New Zealand must be one of the world's best kept secrets and has justly been called a walker's paradise. The South Island is blessed with stunning natural beauty of great diversity - glaciers flowing into the sea, unspoiled lakes and rivers; temperate rainforest with abundant birdlife; miles and miles of dramatic coastline teeming with marine life. This gorgeous natural environment is home to abundant wildlife: sea lions, seals, dolphins, albatross and rare penguins abound. Stunningly situated accommodation in custom-designed lodges, great food and fine local wines complete the picture making New Zealand a superb walking destination.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arthur's Pass.
We start our exploration of New Zealand in that most English of cities, Christchurch - complete with dreamy river, punts, Gothic architecture, parks and gardens. If you arrive early the Botanical Gardens are well worth a visit as they contain much of the flora unique to the island. Also well worth a visit is the Antarctic collection in The Canterbury Museum. Here you can see many of the photographs taken by Frank Hurley documenting Sir Ernest Shackleton's attempt to cross Antarctica in 1914. We will head west in our minivan across the Canterbury Plains towards Arthur's Pass.
Along the way we cross Porter's Pass and climb up to the high country of the Southern Alps. We will stop along the way for a light lunch in Arthur's Pass before taking our first walk through the Rainbow Valley Beech Forest. This is a guided nature walk with one of the Lodge's resident naturalist guides who will help us to understand this particular alpine environment. Along the trail we see stands of Antarctic beeches which are interesting as they exist only in New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.
Unrelated to the European beech they add proof to the idea of a great united Southern continent that existed thousands of years ago. Our base for the first two nights is the Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge beautifully designed and built out of native woods and local stone. The lodge is one of only two in New Zealand and is owned by ecologist Dr Gerry McSweeney. It is located on its own 3,000 hectare nature reserve/merino sheep farm and surrounded by the high mountains of Arthur's Pass National Park.
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Day 2: Arthur's Pass.
Today you might like to start the day with an early morning canoe trip on Lake Pearson. Here you have a chance to spot the rare Crested Grebe and other water birds. After this we take a walk into Arthur's Pass National Park and along the Bealey Spur trail. This is a demanding but spectacular walk through native forest of manuka, southern beech and tawny tussock grassland. We take a picnic to eat en route at the historic musterer's hut.
Along the trail you will see many birds including the rifleman, the bellbird and New Zealand falcon. In the afternoon after returning to the lodge we head out to the shearing shed to learn about life on a high-country Merino farm. We muster the sheep with the help of Skip the Border Collie and have a chance to shear the sheep and learn about the different grades of fine merino wool. After dinner we can discover the southern sky and its most distinctive constellation the Southern Cross.
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Day 3: Punakaiki.
We descend from the high country to the coast along the Otira River to the legendary west coast- you will notice a huge change in the landscape from the rugged upland forest to temperate rainforest on the coast. We stop along the way at Arthur's Pass visitor's centre which like many of the visitor's centers in New Zealand has excellent informative displays of flora and fauna. We take our lunch break in Greymouth, an old gold-mining town with phenomenal seascapes. We then hike the Point Elizabeth Walkway which has superb views over the wild coastline. You can often spot seals along this walk. We descend to the beach for a drink at the local watering hole before driving onto Punakaiki our base for the next two nights.
Punakaiki is a stunning coastal village known as the jewel of the west coast and surrounded by magnificent coastal forest and craggy mountains. The town was an important stopping place for the Maoris on their oceanic adventures. Our hotel is the brand new Punakaiki Rocks Hotel with panoramic views of the ocean.
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Day 4: Punakaiki.
In the morning we walk to the famous Pancake Rocks, stratified limestone rock formations which become dramatic blowholes at high tide. There is also the option of dolphin viewing expeditions if the weather is appropriate. We then walk in the Paparoa National Park along the Inland Pack Track a trail built by the town's earliest settlers.
This park has a very tropical feel due to its many nikau palms, tree ferns and subtropical forest. The trail follows the Pororari River, peat colored and littered with huge boulders and sculpted caverns and canyons. We then trek inland through the forest before crossing the glacial blue Punakaiki River. You will have time to relax before dinner or take a walk on the beach.
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Day 5: Fox Glacier.
This morning we set off for Fox Glacier. We break our journey in Hokitika the jade capital of New Zealand. The Maoris valued jade or pounamu above all other minerals due to its hardness and durability which allowed it to be used to make tools and weapons. It was also used to make decorative objects and ornaments as it has great spiritual significance to the Maoris. We continue south down the rugged west coast to Fox Glacier which along with its neighbor Franz Joseph are the only glaciers outside the polar regions which descend to sea level.
