Hiking and Exploring New Zealand’s South Island

Meet your guides and fellow hikers in Newlson and head out of town to Kaiteriteri, the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. Take a boat cruise to Awaroa Bay, where you’ll enjoy a picnic on the idyllic beach before starting your hike. Follow the Abel Tasman Coast Track south to Bark Bay, where your tents and gear will be waiting for you. Pitch your tent, enjoy a delicious meal, and fall asleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore.
Distance covered: 9 km
Hiking time: 3 hours

Depart from Bark bay through contrasting stands of manuka and luxuriant mixed forest, over a low saddle, and across a high and airy suspension bridge above the Falls River. You can take a side trip to the Falls River Cascades or Cleopatra’s Pool, both awesome swim spots. If you’re in the mood, you can also join your guide for a boulder hop among the idyllic pools and waterfalls, before settling at the bright blue inlet of Anchorage.
Distance covered: 8.5-12 km
Hiking time: 3-5 hours

Explore Abel Tasman’s coastline by Waka (Maori canoe). Learn about local waka teams and their customs before exploring the coves of the mainland and the wildlife refuge of Adele
Island, where you can observe a breeding colony of New Zealand fur seals. Paddle into the beautiful Kaiteriteri beach, have a picnic lunch, and restock on supplies before driving to a private campsite near Murchison, overlooking the Buller and Maruia rivers.
Distance covered: 15 km
Paddling time: 3 hours

Your first stop on the wild West Coast is Charleston. Take a short hike through lush West Coast bush checking out the dramatic headlands, wild waves, and secluded bays. After a picnic lunch, hike to the spectacular limestone river canyon in Paparoa National Park. Cross a few rivers, collect some firewood, and set up camp under the massive Ballroom Overhang fluviatile cave.
Distance covered: 8 km
Hiking time: 4 hours

After breakfast, head to the West Coast town of Punakaiki to check out the famous Pancake Rocks and seawater blowholes, before retreating down to tonight’s accommodation in Hokitika, a gold-rush town full of cool local jewelry. Enjoy lodge accommodations a short walk from the beach, where you can enjoy some beautiful seaside views.
Distance covered: 6 km
Hiking time: 3 hours

Enjoy group breakfast at one of the great cafés in town before leaving for a cycling tour of the awesome West Coast Wilderness Trail between the Arahura River bridge and the historic township of Kumara. After the ride, sit back and take in the landscapes as you drive into the Southern Alps and the quaint mountain village of Arthur’s Pass. Eat and spend the night in a private hut, preparing for tomorrow’s hiking trip into Edwards Valley.
Distance covered: 39 km
Biking time: 4-5 hours

While not as famous as some of the other National Parks visited on the tour, Arthur’s Pass will amaze you with rugged peaks, wild rivers, and adventurous trails. Follow Edwards River to the Edwards Hut right above the bush line with a great view of the valley. Camp outside or stay in the hut, depending on how many hikers are out there. Fall asleep listening out for the call of the Kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird that is known to inhabit this valley.
Distance covered: 9 km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours

Make the most of this alpine valley with an optional hike before packing up and hiking back out to the road. Have lunch along the way. Watch the scenery change dramatically, with the steep forested slopes of the west replaced with wide braided rivers, tussock grassland, mountains flanked with scree, and the surreal limestone formations of Castle Hill. Leave the main highway and follow an inland route to the tiny village of Mt. Somers, where you’ll spend the night.
Distance covered: 9 km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours

Spend the morning driving along the western margin of the Canterbury Plains and into
the Mackenzie Country, an intermontane basin of huge glacial lakes and snow-capped mountains. Arrive at Aoraki/Mt. Cook village and get ready for a hike to Sealy Tarns, and maybe even Mueller hut. Experience the towering moraine walls, glacial lakes, and the frequent rumbling of distant avalanches, before returning to your accommodation in a private hut.
Distance covered: 10 km
Hiking time: 6 hours

After a relaxed breakfast, you get the option to join a local operator for a guided heli-hike on the
Tasman Glacier. Alternatively, join the guide for a hike up the steep slopes of Sebastopol to
the Red Tarns for more stunning views. By mid-afternoon, reunite with the group and continue south through the Mackenzie Country and over Lindis Pass into the Central Otago region. Spend the night near the shores of the glacial Lake Hawea, ringed by the mountains, and enjoy a meal in a local restaurant.
Distance covered: 4 km
Hiking time: 2 hours

Drive to the Wanaka township where you’ll grab a coffee and wander around. Then, head on up the Matukituki Valley to the road end. Shoulder your pack and enjoy stunning Matterhorn-esque views as you hike across grassed flats to Aspiring Hut. There’s another optional steep, yet rewarding climb here. Alternatively, stay and chill at the hut.
Distance covered: 14 km
Hiking time: 6 hours

Start your return hike early, enjoying pretty views and easy walking along the floor of this wide glacially formed valley. Back in Wanaka, recharge with a lakeside picnic and a dive into the lake. Drive over the remarkable Crown Range and take in the views, before arriving at the Knobs Flat campsite. Relax and make the most of the available hot showers.
Distance covered: 9 km
Hiking time: 3 hours

Drive to the heart of Fiordland National Park and enjoy Milford, one of the world’s great day cruises. Enter Milford Sound and enjoy stunning views of cascading waterfalls and the iconic Mitre Peak. You could even spot a dolphin. A kayaking option is also available. Before returning to Knobs Flat take a hike up to Key Summit, the final section of the famous Routeburn Track. This informative nature walk transitions from forest to alpine vegetation and prolific birdlife, with spectacular views of the Hollyford Valley and the Darran Mountains.
Distance covered: 7 km
Hiking time: 3 hours

After breakfast, take a short hike to check out a beautiful waterfall near our campsite, where you may want to soak up one last little bit of Fiordland by jumping under a bracing shower. Make your final drive to Queenstown in the early afternoon. Afterward, celebrate the great adventures you’ve had for the past two weeks with your new friends.
Distance covered: 2 km
Hiking time: 45 minutes

Your guide departs early for Christchurch, marking the end of the tour. If you’re staying in Queenstown, keep in mind that it’s known as the adventure capital of New Zealand, so there are a ton of superb hiking and cycling tracks in the area!