Itinerary
Day 1 arrive Auckland
You will be met on arrival and transferred to your accommodation.
Day 2 Auckland-West Coast-Coromandel Peninsula (170km)
Today please collect your 4x4 vehicle from the city depot. Explore Auckland’s fascinating west coast scenery. Highlights include Piha and the Muriwai Gannet Colony, as well as a choice of local vineyards.
Coromandel Coastal Walkway, grade 2, pre-booked walk
You will be collected from your accommodation and taken to the starting point of today's walking track. From Fletcher Bay begin your comfortable 3-4 hour self-guided trek over the Coromandel Coastal Walkway. Afterwards enjoy a well-deserved swim in the ocean or bathe in a crystal clear creek.
Wentworth Falls Track, grade 2, 2.5 hours
At Hot Water Beach you can dig your own thermal pool at low tide or take the short walk from Hahei Beach to the amazing Cathedral Cove. Hike the Wentworth Valley to the waterfalls, and beyond if you are feeling energetic.
Day 5 Whangamata-Rotorua (175 km)
Drive to Rotorua, where you can visit geysers and mud pools as well as the Maori cultural village. You may wish to attend a ‘hangi’, a traditional Maori feast (optional).
Today's walk takes you through the Whirinaki Forest, an area of 60,000 hectares and one of the best preserved rainforests on the North Island. Rare birds like the kaka and karearea may be seen during today’s hike.
Day 7 Rotorua-Taupo-Tongariro (220 km)
Drive through the heart of the North Island to Tongariro National Park, renowned for its dramatic volcanic landscapes.
Today you are walking the Tongariro Crossing, acknowledged as one of the best day hikes in the world, providing the opportunity to view colourful craters, lakes and bubbling hot pools.
Day 9 Tongariro National Park-Wanganui-Wellington (310 km)
Travel back downriver to rejoin your vehicle. Drive to Wellington, where a visit to the National Museum, Te Papa, is recommended.
Day 10 Wellington-Marlborough Sounds-Queen Charlotte Sound
Drop off your vehicle and board the ferry to Picton. On arrival you will be transferred by water taxi to your accommodation in Queen Charlotte Sound.
A boat will take you to the bird sanctuary of Motuara Island where you have a few hours to explore. After a boat transfer to Resolution Bay begin your walk on the Queen Charlotte Track towards Endeavour Inlet. Afterwards you will be transferred by boat to Picton.
Day 12 Queen Charlotte Sound-Nelson-Abel Tasman National Park (190 km)
Return to Picton by boat and then drive the scenic route to Abel Tasman National Park for a 2-night stay.
Abel Tasman Coast Track, grade 1-3, 4 hours, pre-booked walk
This beautiful region is famed for its sandy beaches, lush coastal forests and turquoise seas. Today hike part of the coastal track. After your walk the boat will pick you up from another bay.
Day 14 Abel Tasman-Paparoa National Park/Punakaiki (315km)
Drive to the rugged West Coast. Visit the Cape Foulwind seal colony and curious blowholes and pancake rocks at Punakaiki.
Great walks through a river valley and gorge with dramatic cliffs and dense subtropical forest with rare birds. Bizarre rock formations at the coast and the subtropical climate with plenty of sun and rain are responsible for the diverse flora. Insiders consider this to be the best National Park in New Zealand.
Day 16 Punakaiki-Westland National Park/Franz Josef (235km)
Continue south to Franz Josef, where you stay overnight. Take a short walk to the snout of this impressive glacier, which tumbles 2500m to the valley floor. Grade 2 hike.
Mount Iron, Wanaka, grade 1, 1.5 hours
Drive to Haast and spend the afternoon exploring ancient forests and wild surf-pounded beaches. You may spot Fiordland crested penguins, dolphins and seals.
Rob Roy Glacier Track, grade 2-3, 4-5 hours
This great track starts in beautiful Matukituki Valley at a swing bridge. The walk enables easy access to a spectacular alpine region with snowfields, glaciers, steep cliffs and waterfalls.
Day 19 Wanaka-Fiordland National Park/Te Anau (230km)
Travel across the Crown Range to Lake Wakatipu and then through rural countryside onto Te Anau. This little town is known as the "walking capital of the world" and its glowworm caves are another local attraction.
Guided Milford Track Day Tour, grade 2-3, 5-6 hours, pre-booked walk, operates Nov-Mar
Travel by boat across Lake Te Anau to the start of the Milford Track. This 11km (5-6 hours return) walk starts with a boat trip on Lake Te Anau to the start of the Track. Hike through forests along the lake shore to the Neale Burn River (from April to October take an alternative hike in Doubtful Sound).
The road to Milford takes you through Eglington and Hollyford Valleys and you have an opportunity to join a cruise in this spectacular sound where the mountains rise straight out to the ocean. Return to Queenstown later in the day.
Day 22 Queenstown
Enjoy a range of adrenalin-focused activities or, alternatively, relax with a walk in the Remarkables mountains, play golf or visit the gold-mining town of Arrowtown.
Day 23 Queenstown-Mount Cook National Park (265km)
Hooker Valley Track, grade 2-3, 2-4 hours
On arrival at Mt Cook Village enjoy a walk to the foot of the spectacular Southern Alps. Scenic flights to Mt Cook can be arranged if the weather is good.
Day 24 Mount Cook National Park-Lake Tekapo-Christchurch (335km)
At the end of your holiday enjoy a scenic flight over lakes and alps or drive to the top of Mount John near Lake Tekapo and enjoy the amazing views.
Note should you wish to spend additional nights at any particular location, we would be pleased to arrange this for you. Some roads on this itinerary are subject to weather conditions and your itinerary may change as a result.
HIKE GRADES
Hikes are graded 1-5. Grade 1 is easy, while grade 4 is suitable for experienced hikers with a good level of fitness and grade 5 is for experts.
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