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Monday - Arrive and snorkeling with seals in Kaikoura Most people leave the Northern hemisphere on a Saturday evening, and arrive in Auckland early on Monday morning. You'll lose a day to the dateline - but you get it back on the way home! You'll immediately take the short flight to Christchurch, in the South Island, where we'll meet you. You'll need to arrive in Christchurch by 11am on the first day, at which time we'll drive up the coast to the seaside town of Kaikoura, where we will spend the afternoon and evening. We'll take you out to the Kaikoura Peninsula for a snorkeling trip through the seal colony. You'll have a wetsuit, a mask and a snorkel, and you can swim to within a couple of feet of the native New Zealand fur seals as they cavort in the water. This makes for a cruisy introduction to New Zealand, and gives you the chance to spend most of the day relaxing and recovering from your flight. Depending on where you're coming from, you'll probably find jetlag is no big deal - for instance, it's a 12-hour direct overnight flight from the West Coast of the USA to Auckland and there's only a 3-hour time difference between New Zealand and US Pacific time. If you're coming from further afield, you'll appreciate the gentle start to your New Zealand adventure. ACCOMMODATION: A lovely local Bed and Breakfast, Kaikoura. (L,D) Tuesday - 3-day hiking in Nelson Lakes, mountain biking on Queen Charlotte Track, OR sea kayaking in Marlborough Sounds We'll drive north for a couple of hours to Blenheim, in the heart of the Marlborough wine region. We'll visit Forrest Estate Winery, where you can sample some of their fantastic wines while we picnic on the vineyard lawn. At the time of booking, you have the choice of a 3-day/2-night hiking trip in Nelson Lakes National Park, a 3-day/2-night sea kayaking trip in the Marlborough Sounds, or a 3-day/2-night mountain biking trip on the Queen Charlotte Track. The backpacking trip entails staying in basic mountain huts, while the cyclists and sea kayakers stay in more conventional lodgings, often with amenities like a hot tubs, private bathrooms and even a bar! Add US$299 + tax for the sea kayaking or biking options. After lunch, we head off for our various activities:
Thursday (Continued) Punakaiki The West Coast is a wonderful area - 500 miles of coastline with a population of only 40,000 people on the whole coast! For dinner this evening, we'll stop at the tiny seaside settlement of Charleston to pick up the quintessential Kiwi dinner - fish and chips! If it's a fine evening, we'll enjoy our fish and chips on the beach before heading south down the stunning coastline towards the coastal village of Punakaiki. ACCOMMODATION: West Coast lodgings. Comfortable and quiet. (B,L,D) Friday - Hiking in Punakaiki & beach in Okarito
ACCOMMODATION: Okarito Beach House, Okarito. Off-the-beaten-path, isolated and comfortable. (B,L,D). Saturday - Kayaking in Okarito Lagoon, hiking & beach
ACCOMMODATION: Okarito Royal Motel, Okarito. (B,L,D) Sunday - Hiking near Franz Josef Glacier
A unique option this afternoon, instead of the Robert's Point hike, is
to take a helicopter ride up towards the highest peaks
of the Southern Alps. You'll be landing 4,000 feet up on
the glacier itself to start a
3-hour hike on the ice, with crampons, ice axes etc. The
helicopter will return to fly you back down to meet up
with us. (Heli-hike option approximately
US$299+tax) ACCOMMODATION: The Homestead, Makarora. Very comfortable and spacious. (B,L,D) Click here to see an image of where you'll be staying. Monday - Mount Aspiring National Park to Queenstown We'll head down the road to Wanaka, then cross the mountains at Cardrona Saddle, to drop into Queenstown in time for lunch. Queenstown is a great place to spend a couple of days. It's the adventure capital of New Zealand - you'll find all the comforts of civilization: massage therapists, restaurants, sidewalk cafes, window shopping, and… adrenaline activities! You'll find some incredible optional activities here, such as hang gliding, bungy jumping, jet boating, skydiving, horse trekking, fishing, wine tours... it's all here! There are also incredible hikes and bike rides as well. Queenstown is not a big place - the population is about 8000 - but there's plenty to do! Or you can do nothing, if you prefer to just soak up the atmosphere. Many of our clients enjoy lounging about just reading a book after the hiking and paddling on the West Coast. ACCOMMODATION: Queenstown condominiums. (B,L) Tuesday - Free day in Queenstown It's all up to you today - enjoy! ACCOMMODATION: Queenstown condominiums. (B) Wednesday - Cycling Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys & hiking Routeburn Track
Gunn's Camp is an isolated and rustic establishment, originally set up in the 1930s for the workers who built the Homer Tunnel and the Milford Road. They didn't live in luxury, but they lived in a beautiful, tranquil place, with about a dozen cabins scattered about a central building. Gunn's Camp is right next to the Hollyford River and is surrounded by the towering peaks of Fiordland National Park. It's definitely not a 5-star hotel, but it's a great little place, and a wonderful place to hang out at the end of such an adventurous day! ACCOMMODATION: Gunn's Camp, Hollyford Valley. Rustic but idyllic. (B,L,D) Thursday - Sea kayaking in Milford Sound
