Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll get picked up from Christchurch International Airport and head to your accommodation to settle in. There's an orientation meeting with the group, then a short walk through the Christchurch Botanical Gardens to get your legs moving after the flight and check out the local plants. Dinner happens with everyone, and you'll want an early night since the hiking starts tomorrow.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation meeting with group
- Walk through Christchurch Botanical Gardens
Landmarks Christchurch Botanical Gardens - Day 2
Southern Alps
After breakfast, you're heading into the Southern Alps for three major hikes. You'll start with the Kura Tawhiti (Castle Hill) loop through the Lord of the Rings filming landscape, then move through beech forest to see Devil's Punchbowl waterfall at Arthur's Pass, followed by the Otira Valley Walk at the summit. Later you drive to Hokitika on the west coast to explore this old gold mining town before dinner, and then join a glow worm search in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kura Tawhiti (Castle Hill) loop trail hike
- Devil's Punchbowl waterfall hike in Arthur's Pass
- Otira Valley Walk at Arthur's Pass
- Glow worm search
Landmarks Kura Tawhiti (Castle Hill) Arthur's Pass Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall - Day 3
Lake Kaniere to Punakaiki
Starting with breakfast, you'll hike along the scenic bays of Lake Kaniere with multiple swimming spots available. The trail continues through Hokitika Gorge and into Rimu and Podocarp forests. In the afternoon, you'll drive the Great Coast Road to Punakaiki and enter Paparoa National Park, where your beachfront lodgings are set up with self-contained cottages, hotel rooms, and an on-site restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lake Kaniere hike
- Hokitika Gorge hike
- Great Coast Road scenic drive
Landmarks Lake Kaniere Hokitika Gorge Paparoa National Park - Day 4
Punakaiki
Today focuses on Punakaiki's main attractions: the Pororari River Loop through limestone cliffs and subtropical forests, the famous Pancake Rocks with their layered formations, and blowholes and surge pools. The Truman Track option takes you through subtropical forest to dramatic coastline with cliffs, caverns, a waterfall, and more blowholes. Weather permitting, you'll end with a bonfire watching the sunset over the Tasman Sea before heading back to your lodgings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Pororari River Loop hike
- Pancake Rocks visit
- Truman Track hike
Optional Activities
- Bonfire and sunset viewing over Tasman Sea (weather dependent)
Landmarks Pororari River Pancake Rocks - Day 5
Fox River Gorge to St. Arnaud
You'll head north to hike the Fox River Gorge through west coast rainforest, limestone gorges, and caves. Lunch happens under the Ballroom overhang where you'll practice river crossing skills with guides. If water levels are too high, there's a coastal hike alternative with a visit to Tauranga Bay's seal colony. After continuing through the limestone canyon to the coast, you travel inland to St. Arnaud, a small alpine village in the Southern Alps.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch beneath the Ballroom overhang), Dinner
Included Activities
- Fox River Gorge hike
- River crossing practice
- Coastal hike (weather dependent)
Optional Activities
- Visit Tauranga Bay seal colony (if water levels too high for river hike)
Landmarks Fox River Gorge Ballroom overhang Tauranga Bay seal colony - Day 6
Nydia Track Start
You're starting the remote Nydia Track, a 2-day, 17-mile off-grid trail at the edge of Kaiuma Bay in the Marlborough Mountains. Today you cross the Kaiuma and Nydia saddles and follow the shoreline of Nydia Bay through farmland, scrubland, pine forests, and silver fern forests. The terrain has stone and wooden steps, rock slabs, bridges, board walks, and a river crossing. After about 7 miles, you reach your lodge for the next 2 nights. Dinner comes from the lodge's gardens, and there's an outdoor hot tub to relax in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner prepared by lodge with ingredients sourced from their gardens)
Included Activities
- Nydia Track first section hike
- River crossing
Optional Activities
- Outdoor hot tub soak
Landmarks Nydia Track Kaiuma Bay Nydia Bay - Day 7
Nydia Track Layover
It's a choose-your-own-adventure day at the lodge. You can spend time reading and relaxing, or try optional activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, or swimming. There's also a guided hike option to a small waterfall and swimming hole where the guide teaches responsible harakeke (New Zealand flax) harvesting and weaving techniques for mats or hats.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Swimming
- Hike to waterfall and swimming hole with harakeke harvesting and weaving instruction
- Day 8
Nydia Track to Maruia Springs
After breakfast, you leave the lodge toward Duncan Bay and hike through ancient miro, red beech, and fern forests along Tennyson Inlet. You'll climb the Nydia saddle surrounded by mosses, lichens, and podocarp forest, then enjoy views of Tennyson Inlet as you descend. There's an optional swim in Marlborough Sound before lunch, and the hike finishes through lush coastal forest with giant rimu, nikau, beech, and fern trees. Your private vehicle takes you to Maruia Springs, a geothermal retreat in the bush for soaking and local cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Local cuisine at in-house restaurant)
Included Activities
- Nydia Track final section hike
- Tennyson Inlet walk
- Nydia saddle climb
- Ngwhatakhiti Bay walk
Optional Activities
- Swim in Marlborough Sound
Landmarks Duncan Bay Tennyson Inlet Ngwhatakhiti Bay Marlborough Sound - Day 9
Lewis Tops Track
The morning starts with the Lewis Tops Track, taking you up through old beech forest into open, tussock-covered tops with plenty of mountain and alpine tarn views. In the afternoon, you'll treat yourself at the hot springs resort with hot spring soaks, sauna infusions, and included meditation and yoga classes to help your hiking muscles recover.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lewis Tops Track hike
- Hot spring soaks
- Sauna infusions
- Meditation and yoga classes
Landmarks Lewis Tops Track - Day 10
Christchurch
Your final morning includes a soak in the geothermal waters and a leisurely breakfast. From there, you head back south to Christchurch, thinking back on your New Zealand hiking trip. Your guides will take you either to the airport for flights after 2 pm or to the Mayfair Luxury Hotel if you're staying longer in New Zealand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning geothermal soak
Landmarks Mayfair Luxury Hotel
