Arthur's Pass Hike

Day 1. Christchurch to Hamilton Hut
You will be picked up from your Christchurch inner city accommodation from 7:00am. Please let us know in advance where you will be staying if we haven't booked this for you. Drive over Porter's Pass into Canterbury’s High Country. Hike up the Cass River into beech forest. Enjoy a lunch break at a forest clearing overlooking the valley. Climb to Cass Saddle, just above the bushline to overlook the Craigieburn Forest Park. Descend slowly down Hamilton Creek across river flats to Hamilton Hut. This is a spacious Department of Conservation 20 bunk hut with a wood burner, running water, a mountain radio and long drop toilet. We do share this hut with public users but have timed the hike so that we use it mid week when use is low. In the very unlikely case that the hut is full then we have the ability to camp. Enjoy a bush dinner cooked by your guide. Short evening hike to Mirror Lake. 5-6 hours hiking

Day 2. Hamilton Hut to Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge
Hike up the Harper River, across river flats, over a swingbridge and through a small gorge to West Harper Hut. Continue up river and start climbing steadily to a beautiful lunch spot by the stream. Continue climbing to Lagoon Saddle with its breath-taking views of Arthur’s Pass National Park and the Waimakariri catchment. Descend through forest right to Arthur’s Pass Wilderness Lodge. Your hiking guide will return to Christchurch but you will be left in the cable hands of the personnel at the Lodge. There will be plenty of time to shower and clean up before dinner in the Mt. Kai Roto Lounge. 6-7 hours hiking

Day 3. Arthur' Pass Wilderness Lodge
Begin the day with a canoe on Lake Pearson, one of the few places to view the Southern Crested Grebe. Relax at the lodge and enjoy some of the self-guided walks on offer. Maps and notes will be given to you at the lodge and they will even make up a picnic lunch for you. Your options included:
Rainbow Valley Nature Walk - 1 hour - easy
Broad Stream Walk - 2 hour - moderate
McKay Moa Forest and Wild Boar Hill - 2 hour - easy
Waimakariri Valley Walk - 3 hour - easy

Make sure you are back in time for the Merino shearing demonstration. Help shear a sheep and see the sheep dogs working with farm manager, Andy Bitmead. Enjoy another delicious meal with a choice of fine wines at the lodge restaurant. Before retiring to your room enjoy a short night walk that introduces you to the Southern Cross and night sky and the history of our mountains. 1-2 hours canoeing, 1-3 hours hiking

Day 4. TranzAlpine to Christchurch
Start your day with a dawn birds and beech forest walk. The lodge has its own predator eradication program so the surrounding forest is alive with activity at this time of the day. After breakfast pack up your luggage before driving up to Arthur's Pass village and taking a guided alpine hike up the Otira valley in the National Park. Board the TranzAlpine train in Arthur’s Pass and return to Christchurch via the spectacular Waimakariri gorge. Arrive at Christchurch railway station at 6:05pm. It is a 15-minute taxi ride to downtown hotels. 3-4 hours hiking

Look for rifleman, New Zealand's smallest bird, bellbird, falcon, tomtit and creeper. Search for beech seedlings and rare mistletoe and discover the beech forest invading the surrounding shrublands and learn about Maori and European sheep farmers who pioneered this area.

Grade: D
Up to 7 hours of physical activity per day for first two days.
At times carrying a backpack of 10-12kgs.
Tracks generally in good condition.
Altitude gains of up to 600 metre on harder days.

No previous hiking experience is required, but you need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic. We will be taking you into real wilderness areas so at times the tracks will be slippery, rough and we will need to cross rivers. To enjoy the hiking it is best to keep the backpack weight as light as possible, so leave any extra luggage in the minibus. The packs and sleeping bags we hire are all lightweight - see below.

Your enthusiastic New Zealand guides have a thorough knowledge of natural history and will enjoy sharing and discussing this with you. Each has over a decade of outdoor experience; their knowledge of the back-country and weather will ensure a safe trip. In addition, they are all trained in mountain first aid. The guides enjoy meeting and getting to know new people and have the skills to make everybody feel part of the group.

Mark Brabyn (MSc) founded Hiking New Zealand in 1993 (then known as NZ Nature Safaris). He has a Masters in zoology and did research on whale strandings for his thesis. He has assisted with conservation projects around the world including humpback whales in Tonga, southern right whales in the Sub-Antarctic and elephants and chimpanzees in Uganda. Mark has been active in the outdoors all his life, and his interests include tramping, sea kayaking, scuba diving and mountain biking.

Daniel Murphy studied agricultural science and has worked in the tourism industry for several years including in Spain where he managed an adventure lodge. Dan is the General Manager for Hiking New Zealand.

