Arataki - The most beautiful hiking and trekking tours

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Auckland

   Auckland Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Walk to Mount Eden and view Auckland skyline

   Landmarks
   Mount Eden

2. Day 2

   Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula

   Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Guided day hike on Kauaeranga Kauri Trail to the Pinnacles with panoramic views
   • Return hike via Billygoat Track

   Landmarks
   Kauaeranga Kauri Trail
   Pinnacles

3. Day 3

   Coromandel Peninsula to Turangi

   Coromandel Peninsula to Turangi Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Ruakuri Walk circular hike through New Zealand bush with gorge and limestone features

   Optional Activities

   • Visit Waitomo Glowworm Caves

   Landmarks
   Ruakuri Walk
   Waitomo Glowworm Caves

4. Day 4

   Turangi

   Turangi Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Tongariro Alpine Crossing day hike (or alternative Tama Lakes hike if weather conditions require)

   Landmarks
   Tongariro Alpine Crossing
   Tama Lakes

5. Day 5

   Turangi to Mount Egmont National Park

   Turangi to Mount Egmont National Park Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Hike to Dawson Falls waterfall and Wilkies Pools
   • Return hike through Goblin Forest

   Landmarks
   Mount Taranaki
   Dawson Falls
   Wilkies Pools
   Goblin Forest

   

6. Day 6

   Mount Egmont

   Mount Egmont Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Climb Mount Taranaki volcano (approximately 8-9 hours, 1450m elevation change, 13 km)
7. Day 7

   Mount Egmont to Picton

   Mount Egmont to Picton Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Ferry crossing to South Island through Cook Strait

   Optional Activities

   • Visit Te Papa National Museum (free)
   • Stroll Wellington city center
   • Dinner on ferry

   Landmarks
   Te Papa National Museum
   Marlborough Sounds

8. Days 8 - 9

   Nydia Track or Nelson Lakes to Abel Tasman

   Nydia Track or Nelson Lakes to Abel Tasman Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Nydia Track 2-day guided hike through coastal forest to Nydia Saddle and along Nydia Bay (Day 8)
   • Nydia Track Day 9 hike through farmland and beech forest with river crossings (or Nelson Lakes National Park alternative)

   Landmarks
   Nydia Track
   Nydia Saddle
   Tapuae-o-Uenuku
   Nelson Lakes National Park
   Abel Tasman National Park

9. Day 10

   Abel Tasman National Park

   Abel Tasman National Park Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Abel Tasman Coast Track day hike (approximately 3-4 hours)
   • Boat tour to Split Apple Rock
   • Kayak tour to Split Apple Rock

   Landmarks
   Abel Tasman Coast Track
   Split Apple Rock

10. Day 11

    Abel Tasman to Hokitika

    Abel Tasman to Hokitika Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Hike through Paparoa National Park along Pororari River into temperate rainforest

    Optional Activities

    • View Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki
    • Explore Hokitika's jade shops and historic sites
    • Walk Hokitika's driftwood beach

    Landmarks
    Pancake Rocks
    Paparoa National Park
    Pororari River

    

11. Day 12

    Hokitika to Haast

    Hokitika to Haast Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Hike to Hokitika Gorge with suspension bridge
    • Short hikes at Franz Josef and Fox Glacier

    Optional Activities

    • Helicopter flight over glacier world

    Landmarks
    Hokitika Gorge
    Franz Josef Glacier
    Fox Glacier

12. Days 13 - 14

    Gillespie Pass Circuit

    Gillespie Pass Circuit Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Gillespie Pass Circuit 2-day trek with river crossings through Mount Aspiring National Park (Days 13-14)
    • Jet boat return from Siberia Hut to Makarora

    Landmarks
    Gillespie Pass Circuit
    Mount Aspiring National Park
    Makarora River
    Young River
    Mt. Alba
    Gillespie Stream
    Siberia Hut

13. Day 15

    Makarora to Wanaka

    Makarora to Wanaka Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Visit That Wanaka Tree
    • Rob Roy glacier hike (approximately 3-4 hours, 10 km)
    • Diamond Lake hike

    Landmarks
    That Wanaka Tree
    Rob Roy glacier
    Diamond Lake

14. Day 16

    Wanaka to Te Anau

    Wanaka to Te Anau Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Bungee jumping in Queenstown
    • Luge racing in Queenstown
    • Steamboat trip on TSS Earnslaw

    Landmarks
    Crown Range
    Queenstown
    Lake Wakatipu
    TSS Earnslaw

15. Day 17

    Te Anau to Fiordland National Park

    Te Anau to Fiordland National Park Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Boat trip on Milford Sound
    • Walk on part of Routeburn Track

    Landmarks
    Milford Sound
    Routeburn Track

    

16. Day 18

    Fiordland National Park

    Fiordland National Park Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Kepler Track hike (various route options, approximately 4-7 hours, 300m elevation change, 4 km)

    Landmarks
    Kepler Track

17. Day 19

    Fiordland National Park

    Fiordland National Park Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Barbecue in Fiordland National Park)

    Included Activities

    • Eldrig Peak Route challenging hike with rock formations

    Landmarks
    Eldrig Peak

18. Day 20

    Fiordland National Park

    Fiordland National Park Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Barbecue in Fiordland National Park)

    Included Activities

    • Lake Monowai hike

    Landmarks
    Lake Monowai

19. Day 21

    Fiordland to Dunedin

    Fiordland to Dunedin Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Short walks through Catlins region sights

    Optional Activities

    • View penguins and sea lions in Catlins
    • Visit Nugget Point lighthouse

    Landmarks
    Catlins
    Nugget Point Lighthouse

20. Day 22

    Dunedin to Twizel

    Dunedin to Twizel Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Walk to Moeraki Boulders

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Kaitiki Point Lighthouse and fur seal colony
    • Observe yellow-eyed penguins at Kaitiki Point
    • Explore Oamaru historic Victorian old town

    Landmarks
    Kaitiki Point Lighthouse
    Moeraki Boulders
    Oamaru
    Mount Cook National Park

21. Day 23

    Twizel

    Twizel Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Hooker Valley day hike (approximately 3 hours)
    • Mueller Hut day hike (1600m, 8-10 hours)
    • Mount Oliver climb from Mueller Hut (1933m)

    Landmarks
    Mount Cook
    Hooker Valley Track
    Mueller Hut
    Mount Oliver

22. Day 24

    Mount Cook to Christchurch

    Mount Cook to Christchurch Show on map

    Landmarks
    Lake Pukaki
    Lake Tekapo
    Geraldine

23. Day 25

    Christchurch

    Christchurch Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Optional connecting program