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Maximum 12

Itinerary

Day 1.

Christchurch
After your arrival in Christchurch, you will be dropped off at your downtown hotel. In the afternoon there will be a sightseeing tour through the ’Garden City‘, including the Port Hills and the ‘Sign of the Takahe’ with its magnificent views over the South Pacific and across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps.

Day 2.

Christchurch - Queenstown (490km)
After a drive across the flat, alluvial Canterbury plains the road climbs the 671m Burke Pass which serves as the northern entrance to the area known as the Mackenzie Basin. On a picnic at the shores of Lake Tekapo you will be treated to magnificent views of New Zealand's Southern Alps. There may be time for an optional scenic flight over Mt Cook, or Aoraki, the cloud piercer. You continue your journey over the Lindis Pass along Lake Dunstan, one of the newest artificial lakes. We travel past fruit stalls and wind through the Kawarau River gorge to Queenstown. There is the opportunity to stop at the world famous A.J Hacket bungy bridge (optional bungy jump) before we arrive in Queenstown.

Day 3.

Queenstown (Rest Day)
Queenstown is an outdoor adventurer’s playground. Options could be a lake ride aboard the historic steamship Earnslaw, jet boating on the Shotover River, white water rafting, tandem paragliding, or a visit to the Kiwi house to see New Zealand's national icon in the flesh.

Day 4.

Queenstown - Te Anau (168km)
A beautiful drive in the morning takes you along the shores of Lake Wakatipu until you reach Te Anau, the last township before Fiordland National Park. You have the option to do a half-day excursion to the Manapouri Underground Power Station (departure from Te Anau is at 11.30am). Alternatively there is a walk to the bird sanctuary, a 3hr walk on the Kepler Track, kayaking or just relaxing.

Day 5.

Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau (242km)
There are many great walks in this area such as the Routeburn, Hollyford & Key Summit. Depending on the weather the guide will suggest the best option(s) for the day. On the way to Milford Sound this morning, you might spot cheeky Keas (Mountain Parrots) at rest areas next to the road. About 4 pm you board a cruise ship which takes you on an amazing journey through the deep glacier carved Fiords of the Milford Sound. In the evening you will be served delicious dinner while anchoring in one of the tranquil bays. The on-board sleeping rooms have multiple beds per cabin – an unforgettable experience.

Day 6.

Te Anau - Wanaka (230km)
We disembark around 9am and drive back towards Queenstown. There maybe time for a little detour to Arrowtown, an old gold rush village with lots of history. You drive over the Crown Range, New Zealand’s highest road to Wanaka. At the west end of Lake Wanaka you can see the glittering snowtops of Mount Aspiring (3027m).

Day 7.

Wanaka - Mount Aspiring NP - Wanaka (109km)
Today we start with an easy stroll from the motel down to the lake. We continue along the shore past all the cafes and shops to Bremner Bay and then towards Penrith Beach. We link the ‘Beacon Point Walk’ with the ‘Lake Outlet Walkway’, followed by the short climb to the top of Mt Iron. In total it is a pleasant half-day trip (with total walking about 4 hours) We suggest you take your swimming togs as there will be enough time for a dip in the warmer shallow bays around the edge of the Lake.

Alternatively, you have the option of booking an alpine hiking tour in the Mt Aspiring National Park. One of the local guiding companies will drive you approximately 50kms into the West Matukituki Valley to the end of a rough gravel road. From here you start the moderately strenuous guided walk to the foot of the Rob-Roy Glacier.
The view from the top of the trail to the surrounding mountains and the glacier is well worth the effort. This optional excursion will be subject to local weather conditions. (Hiking time is approx 4-5 hours return & driving time.)

This evening we have the option of organising a barbeque at our Motel.

Day 8.

Wanaka - Fox Glacier (265km)
The journey takes you alongside Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka. First through arid countryside followed by dense rainforest on the border of Mount Aspiring NP. After a short walk through beech forest at Haast Pass you continue to the township of Fox Glacier. There may be time for a walk to the Glacier Face, or an optional scenic helicopter flight over the glaciers (incl. landing on the glacier).

Day 9.

Fox Glacier - Punakaiki (245km)
In the morning you drive to the Franz Josef Glacier lookout before continuing on to Hokitika. Those who are interested can visit a Greenstone factory, where you have the opportunity to buy jade carvings and jewellery at reasonable prices. Pounamu is the Maori name for Greenstone.
In Punakaiki you will see the well known pancake rocks and will walk the Truman Track. If time permits we can do the walk along the Pororari River (approx. 2hrs round trip or a shorter walk of 40 mins) which takes you through sub-tropical forest with many of those remarkable Nikau palm trees and lime stone cliffs. Then it is just a 57km drive (50 mins) to Westport along the spectacular coastal road. You will also visit a seal colony at Cape Foulwind (just a few kms from Westport)

Day 10.

