Rimu - South Island Multi-Activity Tour

Multi-Day Backpacking, Sea Kayaking or Biking · Beaches and Rainforest of the West Coast · Sea Kayaking in Okarito and Milford Sound · Hiking at Franz Josef Glacier and Mount Cook · Cycling into Milford Sound · Queenstown
14 days: Christchurch - Christchurch. Fare: US$2799 + tax
11 or 12 day option - Christchurch - Queenstown. Fare: US$2499 + tax

The Rimu is our most action-packed trip. It's a multi-activity trip, with plenty of options to suit your fancy! We start with a snorkeling trip to a seal colony, do an incredible 3-day guided backpacking, cycling or sea kayaking trip, and follow that up with some of New Zealand's most stunning day hikes, as well as some unforgettable sea kayaking and cycling further down the coast. We maintain plenty of options so we can make sure the trip is tailored for you, and we have two guides to take good care of everyone. The Rimu is an awesome way to see New Zealand if you enjoy the outdoors and like a bit of a challenge. The accommodation style varies - for over half the trip we stay in accommodation of a high standard (B&Bs, lodges, etc) and for the rest of the trip we have chosen to stay in more rustic accommodations in order to be in the most beautiful, isolated, and off-the-beaten track places in New Zealand. The Rimu is an awesome trip - you will not be bored!

We run the Rimu trip in both directions - so you may end up doing this trip in the opposite direction. Some people prefer doing the Rimu the other way round, as it gives them time to get fitter for the longer backpacking, cycling and sea kayaking options. The Rimu is a product of many years of evolution and fine-tuning - it works well whichever way you do it!

Monday - Snorkeling with seals in Kaikoura
Most people leave the United States on a Saturday evening, and arrive in Auckland early on Monday morning. You'll lose a day to the dateline - but you get it back on the way home! You'll immediately take the short flight to Christchurch, in the South Island, where we will meet you. You'll need to arrive in Christchurch by 11am on the first day, at which time we'll drive up the coast to the seaside town of Kaikoura, where we will spend the afternoon and evening. We'll take you out to the Kaikoura Peninsula for a snorkeling trip through the seal colony. You'll have a wetsuit, a mask and a snorkel, and you can swim to within a couple of feet of the native New Zealand fur seals as they cavort in the water. This makes for a cruisy introduction to New Zealand, and gives you the chance to spend most of the day relaxing and recovering from the long flight. (You'll probably find jetlag is no big deal - it's a 12 hour direct overnight flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, and there's only a 3 hour time difference between New Zealand and US Pacific time).
ACCOMMODATION: A lovely local Bed and Breakfast, Kaikoura. (L,D)

Tuesday - 3-day hiking in Nelson Lakes, mountain biking on Queen Charlotte Track, OR sea kayaking in Marlborough Sounds
We'll drive north for a couple of hours to Blenheim, in the heart of the Marlborough wine region. We'll visit the legendary Cloudy Bay Winery, where you can enjoy a glass of their fantastic white wine while we picnic on the vineyard lawn. At the time of booking, you have the choice of a 3-day/2-night hiking trip in Nelson Lakes National Park, a 3-day/2-night sea kayaking trip in the Marlborough Sounds, or a 3-day/2-night mountain biking trip on the Queen Charlotte Track. (Add $250 for the sea kayaking or cycling options.) After lunch, we'll split up, depending on whether you have selected the hiking, sea kayaking or cycling options.

