This tour takes in one of the most remote and beautiful parts of New Zealand: the West Coast of the South Island. From the miles of empty, sublimely beautiful, palm-fringed beaches north of Karamea, we will head south, stopping to hike through some of the best scenery in New Zealand. Most of New Zealand’s remaining virgin lowland rainforest is found here, as well as glacier- capped mountains, and spectacular limestone gorges and caves.

Highlights will include a visit to the annual Hokitika Wild Food Festival (a truly unique piece of West Coast culture!), a helicopter ride and guided hike on the Fox Glacier, and a flight to Siberia to check out the icebergs! We finish in Queenstown, the adventure sport capital of New Zealand, where we will take those brave enough for a bungy jump. From here, you can stay and enjoy the South Island in your own time, or return with us to Christchurch or Wellington for your travel connections.

Itinerary -

• Day one:
  

  Starting in Wellington, we will pick you up at the airport or your point of arrival. Spend the rest of the day resting at koromiko Homestays or explore New Zealand’s best city.

   

• Day two:

  An early start for the Interisland ferry to the South Island. Stopping for lunch at Pelorus Bridge in the Marlborough Sounds (where the café serves excellent chicken and camembert pasties), then on to Karamea, on the West Coast, for our night’s accommodation at the ‘Last Resort’ hotel.

• Day three:

  Walk up the coast to the Heaphy River in Kahurangi National Park. This is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in New Zealand, with long, sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, pounded by wild ocean surf, and backed by rainforest-covered mountains. We will camp at the Heaphy River overnight, where you can swim at the river mouth, or explore the river valley whilst we cook a barbecue.

• Day four:

  Walk out from the Heaphy River to Karamea. We will then drive to Charleston (south of Westport), and stay at a gay homestay. N.B An alternative programme for Day 3 is to visit the scenic Oparara Arches and caves near Karamea, and stay at the Last Resort for another night, then on Day 4 kayak the Karamea estuary or go mountain biking.

  Weather forecasts and/or your preferences will be taken into account!

• Day five:

  There is a wealth of things to do around Charleston. We offer either a white water rafting trip down the Buller Gorge, or a cave rafting trip (floating through the cave on inner tubes) with Norwest Adventures in Metro cave. After that, we can take people rock climbing around Charleston, or walks on the beaches.

  In the evening, we will drive to Punakaiki.

• Day six:

  Visit the famous limestone formations and blowholes at Pancake Rocks, before heading for Hokitika , and the Wild Foods Festival. Taste things you never thought you’d ever want to taste- Huhu grubs (Yum!), possum stew, sphagnum moss candy floss, together with more palatable fare- mussels, venison, flower wines etc. You could even help out on the Earthworm stall (delicious!).

  In the evening, the event finishes with a dance- chance to let your hair down!

• Day seven:

  Driving south, we will stop to go kayaking on Okarito Lagoon, and see the Okarito forest, one of the best lowland podocarp (an ancient coniferous group) forests in New Zealand, which has been recently saved from logging. We will stay aft Franz Josef for the night.

• Day eight:

  The Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers are two of the few places in the world, outside the polar regions, where you can see glaciers coming down almost to sea level. Large snowfalls on the Southern Alps drive these glaciers steeply down from the peaks to the lowlands at the alarmingly fast rate (for a glacier) of three feet a day.

  We offer a helicopter ride to the high, mountainous part of the glacier, and a guided walk on the glacier- with stunning views of Mt.Cook (New Zealand’s highest) to the east, and the coast below you. The high point (in altitude terms) of our trip!

• Day nine:

  Drive to Haast, stopping at Ship Creek, and Haast for scenic walks.

• Day ten:

  Fly to Siberia! Leaving the West Coast, we head inland to Makarora, where we take a small plane to Siberia Valley, just east of the main dividing range of the Southern Alps, in Aspiring National Park. The plane will fly near the Matterhorn -like 10000ft peak of Mt.Aspiring on the way to Siberia.

  We will hike up to Lake Crucible - but here, Hell has frozen over! Icebergs fill this mountain tarn.

  We will spend the night camping in Siberia Valley, or in the Department of Conservation hut should the weather be poor.

• Day eleven:

  Hike out of Siberia to the Wilkin River, where we catch the jetboat back to Makarora. Jetboats can travel at stunning speed in inches of water, and turn on a dime at high speed. Prepare to be very afraid!

  From here, we will drive to Queenstown, the centre of the adventure tourism industry in New Zealand.

• Day twelve: 

  Throw yourself off a bridge. Survive to tell the tale! We have included a bungee jump with NZ’s best known bungee pioneer, AJ Hackett, to make sure you end this holiday on a high!

  After this, you may wish to stay in Queenstown and continue to enjoy New Zealand at your own pace. Alternatively, travel with us to Christchurch, where we will stay the night at a gay homestay.

• Day thirteen:

  Visit Christchurch city, perhaps see the official Wizard of New Zealand in the City Square at lunchtime. We will also visit the scenic Banks Peninsula, including the old French settlement of Akaroa.

  Some of you may have flights booked from Christchurch airport, so we can take you to meet your flight. Otherwise its another night in Christchurch.

• Day fourteen:

  Return to Wellington.

Prices include:

• all accommodation, dinner and breakfast
• all transport from Wellington to Wellington.
• helicopter ride and guided walk on glacier
• flight to Siberia/ jetboat out
• bungee jump in Queenstown
• all other group activities
• Local tax - 12.5%

Prices do not include:

• spending money, lunches (except when hiking)
• flights to New Zealand, or within New Zealand unless part of the tour.

West Coast does include:

huge, evil sandflies…. please bring your favorite insect repellent.

Prices and contents of the above Package are for guidance and subject to confirmation.