New Zealand

Winter Land of the Long White Cloud

Mountain Biking, Hiking, Sea Kayaking and Skiing/Snowboarding

(14 Days)

Slide Show

This winter adventure is adapted for the cooler conditions, and New Zealand’s maritime climate ensures that the mild winters are suitable for outdoor adventures (typical day temperature is about 45-60°F or 8-15°C). In 14 days we take in a myriad of scenic and challenging hikes, including a three-day backpacking trip to alpine hot pools and a day hike at Fox Glacier. For those who prefer paddling, pedaling or hitting the slopes, a three-day sea kayak and bike option is available in Milford Sound or a three-day skiing/snowboarding option in the Remarkables Mountain Range. The route is well off the beaten path. For our nights of slumber, the accommodations vary. For over half of the trip we stay in very comfortable B&Bs and lodges and for the rest of the trip we have chosen more rustic accommodations in order to be in the most beautiful, isolated and off-the-beaten-track places in New Zealand. This adventure has plenty of freedom to suit the needs of all travellers. The Winter Land of the Long White Cloud is simply an awesome trip!

Trip Highlights

• Skiing or Snowboarding in the Remarkables mountain range visible from Queenstown
• Soaking in the Westland National Park hotsprings
• Hiking in Mt. Aspiring National Park

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Christchurch - Lake Ohau (Hiking)

Most people leave the Northern hemisphere 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 take a short flight to Christchurch, arriving by 10am or so. Then we’ll head south for a short hike at Mt. John. We walk past the stunning outdoor iceskating rink on the shores of Lake Tekapo then head uphill through fragrant wilding pine, before breaking through the treeline to be greeted by breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains. After our refreshing walk, we’ll drive to Lake Ohau, near Mt. 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 here are hard to beat. There are no lights for miles around and the stars on a clear night are like nothing you’ve ever seen. We always make sure the first day of our trips are relaxing and undemanding so you can recover from your flight. (L,D)

Day 2: Mt. Cook National Park (Hiking or optional Skiing)

We’ll have a leisurely start today! After a late breakfast on the balcony overlooking Lake Ohau, it’s a short drive to Mt. Cook Village, at the head of Lake Pukaki. Here we’ll take an impressive hike up the Hooker Valley to a glacial lake at the base of Hooker Glacier, complete with icebergs! This is a great spot for lunch and on a clear day the views of Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, are simply stunning. Then we’ll return to Lake Ohau in the shadow of the Southern Alps, where we’ll enjoy a sumptuous dinner. An option today is to spend the day skiing at the small and friendly Ohau Ski Area, one of the South Island’s favourite backcountry ski areas (skiing option about US$100). (B,L,D)

Day 3: Mt. Aspiring National Park (Hiking)

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. The hike itself is a gentle valley walk of less than three hours, but we have a great side hike to the Rob Roy Glacier on the way to the hut which is one of the best one-day hikes in the South Island. The trail takes in tumbling rivers, towering snowfields, and huge mountain peaks straight from the set of The Lord of the Rings! We hike up a narrow glacial valley, coming out of the forest in a dramatic alpine cirque, with fabulous views of the Southern Alps. Once we arrive at the hut you can continue to stretch your legs and hike further up the valley or simply head for the fireside and relax! Mt. Aspiring Hut is a spacious and modern mountain lodge, albeit in the middle of nowhere. Here, Mt. 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! (B,L,D)

Day 4: Mt. Aspiring National Park - Queenstown (Hiking)

We can have a leisurely start today, enjoying a healthy breakfast and admiring the view, before hiking back out to the trail head. From here we have a short drive to Wanaka, then we’ll cross the mountains at Cardrona Saddle and drop into Queenstown, a picturesque town set in a basin on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by snowy peaks. It’s a great place to spend a couple of days, and you’ll find all sorts of options to pique your interest! (B,L)

Day 5: Queenstown (Leisure)

Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand (if not the world!) - and you’ll find all the comforts of civilization, restaurants, sidewalk cafés and window-shopping. But don’t lose sight of the fact that there are also some fantastic hikes and bike rides at your doorstep, and all sorts of incredible options such as jet boating, bungy jumping, skydiving, horse trekking, fishing, wine tours - it’s all here! Your guides can help you during the trip to book any of these optional activities. Queenstown is not a big place - the population is about 8,000 - but there’s plenty to do! Or you can do nothing, if you prefer to just soak up the atmosphere or lounge about just reading a book. Of course, being winter, you can also go skiing or snowboarding for the day at one of Queenstown's nearby ski areas, such as Coronet Peak or the Remarkables (approximate cost US$100 for ski or snowboard hire, transport and lift pass - available as snow conditions suit - generally June to October). (B)

Day 6:

At the time of booking, you have the choice of the cycling and kayaking option or staying on in Queenstown for the skiing/snowboarding option. Each is wonderful in its own way, so we’ll let you decide! After breakfast together, we head off for our various activities:

Option1: Cycling and Kayaking Option in Manapouri and Milford Sounds

Day 6 Continued: Queenstown - Lake Manapouri (Biking)

Today is a cycling day, for the keen cyclists amongst us! We’ll be doing this close to Queenstown, so if you prefer to avoid cycling in winter, you’ll have most of today available for extra Queenstown options. 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 2-hour drive down to Lake Manapouri, which we use as a base for our sea kayaking adventure to Milford Sound. We’ll stay at the Lake Manapouri Inn, beautifully placed on the lake’s edge. You’ll love the great views out over the lake and the surrounding mountains of Fiordland National Park. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Sea Kayak in Milford Sound (Sea Kayaking)

