New Zealand Walking
South Island Paradise
After New Zealand, the bar will be forever raised. Other coastlines will seem less striking. Even mountains will pale in comparison. Glaciers... who sees glaciers at home? Start at the South Pacific, journey up to the Southern Alps, down to the Tasman Sea, then back up again. It's impossible to choose the most spectacular view. The most incredible moment. The blowholes at Punakaiki? Franz Josef Glacier, surrounded by rain forest? The view from the top of Rocky Mountain? Your ten days in New Zealand will be the benchmark. And your next vacation will have big shoes to fill.
- Tramp through the unmatchable South Island - it's a Kiwi tradition!
- Alpine tundra in the a.m. and oceanside trails in the p.m.
- Visit a working Merino sheep station
- Explore two glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox
- Opt to discover dramatic Milford Sound by scenic flight or cruise
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 Tramp through the spectacularly beautiful South Island - it's a Kiwi tradition! 
Hike Godley Head out to Taylor's Mistake for views of Lyttleton Harbor and the South Pacific Ascend through beech forests and past alpine lakes to a sheep station hut once used by shepherds during the days of high-country sheep farming.
Days 3-5 Alpine tundra in the a.m. and oceanside trails in the p.m. Traverse high country wetland to the dramatic 429-foot Devil's Punchbowl Falls Watch water explode sky-ward through blowholes at Punakaiki Pancake Rocks by the Tasman Sea A jungle trek along (and across!) the Porari River reveals native tree ferns and nikau palms ? Check out the hand-carved greenstone jewelry in the gold-rush town of Hokitika.
Days 5-7 Explore two glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox Lake Matheson reveals the famous reflections of Mounts Tasman and Cook Swap rain forest for pounding surf at Munro Beach and search for pounamu, the native jade Canoe with a naturalist on Lake Moeraki or go hiking or swimming.
Days 8-10 Hike to the top of Rocky Mountain for incredible views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding peaks Experience dramatic Milford Sound, New Zealand's most famous fjord, on an optional excursion Breathtaking 360-degree vistas greet you atop Mount Iron, an impressive glacial rock formation.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
While we have traveled around the world with other tour companies and Backroads, this by far was the most enjoyable trip. New Zealand provided not only an extraordinary background, and having two of our adult children and their spouses along make it uniquely enjoyable, the trip leaders were just the best. Attentive, friendly, sharing of their knowledge, generous with their time, consciously sharing their attention among all the travelers, and full of flexibility and suggestions (getting a fishing guide, arranging bungee jumping, juggling the schedule to get it all in) all of which made this a very special trip. Bravo!- Landrum, SC More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our walking tours and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
New Zealand Walking
Premiere Inns*
Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass (2 nights) A cozy mountain retreat and high-country sheep station surrounded by beech forest and frosted peaks.
Punakaiki Resort
Punakaiki (1 night) Adjacent to Paparoa National Park with beautiful views of the dramatic Tasman Sea.
* Casual Inn
Westwood Lodge
Franz Josef (2 nights) The warm wood interiors overlook the rugged terrain at this inviting and secluded lodge.
Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki
Lake Moeraki (2 nights) Surrounded by ancient rain forests and close to Munro Lake, where the rare Tawaki penguins nest.
Edgewater Resort Hotel
Lake Wanaka (2 nights) On the shore of Lake Wanaka with views of the magnificent Southern Alps. (spa, tennis)
New Zealand Walking
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- 1.7, 2 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 3 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 7.6, 9.8 miles
- 1800 - 2800 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- 1.3, 3, 5.3 miles
- 100 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- 3.6, 4.7 miles
- 250 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 5 miles
- 350 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- 2.7, 3 miles
- 100 - 150 feet elevation gain
Day 7
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 4.5 miles
- 50 feet elevation gain
Day 8
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- 2.5, 5.5 miles
- 200 - 1350 feet elevation gain
Day 9
- Level 3 1 Route Option Available
- 8 miles
- 150 feet elevation gain
Day 10
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 2.5 miles
- 400 feet elevation gain