New Zealand Walking Adventure

Most people leave the Northern Hemisphere on a Thursday evening, arriving into Auckland early Saturday 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’ll travel north to Gore Bay to stretch our legs and get some fresh air after your flight. Then we’ll continue north to the seaside town of Kaikoura, referred to as the ‘Serengeti of the South Pacific’ as it has an amazing variety of whales, dolphins, fur seals and other marine life that feed from the surrounding waters. We can walk to view fur seals basking on the rocks and playing in the eddies from a look-out point. This stretch of rugged coastline that was uplifted in the Kaikoura earthquake - it’s amazing to see this brand new land! Tonight, we’ll kick back and enjoy some delicious kiwi cuisine and get to know your fellow adventurous.Kaikoura Lodgings, Kaikoura (Lunch, Dinner) 

From Kaikoura, we’ll travel along the coast to Blenheim, a town in the Marlborough wine region. We’ll visit Forrest Estate Winery to sample some of their fantastic wines and have a picnic lunch, before we head back into the wilderness. The Pelorus River Track is our destination this afternoon, an idyllic spot for a hike, through cool, green native bush, alongside the Pelorus River. You can expect crystal clear waters in this enchanting scenic reserve and even a little bit of Middle-earth magic, as one of the locations for the filming of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Rutherford Hotel, Nelson (All meals)Hiking Distance: 3 kilometres (2 miles), 1-2 hoursElevation Gain: 20 metres (65 feet)Elevation Loss: 20 metres (65 feet)

Abel Tasman National Park is famous for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs and the world-renowned Abel Tasman Coast Track. This morning, we’ll take a water taxi through crystal clear, sheltered waters - we’re at the whim of the tides here, though our boat captains know the Abel Tasman Coastal Track like the back of their hands, so we’ll find the best section to hike. Once ashore, we’ll make our way along the coast through stands of ancient rimu, totara and rata. The rata (known as the South Island Kiwi Christmas tree) blossoms with brilliant red flowers between November and January. After our hike, we’ll relax on a white sandy beach and go for a dip in the ocean if you’d like. This area of New Zealand is famous for receiving the most sunshine hours of any place in the country.Rutherford Hotel, Nelson (All meals)Hiking Distance: 8.4 kilometres (5.2 miles), 3-4 hoursElevation Gain: 80 metres (260 feet)Elevation Loss: 80 metres (260 feet)