Thursday (Continued) Punakaiki
After finishing our 3 day options we meet up and head to the West Coast. The West Coast is a wonderful area - 500 miles of coastline with a population of only 40,000 people on the whole coast!! For dinner this evening we'll stop at the fishing town of Westport and pick up the quintessential Kiwi dinner - fish and chips! (Pronounced 'fush and chups' by the locals!) If it's a fine evening, we'll enjoy our fish and chips on the beach before heading south down the stunning coastline to the tiny coastal village of Punakaiki.
ACCOMMODATION: Paparoa Park, Punakaiki. Located in the rainforest, with great coastal views. (B,L,D)

Friday - Hiking in Punakaiki & beach in Okarito
We'll take most of the day in Punakaiki to hike amongst the limestone canyons and lush rainforest of the Inland Pack Track. The gold miners who first opened up the area over a century ago originally established this trail. We'll also check out the Pancake Rocks and the Blowholes, or maybe take an optional boat ride to see the playful dolphins, which are abundant in this area. This is one of our favorite places in the world, and you'll see why. There might be some sore muscles that need rest by now, too! Finally we'll leave in the afternoon to drive down the scenic coastal road, stop at Hokitika to check out a local greenstone workshop and gallery, and then carry on to Okarito, a tiny settlement just north of Franz Josef Glacier that time forgot nestled on the edge of Okarito Lagoon. This is another gem on the West Coast. There are no shops, no restaurants, no traffic, and no email here… and a population of only 30! We stay at the Okarito Royal Motel, run by locals Roseanne and Tony Grey. It's a motel in name only - it's more like Roseanne's house! Roseanne's legendary West Coast hospitality will blow you away! She will never forget your name, and all our guests remember her kindness and attention! There's plenty here so we'll stay two nights, to catch our breath and relax.
ACCOMMODATION: Okarito Royal Motel, Okarito. Off-the-beaten-path, isolated and comfortable. (B,L,D).

Saturday - Kayaking in Okarito Lagoon, hiking & beach
This is a cruisy day in a sleepy beach town to recharge our batteries. The Okarito lagoon is host to the only white heron colony in New Zealand. We'll spend a half day sea kayaking on the lagoon with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. Spend the rest of the day exploring the deserted beach or hiking in the rainforest - or just doing nothing if you choose! Sunsets around here are not to be missed. This evening we'll head out to listen for New Zealand's most famous bird, the rare and elusive kiwi. You'll (almost) never see a kiwi, as they are nocturnal and very shy, but they have a very distinctive call, so it's great fun to go out and listen for them!
ACCOMMODATION: Okarito Royal Motel, Okarito. (B,L,D)

Sunday - Hiking near Franz Josef Glacier
Just south of Okarito there are two formidable glaciers running down from the mountains to the sea. In terms of scenery, this place is just off the chart! Today we'll take an awesome hike through the rainforest up to Robert's Point, overlooking the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier. We only do this hike in good weather, as the rocks get really slippery in the rain. If it's raining, we'll do a shorter walk to the terminal face of the Fox Glacier, hike around Lake Matheson, and visit the Blue Pools near the Haast Pass. From here it's about three hours down the coast to Makarora (pop. 30), which is a camp settlement directly next to Mount Aspiring National Park. We'll stay at a beautifully landscaped homestead on the edge of the camp, in the shadow of the mountains. A unique option this afternoon, instead of the Robert's Point hike, is to take a helicopter ride up towards the highest peaks of the Southern Alps. You'll be landing 4,000 feet up on the glacier itself to start your 3-hour hike on the ice, with crampons, ice axes etc. Another helicopter will be waiting to fly you back down to town to meet up with the rest of the group. (Heli-hike option $100)
ACCOMMODATION: The Homestead, Makarora. Very comfortable and spacious. (B,L,D)

Monday - (Optional) Bungy jumping in Queenstown
We'll head down the road to Wanaka, then cross the mountains at Cardrona Saddle, to drop into Queenstown. At some stage on the trip (sometimes on the way into Queenstown, and sometimes on the way out), we'll visit the A.J. Hackett bungy jump bridge, where you can take an optional bungy jump. This afternoon we'll arrive at Beech Cove lakeside apartments, right on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown is a great place to spend a couple of days. You'll have plenty of time to wander about and explore while you're here, and you'll find all sorts of options to pique your interest!
ACCOMMODATION: Beech Cove lakeside apartments, Queenstown. Very comfortable, with great views. (B,L,D).