Milford Sound, rated the 8th wonder of the world by Rudyard Kipling, is breathtaking. Sheer rock walls plunge thousands of feet to the sea, surrounded by snow-capped mountains! Most people see Milford Sound from the deck of a cruise ship, but we've got a better way - gliding along in a sea kayak, causing a minimum of disruption to the seals and dolphins, which are very friendly and often eager to visit. This is an awesome trip, run by specialist kayak outfitters, and it's equally suitable for beginners or experts. When you get back from your morning's paddle, we'll head through to Lake Manapouri, where we'll stay at the Lake Manapouri Inn, beautifully sited on the lake's edge. You'll love the great views out over Lake Manapouri and the surrounding mountains of Fiordland National Park. We'll arrive by mid afternoon so you can relax and enjoy the surroundings or take the bikes out to explore the countryside before a BBQ dinner. ACCOMMODATION: Lake Manapouri Inn, Lake Manapouri. (B,L,D) Friday - Exploring high country sheep farm Today we have a mid-morning start, to head back up the road to Queenstown, where we stop for a couple of hours. This gives you the chance to get some lunch, do any last minute shopping or send postcards to friends and family, or whatever you might need to do before heading back into the wilderness for the remainder of your trip, which we'll spend in a very special place. We'll drive up to Lake Pukaki, near Mount Cook, where we stay on a 60,000-acre working high-country sheep farm, called Braemar Station. ("Station" is the New Zealand word for a big ranch.) While we're here, we stay in the shearers' quarters. Again, it's not a 5-star hotel, but our clients always love this place! The view out the kitchen window in the morning will knock your socks off - one huge mountain, rearing towards the sky on the other side of a gorgeous cobalt-blue lake. And with no lights for miles around, the stars on a clear night are like nothing you've ever seen - just the place for your last couple of nights in New Zealand! ACCOMMODATION: Shearers' Quarters, near Mount Cook. A little rustic but the views are breathtaking! (B,D) Click here to see an image of where you'll be staying. Saturday - Hiking near Mt. Cook This morning it's an hour or so to Mt Cook village, at the head of Lake Pukaki. Mt Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand, and we have a stunning and little-known day hike to do here (weather permitting) to the main ridge above Mueller Glacier. It's a tough slog up, but you'll remember the view of the Mueller Glacier and the surrounding peaks of the Main Divide forever! There are other hiking options if you'd like to take it a little easier. The weather conditions are very important in this area, as it is a true alpine climate notorious for sudden weather shifts. If we aren't able to do the Mueller hike, we'll take an impressive hike up the Hooker Valley to a glacial lake at the base of the Hooker Glacier, complete with icebergs! Then we head back to the shearers' quarters for the last night of the Rimu. We'll enjoy a traditional Kiwi roast dinner - with vegetarian options of course - and enjoy a cold drink as we sit outside and watch the sun set on Mount Cook. ACCOMMODATION: Shearers' quarters. (B,L) Click here to see an image of where you'll be staying. Sunday - Depart This is the last day of your two week trip around the South Island. See the itinerary for the Kauri trip if you want to take a few more days to see the North Island as well, or check out our Aussie Walkabouts itineraries if you've got lots of time and want to visit Australia, fondly known as New Zealand's "Other Island". We'll leave after breakfast for the three-hour drive to Christchurch, and arrive early afternoon for the flights back to Auckland. International flights from Auckland usually leave early evening, so if you're heading back to North America, you'll get home some time on Sunday, even though you left on Sunday evening! Flights back to Europe, of course, take a little longer. You'll be refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you'll have had with us in New Zealand! (B)
Tour informationACCOMMODATIONS: The Rimu is an activity-oriented trip around the South Island. We've chosen interesting and comfortable accommodation throughout. In some places it's quite luxurious. But many of the other places we stay are off the beaten track - and don't have many accommodation options - but are really, really spectacular. Our clients often say a real highlight of the trip is meeting the New Zealanders who are their hosts. You'll love the places we stay! If you are staying a few extra days in Christchurch before or after your trip, click here to take a look at our Christchurch information page which has a list of a few selected hotels and B&B's in and around Christchurch. FITNESS: You must have a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy yourself on the Rimu. You don't have to be young and extremely fit (although if you are, you won't be bored) but you should be in the habit of doing at least some exercise. Age and experience are not important. For example, we would rather have a person in her 50s who hikes every couple of weeks than a 22-year-old couch potato! If you're concerned about your fitness level, have a chat with us so we can help you choose between the Rimu and our other trips. EXPERIENCE: You don't need any outdoor experience at all to enjoy our trips. All our trips allow you to make the most of New Zealand's incredible environment. Our experienced guides are highly trained, and will look after you! You don't have to carry a heavy pack. You don't need to have ever been in a sea kayak to enjoy kayaking Okarito Lagoon or Milford Sound. You don't need to be a serious cyclist to enjoy some of the rides we have available. In fact we have so many options available that you don't need to ride at all, if you'd rather hike, fish, or just laze around! All we ask is that you be energetic and in reasonable shape - and we guarantee you'll have an incredible time. The challenges are there, though, if you're looking for them. For instance, on the second day of the backpacking trip we spend the day climbing to Lake Angelus on the Robert Ridge. The views are incredible - and