Activity Level 4
Be prepared for some serious physical activity on our Level 4 trips. The fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it, as most hikes will be challenging.
Read more about the Active Range
Price (Includes taxes and fees)
from NZD 10999/per adult
Activity Level 1
Suitable for most fitness levels, our Level 1 adventures are the perfect introduction to adventure travel.
You'll typically experience two half day activities per day, done at an easygoing pace.
Activity Level 2
Hikes on our Level 2 adventures are considered easy to moderate in difficulty.
Those who enjoy half-day hikes with enough elevation gain to elevate their heart rate will enjoy these adventures.
Activity Level 3
Those who take on our Level 3 tours are looking for more challenging hikes that will raise their heart rate.
While not our most strenuous trips, you'll definitely feel accomplished after a day on the trails. A solid base of fitness is advised.
Activity Level 4
Be prepared for some serious physical activity on our Level 4 trips. The fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it, as most hikes will be challenging.
Hikes may include rock scrambling, river crossings, and off trail adventures.
Activity Level 5
On our Level 5 trips get ready to conquer back-to-back days of long hikes or summitting peaks at altitude.
We require a high level of fitness as adventurers will be met with plenty of challenges and sometimes extreme conditions.
Discover the South Island without the crowds on our 13-day New Zealand Winter Adventure hiking trip. To let you in on a secret, exploring the dramatic landscapes of the South Island during New Zealand's winter months is largely underrated. Between May and September, ski areas come to life, and the mountains look spectacular covered in snow. However, trails once busy during the summer months are now exclusively yours, and huts once packed full of keen hikers sit empty, waiting for a small group to enjoy their beautiful surroundings. Our New Zealand Winter Adventure has been crafted specifically for our mild winters. You'll enjoy a sunrise cruise on Milford Sound, hike the Kepler Track, Mount Aspiring National Park, and under the towering mountains of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. If you're short on time we have 5-day winter adventure and 8-day winter adventure versions of this spectacular trip. If you're ready to see New Zealand in all its beauty, our New Zealand Winter Adventure is calling your name.
Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip.
DOWNLOAD ITINERARY PDFDay 1
Most people leave the Northern Hemisphere on a Saturday evening, arriving in Auckland early Monday morning. You’ll lose a day crossing the dateline – but you get it back on the way home! It’s a short flight from Auckland to Christchurch on the South Island where we’ll meet you. We then head to Lake Tekapo for a hike along the lakeshore before emerging above the treeline on Mt. John for breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Then we’ll carry on to the remote and beautiful Lake Ohau Lodge. The lodge is tucked in beside an alpine lake, with stunning views stretching across to Aoraki/Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps – the ideal spot to soak in the hot tub and star gaze! Today is a relaxed introduction to New Zealand. Depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll probably find jetlag is no big deal. For instance, it’s a 12 to 13-hour direct overnight flight from the west coast of the USA to Auckland so you’ll appreciate the gentle start to your New Zealand adventure.
Accommodation: Lake Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 5 miles (8 kilometers), 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,080 feet (330 meters) ascent, 1,080 feet (330 meters) descent
Day 2
After a late breakfast on the balcony overlooking Lake Ohau, we’ll take an impressive hike at the head of Lake Pukaki, up the Hooker Valley to a glacial lake complete with icebergs! This is a great spot for lunch and on a clear day, the views of Aoraki/Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, are stunning.
We’ll return to the lodge 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 more remote backcountry ski fields.
Accommodation: Lake Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 5.6 miles (9 kilometers), 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 328 feet (100 meters) ascent, 328 feet (100 meters) descent
Day 3
After leaving Wanaka, we’ll venture up the Matukituki Valley and hike two to three hours into Mt. Aspiring National Park to reach our home for the evening – a spacious mountain hut nestled in a valley in the middle of nowhere. The track meanders past majestic peaks, fresh mountain streams, and natural beech forest. You’ll be carrying a sleeping bag, a few spare clothes, and some food, so your pack won’t weigh much more than a regular day pack. The scenery is off the charts with Mt. Aspiring rising 9,951 feet (3,033 meters) into the blue sky. It’s amazing how far you’ll feel from civilization after this relatively short walk! Tonight your guide will whip up dinner in the backcountry kitchen while you relax by the fire.