The day starts very early, as we head into Milford Sound to go sea kayaking. Milford Sound, rated the 8th Natural 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 - gliding along in a sea kayak, causing minimum disruption to the seals and dolphins that are very friendly and often eager to visit. This is an awesome trip, run by specialist kayak outfitters and suitable for beginners or experts. When you get back from your paddle we’ll head back through to Lake Manapouri, arriving by mid afternoon for a BBQ dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Lake Manapouri (Biking)

Keen cyclists this morning will have another opportunity to get more miles under their belt, exploring some of the farmland around Te Anau by bike - the earlier you start the more ground you’ll cover. The rest of the group can 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 and meet up with the skiers/snowboarders. You’ll have the chance to do any last-minute shopping, send postcards home, or whatever you need before heading back into the wilderness for the rest of our trip.

Option 2: Snowboarding/Skiing Option in Queenstown
(available as snow conditions suit - generally June - Sept)

Day 6 Continued: Remarkables (Skiing or Snowboarding)

If you’d like to try skiing or snowboarding down under, we’ve got just the thing! With Coronet Peak and Remarkables ski areas close to Queenstown, and Cardrona ski area just an hour away, there’s a huge variety of terrain for beginners and experts alike. Whether you’re keen to brush up on your skills or learn for the first time, private lessons are a great option (private lessons about US$75-80 per person per hour). You can bring your own gear with you on the trip, or if you’d prefer, you can rent gear down here (gear hire from about US$40 per day). After breakfast, you’ll head up to the ski area for a day on the slopes. Conditions vary throughout the season, but you can expect good skiing and riding, on and off-piste, with plenty of chairlifts and scenery that will blow your mind. (B)

Day 7: Remarkables (Skiing or Snowboarding)

Now that you’ve got your “ski-legs” back, today’s the day to really carve it up - have fun out there! (B)

Day 8: Remarkables (Skiing or Snowboarding)

We’ll spend the morning relaxing in Queenstown, before rejoining the cycling and kayaking group around lunch time and heading north to Makarora.

Day 8: Group Back Together After Option 1 and 2

After regrouping we’ll head north to the tiny hamlet of Makarora, on the edge of Mt. Aspiring National Park. Here we stay in a comfortable family-style homestead and enjoy a beautifully prepared meal. Then you can sprawl by the fire with a glass of mulled wine (or hot chocolate!) before heading into the backcountry tomorrow. (B,D)

Day 9: Westland National Park (Hiking and Hot Springs)

We are very privileged to be able to hike into the Copland Hot Pools. 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! It’s a challenging six to seven hour hike of about ten miles up the Copland Valley, with a 1,000-foot elevation gain over that distance, but it’s worth it to have all of tomorrow to take short side hikes, soak in the hot pools and just enjoy the alpine atmosphere. You don’t have to carry a very heavy pack - our guides are pretty tough and they’ll carry the lion’s share of the load. You’ll be carrying a sleeping bag, a few spare clothes, and some food - no need for any more than that. 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! (B,L,D)

Day 10: Douglas Rock (Hiking)

Today we will hike further up the track towards Douglas Rock for even more amazing scenery and views of multiple glaciers clinging to the top of this mountain valley in the Southern Alps. If you prefer, you can have a relaxing day at Welcome Flat - soak in the hot pools, enjoy the stunning scenery or even just hang out with a book! Either way, the hot pools are without a doubt the star attraction here; closely followed by the spectacular meals we’ll be serving up. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Fox Glacier - Okarito (Hiking)

An early start sees us on the track and walking the ten miles back to the trailhead. It’s a little quicker this time, being slightly downhill, and we’ll be back by mid-afternoon. With a really early start, we’ll have time to stop at Fox Glacier afterwards, where we can walk right up to the terminal face of the glacier. Fox Glacier is an enormous river of ice, unusual in that it comes right down through the rainforest to sea level. Then we’ll carry on to Okarito Lagoon, a gem of the West Coast that is all but untouched due to it being 10 miles down a one-way road from an obscure highway turnoff. There are no shops, no restaurants and no traffic here - and a population of only 31 people! We stay at the Okarito Beach House, and you’ll love this place. There’s plenty to do here so we’ll stay two nights, to catch our breath and relax. (B,L,D)

Day 12: Okarito (Leisure)

Okarito (Leisure) You’ve got a lot of options in Okarito. You can spend a relaxing day in this sleepy but beautiful beach town to recharge your batteries, or do some awesome hiking and kayaking. Okarito Lagoon is unique in that it hosts the only white heron colony in New Zealand. You can sea kayak on the lagoon with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains for a few hours, then spend the rest of the day exploring the deserted beach or hiking in the rainforest. (B,L,D)

Day 13: Punakaiki (Hiking)

This morning we’ll drive up the scenic coastal road and stop at Hokitika to check out the local art galleries and a pounamu carving workshops (“pounamu” is Maori for jade). Then after lunch, we’ll carry on up the coast to Punakaiki, where we’ll spend the afternoon hiking 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 Punakaiki’s famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes. This is one of our favourite places in the world, and you'll see why. (B,L,D)

Day 14: Christchurch (Departure)

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 4pm is ideal but we can make 3pm flights if we have a little notice. Flights between Auckland and North America usually leave early evening, so we’ll get you back home some time on Sunday, even though you left on Sunday evening! Flights back to Europe, of course, take a little longer. 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)

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