World Heritage Walking Tour – Activity Level Guide

How fit do you need to be for the World Heritage Walking Tour?

The World Heritage Walking Tour is an activity level 2-3* trip and is designed for you to have maximum flexibility. You can scale your activity level up to a 3 or down to a 2 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. 

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: Devils Punchbowl Track, Arthur’s Pass National Park

This is a short introductory walk on a well-marked trail through mountain beech forest. The hike is 2km (1.2 miles) and will take us around 1-1.5 hours return with plenty of time for photo-taking. It's a great introduction to New Zealand!

Day 2: Explore Paparoa National Park

A beautiful, flat riverside trail with no real elevation gain but some small ups and downs throughout, with a total distance of 7 km (4.3 miles). We’re usually on the trail for 2 hours. 

Day 3: Okarito Lagoon Kayak

You'll be out on the calm water of the lagoon for around 2 hours in double kayaks this morning and you're providing the power, so paddle at your own pace and take the time to rest if you need to. Our local guides will suggest a route suitable for the conditions.

Day 4: Lake Matheson Scenic Walk

Today we'll walk on the Lake Matheson Track, a 4km (2.4 mi) loop, where you'll enjoy stunning views of Aoraki/Mt Cook and our towering Southern Alps. Renowned for its glassy still waters you'll enjoy spectacular mirror-like reflections across Lake Matheson as we make our way through native forest and learn about the fascinating glacial history of the area.

Day 5: Mou Waho Island Nature Walk

The hike to the viewpoint on Mou Waho is a short climb (200m/650 feet) in and then downhill on the way back. There’s a lot to see and learn so we take our time. The return distance is around 5km (3 miles). We are on the island for around 2.5 hours in total.

Day 6: Routeburn Track Hiking

You can choose how far you want to walk today on this most famous of tracks. Most people take the hike to Routeburn Flats, a return walk of 13km (8 miles) over the day taking around 5-6 hours. The trail is easy underfoot the whole way, with a very gradual climb on the way in and downhill on the way back. We have all day to enjoy ourselves so there’s no hurry and you'll really enjoy the changing scenery as you make your way in. 

Day 7: Rest day in Queenstown

Today is yours to spend as you wish. Take in some of the local sites and activities or take it easy with some downtime. Our guides will help you find the best options for your day. We’ve scheduled a rest day at this stage of the tour to offer you some breathing space and relaxation in a beautiful place with plenty of options before heading on for more adventures in Fiordland.

Day 8: Explore Milford Sound, helicopter to Martins Bay and hike in the podocarp forest

Today we'll journey south to Fiordland for what many of our guests find is the highlight of their World Heritage Walking Tour. This afternoon you'll board a helicopter that will fly you over the stunning forests of Fiordland into the secluded Martins Bay. You'll enjoy a beautiful and easy 1-2 hour nature walk in the podocarp forest which is guided by our local Fiordland guide. We’ll then hike to the Long Reef seal colony where we can view the New Zealand fur seals at close quarters before jetboating back to Martins Bay Lodge for the night.

Day 9: Jetboat Lake McKerrow then hike the Hollyford Track

Our hike today is approximately 18.5km (11.5 miles) on the Hollyford Track and it's a very well maintained track with a gentle incline throughout the day. It’s not a race to get to the end, we want to take the time to appreciate our surroundings. We will be out for the day (around 6-7 hours) with plenty of rest, drink and snack breaks.

Day 10: Explore Doubtful Sound on a full-day cruise

This morning we'll head to the heart of Fiordland, the magnificent Doubtful Sound. We'll take a relaxing nature cruise on the fiord - the very best way to see the entire area. You'll get up close to the rushing waterfalls and experience the sheer magnitude of the mountains from the water. Our onboard nature guide will help you spot the local native fur seals and, if we're lucky, a pod of bottlenose dolphins.

Day 11: Gibbston Valley, High Country Lakes, Aoraki/Mount Cook

Today is a relaxed, scenic day as we travel toward Aoraki / Mt Cook, with plenty of lovely stops along the way. The Queenstown region isn't complete without a delicious brunch and a spot of wine tasting before we venture onward.

Day 12: Aoraki/Mt Cook Hiking, Hooker Valley

In the morning you will have a short walk to the lake for a boat ride to the face of the Tasman Glacier. In the afternoon there are a few options. You can either walk up the Hooker Valley on a very accessible trail which offers easy walking for anyone that visits Mount Cook National Park. The 8km (5 mile) return journey usually takes the full afternoon (around 4 hours) including breaks for snacks and photos. This is a mostly flat walk on an excellent track surrounded by incredible mountain scenery. Alternatively, there is a heli-glacier hike option or you can just stay at the hotel and enjoy the village.

On day 13 you will make your way back to Christchurch, stopping at points of interest on the way in time to catch your onward flights. We hope this guide to the hikes and activities included in the World Heritage small group tour is helpful and you've got all the information you need. See the full itinerary for the New Zealand 'World Heritage Walking Tour' here and if you have questions or would like to book please contact us.