New Zealand Hiking Adventure

Please note many New Zealand hotels do not offer breakfast, so our breakfasts will be a combination of hotel buffets and to-go breakfasts provided by your guides. This actually works great as it allows us to get out and on the trails earlier.

Day 1

Welcome to New Zealand! We’ll meet you at our downtown hotel in Christchurch after lunch. After a brief orientation, we'll head out to the summit of Mount Cavendish, really only 1,470 feet high, but prominent as part of the extinct crater rim that forms the Christchurch harbor. We'll have spectacular panoramic views of the city, Lyttelton Harbour, and the Pacific Ocean. At the top, you'll have time to take photos before we hike down the Crater Rim Walkway. This first walk is a great way to shake off travel and get to know the group. After the hike, we return to officially check into the hotel and unpack. In the evening, we'll gather for a welcome dinner together at Story restaurant and toast to the adventures ahead! 

Activity > 3.7 miles / 6 km, 445m /1,460 ft elevation change

Day 2

Today we’ll depart Christchurch and enjoy a scenic drive inland, winding through the countryside on our way to the Peak Hill Track, a rewarding hike that climbs steadily to sweeping panoramic views over the Canterbury Plains and surrounding mountains. It’s a bit of a challenge, but the quieter trail and incredible scenery make it well worth the effort. After our hike, we’ll continue the drive into Geraldine, a small town not far from the eastern shore of New Zealand known for its artisan food producers. After checking into our hotel, you can head into town to relax and explore Geraldine’s charming atmosphere, perhaps visiting the Humdinger Gin Distillery, the Geraldine Bakery Barn Bakery, Southbound Specialty Coffee, the Bonnie Day Brewery, or Geraldine Cheese Company - all on the main street of town. We’ll settle in for the evening and enjoy dinner as part of a laid-back night in this peaceful small-town setting.

Activity > 3 miles / 5 km, 1,300 feet / 400 m of elevation

Day 3

We’ll depart Geraldine in the morning for the 1.5+ hour drive to Lake Tekapo, enjoying the scenic countryside along the way. Once there, we’ll hike the Mt. John Walkway, a moderately challenging loop through shaded forest and open lakeshore with stunning panoramic views. At the summit, the Astrolab Café offers a perfect spot for coffee, a snack, or a quick break before heading back down. After lunch on your own in Tekapo, a small town of 500 people, we’ll visit the historic Church of the Good Shepherd and enjoy a more relaxed Cowans Hill Walkway loop, climbing to a scenic viewpoint and taking in beautiful lake vistas. After our hikes, we'll continue another hour and a half to Aoraki / Mt Cook, where we'll check into our hotel - home for the next two nights - and have dinner in the hotel pub with views of the mountainous countryside.

Activity > Mt. John Walkway: 3.5 miles / 5.5 km, 900 ft / 275 m elevation gain + Cowans Hill Walkway: 2.8 miles / 4.5 km, 400 ft / 120 m elevation gain

Day 4

This is our day to explore the Aoraki region, also known as Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. We'll hike on the Sally Tarns Track, a short but rewarding path with lots of stairs and impressive elevation gain, leading to breathtaking mountain and valley views. Depending on your energy, we can combine it with the Kea Viewpoint for even more panoramic vistas. In the afternoon, you can choose to relax back at the hotel or, for those with more energy, in the afternoon you'll have the option of a gentle Tasman Lake Track or a quick visit to the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's longest glacier. We'll finish the day with a dinner buffet accompanied by mountain views at the Alpine Restaurant in the Upper Village of the park.

Activity > 6.2 miles / 10 km / 2,060ft elevation change + options to add 1-3 more miles 

Day 5

After breakfast, we’ll start the day with an early hike to Hooker Lake via the Hooker Valley Track, one of the most iconic walks in the Aoraki region. This trail offers stunning views of glacial valleys and Mount Cook and, by starting early, we can avoid the busiest sections. After the hike, we’ll have time for lunch on your own at the Mountaineer's Grill in the national park and to wander through the Visitors Center to see the artwork collection, interpretation exhibits, and movies about the park. We'll then say good bye to the national park, returning down the entrance road. We’ll stop at Peter’s Lookout for a scenic pause and photo opportunity over Lake Pukaki. We’ll also stop and enjoy the easier Pukaki Kettle Hole Track, a gentle walk with beautiful views of Lake Pukaki and Aoraki in the distance. We then continue on to our hotel in Twizel. After a day of hiking and taking in the alpine scenery, we’ll check into our hotel in Twizel, a small town known for its epic views of mountains in all directions. Dinner tonight is at the Dine Gastropub with perhaps a little ice cream at Sweet Moos afterward.