Tuesday - Free day in Queenstown
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand - it's about the comforts of civilization, adrenaline, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and window shopping. But don't lose sight of the fact that there are also some incredible hikes and bike rides nearby, and all sorts of incredible options such as bungy jumping, jet boating, river surfing, skydiving, off-road motorcycling, horse trekking, fishing, wine tours, waterskiing... it's all there! Queenstown is not a big place - the population is about 5,000 - but there's plenty to do! Or you can do nothing, if you prefer and just soak up the atmosphere. Many of our clients enjoy lounging about just reading a book after the hiking and paddling on the West Coast.
ACCOMMODATION: Beech Cove, Queenstown. (B)

Wednesday - Cycling Eglinton Valley & hiking Routeburn Track
Today we begin a couple of days of the most unforgettable cycling you may ever do! This morning we head down through Te Anau towards Milford Sound. You'll be fitted with a front-suspension Fuji mountain bike for a spectacular ride through the legendary Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys to The Divide. We maintain plenty of flexibility - keen cyclists can start early and cover 50 miles or more before they are picked up. Moderately keen cyclists can be picked up anytime along the way. If cycling is not at the top of your list, you can skip it and just enjoy the scenery. After recovering our cyclists, we'll hike part of the famous Routeburn Track up to Key Summit for unbelievable views of the surrounding peaks. Then it's a short haul through the Homer Tunnel, where we get back on our bikes for a 3,000-foot downhill freewheel to Milford Sound. The scenery here is fantastic! 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. The cycling is optional, of course - and because of the time of day we go, there's barely any traffic on the road. You can cycle as much or as little as you like. Once we get to Milford Sound, we'll stay at the Milford Lodge.
ACCOMMODATION: Milford Lodge, Milford Sound. A relaxed base for hikers and paddlers. (B,L,D)

Thursday - Sea kayaking in Milford Sound
Milford Sound, rated the 8th wonder of the world by Rudyard Kipling, is breathtaking. Sheer rock walls plunge thousands of feet to the sea, surrounded by snow capped mountains! Most people see Milford Sound from the deck of a cruise ship, but we've got a better way - 3 feet above the waterline with Roscoe's Sea Kayaks where the seals and dolphins are very friendly and eager to visit. This is an awesome trip - and it's equally suitable for beginners or experts. When you get back from your morning's paddle, we'll lunch at the Lodge. Then we'll head through to Lake Manapouri, where we'll stay at the Lake Manapouri Inn, beautifully sited on the lake's edge. You'll love the outlook from your rooms with great views out over Lake Manapouri and mountains of Fiordland National Park surrounding it. We'll arrive by mid afternoon so you can relax and enjoy the surroundings or take the bikes out to explore the countryside before a BBQ dinner.
ACCOMMODATION: Lake Manapouri Inn, Lake Manapouri. (B,L,D)

Friday - Cycling & high country sheep farm
The keen cyclists this morning will have another opportunity to get more miles under their belt exploring some of the mountains around Te Anau by bike. The rest of the group will enjoy a sleep-in and have a gentle, late morning start. We'll pick up cyclists along the way to Queenstown, where we'll stop for lunch. You'll have the chance to do some last minute shopping, banking, or whatever you need before heading back into the wilderness for the rest of our trip. We'll drive up to Lake Pukaki, near Mount Cook, where we stay on a working high country sheep farm, called Braemar Station. ('Station' is the New Zealand and Australian word for a big farm.) While we're here, we stay in the shearers' quarters. Again, it's not the Ritz, but our clients always LOVE this place! The view out the kitchen window in the morning will knock your socks off - one huge mountain, rearing towards the sky on the other side of a gorgeous sky-blue lake. With no lights for miles around, the stars on a clear night are like nothing you've ever seen - not a bad place for your last couple of nights in New Zealand!
ACCOMMODATION: Shearers' Quarters, near Mount Cook. A little rustic but the views will blow you away! (B,D)

