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14 Day
New Zealand is a land of astonishing contrasts -- imagine a tranquil coastline, huge mountains rearing out of the sea, alpine lakes, glaciers and subtropical rainforest. These majestic features make New Zealand the perfect location for a smorgasbord of multi-sport adventures, ideal for the active traveller. With a great deal of flexibility built into each itinerary you can participate in as many or as few activities as you wish. We are happy to arrange alternative activities such as whitewater rafting, bungy jumping and skydiving. Round out the above activities with comfortable accommodations, local cuisine and Kiwi hospitality, and you have the makings for the trip of a lifetime! Designed firmly for the active and adventurous, the Rimu Multi-Sport Adventure is absolutely the best way to see the wilder parts of New Zealand's South Island. In just 14 days, we'll backpack in one of New Zealand's most beautiful and secluded national parks, enjoy a variety of wonderful day hikes, sea kayak the Okarito Lagoon, Queen Charlotte Sound and Milford Sound and mountain bike through the backcountry.
Includes: All lodging, meals, guides, fees, and equippment. Dates: January - April & October - December Difficulty: Moderately Easy to Moderate |
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| Day 1 - 4 |
After a short flight to Christchurch on the South Island, we
drive up the coast to the seaside town of Kaikoura. Here, we relax,
explore town or swim with the local seals and dolphins. We then drive
north to Blenheim, which is the starting point for two major options --
a three-day fully-supported hut-to-hut hiking trip in Nelson Lakes
National Park or a two-day sea kayak tour through the Marlborough
Sounds.
Nelson Lakes National Park straddles the northern part of the Southern Alps. This fabulous wilderness area is comprised of beech forests, expansive lakes and immense mountains. In this spectacular setting, we'll walk along Travers Valley and though native forests, before heading above tree-line to the incredible Angelus Hut which sits next to a beautiful alpine lake. For those who prefer more creature comforts, choose to sea kayak through the Queen Charlotte Sound which teems with marine life and exceptional coastal views (additional cost). With our flexible itinerary, you have the option to go ashore at any time to enjoy a hike, some rest and relaxation or a drink at our lodge's bar! We then paddle back to Picton where we depart for the west coast. En route, we'll stop for a stunning coastal walk along Tauranga Bay host to a native seal colony. |
| Day 5 | We canoe the Porari River exploring the famed Pancake Rocks, blowholes and caves, swimming with dolphins, fishing, or simply relaxing on a beautiful beach. We then drive down the scenic coast to Okarito Lagoon, a tiny settlement just north of Franz Josef. Choose to sea kayak, witness a rare white heron colony or experience a 'trig' walk -- from which you can see the entire Southern Alps! |
| Day 6 | Today, we have options galore -- sea kayak Okarito Lagoon, fish, walk the beach, take a mountain bike ride or explore the area's glaciers which spectacularly run down from the mountains into the sea. Choose to climb above them, fly over them, land on them, walk on them, swim in their meltwater or take a heli-hike towards the Southern Alps highest peaks, landing 4000 feet up the glacier on the ice itself. Scenically, this place is off the chart! |
| Day 7 | We explore Franz Josef Glacier. There are three different hikes available, depending on your interests and level of fitness. The most popular is the walk to Robert's Point overlooking the terminal face of the glacier. We then travel down the coast to the village of Makarora set directly next to Mount Aspiring National Park. Choose to fish or take a plane or jetboat into the park. |
| Day 8 - 9 | We then transfer over the scenic Crown Range Road to Queenstown. Prior to our arrival, you have the option to bungy jump off of the infamous A.J. Hackett Bridge. Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand. Here, you can choose to bungy jump, river-surf, skydive or raft raging whitewater. There's also some amazing walks and world-class mountain bike rides. |
| Day 10 | We board the S.S. Earnslaw, a century old steamer, and cross Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. This high country sheep station marks the beginning of our beautiful half-day bike ride up Mt. Nicholas Station Road. Our scenic route winds through the desolate and mountainous backcountry of Queenstown ending at Mavora Lakes. After an exhilarating ride, we transfer to Milford Sound, rated the 8th wonder of the world by Rudyard Kipling. |
| Day 11 | Milford Sound features sheer rock walls that plunge thousands of feet to the sea, snow-capped mountains and a friendly population of seals and dolphins. We'll explore this beautiful landscape three feet above waterline in sea kayaks. Afterwards, we have the option to cycle the Hollyford Valley, hike a portion of the Routeburn Track to Key Summit or just lie back and absorb the unbelievable scenery. |
| Day 12 - 13 | We explore the mountains around Te Anau by bike. We then head off to Mt. Cook, where we lodge between a huge mountain rearing towards the sky and a gorgeous sky-blue lake. Here, we'll climb up Mueller Ridge overlooking Mt Cook -- New Zealand's highest mountain -- to Mueller Glacier where we're greeted by fabulous views of the glacier and the surrounding peaks of the Main Divide. |
| Day 14 | We spend the morning in Tekapo, then depart for Christchurch. We'll arrive mid afternoon for the flights back to Auckland. You'll be refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and wild times you'll have had with us in New Zealand! |