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West Coast Wilderness 10 Day Safari
This 10-day safari adventure takes you on an amazing outdoor experience around the western part of New Zealand's South Island. Packed full of amazing highlights, this safari includes hiking through lush rainforests, across mountains and wading through crystal clear rivers, kayaking and taking a guided walk on the spectacular Franz Josef Glacier.
Tour location
New Zealand’s South Island. Starting in Nelson, finishing in Queenstown.
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
You will be taken on hikes through beech forest, past limestone sinkholes, across the mountain slopes in Kahurangi National Park and through podocarp forest to natural hot pools surrounded by mountain peaks in Westland National Park. Hikes will also be through lush rainforest in a limestone canyon and include wading across crystal clear rivers and exploring glow-worm caves. You will be taken on a guided walk on the spectacular Franz Josef Glacier where you can marvel at its crevasses and ice caves. Time will also be spent kayaking on the tranquil Okarito lagoon and watching native birds feeding in the shallows. While strolling along isolated beaches remember to keep watch for dolphins and there will be the opportunity to watch fur seal pups at a breeding colony.
Itinerary
Day 1. Tuesday
Start in Nelson - 11km/4 hours hiking
The tour begins in Nelson where after a short briefing and last minute shop the group will then drive up to Flora Saddle to have lunch and get organised for the first hike. The hike will begin through beech forest, following a stream, to the tussock-covered tablelands of Kahurangi National Park. Tonight you stay in an old goldminer’s rock shelter, a great place to get to know each other with introductions around a cosy campfire.
Day 2. Wednesday
Buller Gorge - 15km/7 hours hiking
After an early start and quick breakfast you will continue across the Tablelands to explore a karst landscape of sinkholes and caves. This whole area is of geological interest as it is in a range of marble and limestone hills, the interior being riddled with potholes. The group will climb up through mossy forest to the bush line and then onwards to Gordon’s Pyramid (1489 metres) and continue across a basin of crystalline marble karst to the shoulder of Mount Arthur and, if weather and time permit, fitter members can trek to the summit (1795 metres) for panoramic views of the Nelson region. The group then return to Flora Saddle and drive to a character cottage overlooking the Buller Gorge where you will camp for the night. Enjoy a home cooked meal made from locally grown organic produce.
Day 3. Thursday
Paparoa National Park - 12km/6 hours hiking
This morning the group head out to Cape Foulwind and visit a breeding colony of New Zealand fur seals – once almost hunted to extinction. The group then turn south to the old gold-rush town of Charleston for lunch at a beautiful cove. After relaxing here for a short while, you will begin your hike up a spectacular limestone river canyon in Paparoa National Park. Created in 1988, it covers over 30,000 hectares.
It has natural attractions including mountains, with limestone cliffs and caves, rivers and wilderness areas. During the hike you will learn river-crossing techniques, so be prepared to get your boots wet. Firewood will be collected along the way and the group will then set up camp under the massive Ballroom Overhang.
Day 4. Friday
Punakaiki - 8km/5 hours hiking
Today there will be the chance to explore the nearby limestone canyon and caves (some people may want to swim) with stalactites and stalagmites, cave wetas (large wingless insects), glowworms and the tallest moss in the world (Dawsonia superba). The group then hike or wade through waist-deep water (optional) down river and head to Punakaiki. Better known as Pancake Rocks, these 30-million-year-old limestone rocks have formed into what look like immense layers of pancakes. When the tide is high, or the weather rough, the water surges into caverns below the rocks and squirts through mighty blowholes, bearing a great resemblance to natural geysers. Driving south, following the coast, you will stop at Hokitika for a short break and a food shop.
Originally known as the ‘Capital of the Goldfields’, Hokitika was a thriving and prosperous port. Much of its old character remains and it is now a major centre for greenstone or jade. This hard stone was much treasured by the Maori who used it for decorative jewellery and for carving their lethal weapons – the war clubs known as meres. After time at Hokitika you will drive on to Ross to camp for the night.
