New Zealand Hiking Highlights

Hollyford Track

Round Trip with many selected walks

You find many different landscapes, climate zones and vegetations close together in New Zealand, the "down-under" paradise for nature lovers. This tour includes many walks in the most beautiful National Parks to explore NZ's natural beauty. The highlights include fiords and rainforests, secluded beaches, deep mountain lakes, extinct as well as active volcanoes, geysers and thermal activity areas. Experience the different traditions of the Polynesians, Maoris and European settlers, and feel the cosmopolitan flair of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

A flexible touring option with the ability to experience both the North and South island of New Zealand or either island separately. Via a selection of separate hiking experiences throughout New Zealand you will experience the exquisite beauty and tranquility that the native bush and wildlife exude.

ITINERARY:

(subject to change without prior notice)

Red skies over paradise

Day 1: Auckland

After your arrival in Auckland, you will be transferred to the "President Plaza Hotel", where you will overnight. It is located right in the centre of the city and just a stroll away from the famous harbour. In the afternoon, join us on a sightseeing tour through the 'City of Sails'. Places you will see include the Harbour Bridge, Waitemata Yacht Harbour and Mount Eden with a view of the Skytower. If Rome was built on seven hills, Auckland was built on seven extinct sea-side volcanoes, on an isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, at its narrowest only about a kilometre wide. This closeness to water has two results. First, everyone in Auckland is crazy about sailing! There is one boat to every 16 people. Another effect is that Auckland has a very temperate climate. Most of the rain falls in June, July and August and the coldest month, July, averages about 13 degrees Celsius during the day.

Day 2: Auckland - Rotorua (266 km)

Leave Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. Around lunchtime, arrive in Rotorua, which is famous for its  geysers, colourful terraces, hot springs and boiling mud pools. From the moment people arrive in Rotorua, they know they're somewhere quite different. There is a scent of sulphur in the air, and at nearby geothermal hotspots there are spouting geysers, acrid-smelling mud pools bubbling and belching, and warm geothermal pools and ponds that create a kaleidoscope of colour.
There is an option for an afternoon visit to the Whakarewarewa thermal park as well as the possibility of a dinner feast (a traditional Maori Hangi). Overnight at the comfortable log-cabins of the "Thermal Holiday Park" which also has hot springs and pools.

Day 3: Rotorua - Urewera National Park (223 km)

Spend the morning walking through the unique Waimangu Volcanic Valley (approx. 2hrs), which was created after a volcanic eruption in 1886. Afterwards, drive through the amazing Kaingaroa Forest to Urewera National Park, sometimes on a gravel road. The accommodation tonight is in chalets at the "Lake Waikaremoana Motor Camp", right at the shores of Lake Waikaremoana.

Day 4: Urewera National Park (73 km)

Today, walk through one of the most remote areas of New Zealand with its remaining natural character, mostly along the shores of Lake Waikaremoana, named "Lake of the small waves" by the Maoris. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Panekiri Ranges towering above the opposite side of the lake. Relax and go for a swim in the lake after a lunch break near the Tapuaenui camp grounds. After approx. 6 hours, you will reach Marauiti Hut nestled in the dense rainforest. From here, you will be taken back to the chalets by boat. Overnight once again at the "Lake Waikaremoana Motor Camp".

Day 5: Urewera NP - Napier (215 km)

A short drive in the morning takes you to the coast of Hawkes Bay. At its southern end lies the beautiful city of Napier. This coastal resort is blessed with a Mediterranean climate and numerous natural attractions, its streets offering many cafes and wineries. Internationally renowned vineyards that produce award-winning wines are backed by the Pacific Ocean. Napier is known as the Art Deco Capital of the world and was rebuilt in the early 1930s following a massive earthquake. Subsequent fires destroyed most of its commercial heart. Nowhere else can you see such a variety of buildings in the styles of Art Deco and Spanish Mission Buildings.

During lunchtime you have the option of wine tasting at Mission Winery, one of the oldest in the country. Should the tide allow the visit to Cape Kidnappers, the visit to the Mission Winery will be postponed to the next morning. After lunch, a 3 hour tractor-and-trailer tour along the beach takes you to the largest mainland Gannet colony in the world. Later in the afternoon, take your time to explore the city on your own. Overnight at the "Beach Front Motel" in generous apartments with ocean views.

Lakes and mountains

Day 6: Napier - Tongariro NP (360 km)

Today, you take the gravel road through the Kaweka Forest Park which is of volcanic origin. Our final destination is the small village of National Park with amazing views of the largest volcanoes in the country. In 1993, Tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised cultural criteria describing cultural landscapes. The mountains at the heart of the park have cultural and religious significance for the Maori people and symbolize the spiritual links between this community and its environment. The park contains active and extinct volcanoes, a diverse range of ecosystems and highly scenic landscapes.

You visit Whakapapa village at the foot of Mt. Ruapehu followed by a 3 hour walk through dense bush and beech forest. Overnight at  the "Skotel Alpine Resort".

Day 7: Tongariro NP - Wellington (348 km)

(Arrival in Wellington for those participants who have booked the South Island)

Arrive in Wellington, New Zealand's capital, around lunchtime. A sightseeing tour through the city includes the Parliamentary Buildings and the historical district with its St. Paul Cathedral. Take a ride in the cable car to the colourful botanical garden on Mount Victoria, from where you can enjoy fantastic views of the city and the harbour. Afterwards, visit one of the most innovative museums of the world, the National Museum 'Te Papa'. Spend the night at the "Bay Plaza Hotel" with a fantastic harbour view.

Welcome to Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. Perched on the edge of a spectacular harbour, encircled by green, towering hills, Wellington is a stunning and compact city. Vibrant, exciting and cultured, the nation's capital combines the stimulation and sophistication of a big city with the quirkiness of a charming village. Extending just two kilometres in diameter, Wellington is a truly 'walking city'. Here you'll find a unique blend of national treasures, arts and culture, gastronomic delights, shopping sensations and scenic beauty, making Wellington the ultimate urban destination in New Zealand.

Wellington has a feast of cultural attractions and its crowning glory is Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand. Situated on Wellington's magnificent waterfront, this internationally acclaimed museum combines leading edge technology with traditional exhibits to tell the stories of New Zealand's land and people.

Day 8: Wellington - Queen Charlotte Walkway

(Departure in Wellington for those participants who have booked the North Island)

After breakfast, enjoy the journey across Cook Strait on the Ferry to the South Island to the little fishing village of Picton. From there, continue by boat through the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound to the beginning of the walking track. The Queen Charlotte Walkway takes you along almost the entire length of the sound, through natural scenic reserves with lush coastal forest and over mountain ridges, from where you have splendid views of the Sound. Late afternoon you reach the idyllic Furneaux Lodge nestled right on the waterfront, where your luggage is already waiting for you.

Day 9: Queen Charlotte Walkway - Kaikoura (175 km)

Hike along the coast through dense rainforest with its gigantic tree ferns to Punga Cove. At about 3 pm, a boat picks you up and takes you back to Picton. From there you travel by bus along the amazing coastal road to Kaikoura (approx. 2 h). The "Panorama Motel" is situated at the sea promenade with views to the Pacific Ocean. Kaikoura is an area steeped in Maori history and legend. Off the coast of the village is a marine environment so rich in nutrients that it attracts some of the most magnificent creatures with which we share our planet. Among them the giant Sperm Whale which can grow up to 20 metres in length and has the largest brain of any animal alive. With a little luck, you will also meet migratory Humpback Whales (June & July), Orca (summer months), New Zealand's own tiny Hectors Dolphin, the high spirited displays of the Dusky Dolphins, New Zealand Fur Seals and the Royal Albatross.

Day 10: Kaikoura - Punakaiki (397km)

Join an (optional) whale watch tour or go swimming with the dolphins. Or simply have a walk along the coast, observe seals and seabird life. Later on, the bus takes you to State Highway 7. Stop for lunch at Maruia Springs; maybe you have the time for a swim in the thermal pools. Then, drive onwards to the West Coast and Punakaiki with its famous "Pankake Rocks".

Glaciers and treks

Day 11: Punakaiki – Fox Glacier (248km)

In the morning, there is time for a short walk on the Truman track before you drive south through Greymouth and Hokitika, where you visit a Greenstone factory,and have the opportunity to buy jade carvings and jewellery at reasonable prices. The next stop is at Ross, a rural service town and centre for a small open caste gold mine. In the afternoon, arrive at the Franz Josef Glacier and walk up to the glacier lookout.