Saturday - Hiking near Mt. Cook
This morning it's about an hour to Mt Cook village, at the head of Lake Pukaki. Mt Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand, and we have a stunning and little-known day hike to do here (weather permitting) to the main ridge above Mueller Glacier. It's a tough 3 to 4 hour slog up, but you'll remember the view of the Mueller Glacier and the peaks of the Main Divide forever! But there are other hiking options for those who'd like to take it a little easier. The weather conditions are very important in this area, as it is a true alpine climate notorious for sudden weather shifts. If we aren't able to do this one, we'll take an impressive hike up the Hooker Valley to a glacial lake at the base of the Hooker Glacier, complete with icebergs! On our last night, we'll enjoy a traditional Kiwi roast dinner - with vegetarian options of course - and enjoy a beer or two as we sit outside and watch the sun go down behind Mount Cook.
ACCOMMODATION: Shearers' quarters. (B,L)

Sunday - Depart
This is the last day of your two week trip around the South Island. See the itinerary for the Kauri trip if you want to take a few more days to see the North Island as well. We'll leave after breakfast for the three-hour drive to Christchurch, and arrive early afternoon for the flights back to Auckland. Any flight after 2 pm is fine, and we can make 1pm flights if we have a little notice. Flights between Auckland and the United States usually leave early evening, so we'll get you back in time to arrive in California at lunchtime on Sunday, even though you left on Sunday evening! You'll be refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you'll have had with us in New Zealand! (B,L)

Comments
ACCOMMODATIONS: The Rimu is an activity-oriented trip around the South Island. We've chosen interesting and comfortable accommodation throughout. In Kaikoura, Punakaiki, Makarora and Queenstown it's quite luxurious. But most of the other places we stay are off-the-beaten track - and don't have many accommodation options - but are really, really spectacular. Our clients often say a real highlight of the trip is meeting the New Zealanders who are their hosts. You'll love the places we stay!

FITNESS: You must have a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy yourself. You don't have to be young and extremely fit (although if you are, you won't be bored) but you should be in the habit of doing at least some exercise. Age and experience is not important. We would rather have a person in her 50s who hikes every couple of weeks than a 22 year old couch potato!

EXPERIENCE: You don't have to have any outdoor experience at all to take our trips. We offer trips that allow you to make the most of New Zealand's incredible outdoor environment. Our staff are highly trained and very experienced outdoor guides, and we will look after you! You don't have to carry a heavy pack. You don't need to have ever been in a sea kayak to enjoy kayaking Okarito Lagoon or Milford Sound. You don't need to be a serious cyclist to enjoy some of the rides we have available, either. In fact we have so many options available that you don't need to ride at all, if you'd rather hike, fish, or just laze around! All we ask is that you be energetic and in reasonable shape - and we guarantee you'll have an incredible time. The challenges are there, though, if you're looking for them. For instance, on the second day of the backpacking trip we spend the day climbing to Lake Angelus on the Robert Ridge. The views are incredible - but they get better the higher you go, and the fitter members of the party often push on to the top of the ridge for some unforgettable views of both sides of the South Island. We manage the level of commitment to suit your experience, and we have an impeccable safety record. We hold all relevant government licenses, and our staff are highly trained and experienced.

FLEXIBILITY: Because of the off-the-beaten path and non-commercial nature of some of our accommodation on this trip, we sometimes need to change a night stop. For instance, every now and then the shearers' quarters at Braemar Station is required by the farm. But we try to make as few changes as possible.

The Rimu usually has two departures per date, which allows us to operate with smaller groups. The second departure follows this itinerary in reverse, so it starts by heading from Christchurch to Braemar Station and the last night is in Kaikoura. You are welcome to select the order in which you'd like to see our country, so just let us know if you'd prefer to be on a particular departure!

PRICE: The trip fare is US$2499 + 12.5% government taxes. You can also join for shorter periods of time, at a pro-rated fare.

