New Zealand Adventure Tours – New Zealand Bike Tours – Hiking New Zealand Vacations
If New Zealand is on your list of places to see 
(and it should be), this is the way to see it! ACTIVE NZ gets 5 stars.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH:
GUIDE OF THE MONTH:
Mark Banham
Here's why people fly so far to hike in New Zealand: A third of the island nation is parkland, and it has just 3.8 million residents. Consequently, hundreds of miles of lightly used trails weave through rugged ranges and untrammeled rain forests. Active New Zealand's 14-day loop is billed as multisport, but most clients opt for tramping around the canyons of Punakaiki, Franz Josef Glacier, the Mount Cook Region, and other South Island beauty spots. Nights are spent in lodges, B&Bs, and a sheep shearer's cabin on a 63,000-acre farm. Read more...
Jim Bishop (Tennessee, USA) November 2002 Rimu
FOOTAGE OF OUR 14-DAY MULTISPORT TRIP - THE RIMU!
by Gwoping Yang
"I shouldn't have waited 4 years to book this trip! I will definitely be visiting New Zealand again." - Todd Gades (USA) April 2009 Tui
The Tui trip starts in Christchurch, the main city and airport in the South Island. You’ll need to be in Christchurch by around 9am. We’ll meet you there and head to the Southern Alps for a hike in Arthurs Pass to Devils Punchbowl where we’ll see an awesome 430 foot (131 metre) waterfall. We then head down the coast to the beautiful seaside village of Okarito, one of the best kept secrets of the West Coast, that’s all but untouched due to it being 10 miles down a one-way road from an obscure highway turnoff. There are no shops, no restaurants, no traffic and a population of only 31 people. Because of the action-packed nature of the Tui, we get much of the driving out of the way on the first day of the trip. As an option, you can miss out most of the first day’s driving by meeting us in the afternoon in the West Coast town of Hokitika, a short 30-minute flight from Christchurch, and we’ll pick you up on the way through.
ACCOMMODATION: Okarito Beach House, Okarito – off-the-beaten-path, isolated and comfortable (L,D)
Monday - Hike at Franz Josef Glacier
Just south of Okarito there are two formidable glaciers descending 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 the terminal face of Fox Glacier, hike around Lake Matheson and visit the Blue Pools near the Haast Pass.
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. 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’ll rendezvous at a local café, and head south. From Franz Josef we head down the coast to Haast, an isolated West Coast hamlet, where we’ll be having the quintessential Kiwi dinner – fish and chips!
ACCOMMODATION: Heritage Park Lodge, Haast (B,L,D)
Andrew: "As a young guide, I used to run up Alex Knob to keep in shape, and it's my favorite ‘keep-fit’ spot in the country. The thick forest, occasional tantalizing glimpses of the glacier, and the unbelievable vista from the top mean this is one of my most memorable hikes – not an easy hike, necessarily, but definitely one for the top shelf."
Tuesday - Start Mt Aspiring National Park options
This morning we’ll drive to Makarora, on the eastern side of Mt Aspiring National Park. At the time of booking, you have the choice of one of two different 2-day/1-night options – a backpacking trip in Mt. Aspiring National Park, or an overnight stay in the small farming village of Makarora. After lunch, we head off for our various activities:
Tuesday to Wednesday - Mt Aspiring National Park options continued
Siberia Valley Wilderness Option in Mt Aspiring National Park
Tuesday (continued) - Scenic flight, hike Lake Crucible
If you like the idea of staying in one of New Zealand’s most isolated mountain huts, then this option is for you! We’ll start with a dramatic scenic flight alongside the snowy Southern Alps to the Siberia Valley airstrip. You can hike up the trail to Lake Crucible for great views of this glacial valley while dinner is whipped up back at the hut. Tonight you’ll be served a candle-lit dinner in one of the most glorious places in the world. This is also one of the few backcountry huts where you can chat with a resident hut ranger from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. Rangers are often keen for a yarn around the camp fire, and can offer further insight into the flora and fauna of Mt. Aspiring National Park.
This is the only night on the Tui where accommodations are a little more basic, but we’ll be back in civilisation the next day. You don’t have to carry a very heavy pack – our guides are pretty tough and they’ll carry the lion’s share of the load. You’ll be carrying a sleeping bag, a few spare clothes and some food – no need for any more than that, although we’ll provide tents and so on if you’d prefer to camp out under the stars
ACCOMMODATION: Remote wilderness area, Mt. Aspiring National Park – incredible! (B,L,D)
Wednesday - Hike Siberia Valley, jet boat
After an early start, we spend the morning hiking to The Forks, at the head of the Wilkin River, where we will be met by a jet boat for an exhilarating ride back to Makarora to hook up with the rest of the group before carrying on to Queenstown.