Activity > Hooker Valley Track: 5.4 miles / 10.9 km, 702 ft / 213 m elevation gain + Pukaki Kettle Hole Track: 2.3 miles / 3.7 km, 275 ft / 83 m elevation gain

Day 6

Get ready for another wonderful day with incredible views! In the morning, we'll drive a bit over an hour to the trailhead of Lindis Peak, where we’ll begin our hike along a quiet, off-the-beaten-path trail with incredible views of Central Otago. The first section is a short, steep climb, then the path eases onto a marked road with a gradual ascent, offering a steady but manageable challenge. At the summit, we’ll enjoy a picnic and take in the 360° panoramic views, considered some of the best in the region. This is a hidden gem, and we usually have the path all to ourselves. After descending, we’ll visit a local winery, Māori Point Vineyard, for a tasting and tour, soaking in the flavors of one of New Zealand’s premier wine regions. When in an incredible wine region, you taste wine! Later, we’ll arrive in Wānaka and check into our hotel before we walk to the Treehouse restaurant for dinner.

Activity >  5.6 miles / 11.5 km, 1,640 ft / 836 m elevation change

Day 7

We’ll start the day with a hike to Lake Diamond and the Lake Wānaka Lookout for incredible alpine and lake views. For those looking for more exercise, we can continue up to the top of Rocky Mountain for a 360° panorama, following a steeper path on the east side and descending along a looped western route. The trails offer a mix of moderate and challenging sections, giving everyone a rewarding day in the mountains. In the afternoon we'll head to downtown Wānaka for a relaxing walk along Wānaka Beach, taking in the view of #ThatWanakaTree, an iconic, solitary willow tree growing directly in the water at the southern end of Lake Wānaka. Dinner is on your own tonight in town, giving you a chance to explore the many restaurant options.

Activity > 3.0 miles / 4.6 km, 833ft / 254 m elevation gain + options to add 1.5 miles to the peak

Day 8

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the charming town of Arrowtown, a historic gold mining town, and begin our morning hike on the Sawpit Gully Track, taking the trail counterclockwise to enjoy more shade on the ascent and open views on the way down. This peaceful track offers stunning vistas of German Hill and is rarely crowded, making it a perfect early-morning adventure. After the hike, we’ll have time for lunch on your own in Arrowtown, with plenty of options to suit every taste and refuel. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the shorter but slightly challenging Lake Alta Track, which leads to picturesque glacial Lake Alta in the Remarkables Conservation Area. We’ll wrap up the day by continuing on to Queenstown, renowned as the "Adventure Capital of the World" (or at least of New Zealand). We'll check into our final hotel, have a well-deserved dinner at the Blue Kanu restaurant serving "Asian food with a Pacific influence", and perhaps raise a glass to another wonderful day with new friends.

Activity > Sawpit Gully Track: 4.8 miles / 7.7 km, 1,322ft / 402 m elevation change + Lake Alta Track: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km, 675 ft / 205 m elevation change

Day 9

It's our final full day together, and we’ll start the day with the Mt. Crichton Loop Track, taking it clockwise so the forest provides shade on the way up. The trail includes a small river crossing with makeshift stepping logs, a historic natural tunnel, and Sam’s Hut along the way. When we reach the top, we'll be rewarded with sweeping views before heading down a different, more open path. We should be there at the perfect time to catch a glimpse of the kōwhai, New Zealand's National Flower. For an extended adventure, we can combine this with the Twelve Miles Track to Bob’s Cove, a sheltered bay known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and stunning views of Lake Wakatipu. We'll end near the water, where you can enjoy the beach and even a quick swim. Alternatively, we can return back to Queenstown where we can shower and then walk past Queenstown Gardens to Peninsula Vista, back past Queenstown Bay Beach (you can swim!), and then on to a celebratory final dinner at the fine dining restaurant Momentos by the Lake. What a perfect way to end our last night together!

Activity > Mt. Crichton Loop Track 4.9 miles / 7.8 km, 1,046ft / 318 m + option to add 7 miles to Bob's Cove or a 3.4 KM walk in Queenstown

Day 10

You’re free to check out and head to the airport for your homeward journey or go on your next adventure!