Accommodation: Mt Aspiring Hut, Mt Aspiring National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 5.6 miles (9 kilometers), 3-5 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 197 feet (60 meters) ascent
Day 4
We have a leisurely start today, enjoying breakfast and a cuppa while admiring the view, before hiking back to the trailhead. Along the way, we might encounter the cheeky kea – they’re really inquisitive and like to get pretty close at times!
We'll head out for a bike ride along the lakeshore, and then it’s a short but dramatic journey over the Cardrona Saddle to Queenstown, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, our base for the next couple of days.
Accommodation: Heritage Hotel, Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hiking: 5.6 miles (9 kilometers), 3-5 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 197 feet (60 meters) descent
Biking: Up to 6 miles (10 kilometers), 2-3 hours
Day 5
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand (if not the world!) and all the comforts of civilization are packed into this tiny resort town: restaurants galore, stylish lounge bars, day spas, and boutiques. You’ll also find incredible optional activities here, including horse trekking, a gondola, fishing, winery tours, a historic steamship, bungy jumping, jet boating, and skydiving as well as some great hiking opportunities. Or you can just soak up the atmosphere by the fire at one of the local cafés or pubs.
Your guides will happily share their favorite haunts and point you in the right direction for your free day today. Alternatively, you can go skiing or snowboarding for the day at one of four nearby ski areas.
Accommodation: Heritage Hotel, Queenstown
Meals: No meals
The 5-day Southern Alps Winter Adventure trip ends today
Day 6
After breakfast, we’ll travel to Lake Te Anau to hike the Kepler Track, one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’. Unlike most of the other ‘Great Walks’, which evolved from Maori greenstone trails or pioneer exploration routes, the Kepler Track was custom-made and built for pleasure rather than necessity. The track has been carefully crafted to show walkers all the very best features of Fiordland, from the prolific bird life and tussock high country to the huge mountain ranges and vast glacier-carved valleys.
This evening we’ll take a boat journey across Lake Te Anau to a glittering grotto of glow worms. These fascinating bugs light the way in a 200-meter system of caves, underground waterfalls, sculpted walls, and swirling pools. From the darkness of the glow worm caves, we’ll head back into the light of Te Anau where we’ll stay the night.
Accommodation: Matai Lodge, Te Anau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 6 miles (9.5 kilometers), 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 165 feet (50 meters) ascent, 165 feet (50 meters) descent
Day 7
This morning we’ll head towards Milford Sound on one of the most dramatically scenic drives in the world. We’ll pass through the Eglinton Valley, and wind our way through the mountains of Fiordland. Our drive takes us through the Homer Tunnel, an astounding feat of human engineering which must be seen to be believed. Once we arrive you’ll have the opportunity to explore Milford Sound and hopefully spot some friendly fur seals and dolphins.
We’ll jump on board a boat cruise, where you’ll gaze in wonder at the waterfalls tumbling down enormous vertical rock faces all around, and journey right out to the entrance of the fiord. This afternoon, we’ll explore the Fiordland wilderness on foot to check out some of its endemic flora and fauna, like the kea (Nestor notabilis), New Zealand’s notoriously cheeky and intelligent alpine parrot and the kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticate), the world’s largest fuchsia.
Accommodation: Matai Lodge, Te Anau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruise: 2 hours
Day 8
Today, we’ll be making the scenic journey past beautiful rolling farmland and around the edge of Lake Wakatipu, leaving the dry-arid mountains behind us as we continue driving on the stunning road between Lake Wanaka and Hawea. There will be plenty of time for photo stops on the way continuing over the Haast Pass, down into impressively dense rain forest as we near the West coast – a long stretch of gorgeous, rugged coastline with a population of only 40,000 people. We’ll mingle with the ‘coasters’ tonight in the tiny township of Haast, exchanging tales of our adventures at the local pub in front of a roaring fire.
