The New Zealand Great Walk South Itinerary

This morning you’ll meet your local guide and fellow travellers in Queenstown before heading to Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu. It’s one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand, with mountain peaks, lush forest, and endless views around every corner. From here, we enter Mt Aspiring National Park and the first of our Great Walks, the Routeburn Track.

Today you'll have two walking options on the Routeburn Track, so you can pick the pace that suits you best. The first is a steady, undulating uphill hike through native beech forest alongside the glacial Routeburn River, gradually climbing to the open meadow at Routeburn Flats. Here, the valley opens up to reveal spectacular mountain views. It's an ideal spot to enjoy a picnic lunch!

The second option is a gentler walk, beginning with a peaceful forest trail to the tranquil shores of Lake Sylvan. After soaking in the stillness of the lake, you’ll return to enjoy a relaxed loop on the Routeburn Track Nature Walk. It’s a more leisurely way to take in the beauty of the area.

After your walk, feeling refreshed and inspired by the wild beauty of the national park, we’ll make our way back to Queenstown for a delicious dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Queenstown - 1 Night

This morning we’ll travel south, tracing the shores of Lake Wakatipu through the open plains and tussocks of the Southern high country to reach Fiordland National Park and our second Great Walk, the Kepler Track.

We’ll be met at the helipad by our local Fiordland guide before taking a spectacular flight over the hidden lakes and beech forest of Mt Luxmore and touching down in the alpine area of Luxmore Hut on the Kepler Track. Panoramic views of the Te Anau basin and the mountains of Fiordland will greet us, and our local nature guide will teach the group about the unique flora, fauna and history of this remote area.

This afternoon we’ll walk through lush forest alongside towering limestone rock formations as we descend to Brod Bay, the pick-up point for our cruise back to Te Anau, where we’ll spend the night.

If helicopters aren't really your thing, that's no worries at all. Your New Zealand Trails guide will be able to take you on a day walk through the forest floor instead.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Te Anau - 2 Nights

Today we’ll journey through some of the most spectacular and dramatic views in the country. We leave Te Anau and head to Milford Sound, the Eighth Wonder of the World. There are many highlights along the drive, including the glacier-carved Eglinton Valley, the Divide and Homer Tunnel. Keep an eye out for the cheeky Kea, NZ’s alpine parrot.

When we arrive in Milford Sound, we’ll board a small boat that will take us across the fiord to the world-famous Milford Track, your third Great Walk of the trip. We’ll walk through this unique World Heritage area underneath a canopy of towering emerald-green ferns, to the tumbling falls of Giant’s Gate. Be sure to take a moment to listen to the birdsong that echoes through the forest.

This afternoon we’ll take a nature cruise on Milford Sound. We’ll check out Bowen Falls, Sinbad Gully and the dramatic Mitre Peak, as we make our way towards the Tasman Sea. This is your chance to learn more about the unique Fiordland environment from your Milford Sound guide on board, while enjoying the sights and sounds of waterfalls tumbling down around you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, we’re venturing further off the beaten track to Stewart Island and Rakiura National Park. Tucked off the southern coast of the South Island, it’s the smallest of New Zealand’s main islands—and easily one of the most special. Home to just 400 people but countless brown kiwi, Stewart Island is a haven of untouched rainforest, rugged peaks, and quiet beauty. It’s also part of New Zealand’s Dark Sky Reserve, making it a dream for stargazers.

This morning, we’ll take a scenic flight across Foveaux Strait and land in Oban, the island’s one and only settlement. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring its wild trails, native bush, and postcard-worthy beaches.

Tonight, we’ll return to Oban where we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner at the local tavern, the best place in New Zealand to try our famous blue cod. Stewart Island is known as Rakiura which means ‘the land of glowing skies’, and tonight you’ll be able to experience some of the best stargazing straight from the balcony of your accommodation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Stewart Island - 1 Night

On the final morning of the trip, you’ll explore the untouched paradise of Ulva Island. This small predator-free island (measuring just 3.5km) is tucked just off the coast of Stewart Island. We'll take a short boat ride across to this beautiful island sanctuary that is home to flourishing populations of kiwi, saddleback and yellowhead birds. Ulva Island is a haven for bird lovers, nature enthusiasts and the perfect place to explore on our last day together.

We'll then return to the mainland. Our last journey together is a scenic trip through tussock country and small farming towns, before tracing the shoreline of the Lake Wakatipu back to Queenstown. Once there, it’s time to say goodbye to your guide and other travellers as we drop you at the airport or your accommodation.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

*For logistical reasons, we may make small changes to our itineraries or accommodation from time to time.

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