, your guides will take you on a hike near Mt Aspiring National Park.
Our hike today takes us to the Lake Wanaka lookout on Rocky Mountain. If you’re keen for a more challenging and technical hike, you'll then have the option to carry on to the Rocky Mountain summit if you’d like. The return hike to the lookout takes around 2 hours. Adding the summit extends the hike by another 1.5 hours.
Day 6 – Hike Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Today we’ll explore one of our favourite National Parks, Aorak/Mt Cook. We have different options today, the first option is the Hooker Valley Track hike that leads you on a well-marked trail through the Hooker Valley, offering incredible mountain views including the imposing peak of Mount Cook. The trail is easy underfoot with swing bridge crossings taking you over glacier fed rivers and boulders. It's a good 3-4 hour walk with not too much of a climb, stopping for photos and snacks along the way.
If you’re up for more of a challenge you can take the steeper but incredibly spectacular hike up to Red Tarns. The Red Tarns are reached via a steady climb on a well-built track and the spectacular alpine views are worth the effort, even by South Island standards.
Day 7 – Walk the Arrow River Trail
Today we’ll travel to the historic Arrowtown, a quaint old gold-mining settlement just a short drive from Queenstown, where you’ll walk the Arrow River Trail along the Arrow River. The stunning track is a 5km (3.1mi) walk to the Southern Discoveries bridge. While you are walking the Arrow River Trail, you'll have the opportunity to plant a native seedling and leave a small legacy of your own here in New Zealand.
If you'd like to extend your walk today, you'll have the option to add on a more challenging climb up to Tobins Track for panoramic views over the Wakatipu Basin.
This guide is intended to provide you with a summary of the activities and hikes on this tour, for the full description please refer back to the day-to-day itinerary.