14-day Rimu Queenstown Adventure Trip

Monday Arrive and hike Mt. Iron
Most people leave the Northern Hemisphere on a Saturday evening, arriving in Auckland early Monday morning. You’ll lose a day crossing the dateline – but you get it back on the way home! You’ll immediately take a short flight to Queenstown in the South Island arriving by around 11am. We’ll meet you there, have lunch and head to the lovely lakeside village of Wanaka for a short hike overlooking the lake before carrying on to Makarora, a small farming village directly next to Mt. Aspiring National Park. We’ll stay at a beautifully landscaped, family-style homestead on the edge of the village with incredible views of the mountains right outside your window. Today is a relaxed introduction to New Zealand giving you the chance to recover from your flight. Depending on where you’re coming from you’ll probably find jetlag is no big deal. For instance, it’s a 12-hour direct overnight flight from the West Coast of the USA to Auckland and there’s only a 3-hour time difference between New Zealand and US Pacific time. If you’re coming from further afield, you’ll appreciate the gentle start to your New Zealand adventure.
ACCOMMODATION: The Homestead, Makarora – very comfortable and spacious (L,D)

Tuesday Hike at Franz Josef Glacier
The West Coast is a wonderful area – 400 miles of gorgeous coastline with a population of only 40,000 people on the whole coast! We’ll head up the coast in to glacier country, where two formidable glaciers descend from the mountains to the sea. In terms of scenery, this place is off the charts, and we’ll spend most of the day hiking at Franz Josef Glacier. We’ll hike up through the rainforest to either Alex Knob or Roberts Point, both of which give great views of the terminal face, lower reaches and lateral moraines of Franz Josef Glacier. We only do these hikes in good weather, as the rocks get very slippery in the rain. If it’s raining, we’ll do a shorter walk to a view of the terminal face of Fox Glacier, hike around Lake Matheson and visit the Blue Pools near the Haast Pass.

Heli-hike option (add US$249 + tax)
A less strenuous, but outrageously scenic option today is to heli-hike on Franz Josef Glacier itself. After being fitted with crampons, ice axes and so on, you’ll board a modern turbine helicopter and fly towards the highest peaks of the Southern Alps, landing on the glacier at 4,000 feet (1300m) above sea level. Led by specialist glacier guides, you’ll hike through the grand ice formations of the glacier, checking out its crevasses, seracs and tunnels – no previous experience required! The constant movement of the glacier means every day is different, so your guides will cut steps in the ice and make sure you make the most of the conditions. At the end of your hike on the ice, you’ll take another helicopter ride out of the mountains and back to civilisation.

The heli-hike is extremely popular, so we offer advance reservations with the helicopter operators and guiding company. At the time of booking, or up until one month before your trip, you can reserve a space on the heli-hike, and we’ll make sure a spot is held for you. Or you can leave your decision until you’re actually on your trip, and we’ll get you a spot if it’s available.

Heli-hikers generally return a little earlier, so we will rendezvous back at our accommodations for the night. After dinner we can head out for a short night walk to look for the eerie lights of the native glow worm – and listen for some of New Zealand’s nocturnal birdlife, such as the Morepork.
ACCOMMODATION: Franz Josef lodgings, Franz Josef (B,L,D)

Wednesday Kayak Okarito Lagoon, hiking and beach
Today we’ll head out to the secluded and quiet coastal village of Okarito. You can spend a relaxing day in this sleepy but beautiful beach town to recharge your batteries, or get out for awesome hiking and kayaking. Okarito is home to the only native white heron colony in New Zealand, as well as a host of other interesting birds including the Okarito brown kiwi. You can sea kayak on the lagoon with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains for a few hours, then hike through lush coastal forest to Three Mile Lagoon, and walk back along deserted beach next to crashing waves. Okarito is also a great spot just to hang out and enjoy a good book! This evening we’ll head back to our accommodations in Franz Josef where you’ll have the opportunity to try any of the choice of local restaurants.
ACCOMMODATION: Franz Josef lodgings, Franz Josef (B,L)