Punakaiki - Picton (334km)
If we didn’t have time to visit the seal colony at Cape Foulwind yesterday, we can do that this morning. We continue in the vehicle to Murchison and then follow the Buller River to Lake Rotoiti. We take our lunch break at St Arnaud & also do a walk (approx. 2 hours) in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Then drive down the world-renowned vine-growing region of Marlborough where you stop for some wine tasting at one of the well known vineyards. Then it is a short distance to tonight’s destination of Picton.

Day 11.

Picton - Queen Charlotte Walkway
An early boat transfer this morning from our little fishing village, through the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound to the beginning of the same named walking track. In 4-5 hours you walk through natural scenic reserves with lush coastal forest and over mountain ridges, with splendid views of the Sound. At 3pm the small boat meets you again and takes you to the idyllic Portage Resort nestled right on the waterfront, where your luggage is already waiting for you.

Day 12.

Queen Charlotte Walkway - Wellington
(Arrival in Wellington for those participants who have booked the North Island)
In the morning you hike along the coast through dense rainforest with its gigantic tree ferns. At Mistletoe Bay a boat pick-up is scheduled for 12noon, which will take you back to Picton. This afternoon you enjoy the 3 hour journey on the Interislander Ferry via the Marlborough Sounds and Tory channel across Cook Strait and to Wellington, arriving early evening.

Day 13.

Wellington - Tongariro National Park (348km)
(Departure in Wellington for those participants who have only booked the South Island)
During your sightseeing tour through the city, euphemistically known as the "Windy City”, you will see among other things the Parliamentary Buildings and the historical district with its St. Paul Cathedral. You will be driven to Mount Victoria, from where you can enjoy fantastic views of the city and the harbour. Afterwards you visit one of the most innovative museums of the world, the National Museum ‘Te Papa’. Towards the evening you reach the small National Park village with amazing views of the largest volcanoes in the country.

Day 14.

Tongariro National Park - Rotorua (200km)
The Tongariro Crossing is one of New Zealand's premier day walks. This is an optional non guided walk, which takes you on a fascinating journey through a variety of vegetation zones, over scorer-scattered moonscapes, past the most beautiful turquoise blue lakes, solidified molten rock pillars and boiling hot springs. There are some spectacular panoramas over the surrounding countryside during this 7-8 hour trek. If you are unlucky and the weather is unfavourable, there are a number of alternative shorter walks of 2-3 hours in the National Park. In the afternoon you will drive alongside Lake Taupo, New Zealands biggest Lake before you reach Rotorua, the most unique and active thermal area in the country.

Day 15.

Rotorua
The day is free for you to explore the active thermal valley, or take a walk along the lake shore with a visit to the historic St. Faith`s Church and its beautiful woodcarvings.
Around 4 pm visit the Maori Cultural Centre, Te Puia, which is famous for its active wonderland of geysers, colourful terraces, hot springs and boiling mud pools.

In the early evening you will be treated to an unforgettable 'Hangi and Cultural experience' at one of the popular Maori Villages, where the successor of the first Polynesians present their culture. It is a relaxed evening including a series of song and dance performances followed by a banquet or Hangi (food cooked in the tradional earthfire oven).

Day 16.

Rotorua - Coromandel Town (245km)
Today the tour travels past Lake Rotorua and through the unspoiled Kamai Mamaku forest to Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. The mild climate is excellent for kiwi fruit growing. We then drive onto Coromandel Peninsula. At the beginning of the 19th Century this region was in a gold rush. A walk through Broken Hills near Pauanui is a reminder of the turbulent times.

Day 17.

Coromandel Peninsula
This Peninsula has a diverse landscape on a small scale. On one side you find bare mountains of volcanic origin and on the other side a rugged coastline with beautiful beaches. This day has a lot to offer, from exploring the Town, kayaking, riding or hiking some of the local bush walks. Or you may wish to take a day's excursion to the other side of the Peninsula for a visit to Hot Water Beach, so named because a hot spring bubbles up through the sand.

Day 18.

Coromandel Town - Auckland (251km)
In the morning you drive along the peninsula and the beautiful coastline to the small village of Waiomu. On a 2 hour hike with river crossings or swing bridges you will see some of the few Kauri trees (local giant) left. You will leave Coromandel and reach Auckland after about 3 hours drive. During a sightseeing tour in the ’City of Sails‘‘, which is famous for its many sailing yachts in the Hauraki Gulf, you will see among other things the Harbour Bridge, Waitemata Yacht Harbour and Mount Eden, from where you can see the Skytower.

Day 19.

Auckland - Departure
The last morning is for your own leisure. You will be offered free transfers to the airport departing the Hotel between 7am and 3.30pm.

Grading & Fitness

Grade B
Average of 4-5 hrs physical activity per day.
At times carrying small backpack of 4-5kgs.
Tracks generally in good condition.
Altitude gains of up to 600m on harder days.
No hiking experience necessary.
Reasonable standard of fitness required.

If possible there will be daily walks depending on the tour itinerary. The average walking time is between 3-4 hours, except the Tongariro Crossing, which will take 6-7 hours and is rated medium to hard.

Guides & Safety

Experienced Guides are used (most have had at least 10 years guiding experience in New Zealand). They all have a 'bush 1' qualification.

What to take

Essential Items