Abel Tasman and Queen Charlotte…This is a 7-day trekking tour, fully lodge accommodated. Hike the beautiful coastal and lakeside trails of the upper South Island and explore the remote and beautiful tussocklands of the South Island high country.
Day 1
After our meet and greet briefing at our Christchurch depot we start our drive to Kaikoura 2.5hrs northwards. The drive is scenic and we time our arrival for lunch and then walk the Kaikoura peninsula walkway. This will take approximately 1. -2 hrs before we continue the drive to reach Picton, a further 2 hours away and a final short walk to stretch our legs. Drive to Picton ( 2hrs ) and do short bush walk. (L,D)
Day 2
The nearby Queen Charlotte track is a spectacular ridge top walk above the sound. We access this via water taxi and a short climb to the track, from where we spend the rest of the day weaving down through native bush and glimpses into the many bays below. From Te Mahia saddle on the Queen Chalotte track we gradually descend on the walkway to Anakiwa for a return drive by coach to Picton and back to our accommodation. (B,L,D )
Day 3
Our next two day trek starts out of a secluded bay and involves firstly a scenic drive around the head of the sound and then a backcountry road, to arrive at the start of the track. The old logging trail was cut through the native bush and offers a beautiful benched trail that weaves through regenerating native and exotic forests, steadily rising to a saddle where we break for a picnic lunch. From here we gradually descend into the next Bay and overnight stay at our Lodge. The rest of the afternoon provides an great opportunity to relax on the couches on the porch or to explore the walking tracks and native bush. (B,L,D)
Day 4
After a hearty breakfast, we pack and depart our beautiful accommodation, and follow the trail that weaves through virgin bush and beach front. The trail then steadily climbs to a low saddle, and eventually descending to the neighbouring bay and around the shoreline to our waiting coach. Time dependant, we can explore and swim before our mid afternoon departure out to Nelson and onto Motueka and our accommodation for the next two nights. (B,L,D)
Day 5
Today we drive down to the start of the Abel Tasman track and have a half day hike into the TorrentBay on the famous Abel Tasman walkway. The track is well formed and drops into several sheltered bays and beaches. At midday we have lunch overlooking TorrentBay and then meet our return yacht for an exciting sail around the heads and back to our coach. (B,L,D)
Day 6
Leaving Moteuka we have a short 1 hour drive inland into the NelsonLakeNational Park and at St Arnaud we have a choice of a shorter 2 hr peninsula hike or a 2 hr climb from the carpark on Mt Bruce. This track climbs steeply to the bushline and the summit of the ridgeline before then returning via the loop track back to the coach and our accommodation. The bush is stunning and LakeRotoiti a magic location (B,L,D)
Day 7
On board our coach we enter a private station road, heading through the back country into the upper Molesworth valley. We drive over Island pass – the highest road in the country - before descending to LakeTennyson and JacksPass. A final stretch of our legs gets us onto Mt Isobel with spectacular views down to the thermal pools of Hanmer Springs. By late afternoon we relax in these hot pools before stopping off en route to Christchurch at an historic hotel for a meal and then a final short 70 minute drive back to Christchurch. (B,L,D)
Departs and ends Christchurch
2010/11:Nov 21, Dec 05 and 27, Jan 09, Feb 06 and 20, March 06 and 20, April 03 and 17
Cost, USD:$1864.00 per person, twin share
$479.00 single supplement
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