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New Zealand

Independent Bus and Self-drive Tours / Escorted Tours for 18-35 year olds
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Fault Line Adventure

This New Zealand adventure travel tour caters for people who want to see "the real New Zealand". This is adventure travel into some of New Zealand's most spectacular wilderness areas. At the end of the day, you stay in a quality Bed & Breakfast style accommodation.

Day 1. Saturday. Tour begins Christchurch - 3 hours hiking/1 hour cave exploring
Our tour begins in Christchurch, which is also known as the Garden City. After a briefing from your guide we are soon heading across the Canterbury Plains towards the Southern Alps which form the backbone of the South Island. Our adventure begins in earnest when we arrive at Cave Stream Scenic Reserve. After exploring this bizarre yet beautiful landscape of limestone bluffs and outcrops we follow Cave Stream through an amazing subterranean canyon. Enjoy a picnic lunch once we are above ground again and then it’s a short drive through to the Arthur’s Pass Chalet where we spend the night. There is time in the afternoon for an optional hike up Avalanche Peak. Alternatively, explore this quaint little alpine village and relax in the spa at the Chalet. Enjoy a delicious 3-course meal served at the Chalet restaurant.

Day 2. Sunday. Arthurs Pass - 2 hours hiking
This morning there is the opportunity to go on a hike to nearby waterfalls or have a relaxing morning at the Chalet before we drive through to Lake Brunner (crossing the faultline) for a picnic lunch and a swim. In the afternoon we take a hike along the wild and windswept West Coast near Punakaiki, exploring remote beaches and sea caves that were used by early Maori. At high tide we check out the famous Pancake Rocks, 30 million year old towers of limestone with spectacular blowholes. Accommodation tonight is nestled in the bush with spectacular views over the Tasman Sea.

Day 3. Monday. Punakaiki, Paparoa National Park - 7 – 8 hours hiking
Today we hike one of the most beautiful day hikes in New Zealand. We are dropped off at Bullock Creek at an old abandoned farm. From here we follow the Inland Pack Track through luxuriant lowland rainforest, stopping for lunch on the banks of Fossil Creek. There is time to relax and feel dwarfed by the towering rimu and kahikatea trees, some over 50 metres tall and hundreds of years old. After lunch we continue on until we meet the Fox River Canyon. We follow this deep canyon crossing the river several times (learn river-crossing techniques) until we are met by the minibus on the coastal road. Return to our accommodation. Visit the local pub for dinner.

Day 4. Tuesday. Okarito, South Westland World Heritage Area - 4 hours kayaking
We drive south today making a brief stop at Hokitika where we stock up on supplies. This town was once known as Capital of the Goldfields. It has become a major centre for pounamu (jade or greenstone) which was prized by the Maori for making jewellery, tools and lethal weapons. We continue on to Okarito, where the rainforest meets the sea. A historic gold-rush town, it is now a sleepy collection of seaside cottages with a permanent population of about 25. Here, we take sea kayaks and paddle out over the Okarito Lagoon, New Zealand’s largest unmodified wetland. We explore the river delta, which takes us right into the rainforest. A great variety of bird-life can be seen from tui’s and bellbirds in the forest, to kotuku (white herons) and spoonbills on the lagoon. Spend the afternoon/early evening on the beach learning how to prepare a hangi (an underground Maori earth oven). Enjoy the hangi feast sitting around a beach fire, before making a short drive to Franz Josef where we stay the night.

Day 5. Wednesday. Franz Josef Glacier - 4 hours hiking
Today we take a hike on the near-by Franz Josef Glacier, one of the most dynamic glaciers in the world and one of the few places where you will see a glacier descending into the rainforest. Enjoy a half-day hike onto Franz Josef Glacier with seracs, crevasses and ice caves. After we return from the hike we drive on to the town of Fox Glacier. Either have a relaxing afternoon at our local B&B accommodation or join the guide for a hike up to the terminal face of the Fox glacier. Tonight you get the opportunity to sample local cuisine at a restaurant of your choice.

Day 6. Thursday. Haast Pass - 1 hours hiking
We start the day with a leisurely hike around Lake Matheson – on a clear day the Southern Alps are perfectly reflected on the lake – a photographers paradise. We then continue south stopping at a local salmon farm to “pick up dinner.” Today we cross back over the “fault-line”(Southern Alps) to the eastern side and stay in Makarora. Take an afternoon hike or relax at the spacious homestead. Enjoy a delicious meal of fresh salmon.

Day 7. Friday. Mount Aspiring National Park - 5 hours hiking
We start the day by boarding a helicopter for an extraordinary flight around the ice carved mountains and glaciers of the World Heritage, Mount Aspiring National Park. We land in the remote Siberia Valley. Home tonight is a classic backcountry hut that we will share with other hikers. You can either spend the day relaxing on the porch gazing at the mountains or go on an exhilarating hike up to Lake Crucible, a gorgeous alpine lake set amongst huge snow capped mountains.