INCLUDED: The trip fare includes just about everything, specifically:

All guiding services. We always have at least two guides per trip, and we take no more than 14 clients per trip. This means we can really make sure you have a great time!
Comfortable accommodation for the entire period you are with us. We can also organize accommodation for you if you want to arrive earlier or leave later.
All your meals, except in Queenstown where we've found people prefer to check out the wide range of restaurants. Alcohol is not generally included, although we do like to see the look on your face when we our turn up with an icebox full of beer (and juice, and water). After a hike!
All hiking, cycling, and kayaking described in the itinerary, except optional activities as noted. There are also many optional activities available at extra cost, particularly in Queenstown. None of these activities are compulsory, and nor will your trip seem less awesome if you do the cheap or free options. Although some people really enjoy bungy jumping, paragliding, skydiving etc, others prefer to focus more on hiking, paddling and cycling.
Because so much is included in the trip, you could start the Rimu with US$50 in your pocket, and go home with change.

Dates - 2007 - Jan 22 07 - Feb 4 07, Jan 29 07 - Feb 11 07, Feb 5 07 - Feb 18 07, Feb 12 07 - Feb 25 07, Feb 19 07 - Mar 4 07, Feb 26 07 - Mar 11 07, Mar 5 07 - Mar 18 07, Mar 12 07 - Mar 25 07, Mar 19 07 - Apr 1 07, Mar 26 07 - Apr 8 07, Apr 2 07 - Apr 15 07, Apr 9 07 - Apr 22 07, Apr 16 07 - Apr 29 07, Apr 23 07 - May 6 07, Oct 8 07 - Oct 21 07, Oct 15 07 - Oct 28 07, Oct 22 07 - Nov 4 07, Oct 29 07 - Nov 11 07, Nov 5 07 - Nov 18 07, Nov 12 07 - Nov 25 07, Nov 19 07 - Dec 2 07, Nov 26 07 - Dec 9 07, Dec 3 07 - Dec 16 07, Dec 10 07 - Dec 23 07, Dec 17 07 - Dec 30 07, Dec 24 07 - Jan 6 08, Dec 31 07 - Jan 13 08, Jan 7 08 - Jan 20 08, Jan 14 08 - Jan 27 08, Jan 21 08 - Feb 3 08, Jan 28 08 - Feb 10 08, Feb 4 08 - Feb 17 08, Feb 11 08 - Feb 24 08, Feb 18 08 - Mar 2 08, Feb 25 08 - Mar 9 08, Mar 3 08 - Mar 16 08, Mar 10 08 - Mar 23 08, Mar 17 08 - Mar 30 08, Mar 24 08 - Apr 6 08, Mar 31 08 - Apr 13 08, Apr 7 08 - Apr 20 08, Apr 14 08 - Apr 27 08, Apr 21 08 - May 4 08

Winter dates: 2007-2008 - May 7 07 - May 20 07, May 21 07 - Jun 3 07, Jun 4 07 - Jun 17 07, Jun 18 07 - Jul 1 07, Jul 2 07 - Jul 15 07, Jul 16 07 - Jul 29 07, Jul 30 07 - Aug 12 07, Aug 13 07 - Aug 26 07, Aug 27 07 - Sep 9 07, Sep 3 07 - Sep 16 07, May 5 08 - May 18 08, May 19 08 - Jun 1 08, Jun 2 08 - Jun 15 08, Jun 16 08 - Jun 29 08