Regan Hellyer (DIPAR) studied Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Tourism. When not guiding he works at an International Sports Training Camp in the USA. Regan began competing in multi-sport events this year and completed the gruelling Mt Cook to Christchurch race and the Goldrush.

André Booth studied Botany at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, worked as a Park ranger and lived in the Canadian Rockies. He enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, tramping, rugby, cricket and boutique outdoor New Zealand music festivals.

Mark O’Connor is a keen surfer, rock climber, snowboarder and guitarist. He has spent time around the world, in USA, UK, South Africa and Australia, plus a year in Guatemala. Mark also teaches at a high school in rural Canterbury where he teaches Geography and Social Studies.

Glenys Erskine is a local South Islander, from Tuatapere. She will most likely take your booking when you call or email our office – but also guides, and will make sure you get to some secret locations in her home town. She is passionate about the outdoors and has travelled and lived in several countries around the world.

Jaron Frost

Chris Steele

Juanita Miln

Paul Arand

New Zealand’s weather is changeable and we can experience extremely cold weather at any time of year, especially in the mountains. Our huts/camps vary in altitude from sea level to over 1000 metres. It is necessary to have warm clothing. Jeans are not suitable for hiking.

Essential Items

hiking boots (not shoes)

backpack (60 litres capacity)

backpack liner (plastic bag)

daypack

3-season sleeping bag

waterproof raincoat (Gore-tex or similar)

warm fleece/wool jersey (not cotton)

shorts for hiking

polypro/thermal underwear – top & and long-johns

3 pairs of socks (they get wet)

warm hat or balaclava

sunscreen and sunglasses

drink bottle (1 litre)

spare shoes or sandals

flashlight/head lamp

insect repellent (sandflies like foreign blood)

spare set of clothes

Recommended items: Gaiters, binoculars, gloves/mittens, earplugs, walking poles, camera.

Equipment Hire: We have high quality hiking equipment which you can hire for our hikes. Please arrange hire gear when you book.

Equipment Hire (NZ$)	4 days
Sleeping bag	$20
Backpack	$20
Polypro top+bottom	$10
Fleece jacket	$10
Raincoat	$10
Full set (all of above)	$60
Gaiters	$10
Walking pole	$5each

You will travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. It is also equipped with a range of natural history reference books. The driving time on Day 1 is around two hours and there may be a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. The journey back from Arthur's Pass is on the TranzAlpine Scenic train.

All the meals are included in the price. On the hike you will enjoy lots of snack stops to keep you energy levels up - muesli bars, scroggen, chocolate. Lunch usually consists of rolls, crackers, cheese, salami and tomato. The hut meal is simple but tasty - usually pasta with a delicious sauce with cheesecake for afters. Among the group equipment is a portable stove which we will carry into the hut.

The lodge dinner menu changes daily and offers several choices. Meals feature the best of New Zealand fresh fish, meats, fruits and vegetables prepared by the lodge chef. Vegetarian and other dietary requirements are catered for with prior notice. Breakfast is a continental and home-style cooked breakfast.

Hamilton Hut - 1 night
This is a spacious Department of Conservation 20 bunk hut with a wood burner, running water, a mountain radio and long drop toilet. We do share this hut with public users but have timed the hike so that we use it mid week when use is low. In the very unlikely case that the hut is full then we have the ability to camp.

Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge - 2 nights
Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge offers comfort and warm hospitality in a spectacular mountain setting. Centre-piece of the Lodge is the Mt. Kai Roto Lounge which is fully licensed with an excellent wine list. The David McLeod Library is a quiet place to relax amongst a collection of high country and nature books.

The rooms are spacious with queen sized bed, private bathroom with showers or bath, sunny views overlooking the Waimakariri valley and mountain peaks.

It is possible to upgrade to an Alpine Lodge room for and extra NZ$260 per person (2 client bookings only). These are very spacious with a lounge area and sundeck. They have super-king beds, spa bath, gas fire and stunning views.

Does it matter if I am travelling alone?
Not at all! This trip is great for getting to meet like-minded people while having a great adventure holiday at the same time. At the hut or lodge, you have time to relax and enjoy solo time if you need it.

What do I do with my valuables (passport, airline tickets, money, etc) while we are hiking?
Keep them with you in your hiking pack. We pack all those things in plastic bags to keep them dry and keep them with us while we are hiking.

I'm a vegetarian - is that a problem?
Not at all. We usually have vegetarians in the group. All the guides are familiar with vegetarian cooking. Please advice us when you book is you are a vegetarian.

