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Venture Off the Beaten Path in New Zealand

Itinerary
Deluxe Northern Portion Hiking Tour
Date and group size

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Price is based on twin-share rooms. Choose how many members of your group would like to stay in single occupancy rooms during the trip.

Venture Off the Beaten Path in New Zealand
Itinerary
Deluxe Northern Portion Hiking Tour
People
1 Person
Date(s)
--
Duration
5 day
Guide(s)
Chai Pyle, Hiking New Zealand
Reserve deposit (30%) $0
Second Payment Amount: $0

  • Discover the underground world of bioluminescent Waitomo Caves, take a swim in Lake Tarawera and explore the Tongariro National Park. The park, which is one of the oldest ones in the world, safekeeps the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a challenging hike along which you’ll find green lakes, glacial valleys, lava flows and more. Excellent ensuite rooms in quality hotels and lodges and an eclectic mix of restaurants will make your evenings just as enjoyable as your days spent outdoors.

    • Meet your guide at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland at 6.30 AM. Drive south and enjoy the lush countryside that flanks Waikato, the longest river in New Zealand. Arriving at the 30-million-years-old Waitomo Caves, journey down to see thousands of tiny glow worms glittering like stars in the night sky. After returning to the surface, go on a loop trail through a deep limestone canyon. The final stop of the day is the active volcanic area near the town of Rotorua, the center of Māori cultural tourism. Here you’ll find your accommodation and enjoy an evening meal accompanied by a traditional welcoming ceremony.

      Hiking: 7 km (4 miles), 1 hour
      Elevation: +/-60 m (200 ft)
      Accommodation: Distinction Hotel, Rotorua
      Meals: Lunch and dinner

    • Hike along Lake Tarawera, the largest lake surrounding the eponymous volcano. If the canopies of tree ferns aren’t providing you enough shade, dive into the lake at any one of the pumice beaches along the way. Rotorua is full of geothermal features, which you’ll investigate in the afternoon. For the time being, blow off some steam by strolling along bubbling mud pools and lakes. Moving onto the lakeside town of Taupo and the mighty Huka Falls, you’ll hear, feel, and see massive amounts of water erupting from a natural gorge and thundering into the Waikato River. Spend the night in Taupo.

      Hiking: 10 km / 6 miles, 4.5 hours
      Elevation: +300m (1,000 ft) –350 m ( 1,140 ft)
      Accommodation: Beechtree Hotel, Taupo
      Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

      Geothermal pool in Rotorua.

    • Spend your morning exploring the Tongariro, the oldest national park in New Zealand where you’ll hike Spend your morning exploring Tongariro, the oldest national park in New Zealand, where you’ll hike through mountain beech woodlands around the volcanic peak of Mount Pihanga and stroll around the peaceful Lake Rotopounamu. Take a leisurely walk to Taranaki Falls, possibly encounter some of the park’s fauna along the way, and witness a waterfall cascading over a 15,000-year-old lava flow. Settle in the hotel at the gateway of Tongariro, where you’ll stay for two nights and have a well-deserved meal with your group.

      Hiking      : 11 km (6.8 miles), 2-4 hours
      Elevation: +/-280 m (900 ft)
      Accommodation: Hotel at the gateway to Tongariro National Park
      Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

      Lake Rotopounamu in Tongariro NP

    • Welcome to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, regarded as one of the finest hiking trails on the planet. Expect a challenging full-day hike with some steep climbs. Your efforts will be rewarded with a host of natural wonders. Witness the striking Emerald Lakes, the flaming Red Crater, countless steaming vents, glacial valleys, lava flows, and the unique alpine flora. If you prefer to take it easy, there’s plenty to do at the village—tour the Soda Springs and Taranaki Falls or learn more about the area at the Park Visitor Center. Rest up with a glass of wine and enjoy your second night in the village.