they get better the higher you go, so the fitter members of the party often push on to the top of the ridge for some unforgettable views of both sides of the South Island, while others enjoy just staying at the hut and admiring the view. We manage the level of commitment to suit your experience, and we have an impeccable safety record. We hold all relevant government licenses, and our staff are highly trained and experienced. RIMU START & END POINT, AND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL: To keep our group sizes down, we run the Rimu in two different directions around the South Island - Northbound (refers to initial direction of travel from Christchurch) and Southbound. This itinerary happens to be written up in the Northbound format. At busier times of the year we also run a Rimu starting and ending in Queenstown- check the schedule page for Rimu - Queenstown departures. Whichever trip you take, you'll do all the activities we've mentioned, just in a different order. The Rimu is a product of many years of evolution and fine-tuning - it works well whichever way you do it! FLEXIBILITY: Because of the off-the-beaten path and non-commercial nature of some of our accommodation on this trip, we sometimes need to change a night stop. For instance, every now and then the shearers' quarters at Braemar Station are required by the shearers. We try to make as few changes as possible, but retain the flexibility to make sure your trip is as good as it can be. What's included in the tour: The trip fare is US$3799 + 15% government taxes. We quote all prices in US dollars, so our guests from all over the world can more easily relate prices to their own currencies. You can also join for shorter periods of time, at a pro-rated fare. The trip fare includes just about everything, specifically:
Departure dates Trips depart every Monday from October to April each year. Please enquire about availability for particular dates |
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Dive
Sail
Bike
Walk
Kayak
Golf
Food & Wine
Snow Sports
Caving
Adventure
We'll spend most of the day in Punakaiki to hike amongst the limestone canyons and lush rainforest of the Inland Pack Track. The gold miners who first opened up the area over a century ago originally established this trail. We'll also check out the Pancake Rocks and the Blowholes. This is one of our favorite places in the world, and you'll see why. Finally we'll leave in the afternoon to drive down the scenic coastal road, stop at Hokitika to check out a local greenstone workshop and gallery, and then carry on to Okarito Lagoon, a gem of the West Coast that is all but untouched due to it being 10 miles down a one-way road from an obscure highway turnoff. There are no shops, no restaurants and no traffic here… and a population of only 31 people!
You've got a lot of options at Okarito. You can spend a cruisy day in this sleepy but beautiful beach town to recharge your batteries, or do some awesome hiking and kayaking. The Okarito Lagoon is unique in that it hosts the only white heron colony in New Zealand. You can sea kayak on the lagoon with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains for a few hours, then spend the rest of the day exploring the deserted beach or hiking in the rainforest. This evening we can head out to listen for New Zealand's most famous bird, the rare and elusive kiwi. You'll almost never see a kiwi, as they are nocturnal and very shy, but they have a very distinctive call, so it's great fun to go out and listen for them! And the sunsets around here are definitely not to be missed.
Just south of Okarito there are two formidable glaciers descending from the mountains to the sea. In terms of scenery, this place is just off the chart! Today we'll take an awesome hike through the rainforest up to Robert's Point, overlooking the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier. We only do this hike in good weather, as the rocks get very slippery in the rain. If it's raining, we'll do a shorter walk to the terminal face of the Fox Glacier, hike around Lake Matheson, and visit the Blue Pools near the Haast Pass. From Franz Josef it's about three hours down the coast to Makarora (pop. 30), which is a camp settlement directly next to Mount Aspiring National Park. We'll stay at a beautifully landscaped homestead on the edge of the camp, in the shadow of the mountains.
Today we begin a couple of days of the most unforgettable cycling you may ever do! This morning we head down through Te Anau towards Milford Sound. You'll be fitted with a 21-speed front-suspension Fuji bike for a spectacular ride through the legendary Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys to The Divide. We maintain plenty of flexibility - keen cyclists can start early and cover 50 miles or more throughout the day. Moderately keen cyclists can be picked up anytime along the way, for a shorter ride. If cycling is not your thing, you can skip it and just enjoy the scenery - like all our activities, the cycling is completely optional. After recovering our cyclists, we'll hike part of the famous Routeburn Track up to Key Summit for unbelievable views of the surrounding peaks. The Routeburn is one of the best-known hiking tracks in New Zealand, and we do the best part of the Track, which overlooks the Hollyford Valley, Lake Marion, and Mount Christina. After hiking back to the trailhead, cyclists take to the bikes again for the short downhill ride to Gunn's Camp, in the Hollyford Valley.
It's an early start today. First we have a short drive through the Homer Tunnel, which comes out at the top of a spectacular alpine road that wends its way downhill to Milford Sound. The lush rainforest carpeting the lower slopes of the mountains gives way to the massively steep glacier-carved slopes and waterfalls of the Darren Range.