Accommodation: Heartland World Heritage Hotel, Haast
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The 8-day South Island Winter Adventure trip ends today in Queenstown. You will be dropped off en route between Te Anau and Haast.
Day 9
Fox Glacier, West Coast New Zealand
This morning, we’ll journey up the wild West Coast, stopping on a deserted beach to stretch our legs and keep an eye out for friendly dolphins passing by.
We'll make our way to Fox Glacier where we'll walk along the South Side Walkway to view a glimpse of the 13-kilometre glacier, located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. The track follows the south bank of the Fox River through ancient podocarp rainforest, making its way gently up the valley crossing ancient glacial moraine surfaces. The track winds gently downhill through the rainforest before encountering a view point of Fox Glacier [Te Moeka o Tuawe].
Afterwards, we'll settle into our accommodation in Fox Glacier.
Accommodation: Heartland Hotel, Fox Glacier
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 3.9 miles (6.4 kilometers), 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 551 feet (168 meters) ascent, 551 feet (168 meters) descent
Day 10
Lake Matheson, West Coast of South Island
We'll head toward the coast and enjoy a short loop walk around Lake Matheson where you’ll be rewarded with awesome vistas of the Southern Alps. As we had back toward the carpark, we'll branch off and walk toward Lake Gault, another small glacial lake surrpunded by vegetation. On a still day, the peaks are perfectly reflected on the surface of Lake Gault, so we may opt to walk Lake Gault first as the best time for this is in the morning!
After our excursion, we'll make our way further north to Franz Josef, where we'll spend two days exploring the area. With some 140 glaciers making their way down from the Southern Alps, this area is fittingly known as glacier country. Few sights equal the spectacle of two of these giant frozen rivers (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers) imperceptibly grinding their way down through the temperate rainforest to just 820 feet (250 meters) above sea level.
Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef Glacier
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lake Matheson Hiking: 1.7 miles (2.8 kilometers), 1 hour
Elevation Gain/Loss: 33 feet (10 meters) ascent, 33 feet (10 meters) descent
Lake Gault Hiking: 4.9 miles (8 kilometers), 2 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,292 feet (394 meters) ascent, 1,292 feet (394 meters) descent
Day 11
This morning we’ll make a short journey over to Okarito, a little-known beach community on the coast. We’ll take to the water in sea kayaks and glide along the picturesque lagoon, set against a stunning backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Okarito is home to the only native white heron colony in New Zealand, as well as a host of other interesting birds. Once back in Franz Josef, you’ll have the option to take a hike or relax in the hot tub, before enjoying dinner on your own.
Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Kayaking: 2-4 hours
Hiking: 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers), 1-2 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 394 feet (120 meters) ascent, 394 feet (120 meters) descent
Day 12
This morning, we’ll travel along the coast to check out local art galleries and a pounamu carving workshop (pounamu is Maori for jade) in Hokitika. After lunch, we carry on to Punakaiki, where we’ll hike the Inland Pack Track through temperate rainforest and limestone canyons in the footsteps of the gold miners who established this trail over a century ago. While we’re in Punakaiki, we’ll also check out the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes – aptly named limestone formations that have been sculpted through relentless pounding by the Tasman Sea. Tonight we’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner for the last night of your trip.
Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Inland Pack Track Hike: 4 miles (6 kilometers), 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 425 feet (130 meters) ascent, 425 feet (130 meters) descent
Pancake Rocks Hike: 0.6 mile (1 kilometer), 0.5-1 hour
Day 13
We’ll leave after breakfast for the beautiful journey over Arthurs Pass to Christchurch. This is the last day of your trip, and we’ll leave you refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you’ll have had with us in New Zealand’s winter landscape.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This trip is operated by our sister brand Active Adventures
Looking for a shorter winter trip? Check out our 5-Day Southern Alps Adventure or 8-Day South Island Winter Adventure.
By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.
We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance - you can find details here.
*Terms and conditions apply - read more here