Thursday Hike in Punakaiki Rainforest
This morning we’ll head up the coast to Hokitika to check out local art galleries and pounamu carving workshops (‘pounamu’ is Maori for jade), before arriving in the tiny coastal village of Punakaiki by lunchtime. This afternoon we’ll hike among the limestone canyons and lush rainforest of the Inland Pack Track. Gold miners established this trail over a century ago, so there is a lot of pioneering history in the area. While we’re in Punakaiki we’ll also head to the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes – bizarre limestone formations that have been sculpted by the relentless pounding of the Tasman Sea to resemble giant stacks of pancakes. For dinner this evening, we’ll pick up the quintessential Kiwi dinner – fish and chips – and if it’s a fine evening, we’ll enjoy our meal on the beach.
ACCOMMODATION: West Coast lodgings, Punakaiki – comfortable and quiet (B,L,D)

Friday Start multi-day options
Today we’ll drive north for a couple of hours to Saint Arnaud, having lunch along the way. When you book, you have the choice of one of three multi-day options – a backpacking trip in Nelson Lakes National Park, a sea-kayaking trip in the Marlborough Sounds, or a biking trip on the Queen Charlotte Track. The backpacking trip stays in mountain huts while the cyclists and sea kayakers stay in more conventional lodgings, with private rooms, hot tubs – depending on where we stay! Add US$499 + tax for the sea kayaking or biking options. After lunch, we head off for our various activities:

Sunday (continued)
Finish multi-day backpacking, sea kayaking or biking, visit local winery After regrouping in Blenheim, the heart of the Marlborough wine region, we’ll visit Forrest Estate Winery, where you can sample some of their fantastic wines before heading down the coast to the seaside town of Kaikoura and be in by late afternoon.
ACCOMMODATION: A cosy Bed & Breakfast, Kaikoura (B,L,D)

Monday Snorkel with seals or hike Seal Colony in Kaikoura, onto Christchurch
This morning we’ll go out to the Kaikoura Peninsula where you can snorkel with friendly New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri). You’ll be supplied with a wetsuit, mask and snorkel, and have the chance to swim to within a couple of feet of seals as they cavort in the water. If you prefer not to snorkel, you can hike out to the scenic Kaikoura Peninsula past weather-sculpted limestone cliffs to watch another local seal colony bask on the rocks and play in the eddies, all from the comfort of dry land. After showers, it’s a three-hour drive down the coast to Christchurch. You’ll find all the comforts of civilisation: massage therapists, restaurants, sidewalk cafés, window shopping, and adrenaline pumping activities! You’ll find some incredible optional activities here, such as jet boating, skydiving, horse trekking, fishing, balloon rides and wine tours – it’s all here! Or you can do nothing, if you prefer to just soak up the atmosphere. Many of our clients enjoy lounging about just reading a book after the cycling, paddling and hiking so far.
ACCOMMODATION: Central Christchurch apartments, Christchurch (B,L)

Tuesday Free day in Christchurch
It’s all up to you today – enjoy!
ACCOMMODATION: Central Christchurch apartments, Christchurch

Wednesday Hike near Lake Tekapo
Today we’ll drive inland to Tekapo, a lovely village set beside the sky-blue Lake Tekapo, with the glorious Southern Alps stretched out behind the spectacular glacial lake. After a hike overlooking the lake, we’ll head to Duncan and Carol McKenzie’s 60,000 acre high-country sheep farm, called Braemar Station. (‘Station’ is the New Zealand word for a big ranch.) While we’re here, we stay in the shearers’ quarters. It’s not a 5-star hotel but many of our clients have told us this was one of their favourite places on the whole trip! The view out of the kitchen window in the morning will knock your socks off – the biggest mountains in New Zealand piercing the sky on the far side of a gorgeous cobalt-blue lake. With no lights for miles around, the stars on a clear night are like nothing you’ve ever seen!
ACCOMMODATION: Shearers’ quarters, Braemar Station. A little rustic but the views will blow you away! (B,L,D)