The off season is one of the best times to hike as we'll almost always have the trails to ourselves. We've adapted the Winter Rimu for the cooler climate, and it's a great way to see New Zealand at its least crowded and most beautiful! We start by heading over the Southern Alps to the milder temperatures of the West Coast (50s and up, generally). We then do a number of awesome day hikes and sea kayak trips, and do a two-night backpacking trip up to the winter wonderland & hot springs of Welcome Flat. A comfortable night at Makarora follows, before we head up to the stunning alpine environment of Mt Aspiring Hut. A couple of days in Queenstown, then more hiking, biking and sea kayaking in New Zealand's most beautiful places, before ending up back at Christchurch after two weeks of incredible ACTION! We maintain plenty of options so we can make sure the trip is tailored for you, and we have two guides to take good care of everyone. The Winter Rimu is an awesome way to see New Zealand if you enjoy the outdoors and like a bit of a challenge. The accommodation style varies - for over half the trip we stay in accommodation of a high standard (B&Bs, lodges, etc) and for the rest of the trip we have chosen to stay in more rustic accommodations in order to be in the most beautiful, isolated, and off-the-beaten track places in New Zealand. The Winter Rimu is an awesome trip - you will not be bored!

Monday Arrive, Hiking Temple Basin
Most people leave the United States on a Saturday evening, and arrive in Auckland early on Monday morning. You'll lose a day to the dateline - but you get it back on the way home! You'll immediately take the short flight to Christchurch, in the South Island. You'll need to arrive in Christchurch by 11am on Monday, at which time we'll meet you either in town or at the airport, and we'll head west to the Southern Alps. We'll stop for lunch at a small alpine lake before continuing to Temple Basin. At Temple Basin we'll take our first hike, a gentle two-hour walk to a small alpine basin for great views of the Southern Alps. Then we head through to Greymouth, and up the coastal road to the gorgeous seaside village of Punakaiki. We always make sure the first day of our trips is relaxing and undemanding so you can recover from the flight. (You'll probably find jetlag is no big deal - it's a 12 hour direct overnight flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, and there's only a 5 hour time difference between New Zealand and US Pacific time). If you have more time, by all means try to arrive in New Zealand a day or so early.
ACCOMMODATION: Paparoa Park Motels, Punakaiki (L,D)

Tuesday Rainforest and Beach Hiking in Punakaiki
We'll take most of the day in Punakaiki to hike amongst the limestone canyons and lush rainforest of the Inland Pack Track. We start at a classic 'submergence' - where the river suddenly dries up mid-stream, and goes underground - for a mile or so before resurfacing at Cave Creek. The rainforest in this area is unbelievably lush, and the limestone canyons and distant hazy mountains of Paparoa National Park make this an awesome day hike. The gold miners who first opened up the area over a century ago originally established this trail. We'll also check out the Pancake Rocks and the Blowholes, or maybe take an optional boat ride to see the playful dolphins, which are abundant in this area. This is one of our favorite places in the world, and you'll see why.
Finally we'll leave in the afternoon to drive down the scenic coastal road to Okarito, a tiny settlement just north of Franz Josef Glacier, nestled on the edge of Okarito Lagoon. This is another gem on the West Coast. There are no shops, no restaurants and no traffic here… and a population of only 30! We stay at the Okarito Royal Motel, which is now our West Coast base. It's been given a lot of thought and attention, as we've renovated it over the last few months, and you'll love this place. There's plenty here so we'll stay two nights, to catch our breath and relax.
ACCOMMODATION: Okarito Royal Motel, Okarito. Off-the-beaten-path, isolated and comfortable. (B,L,D)

Wednesday Kayaking in Okarito Lagoon, Hiking & Beach
This is a cruisy day in a sleepy beach town to recharge our batteries. The Okarito lagoon is host to the only white heron colony in New Zealand. We'll spend a half day sea kayaking on the lagoon with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. Spend the rest of the day exploring the deserted beach or hiking in the rainforest - or just doing nothing if you choose! Sunsets around here are not to be missed. This evening we'll head out to listen for New Zealand's most famous bird, the rare and elusive kiwi. You'll (almost) never see a kiwi, as they are nocturnal and very shy, but they have a very distinctive call, so it's great fun to go out and listen for them!
ACCOMMODATION: Okarito Royal Motel, Okarito. (B,L,D)

