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The Ultimate Hike

The Milford Track has long been known for it's splendour and beauty, and the Routeburn Track has become one of the world's most renowned walking tracks. Now you have the chance to experience the very best of both tracks, the Ultimate Hike.

Set in the stunning surroundings of two national parks and Te Wahipounamu, Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Park. Enjoy close encounters with the native birdlife: the Robin; Kea; Weka; Fantail; Tui; Parakeet; Bellbird; even Kiwi have been spotted on the Milford Track. Experience Fiordland National Park at its most spectacular: deep lakes; silent fiords; luxuriant forest and sheer canyons carved out of imposing granite define this landscape. Then Mount Aspiring National Park with it's mountainous peaks, alpine basins, inquisitive native birdlife, emerald bush, turqoise rivers and million dollar views around every corner.

The Ultimate Hike is an 8 day / 7 night Queenstown to Queenstown all-inclusive guided walk through the heart of Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area. The
package includes all transport, accommodation, meals, snacks, backpacks and rain jackets. Track accommodation is in our luxury lodges and you will be led by our expert guides.

Day 1 - Your adventure begins at our Queenstown office at 9.00am where you catch a coach to Te Anau, arriving in time for a light lunch and a group photo. After lunch we drive to Te Anau Downs boat harbour, where the launch waits to take us up to the spectacular northern end of Lake Te Anau. From the wharf it is a short walk to historic Glade House, our first lodge, for a hot shower, filling meal and comfortable bed.

Day 2 - Leave Glade House and cross the emerald green Clinton River by swingbridge. You make your way up the Clinton Valley being sure to stop and take it all in as you walk to the Hirere Falls lunch shelter. Your guides will point out Mackinnon's original hut site, a detour known as the wetland walk, 'the big tree' and other points of interest.

Day 3 - Today is the day people find the most challenging, but also the most rewarding. After an early start the track leads toward the head of the Clinton Valley. As you begin your climb the 3 leaps of St Quintin Falls can be seen and Mt Balloon rears into view, onto the Practice Hill and Lake Mintaro. From here you climb a series of zig zags, the views on the way up will astound you as the valley floor drops away beneath your feet.

Once you reach the top all the effort will be worthwhile. Your guide will be waiting with hot and cold drinks at Mackinnon's memorial cairn. Look out from 12 second
drop to the Arthur Valley beneath you. After lunch in Pass Hut the track takes you down a long downhill section to Quintin Lodge. On the rocky descent you will pass towering rock cliffs, glacial streams, moss covered forest, a cascading waterfall section and your first views of Sutherland Falls. After a hot cup of tea at Quintin leave your backpack behind for the 1.5 hour round trip to the mighty Sutherland Falls, fifth highest on the planet at 1904 feet / 540 metres. Take your jacket and if you dare walk right in behind the falls, a once in a lifetime experience!

Day 4 - Your final day on the Milford Track. Follow the Arthur River as it makes it's way to Milford Sound. Walk through luxuriant beech forest, a final view of Sutherland Falls, glimpses of Diamond Creek and Danger Mountain before arriving at Boatshed for morning tea. From here cross the river by swingbridge and carry on to MacKay Falls and Bell Rock. Linger here and savour this unearthly beauty. Follow the track and as you near the 30 mile peg you may hear the steady roar of Giant's Gate Falls, your lunch spot.

The final stretch of the track follows tranquil Lake Ada to Sandfly Point where the Maori goddess Te Hine-nui-te-po released the sandfly to stop men lingering too long in the beauty of Fiordland. From here we catch our launch to Milford Sound and Mitre Peak Lodge where you will enjoy a celebratory dinner. Relax with the knowledge that the hard part is now behind you while the magnifience of Milford Sound spreads before you.

Day 5 - After breakfast embark on your Milford Sound cruise. Out on the fiord, you realise the grandeur of the surrounding mountains, the centrepiece being Mitre Peak, rising vertically over one mile from the water line. The Fiord is a marine reserve and a haven for many marine animals. Look for Southern Fur Seals basking on the rocks. Bottlenose and Dusky Dolphins are sometimes found swimming in pods, the latter often performing leaps and flips. In early summer the fiord is also home to the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin, which come into the fiord to mate and raise their young.On returning to the wharf, board your ready waiting coach and climb your way out from Milford Sound and on to Te Anau where you will spend the night in the Holiday Inn before starting the Routeburn Track tommorrow.

Day 6 - Your Routeburn Track adventure begins after morning tea with a coach ride from Te Anau to the Divide on the scenic Milford Road Our walk starts at the Divide, we climb a well-graded track through Silver Beech forest to the Key Summit turnoff. From here we leave the forest for the alpine environment of Key Summit, where we have the first of those breathtaking Routeburn views with a panorama of the Hollyford, Greenstone and Eglington Valleys.We then descend to Lake Howden hut for a hot drink and picnic lunch, before gradually climbing through lush Silver Beech forest to the base of Earland Falls. Continue traversing around the mountainside with the glimpses of the Hollyford Valley just a teaser for what is to come tommorrow. Pass through the natural clearing of the Orchard before descending into the Mackenzie basin. Lake MacKenzie is 5 minutes further on from the lodge, slow down and take it all in on your first night on the Routeburn Track.

Day 7 - Today is divided into three distinct sections: the climb out of the Mackenzie Basin to Ocean Peak Corner, the traverse across the Hollyford Face to the Harris Saddle and the descent to Routeburn Falls. From the lodge you skirt Lake Mackenzie and follow the track into the forest. As the track starts to climb you leave the trees and enter the alpine world of daisies, buttercups, gentians and edelweiss. From the first daisies in November to the last gentians in April the track winds through one of the greatest natural gardens on earth.

The traverse along the Hollyford Face is for many people the most spectacular scenery of the whole track. With the Darran Moutains in front of you and the Hollyford Valley far below, you are in big country. After lunch at the Harris Saddle the views get even better if you climb Conical Hill where it seems like you are on top of the world.

Day 8 - Your last day is the least stenuous, a nice way to wind down and take time to enjoy the enviromnent.The descent from Routeburn Falls to Routeburn Flats
takes you through a rich mixed Beech forest as you slowly lose altitude and reach the valley floor. Morning tea is at Routeburn Flats Hut, set in natural grasslands
surrounded by moutains rising straight up from the flat valley floor. Below the flats the Routeburn River enters its gorge, surging among boulders in frothing white torrents at one turn and resting in the clear jade pools at the next before finally disappearing underground at the Sump. Lunch is right by the river at Forge Flat, you may even be inspired to take a plunge; your guides will encourage you with this!

From here it's a gentle downhill to the end of the track, but not before you pass through the Red Beech section with it's huge gnarled ancient forest giants. A coach will be waiting a the road end to take you back to Queenstown stopping at Glenorchy for a group photo. Tonight a celebration dinner is held in a local restaurant, a great night to finish off a magnificent experience.

Prices:
Low season (28 October - 30 November and 1 April - 19 April) Adult = NZ$2540,
Child = NZ$1900
High season (1 December - 31 March) Adult = NZ$2840, child = NZ$1900

Departs: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday for 8 days.