Epic New Zealand Hiking

Duration 13 days
Price guide
From
  PP
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Lace up your hiking boots and set out on a journey across New Zealand, discovering majestic peaks, lush valleys, fresh mountain rivers and stunning glaciers along the way

Trip Highlights

  • Visit the world-famous Waitomo glow worm caves
  • Take a thrilling heli hike on Mount Tarawera, enjoying exquisite views
  • Trek across the volcanic alpine landscape Tongariro Alpine Crossing
  • Explore the spectacular Tasman Glacier in the air and on foot
  • Go on a guided walk to the Rob Roy Glacier in Mt Aspiring National Park
  • Enjoy a memorable helicopter trip over Dusky and Doubtful Sound

Bespoke trips with Jacada

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Privately guided tours
  • Private transfers
  • Meticulously selected experiences
  • Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance
  • Days 1–3 Auckland
  • Days 3–6 Rotorua and Taupo
  • Days 6–8 Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook
  • Days 8–10 Queenstown and Wanaka
  • Days 10–13 Te Anau
Epic New Zealand Hiking
Price guide
  PP
  • Days 1–3 Auckland
  • Days 3–6 Rotorua and Taupo
  • Days 6–8 Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook
  • Days 8–10 Queenstown and Wanaka
  • Days 10–13 Te Anau

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–3

Welcome to Auckland

New Zealand’s largest cosmopolitan centre is a lively mix of culture, cuisine, music and art with ample green spaces and easily accessible beaches. It is the modern melting pot of the Pacific with influences from Asia, the Pacific islands and Europe along with traditional Maori culture. A fresh and vibrant city, Auckland boasts some of the best restaurants in the country, and the harbour, which underwent a revamp before hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2011, is now a wonderful place to soak up the buzz of this exciting city.

Make it mine

Soulful coast

Glow worms

karekare-beach

West coast hike

Auckland’s west coast is known for its natural beauty and isolation, and is very different from the east. Dense rainforest, crashing surf, black sand and often wild weather combine to make this a very soulful, brooding and beautiful place.

Private transfer to Taupo via the Waitomo glow worm caves

On the way to Taupo, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the world-famous glow worm caves, enjoying a boat ride along an underground stream to witness the dazzling glow worms.

Days 3–6

Around Rotorua

Steaming mud pools, erupting geysers and Maori traditions all make Rotorua and Taupo a special area to visit and one that is distinctively unique to the rest of New Zealand. Explore geothermal parks before heading into nearby native forests for hiking or mountain biking the numerous world-class trails. Lake Taupo is actually a volcano crater, the lake’s deep blue waters draw visitors with its idyllic swimming holes, reputable fishing and adventure sports. On a clear day the views stretch out over the glassy water to the snowcapped volcanoes of Tongariro National Park in the distance.

Make it mine

Heli hike

Volcanic trek

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Volcanic heli hike on Mount Tarawera

experience the unique landscape and discover the history of Mt Tarawera. Infamous for its eruption on June 10 in 1886, Mt Tarawera created the world’s youngest geothermal valley of Waimangu, at the same time destroying the legendary Pink and White Terraces. This experience offers you unrivalled views.

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Tongariro Alpine Crossing

With your guide, you will trek across a volcanic alpine landscape of dramatic contrasts – steaming vents, glacial valleys, ancient lava flows, alpine vegetation and vivid crater lakes, all with stunning views. Rated as one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of New Zealand’s most spectacular hiking tracks.

Days 6–8

Impressive Mount Cook

New Zealand’s highest peak, Mount Cook or Aroaki in Maori, is an arresting sight jarring out from the 700 square kilometre Aoraki National Park of tussock hills and ice fields. With 19 peaks over 3000m, the national park is home to most of New Zealand’s highest mountains, all formed of a unique grey rock that accumulates as gravel in the valley floors. The park offers great walks with spectacular alpine viewpoints but the weather is extremely temperamental and prone to turn to rain. At its heart is the mighty Mount Cook, looming at 3754m, its peak often piercing into the clouds.

Hooker Valley Track,Mount Cook, New Zealand.

Tasman Glacier heli-hike

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Explore the Tasman Glacier, the largest of several glaciers which flow south and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps. At 27km in length, the Tasman Glacier is New Zealand’s longest glacier, up to 4km (2.5 miles) wide and 600m thick. Your helicopter will fly you from Mount Cook airport to around 1,200 metres above sea level where you will spend up to two hours in the mountains, where your guide will lead you into the most spectacular terrain that is usually seen only by experienced mountaineers. You will trek on easy undulating terrain, below Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mount Tasman, the highest peaks of the Southern Alps. The snow-covered mountains tower above vast ice-falls that bulldoze and grind down the mountain sides. Your helicopter will fly you close by the 1,000 metre high Hochstetter Icefall as your journey ends and you return to Mt Cook airport.

Days 8–10

Laidback Queenstown

From the towering alpine ranges that envelop Queenstown, to its laidback lakeside sister Wanaka and the incredible Milford Sound, this is easily one of the most spectacular regions of the country. Seek out one of the endless thrills on offer here from skiing, white water rafting, canyon swinging, jet boating, mountain biking and bungy jumping, or slow down to the cosmopolitan pace of life in Queenstown and cool Wanaka and you’ll discover its flourishing arts scene, excellent vineyards, fine dining and quiet lakeside shores where you can take in the incredible scenery. And, of course, Milford Sound with its spectacular 1692m-high Mitre Peak (Rahotu in Maori) is unmissable.

Rob Roy glacier hike

Rob Roy Glacier in Mount Aspiring National Park Southern Alps New Zealand

You travel by 4WD around Lake Wanaka to the beautiful Mt Aspiring National Park. Within the park is the Rob Roy Glacier. It is a huge glacier beginning high above on Rob Roy Peak, clinging to the ever-steepening mountainside as it descends into the Rob Roy Valley. Your guided walk begins through farmland with sheep and cattle, before crossing a swing bridge into the alpine rainforest to emerge above the treeline into the alpine herb fields opposite four glacier faces. This is the perfect lunch spot and a base for further exploration of this magical valley. Following lunch the walk is all downhill back to the car park.

Days 10–13

Picturesque Te Anau

Nestled on the edge of Milford Sound, Te Anau is a picturesque town perfectly positioned for exploring the surrounding glacier-carved wilderness of Fiordland National Park. In addition to an underground waterfall and grotto of glowworms, the region features trails through beech forests, glacial valleys and mountains.

Make it mine

Wild coast

Valley trek

Helicopter Experience: Dusky and Doubtful Sound

Visit the southern part of the South Island’s wild West Coast and experience the many scattered islands and early history unique to New Zealand’s largest fiord, Dusky Sound. Your return journey will take you to the head of Doubtful Sound, through the hidden valley of Campbell’s Kingdom and back down the South Arm of Lake Te Anau.

Routeburn Track New Zealand

Guided walk on Routeburn Track

Rated one of the world’s ‘Top Ten Classic Hikes’, the Routeburn Track combines personal achievement with awe-inspiring scenery. During your walk, explore the valley and be rewarded with spectacular views and a picnic lunch. Surrounded by the sounds of rivers, waterfalls and native birds, you will be transported to a world of peace and tranquility.

“Ellie has done a fabulous job listening…‌”

Ellie has done a fabulous job listening to our interests, needs, wants and desires in customizing our Australia/Tasmania/New Zealand itinerary. She has put together a spectacular trip for us. I would highly recommend Ellie and Jacada for your travel needs.

Published 20th June 2024 on Trustpilot
Gary Bursevich