Day 5. Saturday
Okarito - 10km/4 hours hiking
Today you will continue on to the Franz Josef Glacier – one of the few glaciers that advance down into rainforest. First explored in 1865 by Austrian Julius Haast, the glacier has since retreated although it has been on the move again recently. As the group walk up the lovely forested valley to the glacier’s terminal face, you will see the signposts, which record its advance and retreat. Take a guided glacier walk onto the glacier ($62 - optional) to explore its seracs, crevasses and ice caves. Finally you will take a drive down to the sleepy township of Okarito where rainforest meets the sea. Here you will camp.
Day 6. Sunday
Okarito - 10km/4 hours kayaking
This morning you will take kayaks ($40 – optional) to catch the in-going tide into the Okarito Lagoon (the largest unmodified wetland in New Zealand) to see bird life – including white herons, black swans and tui. You can take time to explore the river delta and channels into Kahikatea (white pine) forest, the tallest forest type which can grow up to 60 metres high.
In the afternoon you will have free time to wander the remote beach or hike to a viewpoint of this World Heritage Park, with its snow-capped mountains, rainforest and coastal wetlands. Using wood the group have gathered from the beach, you will cook tonight’s meal in a hangi, an underground Maori earth oven. Spend a second night at this special place.
Day 7. Monday
Welcome Flat - 18km/7 hour hiking
After an early start the group will drive south for an hour before hiking up the Copland Valley, through podocarp forest (relatively unchanged in 70 million years). The hike will take you across swing-bridges and mountain streams. The pleasant hike through the forest and beside the river finally ends at Welcome Flat, where you stay in a mountain hut. Here you have the opportunity to relax your weary muscles with a soak in natural hot pools with views of 3000 metre peaks – the best in New Zealand!
Day 8. Tuesday
Welcome Flat - 8km/4 hours hiking
Today you can either rest or explore this alpine valley. A short off-track hike, with some boulder-hopping, will take you up to beautiful waterfalls high in the alps for a refreshing shower. On the walk there are great views of Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. After tonight’s meal more time can be spent immersed in these incredible hot pools – one is too hot, one just right, the other just warm!
Day 9. Wednesday
Moeraki - 18km/6 hours hiking
Today you will hike down the Copland Valley and drive south through this remote West Coast region to Moeraki. If there is time the group may visit a breeding colony of Fiordland Crested Penguins. These birds stand 70 centimetres tall and nest here from July to November. Fur seals are also seen here occasionally. Tonight will be spent camping in an isolated site where you can enjoy a swim in refreshing, crystal clear waters at the nearby river. Spending the night at this ideal location the group will exchange stories around the beach campfire.
Day 10. Thursday
Tour ends in Queenstown - 3km/2 hours hiking
Today the group will stop off at Ship Creek to look for Hector’s dolphin and take the opportunity to walk through the coastal ecosystem of dunes, swamp and podocarp forest. Turning inland you will drive over the Haast Pass, beside the wide Haast River. For lunch you will stop at Lake Hawea where there will be the chance to take a swim. This lake is so deep that, though its surface is at an altitude of 345 metres, it’s bottom lies 65 metres below sea level. After this enjoyable break you will head over the Crown Range to Queenstown, arriving early evening where the tour ends.
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
Accommodation will range from camping, backcountry huts, cribs (summer house), hostels and cabins. Accommodation is not included in the programme price and the cost will vary depending on where you are staying. 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
Safaris 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 then all participants will need 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 Nelson the day before the start of the tour. The tour will depart from Nelson at 8am on the Tuesday.
Tour Cost Includes
- Transport during the tour
- All guiding
Tour Cost Excludes
- Flights
- Insurance
- Kayaking ($40)
- Glacier hike ($80)
- Food and accommodation ($20 per day for food and accommodation will need to be put into a Kitty fund)
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