Daily Tour Notes
A spectacular itinerary featuring some amazing mountain walking, one night in comfortable back country hut, with the chance to rest up at quality accommodation after your alpine experiences. A mixture of remote untracked terrain coupled with friendly trails of a relaxed grade.
Day 1
We collect you from your accommodation site at 8.00am and take you to our depot for a pre-tour briefing before we drive south to Fairlie and inland to Lake Tekapo for lunch. We drive along Tekapo's lakeside to Mt Gerald station and then hike 3 hours into the Rex Simpson Hut, (a 12 bunk private hut on the station). To greet us are stunning vistas across the lake and into the rolling tussock landscape that surrounds the area. (Up to 3-4 hours walking). (L, D)
Day 2
From the hut we climb onto a broad easy spur which gradually gains height showcasing breathtaking views back down the lake and across to the Southern Alps with the prominent east faces of Mt Cook and Tasman. For the strong trekker, the summit of Beuzenberg Peak at 2070m is a just reward. Back at the hut we pack up and return to our vehicle for the short drive back to Lake Tekapo and our motel accommodation. (Up to 6-8 hours walking). (B, L)
Day 3
 Mt Cook beckons as we drive 90 mins to the heart of the National Park. From here a number of hikes are available dependant upon fitness levels from the previous day. Mt Sebastopol and the mountain tarns are a favorite as is the Hooker Valley with its profuse vegetation. (Up to 4-5 hours walking). In the late afternoon we coach back to our accommodation in either Twizel or Ohau Lodge for the next two nights. (B, L, D)
Day 4
High on the range our ski field road takes us to the base and today’s hike. Over the range lies a hidden lake and today’s full day hike takes us as part of a hike providing expansive views back to Mt Cook and across the Mackenzie Basin. We explore the untracked landscape and lunch at the lakeside, far removed from any others! Climbing back to the crest of the range, we eventually drop down to our coach and return to our accommodation. Up to 7-8 hours walking. (B,L,D)
Day 5
Leaving the Mackenzie basin we cross-watersheds and drive through to Wanaka. After lunch, we take a boat trip to land on a remote beech and enjoy the next 3 hours hiking on the trail with stunning views back to Wanaka and the mountains that surround it. In the late afternoon we drive the short distance back to our accommodation. (B,L,D)
Day 6
From an early start we drive to the helicopter base for today’s heli-hike. Across the Matukituki Valley at 1500m is a series of small mountain lakes with great reflections of and views Mt Aspiring. After a time to take in the spectacular views we head up through the tussocklands to the ridgeline and then make our way across to the summit of the Buchanan peaks at 2004m. Around us the views are amazing as we look into neighbouring valleys and the headwaters of lake Wanaka. Slowly returning to our welcoming tarns we have time to swim and relax and enjoy a late snack before its time to rejoin our helicopter for the short flight back to base and a drive across to Queenstown and your accommodation of choice your. (B, L)
Grade: Moderate
 
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner) |