Thursday Fox Glacier then Hiking up to Welcome Flat
It's an early start today, and we are very privileged to be able to hike up to the Welcome Flat area. This is a stunningly beautiful mountain basin, set directly underneath the towering peaks of the Southern Alps, with one awesome accoutrement - reliable natural hot pools! We spend today hiking up the Karangarua Valley, and have all of tomorrow to take short side hikes, soak in the hot pools, and just enjoy the alpine atmosphere. With a really early start, we'll have time to stop at Fox Glacier on the way, where we can walk right up to the terminal face of the glacier. The Fox Glacier is an enormous river of ice, unusual in that it comes right down through the rainforest to sea level. Unbelievable.
Then it's up to the road-end, for the hike into Welcome Flat. This is about a 6 to 7 hour hike, of about 9 miles, with a 1,000-foot elevation gain over that distance. Our guides will carry the majority of the load, but you'll nonetheless need a backpack for your sleeping bag, clothes for two days, and a little food. Once we get to Welcome Flat, we stay in one of New Zealand's most modern and spacious backcountry huts. It's a hut in name only - it's a comfortable two-storied building (a palace compared to many New Zealand huts) and you'll love it here, especially since, at this time of year, we may well have it all to ourselves!
ACCOMMODATION: Welcome Flat Hut. (B,L,D)

Friday Hiking to Douglas Rock & Soaking in Hot Pools
Today we have a very easy day, for soaking in the hot pools, enjoying the stunning scenery, and maybe just hanging out with a book! We can also hike further up the track towards Douglas Rock, for even more stunning scenery. But the hot pools are without a doubt the star attraction here, closely followed by the spectacular meals we'll be serving up!
ACCOMMODATION: Welcome Flat Hut. (B,L,D)

Saturday Hiking out & Relaxing in Makarora
Another early starts sees us on the track and walking the 9 miles back to the road. It's a little quicker this time, being slightly downhill, and we'll be back at our vehicle by mid afternoon. Then we'll drive south to the tiny hamlet of Makarora, on the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park. Here we stay in a comfortable homestead, and we can do laundry, load up on beautifully prepared meal and sprawl by the fire with a glass of mulled wine.
ACCOMMODATION: The Homestead, Makarora. (B,L,D).

Sunday Hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park
Today we have another spectacular hike, which is, again, most suitable in winter conditions, due to the sheer beauty and unpopulated nature of the area at this time of year! We're going to be hiking up to Mount Aspiring Hut. The hike itself is less than three hours, but we have a great side hike on the way up, to the Rob Roy Glacier. Because all our trips have two guides, we can split into two groups - one can head for the fireside, and one can stretch their legs still further! Mount Aspiring Hut is also a spacious and modern mountain lodge, albeit in the midst of nowhere, and the scenery is arguably even more spectacular than that on the West Coast. Here Mount Aspiring itself rears nearly 10,000 feet straight up from behind the hut. For such a short walk in, it's amazing how far you'll feel from civilization!
ACCOMMODATION: Mount Aspiring Hut. (B,L,D)

Monday Hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park & (Optional) Bungy Jumping in Queenstown
We can have a leisurely start today, enjoying a great cup of coffee and admiring the view, before hiking back out to the road end. From there we have a very short drive down the road to Wanaka, then we cross the mountains at Cardrona Saddle, to drop into Queenstown. At some stage on the trip (sometimes on the way into Queenstown, and sometimes on the way out), we'll visit the A.J. Hackett bungy jump bridge, where you can take an optional bungy jump (about US$70). This afternoon we'll arrive at Beech Cove Lakeside Apartments, right on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown is a great place to spend a couple of days. You'll have plenty of time to wander about and explore while you're here, and you'll find all sorts of options to pique your interest!
ACCOMMODATION: Beech Cove Lakeside Apartments, Queenstown. Very comfortable, with great views. (B,L,D)

