South Island hikes
Ocean Peak Corner, Routeburn Track, New Zealand
By Julian Apse for Ultimate Hikes
Hooker Valley, Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand
By Fraser Gunn
Hiking is the best way to truly absorb the splendour of New Zealand's South Island, with a wide range of experiences to choose from.
Explore the South Island's best hikes
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Hike the Best of the “Great Walks,” Plus Milford Sound & Queenstown
New zealand: ultimate south island.
New Zealand
From $10,195
Call 1-800-368-2794 or contact us for any questions
This journey brings you everything you could want to do on the South Island—that's why we named it “ultimate” South Island! We hike four of the country's Great Walks: the alpine Routeburn Track, plus the lush pathways of the Rakiura, Kepler, and Abel Tasman tracks, all protected in pristine national parks filled with soaring landscapes. We'll also savor an overnight cruise in Milford Sound (the jewel of Fiordland National Park), hike and sea kayak in the coastal paradise of Abel Tasman National Park, look for kiwis (the feathered kind) on remote Stewart Island, and sip wines in Central Otago. We've arranged three internal flights so we can easily get to the South Island's most diverse settings.
Arrive: Queenstown, New Zealand
Depart: Nelson, New Zealand
- Hike four of the “Great Walks”: the Routeburn, Rakiura, Kepler, Abel Tasman trails
- Sea kayak in Abel Tasman National Park, take an overnight cruise in UNESCO-listed Milford Sound
- Optional kiwi-spotting, heli-hiking, and jet boating, special access to the Rob Roy Glacier Track in Mt. Aspiring National Park
- Savor New Zealand's best wines and farm-to-table cuisine
A short flight brings us to remote Stewart Island, more commonly known by its Maori name, Rakiura. Taking a water taxi out to Ulva Island, predator-free and a birder's paradise, we hike the Rakiura Track along the coast. One evening, there's an option to visit a private conservation area to search for the nocturnal and flightless Stewart Island kiwi. Flying back to the mainland on Day 6, we'll hike our third “Great Walk,” the Kepler Track, through red beech forests along Lake Te Anau in Fiordland National Park, with an optional thrilling alpine heli-hike from the Luxmore Hut.
In the majestic Matukituki Valley, we hike the Rocky Mountain Track to Diamond Lake for panoramas of the Southern Alps. The next day's hike is a fantastic journey across the Rob Roy Glacier Track into a dramatic setting of snowfields, hanging glaciers, cliffs, and waterfalls.
Flying to Nelson, we'll make an exciting journey by water taxi out to Abel Tasman National Park for a grand finale in a world of aquamarine waters, native forests, golden beaches, and magnificent coastal trails. Wading to shore from the boat, we'll hike a coastal trail to our lodge by way of mystical fern forests and lagoons. Our lodge, the Awaroa, is set in a 47-acre private reserve inside Abel Tasman National Park itself. From this beautiful setting right in the park, we'll hike to our heart's delight and explore by sea kayak. Depart via Nelson on Day 15.
Dates & Pricing
Pricing below is per person and based on double occupancy. The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have. WT also has the most generous cancellation and transfer policies in the industry, we make it easy if you change your mind. Have a small group of your own? Take over an existing date or choose your own. You’ll have your own private guide–and the adventure–all to yourselves!
Payment & Cancel Schedule
$600 due at time of reservation 90 days prior to departure: Balance
Cancellation & Transfer Schedule
Up to 91 days prior to departure: No Charge! 61-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost 46-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost 45 days or less: 100% of trip cost
- Expert leadership of Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders
- Accommodations in hotels, B&Bs, and lodges
- All meals included except 2 dinners as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
- A glass of wine or beer with dinner
- All land and boat transportation and baggage handling from meeting until departure
- All activities as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
Not Included
- Travel to and from the arrival and departure location as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
- Additional hotel nights outside the trip's scheduled dates
- Optional gratuities to Trip Leaders or staff
- Optional travel insurance
- Other expenses of a personal nature (some alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Heritage Hotel Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Day 1 (1 night)
Headwaters Eco Lodge
Glenorchy, New Zealand
Days 2-3 (2 nights)
Stewart Island Lodge
Oban, New Zealand
Days 4-5 (2 nights)
Te Anau Distinction Hotel
Te Anau, New Zealand
Day 6 (1 night)
Milford Mariner
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Day 7 (1 night)
Kinross Cottages and Vineyard
Gibbston, New Zealand
Days 8-9 (2 nights)
Edgewater Hotel
Wanaka, New Zealand
Days 10-11 (2 nights)
Awaroa Lodge
Kaiteriteri, Abel Tasman Nat'l Park, New Zealand
Days 12-15 (4 nights)
Trip Leaders
Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders have a passion and a joy for creating an unforgettable journey. We are extremely proud of them and the incredible travel experiences they make possible. For more information, including client comments about them and which specific trips they will be leading, please click on their profiles below.
Tony McCutcheon
Chris Cochrane
Karen Stuart
Peter Bersani
Gordon Raynor
Mary Raynor
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3+, Moderate, according to our trip grading system, with softer options available for anyone who prefers a gentler hike. You will need to be comfortable hiking 8 miles in a day, being on your feet for up to 5 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Extend Your Trip
Auckland and the Islands of the Hauraki Gulf Extension
From $2,395
Hiker’s Journey to New Zealand
From $8,295
New Zealand: Hidden Treasures of the Far North
From $5,995
Client Testimonials
"The trip was action packed, we saw and did such wonderful hikes in the fern forests, top of mountains, and gorgeous lakes. Bonus helicopter ride too!"
San Rafael, CA
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
- Royal Rajasthan and Villages of India
- Small ship cruises
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
- Our African safaris
- Costa Rica Wildlife
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
- Ultimate Patagonia
- Hiking the Spanish Pyrenees
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
- Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- Everest Lodge to Lodge
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.
- Everest Base Camp
- Climb Kilimanjaro!
Dates & Prices
Activity level, accommodations, new zealand south island hiking tour, from abel tasman national park to milford sound, from: $8,995.
- Available: January, February, March, November, December
- Activity: Level 3
- Accommodations: Comfortable Hotels
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