We take a dramatic walk to the foot of the glacier before donning our crampons for a walk up onto the ice face with a glacier guide. The views of the terminal moraine and valley below from the icy landscape are superb. Overnight at the newly built Teweheka Inn. Tonight we leave you free to enjoy one of the numerous cafes and restaurants in town.
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Day 6: Lake Moeraki.
This morning we start the day with a walk around Lake Matheson, which is one of the most famous panoramas in New Zealand. From the far end of the lake you have spectacular views of the towering Southern Alps and Mt. Cook, featured on so many post cards and calendars. We then drive to Lake Moeraki and our next wilderness lodge. This lodge is located in a very different setting to the alpine environment of Arthur's Park. The lodge is surrounded by water; lakes, rivers and the wild Tasman Sea. This could be just the place to learn to canoe! The lodge is set in the heart of a 2.7 million hectare South West New Zealand World Heritage UNESCO site.
On our arrival we orient ourselves with a guided walk to explore the ancient rainforest. Our naturalist guide will explain the ecology of the lowland forest with its towering old growth rimu and kahikatea trees. In the early evening we gather for a well-deserved dinner. Although it is located miles from anywhere Lake Moeraki is also home to an excellent restaurant and a good cellar.
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Day 7: Lake Moeraki.
This morning we take an early morning walk through the rainforest to feed the pet giant eels that live in the river. After breakfast we accompany our naturalist guide to a secluded cove to look for fur seals and the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin, which come in from the sea to nest in the brush surrounding the beach. From here we walk along the deserted beach to Knights Point in search of shells, driftwood and other treasures washed up by the sea In the afternoon you will be free to relax or choose from one of the many wilderness options in and around Lake Moeraki.
There is a complete program of wilderness activities to choose from including: walks, canoeing and kayaking, wildlife spotting, boat trips, fishing in the lake. In the evening after dinner we can take an optional evening walk with our naturalist guide to see Morepork owls, freshwater crayfish and the glow-worms.
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Day 8: Wanaka.
From the verdant rainforest we head onto Central Otago, one of my favorite regions in New Zealand. The landscape is a complete contrast to the rainforest - a dramatic moonscape with dry barren mountains, rugged rock formations and magnificent rushing glacial rivers and lakes. The color of the water is quite extraordinary, a vivid blue green which is the result of glacier melt. This area was originally settled by gold miners and subsequently abandoned when the gold ran out. However a new industry wine making has developed bringing a breath of life to the dry interior.
Winemaking and tourism are now the mainstays of this economy. Central Otago is now becoming recognized internationally for its wine. Vines have been planted here for over a century although it is only recently that the wine industry has started to hit its stride. Up until the 1950's virtually no-one in New Zealand drank wine except European immigrants and the national drink was considered to be tea. However, times have changed and Central Otago is now one of the most successful areas for Pinot Noir in New Zealand if not the world and commands prices accordingly.
On arrival in Wanaka there will be time to settle into the lodge and find some lunch before our afternoon walk along the mighty Clutha River. At the end of this leisurely walk we take an exhilarating jet-boat ride back to Wanaka. Our base for the next two nights is the centrally located Te Wanaka Lodge. We leave you free tonight to sample one of Wanaka's many restaurants.
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Day 9: Wanaka.
Today we head off to Mount Aspiring National Park for the most beautiful walk of the week. Our walk takes us through this magnificent national park, with towering mountains and rushing glacial rivers. The park was named for the highest of these mountains Mt. Aspiring which at 3027 m is the highest mountain outside the Mt. Cook region. The Maoris called this peak “Tititea” meaning peak of glistening white. Our trail takes us along the Matukituki river which we cross via Swing Bridge and then we follow the Rob Roy stream as we climb through the beech forest to the foot of the Rob Roy Glacier. We stop for a picnic lunch form where you have magnificent views of the glacier shimmering nearby.
We are so close to the glacier you will be able to see and hear the small avalanches that occur in warm weather. This is also the place where you are most likely to see a kea, a cheeky alpine parrot found only in New Zealand. We celebrate our dinner together with our hosts at the lodge. Graham and Andy provide a magnificent final dinner featuring local salmon and lamb accompanied by excellent local wine.
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Day 10: Departure.
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Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
The cost includes:
- 10 night's accommodation in comfortable hotels and lodges.
- All breakfasts and meals as specified in the itinerary.
- All transfers, tips and gratuities.
- The services of a professional tour guide.
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
New Zealand
Walking Tours
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