New Zealand hiking holiday
| country: | New Zealand |
| location: | South Island |
| trip type: | Introductory / moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 25 Jan, 8 Feb, 1 Mar |
| price: | From £1180 (8 days) excluding international flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
There is little doubt that some of the world’s finest alpine walking is found in the South Island of New Zealand.
A region of untamed beauty with alpine meadows that extend to the glaciers and snowfields beneath the picture perfect summits of Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring and other peaks that form the Southern Alps.
In consultation with our local guides we have created a special itinerary to gain a ‘grand overview’ of this spectacular mountain landscape.
The accent is on day walks undertaken from the comfort of base huts, and while you carry only a day pack there are many challenging options to ascend the higher flanks of the mountains.
Helicopter transfers are also included to ensure we cover as much ground as possible.
A region of untamed beauty with alpine meadows that extend to the glaciers and snowfields beneath the picture perfect summits of Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring and other peaks that form the Southern Alps.
In consultation with our local guides we have created a special itinerary to gain a ‘grand overview’ of this spectacular mountain landscape.
The accent is on day walks undertaken from the comfort of base huts, and while you carry only a day pack there are many challenging options to ascend the higher flanks of the mountains.
Helicopter transfers are also included to ensure we cover as much ground as possible.
what's included on our New Zealand hiking holiday
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 4 dinners, professional wilderness guide, quality accommodation as specified, tents and sleeping mats for overnight camping, all transport, helicopter access into Wanaka based hut site and gear out on day 6, helicopter return from Remarkables ridgeline. Department of Conservation concession fees, NZ Goods and Services Tax, comprehensive group first aid kit, transfer back to Christchurch on day 8 if required.day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Join Christchurch, drive to Mt Gerald Station, commence hike to Rex Simpson Hut |
| Day 2: | Day walks Rex Simpson Hut, drive to Lake Tekapo Day |
| Day 3: | Day walks Mt Cook National Park |
| Day 4: | Drive to Mt Aspiring, helicopter to mountain hut/camp |
| Day 5-6: | Day walks on flanks of Mt Aspiring, ridge hike down valley, helicopter to base and return to Wanaka |
| Day 7: | Remote walk followed by helicopter from Remarkables – return to Queenstown |
| Day 8: | In Queenstown, trip concludes (optional transfer to Christchurch) |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trek you will be introduced not to a large travel organisation concerned with large numbers of visitors to the country but rather to a small group of committed individuals who unashamedly love their country and are committed to sharing it with you. Our two-part environmental initiative minimises our impact on the environment in which we live and work. In the first instance a part of the cost of this trip contributes directly to our efforts to retain our environment in the way in which we want to share it with you.
Green Globe 21 – We have been credited with Benchmark status by Green Globe 21. Ebex 21 Project Our pioneering partnership with Landcare Research and the QE11 National Trust has resulted in the funding of a land retirement programme, offsetting our fuel usage thus allows us to become carbon neutral. In other words, we have measured the level of energy that we expend though our use of vehicles and our carbon gas emission level is identified. This is subsequently converted by Landcare into an amount of land that we would pay to put into ‘retirement’ for long term natural regeneration to occur and the landowner is credited for the service of soaking up CO2 while enhancing New Zealand biodiversity. All travellers are provided with our award-winning 20 page Responsible Travel Booklet which outlines our environmental guidelines and practices and will provide you will clear details on how you can play a vital part in reducing your impact on the fragile environments and cultures around the world. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |