|
Secret South 10 Day Safari
This hiking adventure takes you on a journey around the southern and eastern areas of New Zealand’s South Island, to areas that are rarely visited by other travellers. This 10-day safari includes hiking over rugged mountains, kayaking in Milford Sound, exploring the spectacular coast and gazing in awe at the amazing glaziers and waterfalls. This area is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful, varied and interesting hiking destinations.
Tour location
New Zealand’s South Island. Start in Queenstown, finish in Christchurch.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18, maximum depending on potential participants health.
New Zealand
New Zealand is a land of rare and amazing beauty - glacial mountains, ancient volcanoes, pristine beaches, lush rainforests, erupting geysers and boiling mud pools. It is famous for it’s exhilarating outdoor activities, among them hiking, jet boating, skiing, sky-diving, rafting, swimming with dolphins, whale watching and bungee jumping. An essential stop is any round the world ticket or a destination in it’s own right – New Zealand is a must see at least once in a lifetime.
The Tour
This tour starts with four days hiking in the rugged mountains of Fiordland National Park and kayaking on beautiful alpine lakes with stunning mountain views. Time will be spent kayaking beneath massive sea cliffs in Milford Sound while watching out for basking seals and leaping dolphins. You will then be taken to explore the spectacular Catlins coast, with beautiful beaches, luxuriant rain forest, fossilized trees, and lots of wildlife including rare species of sea lions, dolphins and yellow-eyed penguins. As a group you will hike up the rocky slopes of the Ohau range and look down on turquoise glacial lakes and the snow-capped peaks of Mt Cook. Also you will explore the remarkable volcanic landscape of Mt Somers with its waterfalls and narrow canyons.
Day 1. Sunday
Tour starts in Queenstown - 6km/3 hours hiking
After a short briefing by your guide the group will head south into Fiordland National Park. This spectacular World Heritage Site is the largest national park in the country and one of the largest in the world. The huge glacial lakes of Te Anau and Manapouri border the spectacular inland coastline that is Fiordland. The area is dominated by water, either in the form of lakes or as falling rain, which has enabled the establishment of temperate rainforest. As a group you will prepare for your first hike to Key Summit on the renowned Routeburn track – a fantastic hike of around 3 hours. From here there are fantastic views across to the Darren Mountains. Return to the vehicle and make your way to the camp in the Hollyford Valley.
Day 2. Monday
Milford Sound - 8km/4 hours kayaking
After an early start and drive through the Homer Tunnel you will arrive at Milford Sound. Here you can hire kayaks ($82 – optional) and kayak out into the fiord with its cascading waterfalls and views of Mitre Peak (1722 metres straight out of the sea).
Fiordland Crested Penguins and New Zealand fur seals often play near the kayaks. After lots of stops for pictures you will head back to shore and drive back through the divide to the camp in the Eglinton Valley.
Day 3. Tuesday
Fiordland National Park - 12km/7 hours hiking
Today you will drive to Borland Saddle in Fiordland National Park which is a stunning location – during the Ice Age, the glaciers gouged the fiords and lakes, hollowed out the rounded valleys, and shaped the granite mountain peaks.
There are different forest types all over the park; on the eastern side red, silver and mountain beech fill the valleys, and in the northern sections, podocarp forests of matai, rimu, and totara can be found. From Borland Saddle there will be a climb above the bush line onto the Hunter Range with great views into the Park. Traverse along these tops to Mt Burns (1634 metres – optional climb) and descend to Green Lake to camp.
Day 4. Wednesday
Catlins Coast - 7km/3 hours hiking
This morning you will have a leisurely breakfast in this most idyllic site, before hiking out through beech forest and across tussock basins to the road. Have lunch and then drive through to Invercargill which is the southernmost city in New Zealand.
Carry on to Curio Bay in the Catlins, an unspoiled scenic region of coast, rivers and podocarp forest – once an area inhabited by the giant moa (largest bird in the world - now extinct). Here you can relax and stay in a cosy crib (a New Zealand summerhouse). There is a chance to enjoy a swim in the sea and then a hot shower to complete your day.
Day 5. Thursday
Cannibal Bay - 6km/2 hours hiking
This morning will be spent exploring Curio Bay where groups often see Hector’s dolphins, which sometimes surf on the waves. Walk to a nearby tidal platform that contains tree stumps from a fossilised forest 180 million years old – it is one of the most extensive fossil forests in the world.
The fossils are evidence of New Zealand’s location in the ancient Gondwanaland; plant species identified here are similar to those found in South America. After a drive along the coast you reach Cannibal Bay. The bay takes its name from human bones discovered here last century that were part of a Maori feast. Here there is a chance to see New Zealand sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins, the rarest breeds of sea lions and penguin in the world. Tonight will be spent camping near the beach and preparing a hangi feast (Maori earth oven).