      Hiking      : 21 km (12 miles), 7-8 hours
      Elevation: +900 m (3,000 ft) -1,250 m (4,100 ft)
      Accommodation: Hotel at the gateway to Tongariro National Park
      Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

      Emerald lakes Tongariro

    • Enjoy a peaceful drive through verdant rural landscapes on your way to Wellington, New Zealand’s vibrant capital. Choose your activity there—learn about the country’s history at the interactive national museum Te Papa, ride the historic cable car, get your coffee fix in a hip café of your choosing, or saunter down the promenade. At the end of the day, take a few last photos and say farewell to the Land of the Kiwis!

      Meals      : Breakfast

      Cable car in Wellington.

    • Included:

        • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
        • Five-day Northern Portion adventure
        • Accommodation for 4 nights in quality hotels and lodges (based on double occupancy)
        • Luxury minibus transportation for the duration of the tour
        • All activities as outlined in the itinerary
        • All meals outlined in the itinerary (from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5)
        • Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland
        • Māori Village Experience
        • First aid kit
        • Drinking water
        • Safety equipment & maps

      Add-ons:

        • Single supplement — $375
        • Walking poles — complimentary, just let us know if you need them upon booking

      Not included:

        • Transportation to Auckland
        • Transportation from the endpoint of the tour
        • Accommodations before and after the tour
        • Meals not outlined in the itineraries
        • Guide gratuities — optional
        • Travel and medical insurance

    • While this hiking adventure in New Zealand doesn’t require any specific hiking experience, good fitness is still a must. On most days, you’ll be hiking for several hours, but keep in mind that Day 4 features 23 km (14 miles) of hiking with 900 m (3,000 ft) of elevation gain. Still, there’s an option for a more restful day.

      Check out the itinerary for day-by-day distances and elevation changes.

    • New Zealand’s weather is very changeable and cold weather can be experienced any time of the year, especially in the mountains. Lightweight and breathable fabrics while hiking are recommended. Merino or polypropylene underwear is great in cold weather and will keep you warm when it gets wet (unlike cotton). Don’t bring jeans for hiking!

      Hiking gear and personal items you should bring:

        • Hiking boots or shoes
        • Daypack (25-30L)
        • Water bottle (1L)
        • Waterproof raincoat (gore-tex or similar)
        • Warm fleece/wool jersey (not cotton)
        • Thermal underwear (top and bottom, wool or polypropylene)
        • Socks
        • Warm hat or balaclava
        • Long-sleeved shirt (sun protection)
        • Short for hiking (or lightweight hiking trousers)
        • Gloves or mittens (wool or fleece)
        • Spare lightweight shoes or sandals
        • Insect repellent
        • Causal clothing for travel and evenings
        • Dry bag for clothes/valuables

      Recommended items

        • Sunscreen, sunhat, and sunglasses
        • Rain trousers
        • Camera
        • Swimsuit
        • Towel (lightweight travel towels are great)

    • Group sizes and prices:

        • For this tour, the groups consist of up to 13 people, with the usual 13:1 guest-to-guide ratio.
        • It takes a minimum of 2 participants for the tour to run.
        • The price is based on double occupancy, if you’re coming solo, you’ll be paired in a twin share room with a fellow traveler of the same gender. Single supplement is available upon checkout.

      Min. age requirements:

        • Anyone over the age of 18 can join these multi-day hiking tours, while minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join on a case-by-case basis. They must, however, be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

    • To start this tour, most people fly into Auckland International Airport. From there, you can take a bus, shuttle or taxi to Auckland city center.

      You’ll meet your New Zealand hiking guide and the rest of the group in the Heritage Hotel foyer in Auckland at 6.30am on Day 1 of your tour. This means that you should be in Auckland at least a day prior to the start of the tour, as it starts early in the morning.

    • Tours are scheduled to fit with the seasons and ideal hiking conditions. When the weather does not cooperate, your guide will know the correct course of action to take. Whether that’s shifting to a more favorable location or postponing until conditions approve, your guide will know just what to do. In New Zealand, there are plenty of backup options for rainy days. In the event of predictably bad weather, you will be contacted prior to the trip to discuss suitable alternatives.

    • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

      Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

      Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

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