Day 8. Saturday. Tour ends in Queenstown - 3 hours hiking
We spend the morning hiking down to the Forks where we meet the jetboat, which will take us on a spectacular journey down the Wilkin River back to Makarora. We drive through to Wanaka, to a local vineyard for a celebratory wine and then it’s just a short drive over the Crown Range into the alpine resort town of Queenstown. Here the trip concludes after 8 days of spectacular hikes, peaceful kayaking, exhilarating helicopter and jetboat trips coupled with relaxing accommodation.

The trip concludes in Queenstown. You may wish to take advantage of a free shuttle return to Christchurch on Day 9 or you can stay in Queenstown to enjoy the endless activities this town offers. Should you wish to take advantage of the free return to Christchurch on Day 9 please make this known on booking.

Please note: We do not recommend people book any onward travel on the evening of our arrival in Queenstown. There is a very small chance we could get a wild storm with heavy rain that keeps us up in the Siberia Valley for an extra night. This is highly unlikely, as our guides will be studying the long-range weather forecasts and may take you to a different area if the weather isn't suitable. However, we would hate for you to miss your flight, so it is best to plan a day in Queenstown after the trip and then fly out the next day just in case.

Grade Medium (River crossings and some uneven terrain.)
Start 8.00am Christchurch (Cathedral Square West)
Finish Queenstown 7.00pm
Departs 2007: 6 Jan, 20 Jan, 17 Feb, 17 Mar, 14 Apr

Prices Standard NZ$2750 With single room supplement NZ$3245

......Hiking & Fitness
Grade: Medium . No previous hiking experience is required, but you need to be reasonably fit and enthusiatic. We will be taking you into real wilderness areas so at times the tracks will be slippery, rough and we will need to cross rivers. The itinerary is flexible enough to provide time to relax or to present you with challenges. We recommend you do some physical preparation: brisk walking, jogging or cycling a couple of times a week during the month or so before you arrive as this will enable you to make the most of your trip.
......Guides & Safety
We have a small team of hand picked professionals coming from a range of backgrounds, from teachers, outdoor instructors, photographers, mountaineers and escapees of the corporate world! All of them share a passion for the New Zealand wilderness and have the experience to go with it. New Zealand is a fascinating place and you will have a lot of questions, so you will be pleased to know that all of our guides have a vast knowledge of our natural and cultural history.
......Transport
We travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. We also carry a range of natural history reference books. Time spent driving is kept to a minimum, we average about 2 hours per day and we drive on a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. We make the most of being small and flexible and often find ourselves stopping to check the unexpected!
......Food
All the meals are included in the price, except dinner on day 3 and day 5 - this will give you the opportunity to get out and try the local cuisine. The first night we eat at the local restaurant and your guide prepares the dinners on nights 2,4,6 and 7. You may be asked to help with the preparation or washing up. Don't let this put you off though. It's part of our philosphy to get everyone involved as we believe this makes the whole experience more fun and rewarding! The night where we have the hangi (moari earth oven) is a real team effort and the guide will need your help collecting firewood, collecting rocks and of course eating it! Meals will be healthy and wholesome and include lots of fresh produce The trailers we tow are customised with a cooking area and fold down table, which is great for preparing picnics at all those secret places we will take you. Breakfasts are usually continental style, but don't be surprised if you wake up to the smell of fresh pancakes as well!
......Accommodation
Most of the time we will be staying at locally owned B&B's. If you are travelling with a partner you can request a double/queen room, otherwise the rooms will be twin share. Most of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Single supplements are available. We try and stay away from big hotels and keep to the smaller friendlier places with lots of character! On the last night you will sleep in bunks in a classic back country hut, these huts can't be booked in advance so we will be sharing it with other users, but that just adds to the fun of it. You will need to have a sleeping bag for this night, but you can hire one off us if you need to.

Who is in my group?
A small group (maximum 11 people), with a range of ages, nationalities and work backgrounds. Seventy percent of people are between 20 and 40, though we have had people from 17 to 72. On average, half are women and half are men. Everyone shares an enthusiasm for outdoor adventure and an appreciation of nature.

Included: The great thing about the Fault-line Adventure is that just about everything is included. All guiding, glacier walking, kayaking, helicopter flights, accommodation and nearly all the meals. The only thing you need money for is the two meals not included, alcohol, and buying souvernirs (you can never have too many tee shirts!).

Not included: On nights 3 and 5 dinner is not provided. On night 3, we go to the local pub which serves good hearty meals at about $15 - $20 per main. On night 5, there is a selection of restaurants to choose from in the town of "Fox Glacier".

Disclaimer: With any outdoor activity, there is an element of risk. This tour operates in remote and mountainous areas. Risks in undertaking this activity could include hypothermia due to adverse weather conditions, personal injury, or property damage from hiking over rugged and uneven terrain.

The staff and management take all practicable steps to identify and minimise potential dangers. However you must follow our instructions (and use the safety equipment provided) at all times. Adults accompanying any person under the age of 18 must ensure that the underage person follows our instructions at all times. You must release or indemnify us and our staff against any liability we incur to anyone else, resulting from your failure to follow our instructions or the failure of any person accompanying you under the age of 18 to follow our instructions.

We reserve the right to make any alterations to the itinerary in the interest of safety, comfort or unforeseen circumstances due to causes such as weather, illness, or misadventure.