Day 6. Friday
Central Otago - 6km/3 hours hiking
Today will be a travelling day! The day will be spent driving through the spectacular high country landscape of Central Otago. During the nineteenth century, it was the lure of the gold that brought thousands of diggers to the Dunsten goldfields and places like Gabriels Gully where there will be a lunch stop and swim. Today it is the vineyards that lure people to the area.
Central Otago contains some of New Zealand's largest high country sheep stations, many measuring tens of thousands of hectares. Drive up alongside Lake Ohau and then pack gear for a short hike up through beech forest to a camp beside Freehold Creek, just below the bush line.
Day 7. Saturday
Ohau Range - 14km/7 hours hiking
Up early, leave the camp and head off with day packs to explore a beautiful basin filled with tarns (small alpine lakes). The basin contains an incredible variety of alpine plants, including Spaniards (prickly), and the world’s largest buttercup, named Mt Cook Lily (Ranunculus lyalli), because of its large round lily-like leaves. The fit can climb up onto the Ohau range (1915 metres) to glimpse the views of the Southern Alps, including Mt Cook, and the Mackenzie Basin. Return to camp to pack up and head out to the vehicle. The group will then drive on to Mt Cook village to camp beneath New Zealand’s highest mountains.
Day 8. Sunday
Mt Cook National Park - 8km/5 hours hiking
Today you will set off early with day packs to hike up to Sealy Tarns and Mueller Hut for views of the Hooker and Mueller glaciers, Mt Sefton icefall, and truly spectacular views of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki/Mt Cook – 3754 metres (the Maori name translates to ‘Cloud Piercer’). On the walk you will learn about glaciers, mountain building and the New Zealand climate. Afterwards the group will drive to the bottom end of Lake Pukaki.
This lake is a beautiful turquoise colour caused by the fine glacial silt suspended in the water. Tonight you will be camping on its shores, with beautiful views across to our highest peaks.
Day 9. Monday
Mt Somers - 5km/4 hours hiking
Continuing through the Mackenzie Basin, an area named after a legendary sheep rustler, we pass Lake Tekapo before reaching Mt Somers.
Here you will rock-hop up a river canyon and climb out to Trig Point with great views into the Rakia Basin.
There are several altitudinal plant sequences during the hike, along with regenerating beech forest. The New Zealand falcon has frequently been seen flying in this area. Tonight you will stay in a tramper's hut.
Day 10. Tuesday
Tour ends in Christchurch - 5km/4 hours hiking
Your final day will be spent exploring water caves (you get a bit wet!), Tri-falls streams and swimming in Emerald Pool or under a pounding waterfall known as the ‘Spa’. Before leaving this beautiful park there will be time for lunch and then a hike back along the canyon rim to an abandoned coalmine to explore some relics. The final drive will be across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch where you will arrive in the early evening.
Project Support
Throughout your tour you will be accompanied by an experienced and professional guide, who will be able to answer any of your questions as well as giving you advice and ideas for when your tour has come to an end. Furthermore, a member of staff in the UK can be contact 24 hours a day via our emergency contact number if necessary.
Hiking Grade
Medium: No previous hiking experience is required, but you need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic. Hiking will be for up to 7 hours per day, on average you will be hiking for 4-5 hours per day. Altitude gain per day will be up to 700 metres but normally about 200 metres. Terrain will be mostly tracks but some may be slippery or rough and some off-track hiking and river crossings will also be included.
Accommodation
There will be a variety of accommodation including camping, back-country huts, cribs (summer house), hostels and cabins. The cost of accommodation is not included in the programme price and will vary depending on the type of accommodation. Generally if the weather is good you will be camping which is a cheaper option. If the weather is less pleasant you may be staying in huts, cabins to cribs.
Meals
Tours will be on a food kitty system so each person will need to contribute $10 per day. Food will be brought at the supermarket and all participants will be expected to contribute to preparing meals. Meals will consist of barbecues, salads, pasta, rice etc and you will also want to take lots of hiking food with you such as chocolate, peanuts, raisins and biscuits.
Getting there
You will need to arrange to arrive into Queenstown the day before the start of the tour as the tour will depart at 8am on the Sunday.
Tour Cost Includes
- Transport during the tour
- All guiding
- Caving
Tour Cost Excludes
- Flights
- Insurance
- Kayaking ($82)
- Food and accommodation ($20 per day for food and accommodation will need to be put into a Kitty fund)
|
