Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll arrive at Christchurch International Airport before 1 pm where your guide picks you up. After getting settled at your hotel, there's a group orientation meeting at 2 pm. From there, you'll take a short walk through the Christchurch Botanical Gardens to get your legs moving and see some local plants. Dinner happens with the group, then it's an early night to rest up.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Group orientation meeting at 2 pm
- Short walk through Christchurch Botanical Gardens
Landmarks Christchurch Botanical Gardens - Day 2
Christchurch to Nelson Lakes National Park
After breakfast, you'll drive north for 4 hours to reach Nelson Lakes National Park. Lunch comes on the shore of Lake Rotoiti, and then your first hike starts at Kerr Bay. The track winds gently through forest, crosses shallow streams and scree, with small beaches offering mountain views along the way. You'll cover 10 km through the lower Travers Valley to reach Lakehead Hut.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on the shore of Lake Rotoiti), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking at Nelson Lakes National Park starting from Kerr Bay
- Lunch on the shore of Lake Rotoiti
Landmarks Nelson Lakes National Park Lake Rotoiti Kerr Bay 
- Day 3
Travers Valley
Following the Travers River flats through forest and old farm clearings takes about 1.5 hours before you cross a swing bridge and continue on the west bank. The valley narrows and the walking gets more varied, alternating between forested terraces and grassy river flats. Keep an eye out for Mount Travers views as you pass Hopeless Creek. After the gradient steepens and eases again, you'll cross a few small creeks before arriving at John Tait Hut in a clearing, having hiked 13.8 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking through Travers Valley to John Tait Hut
Landmarks Travers River Mount Travers Hopeless Creek - Day 4
Upper Travers Hut
You'll start with a hearty breakfast, then continue up the Travers Valley beyond John Tait Hut toward Cupola Creek chasm. The track climbs steeply, leaving the river in its gorge below. There's a short 20-minute detour to see Travers Falls, a 20-meter cascade. Back on the main track, you'll cross several screes as the forest thins out noticeably. The track levels and opens onto tussock-covered flat where Upper Travers Hut sits at the base of Mount Travers, your destination after 6 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking to Upper Travers Hut with detour to Travers Falls
Landmarks Travers Falls Travers Saddle - Day 5
West Sabine Hut
You'll head out early, cross the Travers River and follow poles through dense alpine shrubs. The track steepens and zigzags up a scree slope for about 2 hours to reach Poukirikiri/Travers Saddle with panoramic views, though weather can change suddenly here. From the saddle, you'll descend steeply with the Sabine forks 3000 feet below. After crossing tussock and scree, briefly entering stunted beech forest, you zigzag down to the valley floor. Cross the East Branch Sabine River via bridge before reaching West Sabine Hut, having hiked 7.9 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking across Travers Saddle to West Sabine Hut
Landmarks Poukirikiri/Travers Saddle East Branch Sabine River West Branch Sabine River - Day 6
Blue Lake Hut
Today's hike takes you to Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake, the clearest natural freshwater lake in the world with 83-meter visibility. From West Sabine Hut, you'll head upstream from the West Branch Sabine swing bridge. After about 1.5 hours the valley broadens and you'll pass through forest damaged by a 1980 avalanche. You then climb steeply in two stages to reach Blue Lake Hut in a high basin, having hiked 7.4 km. Remember this is sacred to local Maori, so refrain from washing or swimming.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking to Blue Lake Hut
Landmarks Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake - Day 7
West Sabine Hut
Morning coffee comes first, then you can either rest on the shores of Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake or hike to Lake Constance. The Lake Constance trail is a steep 1-hour climb toward Waiau Pass. At 1.2 miles long and up to 2,300 feet wide, Lake Constance sits in a massive post-glacial basin at 4,400 feet, the largest alpine lake in New Zealand with its indigo blue water. You'll head back down to Blue Lake Hut, then continue down the valley to West Sabine Hut, covering 11.3 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Optional hike to Lake Constance or rest at Blue Lake
Optional Activities
- Hike to Lake Constance (steep 1-hour climb to Waiau Pass)
Landmarks Lake Constance Waiau Pass - Day 8
Hot Springs Resort
You'll pack up and head down the Sabine Valley taking in the forest one final time. After reconnecting with the Sabine River, the valley broadens through ancient silver beech forest. The track goes above the river before leaving it where it enters a gorge, then climbs steeply and descends back to the river at a bridge. Easy walking for the final hour gets you to Sabine Hut with expansive Lake Rotoroa views. After lunch on the lake shore, a water taxi takes you 40 minutes across the clear waters, followed by a 2-hour scenic drive to Maruia Springs Resort where you can soak and eat, having hiked 13.7 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch on the shore of Lake Rotoroa), Dinner (Local cuisine at in-house restaurant)
Included Activities
- Hiking down Sabine Valley to Sabine Hut
- Lunch on the shore of Lake Rotoroa
- Water taxi across Lake Rotoroa (40 minutes)
- Soak in geothermal waters at Maruia Springs Resort
Landmarks Sabine Valley Lake Rotoroa - Day 9
Christchurch
Your final morning starts with a soak in the geothermal waters. Then you'll head back south to Christchurch over 4 hours, talking with your guide about your hut to hut adventure. Depending on your flights, your guide takes you either to the airport for departures after 2 pm or to your Christchurch hotel if you're staying longer in New Zealand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning soak in geothermal waters
