Daily Tour Notes
This 11 day discovery trek through the Southern Alps is a must for the slightly more active walker.
Day 1 Queenstown
 We meet at the Queenstown Visitor’s Centre at 8.00 am. After a short briefing by our guide we head south into the Fiordland National Park. This World Heritage Site is the largest National Park in New Zealand. The area is dominated by water, either in the form of lakes or as falling rain, which has enabled the establishment of the temperate rainforest. Upon arrival we will prepare for our first hike to Key Summit on the famous Routeburn Track. This is a fantastic hike of around 3 hours and will give us great views of the Darran Mountains. We then return to our vehicle and make our way to our camp in the Hollyford Valley.
6km/3 hours hiking
Day 2 Milford Sound
After an early rise and a good breakfast we drive through the Homer Tunnel and down into Milford Sound itself. Here we hire kayaks ($100-optional) and kayak out into the Fiord with views of Mitre Peak (1722 meters straight out of the sea). Often there is the chance to see penguins and seals playing near our kayaks. We head back to shore and drive back through the divide to our campsite on the shores of Lake Monawai.
8km/4 hours kayaking
Day 3 Fiordland National Park
Today we continue our journey through Fiordland National Park to Borland Saddle (1000 meters). During the Ice Age the glaciers gouged the fiords and lakes, hollowed out the rounded valleys and shaped the granite mountain peaks. From here we organise our gear and food for our first overnight hike. From Borland saddle we climb above the bush line were we will get great views of all the different forest types in the park. We traverse along these tops to Mt Burns (1634 meters-optional climb) and desend to Green Lake to a trampers hut or to camp nearby.
12km/7 hours hiking
Day 4 Catlins Coast
After a leisurely breakfast we hike out through beech forest and across tussock basins to the road. We then drive through to Invercargil, the southern most city in New Zealand. It is here we stop to replenish our food stocks and carry on to Curio Bay. This is one of the most scenic coastal lines of New Zealand. Here is a great spot to relax and stay in a cozy crib (a New Zealand summerhouse) There is a chance to enjoy a swim in the sea, then a hot shower to complete the day.
7km/3 hours hiking
Day 5 Cannibal Bay
 Today we further explore Curio Bay where we often see Hector Dolphins playing in the surf. We walk to a nearby tidal platform that contains tree stumps from a fossilized (petrified) forest that is 180 million years old. After exploring this paleontologists dream we drive back along the coast to Cannibal Bay. Here you have a chance to see New Zealand Sea Lions and Yellow Eyed penguins. Tonight we camp along the beach and prepare a hangi feast (Maori earth oven) for our evening meal.
6km/2 hours hiking
Day 6 Central Otago
Today is an optional rest day in the picturesque town of Alexandra, in the heart of Central Otago. We arrive in Alexandra late morning. If you are feeling energetic you can join a cycle tour on the historic rail trail that winds its way through the vast and mountainous landscape of Central Otago through tunnels and across many viaducts. Alternatively, you can relax in Alexandra, visiting the local cafés or vineyards. We take a night off cooking, and eat out at one of the excellent local restaurants.
Rest day/optional cycling
Day 7 Ohau Range
After a leisurely breakfast we continue driving through the high country. This part of the South Island is home to some of New Zealand's largest sheep stations, many measuring tens of thousands of hectares. After crossing Lindis Pass into the Mackenzie country we arrive at Lake Ohau. There is time to relax and have a swim at this spectacular setting before packing for the next overnight hike. We head up through beech forest to a camp beside Freehold Creek, just below the bushline.
7km/3 hours hiking
Day 8 Ohau Range
 Up early, we leave the campsite and head off with day packs to explore a beautiful basin filled with tarns (small alpine lakes). The basin contains an incredible variety of alpine plants, including Spaniards (prickly), and the world’s largest buttercup, named Mt Cook Lily (Ranunculus lyalli), because of its large round lily-like leaves. The fit can climb up onto the Ohau range (1915 metres) to enjoy the views of the Southern Alps, including Mt Cook, and the Mackenzie Basin. We return to pack up camp, and hike back to the vehicle. We drive to Mt Cook village to camp beneath New Zealand’s highest mountains.
14km/7 hours hiking
Day 9 Mount Cook National Park
We set off early with day packs to hike up to Sealy Tarns and Mueller Hut for views of the Hooker and Mueller glaciers, Mt Sefton icefall, and truly spectacular views of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki/Mt Cook – 3754 metres (the Maori name translates to ‘Cloud Piercer’). On the walk your guide will talk about glaciers, mountain building and the New Zealand climate. We descend to the vehicle and drive to the bottom end of Lake Pukaki – artificially raised 30 metres for hydroelectric power generation. This lake is a beautiful turquoise colour caused by the fine glacial silt suspended in the water. We camp on its shores, with beautiful views across to New Zealand's highest peaks.
8km/5 hours hiking
Day 10 Mt Somers
 Continuing through the Mackenzie Basin, an area named after a legendary sheep rustler, we pass Lake Tekapo before reaching the next destination, Mt Somers. We hike up a river canyon and climb out to Trig Point with great views into the Rakaia Basin. There are several altitudinal plant sequences during the hike, along with regenerating beech forest. We frequently see the New Zealand falcon flying in this area. Tonight we stay in a mountain hut.
5km/4 hours hiking
Day 11 Tour ends in Christchurch
We spend the final day together exploring water caves (you get a bit wet!), Tri-falls stream and swimming in Emerald Pool or under a pounding waterfall known as the ‘Spa’. Before leaving this beautiful park we’ll have lunch and then hike back along the canyon rim to an abandoned coal mine to explore some relics. It’s then a short hike back to the vehicle. After cleaning up the vehicle and sorting out gear we drive across the Canterbury plains. We arrive back into Christchurch in the early evening.
5km/4 hours hiking
Hiking & Fitness
Grade: Moderate
Average 4-5 hours physical activity per day, up to 7 hours on longer days.
Pack weights of 10-12kgs on some days.
Altitude gains of up to 800 metres.
Terrain mostly tracks. Some slippery, rough or uneven track surfaces and river crossings.
Some off-track hiking.
No hiking experience necessary.
Agility and fitness required. You need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic.
What to take:
Essential Items hiking boots (not shoes) backpack (at least 60 litres capacity) backpack liner (plastic bag) 3-season sleeping bagwaterproof raincoat (Gore-tex or similar) warm fleece/wool jersey (not cotton) shorts for hikingpolypro/thermal underwear - top & and long-johns 3 pairs of socks (they get wet) warm hat or balaclavasunscreen and sunglassesdrink bottle (1 litre) spare shoes or sandalsflashlight/head lampinsect repellent (sandflies like foreign blood) spare set of clothes
Optional items:Gaiters, binoculars, gloves/mittens, earplugs, walking poles, camera.
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