Makarora Adventure Option in Mt Aspiring National Park
Tuesday (continued) - Scenic flight, hike Mt. Shrimpton
If you prefer comfortable accommodation with modern amenities instead of a mountain hut, then this is the option for you. You’ll head out for a mind-blowing scenic flight into Mt. Aspiring National Park for a bird’s eye view of the lower Southern Alps. After landing down back in Makarora, you can hike the Mt. Shrimpton track. This is a steep hike with a 2500 foot (750 metre) elevation gain, but the views from above the treeline are worth it! Or you can take the afternoon to kick back, relax and soak up the mountain views from your accommodation.
ACCOMMODATION: Makarora Wilderness Resort, Makarora (B,L,D)
Wednesday - Jet boat Wilkin River
After a relaxed start, we’ll take a thrilling jet boat ride up the Wilkin River, into the heart of Mt. Aspiring National Park, before hooking up with the rest of the group in Makarora and carrying on to Queenstown.
Wednesday (continued) - Finish Mt Aspiring National Park options
After regrouping in Makarora we’ll have a picnic lunch, before a beautiful drive down past Lake Hawea to the shores of Lake Wanaka. We cross the mountains at Cardrona Saddle where you will enjoy spectacular views of the Wakatipu basin, and then head through to Queenstown by mid-afternoon.
ACCOMMODATION: Queenstown apartments, Queenstown (B,L)
Thursday - Hike Ben Lomond or free day in Queenstown
Today you have two options – a full day hike or a free day to yourself – it’s up to you! For those keen for a challenging alpine hike, after breakfast we’ll hike up Ben Lomond Track. Ben Lomond, one of Queenstown’s prominent peaks, was named by the early Scottish settlers in the area who were reminded of the highlands of their home country. We hike up through forested slopes which then give way to alpine tussock-land leading us to the summit of Ben Lomond. From this vantage point you’ll find yourself immersed in amazing views over Queenstown Bay and Lake Wakatipu which are themselves dwarfed by the surrounding mountains such as Mt. Aspiring.
As an alternative, you can have a free day with no activities scheduled, although we’ll certainly help with suggestions if you like. Queenstown, where ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND is based, is a great place to spend a couple of days. You’ll find all the comforts of civilisation: massage therapists, restaurants, sidewalk cafés, window-shopping and adrenaline pumping activities! You’ll also find some incredible optional activities here such as biking, hang gliding, hiking, white-water rafting, jet boating, skydiving, horse trekking, fishing and wine tours – it’s all here! Your guides can help you during the trip to book any of these optional activities. Queenstown is not a big place – the population is about 8000 – but there’s plenty to do! Or, you can do nothing and just soak up the atmosphere.
ACCOMMODATION: Queenstown apartments (B)
Friday - Hike Routeburn Track, cycle Hollyford Valley
This morning we head down to Te Anau for lunch, before continuing on 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. When we get back to the trailhead, you’ll be fitted with a 21-speed front-suspension Specialized mountain bike 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. All our activities, including cycling, are optional. We’ll end up at Hollyford Camp, an isolated and rustic establishment, originally set up in the 1930s for the workers who built the nearby Homer Tunnel and Milford Road. This is a beautiful, tranquil place with a dozen cabins scattered around a museum and historic general store, still operating to this day. Hollyford Camp is right next to the Hollyford River and is surrounded by the mountains of Fiordland National Park. It’s definitely not a 5-star hotel, but it’s a great little place, and a wonderful location to hang out at the end of such an adventurous day!
ACCOMMODATION: Hollyford Camp, Hollyford Valley – rustic but idyllic OR Milford Lodge, Milford Sound (B,L,D)
Andrew: "Hollyford Camp is a famous Kiwi icon - a slice of old-time New Zealand, if you will - but the facilities are pretty basic compared to all the other places we stay on the Tui. Bill and Helen, who run the place, have put a lot of love into the camp while aiming to maintain the old-world charm of a workers camp from the 1930s. It really is a chance to experience our history."
Saturday - Sea kayak Milford Sound, cycle to Lake Manapouri
It’s an early start today. We’ll have 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. 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. After your morning’s paddle, we’ll head back to Hollyford Camp for lunch before continuing on to Lake Te Anau. You’ll have a chance to cycle along the peaceful country road that meanders its way through southern farmlands to Lake Manapouri Inn, beautifully located on the lake’s edge. Again, if you prefer, you can skip the cycling and just enjoy the great views out over the lake and the surrounding mountains of Fiordland National Park.
ACCOMMODATION: Lake Manapouri Inn, Manapouri (B,L,D)
Sunday - Depart for home
Well, it’s almost time to go home. We’ll leave after breakfast for the two-hour drive to Queenstown, and arrive by late morning in time for the flights back to Christchurch or Auckland. This will have been a very exhilarating week, and you’ll be buzzing with excitement but feeling relaxed and refreshed as well! See the itinerary for the Kauri trip if you want to take a few more days to see the North Island. (B)
