New Zealand South Island Hiker

Welcome to Nelson

After arriving in Nelson on New Zealand’s South Island, meet your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Settle in and enjoy some time to explore or relax before gathering with the group for a welcome dinner and trip orientation.

Accommodations: Tides Hotel
Meals: Dinner

Abel Tasman Coast

Today, head into Abel Tasman National Park, known for its mild climate, golden beaches, and lush coastal forest. From the seaside village of Kaiteriteri, board a boat and cruise along the park’s sheltered coastline, passing forested headlands and sandy coves before landing at Bark Bay. From here, you’ll set out on the Abel Tasman Coast Track, following a well-formed trail through native bush and over coastal headlands. Cross the Falls River on a suspension bridge and continue toward Torrent Bay and Anchorage, with opportunities along the way to spot fur seals and take in views of the park’s clear, sheltered waters. From Anchorage, a boat returns you to Kaiteriteri.

Accommodation: Tides Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 3 hours; 7 miles with 1,938 feet of elevation gain and loss
Transportation: 2-hour round-trip private van transfer; 2-hour round-trip boat transfer

Nelson Lakes National Park

Today, we’ll leave Nelson behind and head inland to St. Arnaud, a picturesque alpine village on the shores of Lake Rotoiti and the gateway to Nelson Lakes National Park. Here, the mountains and lakes bear the marks of ancient glaciers, with forested slopes rising from clear alpine waters. From St. Arnaud, take a short water taxi across Lake Rotoiti to reach the trailhead for today’s hike. Depending on the group and conditions, we may follow the lakeshore back toward St. Arnaud or venture into Travers Valley, where clear streams wind through beech forest and open river flats. Listen for the calls of native birds such as tūī and bellbirds as you walk through this recovering forest ecosystem. After returning to St. Arnaud, we’ll drive through the broad Wairau Valley toward Marlborough wine country and continue to the coastal town of Picton, where we’ll spend the evening.

Accommodation: Edit Picton
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 3 hours; 6 miles with 460 feet of elevation gain and loss
Transportation: 2.5-hour drive; 1-hour water taxi

Marlborough Wines & Kaikoura Peninsula

Begin the day among the vineyards of Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest wine-growing region and home to its celebrated Sauvignon Blanc. After a wine tasting at one of the local wineries, we’ll follow the coast south toward Kaikoura. Here, we’ll set out on the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, a coastal trail with sweeping views of mountains, ocean, and offshore islands. Follow the clifftops and rocky shoreline past tidal platforms where New Zealand fur seals often come to rest, along with historic Maori pā sites and remnants of the region’s whaling past. The peninsula’s rich marine environment has long shaped life here, offering a glimpse into both Kaikoura’s Māori heritage and its later whaling history.

Accommodation: Sudima Kaikoura
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 3 hours; 7.5 miles
Transportation: 2-hour private van transfer

Whale Watching & Maruia Hot Springs

This morning, we’ll set out from Kaikoura on a whale-watching cruise, where the deep waters just offshore provide habitat for an impressive array of marine life. Keep watch for sperm whales, which can be seen year-round, as well as dusky dolphins, and wandering albatross. Kaikoura’s unique position along a submarine canyon and the nutrient-rich waters it brings close to shore make this one of New Zealand’s best places to encounter wildlife at sea. Back on land, we’ll leave the coast behind and travel inland toward the Southern Alps. At Lewis Pass, a short alpine hike with expansive views offers a chance to stretch your legs before continuing to Maruia Hot Springs. Tucked into the forested mountains beside the Maruia River, this secluded retreat is the perfect place to slow down, soak in the natural mineral pools, and enjoy dinner made with locally-sourced ingredients.

Accommodation: Maruia Hot Springs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity: 2.5-hour whale-watching cruise; 30 minutes/1 mile hiking
Transportation: 2-hour private van transfer

Maruia Hot Springs & Punakaiki 

The day starts with a leisurely morning at Maruia Hot Springs, with time to soak in the pools, practice yoga, or explore one of the surrounding forest trails. (Spa treatments can be booked at an additional cost.) Later, our travels continue west through the mountains to Reefton, a former gold-mining town whose restored historic buildings offer a glimpse into the region’s past, and then on to Punakaiki on the rugged West Coast. At Punakaiki, walk along the coast to see the unique Pancake Rocks formation and watch the blowholes that spray dramatically upward. Dinner this evening is at a lively local pub.

Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 2 hours; 3.5 miles (optional)
Transportation: 3.5-hour private van transfer

The Paparoa Track

Today’s hike begins near Punakaiki on the historic Inland Pack Track, once used by miners and prospectors traveling between the river valleys of the rugged West Coast. The trail climbs through lush rainforest before descending into the Pororari River Valley, where towering limestone walls rise above the river and deep pools invite a refreshing swim on a warm day. Follow the river through a landscape of subtropical nikau palms and native forest before climbing away from the gorge. This section of the route now forms part of the Paparoa Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. After the hike, return to Punakaiki and enjoy free time to explore the wild coastline on your own or relax at the beachfront hotel.

Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 3 hours; 6 miles with 920 feet of elevation gain and loss

Fox Glacier

Our journey continues south along the West Coast to Fox Glacier. Set out with a guide on the Moraine Walk, an enchanting forest trail that winds through a living timeline of ancient glacial history before leading you directly to a spectacular viewpoint overlooking Fox Glacier and the towering surrounding peaks. It is a stunning vantage point to witness the immense forces that have carved this landscape over thousands of years. For an even more immersive experience, opt to book an unforgettable heli-hike, which includes a scenic flight and guided exploration on the glacier ice itself (additional fee, weather conditions permitting). We’ll spend the night in the nearby village of Fox Glacier.

Accommodation: Te Weheka Fox Glacier Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 2 hours; 3.5 miles with 500 feet of elevation gain and loss; or optional heli-hiking for an additional fee, booked on arrival
Transportation: 3.5-hour private van transfer

Waiatoto River Safari

Today’s adventure is a thrilling jetboat safari up the Waiatoto River, one of the few ways to reach the remote wilderness of South Westland. From Hannah’s Clearing, travel deep into the river valley, following the Waiatoto upstream from the rugged West Coast toward the Southern Alps. Along the way, the scenery shifts from wild coastal landscapes to dense beech forest, towering mountains, and pristine river country within Te Wahipounamu, the UNESCO-listed South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. After the tour, enjoy a barbecue lunch featuring fresh seafood and wild game prepared by the owners of the jetboat company. Then we’ll drive to Lake Wanaka, a breathtaking alpine sanctuary nestled against the crystal-clear waters of New Zealand’s fourth-largest lake. 

Accommodation: Oakridge Resort-Wanaka
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity: 2.5-hour jetboat safari
Transportation: 4.5-hour private van transfer

Lake Wanaka

Spend the morning exploring the hills above Lake Wanaka on a hike through the Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain area. The landscape here bears the unmistakable marks of the glaciers that shaped the region, with broad valleys, rocky slopes, and lakes set against the Southern Alps. As the trail climbs, views open across Wanaka’s deep blue waters to Glendhu Bay, Roy’s Peak, and a patchwork of farmland and wild country. After a picnic lunch, you can choose to continue along the lakeside trail toward town or return to the hotel for a relaxed afternoon.

Accommodation: Oakridge Resort-Wanaka
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hiking: 3 hours; 4.5 miles with 1,886 feet of elevation gain and loss

Kepler Track

We’ll travel south today to Te Anau, gateway to the vast wilderness of Fiordland National Park. Before setting out on a hike, we’ll visit the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, where you may have the chance to see some of New Zealand’s rare native birds. Our hike takes us along a section of the Kepler Track, one of the country’s Great Walks. The trail passes through mountain beech forest and along the Waiau River before reaching the shores of Lake Manapōuri at Shallow Bay. This part of the track offers a quieter side of Fiordland, with forest, wetlands, clear water, and mountain views shaped by the glaciers that once carved these valleys.

Accommodation: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hiking: 3 hours; 6 miles with 460 feet of elevation gain and loss
Transportation: 3-hour private van transfer

Milford Sound &The Routeburn Track

This morning we’ll drive into the heart of Fiordland National Park for a cruise on Milford Sound. Carved by glaciers and surrounded by sheer mountains, the fjord is framed by waterfalls streaming down the rock walls toward the dark waters below. After lunch, we’ll set out on the Routeburn Track for a hike to Key Summit. The trail climbs from beech forest into subalpine terrain before revealing panoramic views of the Humboldt and Darran mountains and the Hollyford Valley. Enjoy another evening in the laid-back town of Te Anau, nestled on the edge of the South Island’s largest lake.

Accommodation: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity: 3 hours hiking; 4.5 miles with 1,620 feet of elevation gain and loss; 2-hour cruise
Transportation: 4-hour round-trip private van transfer

Transfer to Queenstown & Depart

Your South Island adventure comes to an end this morning. Transfer to Queenstown for a midday airport drop-off, or continue your New Zealand travels with a drop-off at a central Queenstown hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Transportation: 2.5-hour private van transfer