What is the weather going to be like?
New Zealand can be unpredictable! We have a maritime climate so conditions in the mountains can change quite rapidly. It can snow any time of year in the mountains. Generally though you can expect daytime temperatures around 25 deg C (75 Deg F) in mid summer and 15 Deg C (65 Deg F) in the spring and autumn. It is best to be prepared for the worst conditions we are likely to expect - see the 'What To Take' section. We may get some rain on the trip so a good waterproof raincoat is essential.

Who is in my group?
A small group (maximum 9 people), with a range of ages, nationalities and work backgrounds. On average, half are women and half are men. Everyone shares an enthusiasm for outdoor adventure and an appreciation of nature.

Do I really need boots and will they get wet?
Yes and yes! Good hiking boots are essential to protect your feet and provide support. We hike through rough terrain, sometimes off-track. We frequently have to cross rivers with our boots on - again this protects our feet from getting cut on sharp rocks.

How far in advance do I need to book?
The sooner the better for hikes departing in the peak season (November to April). We get many advance bookings so it is important to book early to avoid disappointment.

What type of gear should I buy?
If you intend to do a lot of hiking then it is worth buying quality equipment - good leather hiking boots and hiking clothing. If you think you might not do any more hiking after safari then you could buy cheaper alternatives - just remember that it won't last as long or do the job as well.

What if I can't keep up with the rest of the group?
We hike together as a group, stopping often for snacks and a good lunch. Some activities are optional if you feel like having some time out.

Are we going to encounter dangerous animals?
New Zealand does not have any snakes, bears, lions or alligators. We have a small poisonous spider called the katipo that is so rare that it was recently made a protected species. At certain times of the summer and autumn, wasps can be a problem in some of our beech forests. If you are allergic to their sting, then make sure you carry medication, and tell your guide about it at the beginning of the safari. Otherwise, it is great to climb through the bush and lie in the grass without a thing to worry about.

How much luggage can I bring?
As space is limited in the trailers, we ask that you do not bring more than 120 litres of luggage, which is about one large backpack and a day pack. If you have more we suggest you leave it at your accommodation in Christchurch.

Do I need travel Insurance?
We strongly recommend it. Insurance will give you piece of mind in the unlikely event that you injure yourself or become ill and are unable to start the trip. Hiking New Zealand cannot be held liable for any damage, theft or loss of any of your personal equipment.

Will I have access to laundry while on the trip?
Yes. At the Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge there are laundry facilities.

Alcohol can be purchased from the Lodge.
Taxi from the Christchurch railway station to your hotel.

Payment:
For bookings 4 or more months in advance of the departure a 20% deposit can be paid with the remainder due 65 days prior to your trip. For bookings within 4 months of the departure, full payment is required.

Cancellations:
More than 20 days prior to departure - 80% refund if full amount paid
20 to 10 days prior to departure - 50% refund
Less than 10 days prior to departure - NO REFUND
Deposits are not refunded

Travel Insurance:
We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance. We ask you to fill out a disclaimer before you begin a Hiking Safari. You must follow the instructions of your guide at all times.

Medical Conditions:
When you book you must notify us of any medical condition, medical history, or medications that you are on. In particular, asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, anti-depressants, allergies to wasp/ bee stings and food allergies.

Client Responsibilities:
With any outdoor activity, there is an element of risk. Hiking New Zealand operates in remote and mountainous areas. Risks in undertaking this activity could include hypothermia due to adverse weather conditions, personal injury, or property damage from hiking over rugged and uneven terrain.

The staff and management of Hiking New Zealand take all practicable steps to identify and minimise potential dangers. However, you must follow our instructions (and use the safety equipment provided) at all times. Adults accompanying any person under the age of 18 must ensure that the underage person follows our instructions at all times. You must release or indemnify Hiking New Zealand and our staff against any liability we incur to anyone else, resulting from your failure to follow our instructions or the failure of any person accompanying you under the age of 18 to follow our instructions.

Hiking New Zealand and their guides reserve the right to make any alterations to the itinerary in the interest of safety, comfort or unforeseen circumstances due to causes such as weather, illness, or misadventure.

Hiking New Zealand operates in remote areas. Every reasonable endeavour will be made to keep to published schedules but no guarantee is given. Hiking New Zealand will not be held liable for costs incurred by change, delay, or the missing of connecting services.

Hiking New Zealand reserves the right to exclude a person from a tour at anytime if in the opinion of the guide that person may be likely to risk the health, safety or comfort (including unsociable behaviour) of other clients, him or herself, or the environment. In such circumstances Hiking New Zealand will not be obliged to offer any refund or transfer of ticket.