Itinerary

DAY 1
Christchurch - Arthur's Pass

Your tour begins in Christchurch, also known as the Garden City. Your tour guide will provide a tour briefing before we head across the Canterbury Plains towards the Southern Alps. These Alps form the backbone of the South Island and we drive up over Arthur's Pass and down to the town of Greymouth on the West Coast. A brief stop here before heading north to Punakaiki and the Fox River. We begin our first hike up a spectacular limestone river canyon in the Paparoa National Park. The park covers over 30,000 hectares and has natural attractions including mountains, with limestone cliffs and caves, rivers and wilderness areas. During our hike we learn river-crossing techniques, so prepare to get your boots wet. We collect firewood along the way and set up camp under the massive Ballroom Overhang - a fluviatile cave, carved by river-scouring.

8km/4 hours hiking
DAY 2
Punakaiki

Today we have a chance to explore the nearby limestone canyon and caves (some people may want to swim) with stalactites and stalagmites, cave wetas (large wingless insects), glowworms and the tallest moss in the world (Dawsonia superba). We then hike along the historic Inland Pack Track to Bullock Creek, and arrive back in Punakaiki by mid-afternoon. Visit the Pancake Rocks. These 30 million-year-old limestone rocks have formed into what look like immense layers of pancakes. When the tide is high, or the weather rough, the water surges into caverns below the rocks and squirts through mighty blowholes, bearing a great resemblance to natural geysers. Return to camp/cabin accommodation.

12km/6 hours hiking
DAY 3
Okarito

Take an optional stroll along the coast to check out sea caves that were once used as shelter by early Maori. Tides permitting, you can climb on to a headland. Driving south, we follow the coast to Greymouth, arriving late morning. Here we stock up on food before continuing on down the coast to the peaceful coastal village of Okarito, where the rainforest meets the sea. For dinner tonight we enjoy a hangi feast (the traditional Maori way of cooking food in an underground earth oven) and everyone can be involved in the preparation. A relaxing evening spent sitting around the beach bonfire listening to the pounding surf. Camp by the beach.

5km/2 hours hiking
DAY 4
Okarito Lagoon - Franz Josef Glacier

This morning we take a guided kayaking trip to catch the in-going tide into the Okarito Lagoon (the largest unmodified wetland in New Zealand) to see birdlife - including white herons, black swans and tui. We explore a river delta and channels into Kahikatea (white pine) forest, our tallest forest type - it can grow up to 60 metres high. For people not kayaking there is an excellent four-hour coastal hike (unguided), with dramatic views of the Southern Alps. Free time in the afternoon to wander the remote beach or hike to a viewpoint of this World Heritage Park, with snow-capped mountains, rainforest and coastal wetlands. Spend a second night camping in this special location.

10km/4 hours kayaking
DAY 5
Fox Glacier

It's just a short drive this morning through to Fox Glacier, one of the few places in the world where glaciers extend down into the rainforest. We take a guided hike on this dynamic glacier where you will explore seracs, ice caves and crevasses. Stunning views of New Zealand's highest peaks dominate the vista at the head of the glacier. Free time in the afternoon to relax in one of the local cafes in this charming village before doing a one hour hike around Lake Matheson. Stay in local cabin accommodation.

12km/5 hours hiking
DAY 6
Welcome Flat

Your two day hike begins today up the Copland Valley, through podocarp forest (relatively unchanged in 70 million years). The hike will take us across swing-bridges and mountain streams and we often see the endangered and very primitive blue duck. The pleasant hike through the forest and alongside the river finally ends at Welcome Flat, where we stay in a mountain hut. We have the opportunity of relaxing our weary muscles with a soak in natural hot pools with views of 3000 metre peaks - the best in New Zealand!

18km/7 hours hiking
DAY 7
Moeraki

This morning we hike down the Copland Valley and drive south through the remote West Coast region to Moeraki. We stop at Ship Creek to look for Hector's dolphins and take the opportunity to walk through coastal ecosystems of dunes, swamp and podocarp forest. Our last night of the tour is spent in cabins or tents at Haast. For dinner we enjoy a feast of local salmon.

18km/7 hours hiking
DAY 8
Wilkin River - Queenstown

Today marks the end of the journey. Turning inland, we drive over the Haast Pass, snaking along beside the wide Haast River. The pass was only opened in 1965. There are some great hikes we can choose from, including a climb to an alpine hut high on the slopes of Mount Brewster (if the legs are not too weary). We stop at Lake Wanaka for lunch, a swim and a clean-up of our vehicle. This lake is so deep that, though its surface is at an altitude of 345 metres, its bottom lies 65 metres below sea level. After this enjoyable break we head over the Crown Range to Queenstown, arriving early evening where the tour ends.

3-8km/2-5 hours hiking

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