Day 12: Fox Glacier - Wanaka (333 km)

Optional activities in the ornng include another guided walk on the Fox Glacier or a scenic helicopter flight over the glaciers (incl. landing). Afterwards, take a short walk through beech forest near the Haast Pass before you reach the Southern Lakes District extending to Wanaka. At the west end of Lake Wanaka you can see the glittering snow peaks of Mount Aspiring (3,027 m). The town acts as a magnet for New Zealanders and international visitors alike who want to return to sample the delights of a range of activities, cafes, shops and restaurants.

Day 13: Wanaka - Mount Aspiring NP (109 km)

A short drive takes you into the Matukituki Valley from where your hiking trek leads you to the Rob-Roy-Glacier, from where you have splendid views of the surrounding lakes and mountains (4-5 h).

The Mount Aspiring National Park is the third largest park in New Zealand.  Many gentle walking tracks meander through its open valleys. Its pinnacle is Mt.  Aspiring (Tititea), rising elegantly from its flanking glaciers to 3,027 m, a peak much loved by local and international climbers, and photographers.

Day 14: Wanaka - Te Anau (230 km)

Drive along the mighty Clutha River to Cromwell, situated at the heart of a large pipfruit growing area. The route follows the Kawarau river gorge, past the world famous A.J Hacket bungy bridge (optional bungy jump) and several wineries and vineyards. Arrive at the shores of Lake Te Anau around lunchtime. In the afternoon, you hike through dense beech forest. During the trek you have wonderful views of the lake.

They call me the Wanderer...

Day 15: Te Anau - Milford Sound (130 km)

Drive along the shores of Lake Te Anau and through rainforest to New Zealand's largest National Park, Fiordland NP. The Park is home to many of New Zealand's most famous walks. This unspoilt paradise is made up of rugged, mountainous fiords and picturesque coastline, and is almost entirely covered in bush. Walk a section of the famous Routeburn Track to the Key Summit, from where you have most beautiful views onto the Hollyford-Greenstone and Eglington Valley. On the way to Milford Sound you might spot cheeky Keas (Mountain Parrots) at rest areas next to the road. Aboard the cruise ship Milford Friendship or Milford Wanderer, you take an amazing journey through the deep Fiords of the Milford Sound. In the evening you will be served a delicious dinner while anchoring in one of the tranquil bays. The on-board sleeping rooms have multiple beds per cabin - an unforgettable experience.

Day 16: Milford Sound - Queenstown (303 km)

Today, head for Queenstown, and have a lunch break in Te Anau. Queenstown is a year round, alpine resort, perfect for adventurers and leisure seekers alike. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, overlooked by the majestic Southern Alps, the town was named because "...it was fit for Queen Victoria." An optional Gondola trip to Bob's Peak or a stroll to view the nightlife of Queenstown could be a perfect ending to the day. The "Gold Ridge Hotel" offers fantastic views onto Lake Wakatipu.

Day 17: Queenstown (Rest Day)

Queenstown is today recognised internationally as New Zealand's premier visitor destination. It has more than just breathtaking scenery and a diverse range of attractions. Options could be a lake ride aboard the historic steamship Earnslaw, jet boating on the Shotover River, bungy jumping, white water rafting, tandem paragliding, or a visit to the Kiwi house to see New Zealand's national icon in the flesh. You stay another night at the "Gold Ridge Hotel".

Day 18: Queenstown - Christchurch (515 km)

On our way to Cromwell we will stop in Arrowtown, an old gold rush village. We travel north through the McKenzie Country towards Lake Tekapo. If the weather is nice you will be treated to magnificent views of New Zealand's Southern Alps. Here you can do an optional scenic flight over Mt. Cook, or Aoraki, the "cloud piercer". Once in Christchurch, known as the most English city in the country, we head to a short sightseeing tour. Christchurch's' unique combination of fascinating heritage, beautiful coastline, peaceful rivers and spectacular natural harbour appeals to all ages and provides all the ingredients to make your visit extra special. You spend the night at the "Camelot Cathedral Hotel", which is situated right in the heart of the city.

Day 19: Christchurch and Departure

The last day is for your own leisure. You will be transferred to the airport late afternoon.