Tuesday Free Day in Queenstown

Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand - it's about the comforts of civilization, adrenaline, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and window-shopping. Since you'll be visiting during the winter months, you may have the opportunity to spend the day snow skiing or snow boarding at one of the three nearby skifields (lifts are usually open June-September).And don't lose sight of the fact that there are also some incredible hikes and bike rides nearby, and all sorts of incredible options such as jet boating, whitewater rafting, river surfing, skydiving, off-road motorcycling, horse trekking, fishing, wine tours... it's all there! Queenstown is not a big place - the population is about 5,000 - but there's plenty to do! Or you can do nothing, if you prefer and just soak up the atmosphere. Many of our clients enjoy lounging about just reading a book after the hiking and paddling on the West Coast.
ACCOMMODATION: Beech Cove Lakeside Apartments, Queenstown. (B)

Wednesday Cycling or Free Day in Queenstown
Today is a cycling day, for the keen cyclists amongst us! In order to adjust for the winter conditions, we'll be doing this close to Queenstown, so if you prefer to avoid cycling in winter, you have most of today available for extra Queenstown options. Maybe another day's skiing? If you cycle, we'll do one of the many cycling tracks in the area, and the biking is guaranteed to suit all levels of ability. At the end of the day, we have a two-hour drive down to Lake Manapouri, which we use as a base for our sea kayaking adventure to Milford Sound.
ACCOMMODATION: Manapouri Lake View Inn, Lake Manapouri. (B,L,D)

Thursday Sea Kayaking in Milford Sound
The day starts very early, as we head into Milford Sound to go sea kayaking. Milford, rated the 8th wonder of the world by Rudyard Kipling, is breathtaking. Sheer rock walls plunge thousands of feet to the sea, surrounded by snow-capped mountains! Most people see Milford Sound from the deck of a cruise ship, but we've got a better way - 3 feet above the waterline with Roscoe's Sea Kayaks where the seals and dolphins are very friendly and eager to visit. This is an awesome trip - and it's equally suitable for beginners or experts. When you get back from your day's paddle, we'll head back to Manapouri.
ACCOMMODATION: Manapouri Lake View Inn, Manapouri. (B,L,D)

Friday Cycling near Te Anau
The keen cyclists this morning will have another opportunity to get more miles under their belt exploring some of the mountains around Te Anau by bike. The rest of the group will enjoy a sleep-in and have a gentle, late morning start. We'll pick up cyclists along the way to Queenstown, where we'll stop for lunch. You'll have the chance to do some last minute shopping, banking, or whatever you need before heading back into the wilderness for the rest of our trip. We'll drive up to Lake Ohau, near Mount Cook, where we stay at the remote and beautiful Lake Ohau Lodge. With majestic views of Lake Ohau, Glen Mary Glacier, Mt Cook and the Lake Ohau Range, the views out the window are hard to beat. With no lights for miles around, the stars on a clear night are like nothing you've ever seen - not a bad place for your last couple of nights in New Zealand!
ACCOMMODATION: Lake Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau. (B,D)

Saturday Hiking at North Temple Valley
We'll have a leisurely start today! After a late breakfast on the balcony overlooking the lake, it is a short drive to the trail head for a spectacular hike up the North Temple Valley. This beautiful and little known trail is true high country hiking with large areas of native tussock as well as beech and rainforest. Then we'll return to Lake Ohau, in the shadow of the Southern Alps, where we'll enjoy a sumptuous dinner on our last night together.
ACCOMMODATION: Lake Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau. (B,L,D)

Sunday Depart
This is the last day of your two-week trip around the South Island. We'll leave after breakfast for the four-hour drive to Christchurch, and arrive early afternoon for the flights back to Auckland. Any flight after 2 pm is fine, and we can make 1 pm flights if we have a little notice. Flights between Auckland and the United States usually leave early evening, so we'll get you back in time to arrive in California at lunchtime on Sunday, even though you left on Sunday evening! You'll be refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you'll have had with us in New Zealand!