Thursday Hike Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park
This morning it’s an hour or so to Mt. Cook village, at the head of Lake Pukaki. Mt. Cook, known as Aoraki or ‘cloud piercer’ by the local Maori, is the highest mountain in New Zealand and we have a stunning and little-known day hike (weather permitting) to the main ridge above Mueller Glacier – directly opposite Mt. Cook. It’s a tough slog up, but you’ll remember the view of the Mueller Glacier and the surrounding peaks of the Main Divide forever! There are also other hiking options if you’d like to take it a little easier. The weather conditions are very important in this area, as it’s a true alpine climate notorious for sudden weather shifts. If we aren’t able to do the Mueller hike, we’ll take an impressive hike up the Hooker Valley to a glacial lake at the base of Hooker Glacier, complete with icebergs! Then we head to Ohau lodge and enjoy a meal with a view.
ACCOMMODATION: Ohau Lodge, Ohau. Stunning place, stunning views! (B,L,D)

Friday Mt. Cook to Lake Manapouri
We’ll have an early breakfast and head off over the Lindis Pass high-country to Queenstown, where we stop for a couple of hours. This gives you the chance to get some lunch, do any shopping or send postcards to friends and family, or whatever you might need to do before heading back into the wilderness. We’ll drive to the Lake Manapouri Inn, beautifully located on the lake’s edge.
ACCOMMODATION: Lake Manapouri Inn, Manapouri (B,D)

Saturday Hike Routeburn Track, cycle Hollyford Valley
This morning you’ll be fitted with a 21-speed front-suspension Specialized mountain bike for the chance to cycle along the peaceful country road that meanders its way through southern farmlands from the Lake Manapouri Inn to Lake Te Anau. If cycling isn’t your thing, you can skip it and enjoy the great views out over the lake and the surrounding mountains of Fiordland National Park – like all our activities, the cycling is completely optional. From Te Anau we’ll take the short drive through the Eglinton Valley to The Divide, where we’ll hike part of the Routeburn Track. This hike gives us unsurpassed views of the Hollyford Valley, from mountains to sea, as well as Lake Marian and Mt. Christina.

After hiking back to the trailhead, we’ll take to the bikes again for a spectacular ride through the Hollyford Valley. This remote and gently-rolling backcountry road is lined with unspoilt beech forest and surrounded by towering peaks – take your time or go as hard as you want – either way, this is a ride you’ll never forget! If cycling isn’t your thing, you can skip it and just enjoy the scenery. Then it’s a short drive through the Homer Tunnel, emerging at the top of a spectacular alpine road winding its way down to Milford Sound. The lush rainforest carpeting the lower slopes of the mountains gives way to the massively steep, glacier-carved slopes and waterfalls of the Darren Range. Milford Sound, rated the 8th Natural Wonder of the World by Rudyard Kipling, is breathtaking. Sheer rock walls plunge thousands of feet to the Tasman Sea and waterfalls cascade into the deep blue water. It’s basic accommodation tonight, but it’s a great little place, and a wonderful location to hang out at the end of such an adventurous day!
ACCOMMODATION: Milford Lodge, Milford Sound (B,L,D)

Sunday Sea kayak Milford Sound and depart
This is the last day of your two-week trip around the South Island. See the itinerary for the Kauri trip if you want to take a few more days to see the North Island as well. It’s an early start today. Most people see Milford Sound from the deck of a cruise ship but we’ve got a better way – gliding along in a sea kayak causing minimum disruption to the seals and dolphins, which are very friendly and often eager to visit. This is an awesome trip, run by specialist kayak outfitters, and it’s equally suitable for beginners or experts. When you get back from your morning’s paddle, we’ll head through to Queenstown getting back in the late afternoon. Any flight after 7pm is ideal but we can make 6:30pm flights with a little notice. You’ll be refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you’ll have had with us in New Zealand!