Wild New Zealand Hut to Hut Adventure

• Accommodation: Hotel in Christchurch

Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand! On this New Zealand Hut to Hut Adventure, your guide will pick you up at Christchurch International Airport (CHC) upon your arrival today. Be sure to arrive before 1 pm. After getting settled into our first night’s accommodation, we’ll meet together as a group for our orientation meeting at 2 pm. We’ll then head out to the famous Christchurch Botanical Gardens for a short walk to shake out the legs after a long flight and to get acquainted with the local flora and unique ecology of the island. From there, we’ll enjoy our first of many delicious meals together. We’ll call it an early night, so we are ready to take off into Nelson Lakes National Park tomorrow morning!

• Drive: 4 hours
• Hiking Distance: 6.1 mi/10 km
• Elevation Gain: 80 ft./24 m.
• Elevation Loss: 80 ft./24 m.
• Accommodation: Lakehead Hut

After a good nights’ sleep, breakfast and coffee or teas, we’ll load the van and begin our journey north to the stunning Nelson Lakes National Park. Let the adventure begin! After having lunch on the shore of Lake Rotoiti, we’ll begin our hike at the eastern end of Kerr Bay, where the track gently wanders through the forest, crossing several shallow streams and shingle screes. Small beaches along the way offer beautiful mountain views. At the head of Lake Rotoiti, the grassy flats of the lower Travers Valley greet us.

• Hiking Distance: 8.6 mi/13.8 km
• Elevation Gain: 656 ft./200 m.
• Elevation Loss: 180 ft./55 m.
• Accommodation: John Tait Hut

Today, we’ll follow the Travers River flats through forest and clearings (remnants from the valley’s farming days). After about 1.5 hours of easy walking we’ll arrive at a swing bridge, beyond which the track continues on the west bank of the Travers River. Soon the valley narrows, and walking becomes more varied, alternating between forested terraces and grassy river flats. Looking up the valley, Mount Travers can be glimpsed as the track nears Hopeless Creek. Soon we’ll leave the river and notice the gradient becoming steeper. As it eases, you’ll hear the river again and after crossing a few small creeks we’ll suddenly emerge to the welcome sight of John Tait Hut at the head of a small clearing.

• Hiking Distance: 3.7 mi/6 km
• Elevation Gain: 1674 ft./510 m.
• Elevation Loss: 160 ft./49 m.
• Accommodation: Upper Travers Hut

After a hearty breakfast prepared by our guide, we’ll continue up the Travers Valley beyond John Tait Hut to Cupola Creek chasm, from where the track climbs steeply, leaving the river in its gorge below. We’ll take a short 20-minute short side-track to Travers Falls, a 20-meter cascade plunging into a deep bowl. Back on the main track, the gradient soon eases. After crossing several screes, the track eventually heads back towards the Travers River via a short bridge. From here, the forest is noticeably stunted due to the approaching sub alpine zone, and the track, steep again, offers occasional views of the looming mountains and the Traver Saddle which we’ll take on tomorrow. Finally, the track levels and emerges from the trees onto an extensive tussock-covered flat, where Upper Travers Hut nestles at the base of the east face of Mount Travers.

• Hiking Distance: 4.9 mi/7.9 km
• Elevation Gain: 1541 ft./5470 m.
• Elevation Loss: 3674 ft./1120 m.
• Accommodation: West Sabine Hut

Taking off early, we’ll cross the Travers River, following the poles through dense alpine shrubs. Leaving the boulder-strewn valley, the track steepens and zigzags up a scree slope before continuing more gently to the saddle with its panoramic views. Poukirikiri/Travers Saddle is an alpine pass where we may be exposed to and must be prepared for sudden weather changes. The saddle is 1,500 ft. above the hut, about 2 hours’ walking. From the saddle, the descent is steep – the Sabine forks lie 3000 ft. below. The track crosses tussock and scree, then briefly enters stunted beech forest before emerging into a steep gully. Descend by zigzagging to the valley floor, where the track begins again and the walking becomes easier. Shortly beyond, a bridge crosses the deep chasm of the East Branch Sabine River. The track sidles around the edge of this chasm before descending into the West Branch Sabine River valley to West Sabine Hut where we will rest our tired legs for the night.

• Hiking Distance: 4.6 mi/7.4 km
• Elevation Gain: 1706 ft./520 m.
• Elevation Loss: 380 ft./116 m.
• Accommodation: Blue Lake Hut

A truly memorable day lies ahead hiking to Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake, which is the clearest natural freshwater lake in the world with a visibility of 83m (bottled water has 81m!). From West Sabine Hut we’ll head upstream from the West Branch Sabine swing bridge. After about 1.5 hours, the valley broadens and the track passes through forest destroyed by an avalanche in 1980. After this, we’ll be climbing steeply in two stages to a high basin containing Blue Lake Hut. We must show the upmost respect for this pristine water, sacred to local Māori by refraining from washing or swimming in the lake.

• Hiking Distance: 7 mi/11.3 km
• Elevation Gain: 920 ft./37 m.
• Elevation Loss: 2626 ft./800 m.
• Accommodation: West Sabine Hut

After having a morning coffee, we have the option today of resting on the shores of Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake or hit the trail up to Lake Constance. The trail to Lake Constance is a steep 1 hour climb towards Waiau Pass. At 1.2 miles long and up to 2,300 ft. wide, Lake Constance lies in a massive post-glacial basin at 4,400 ft., making it the largest alpine lake in New Zealand. This reach of indigo blue luminescence immerses us into a world of alpine beauty virtually unrivalled elsewhere in New Zealand. After making our way back down the trail to Blue Lake Hut, we’ll continue down the valley back to West Sabine Campsite.

• Hiking Distance: 8.5 mi/13.7 km
• Elevation Gain: 660 ft./201 m.
• Elevation Loss:  620 ft./189 m.
• Travel: 2 hours 40 minutes
• Accommodation: Hot Springs Resort

After taking in the beauty of the New Zealand forest one final time, we’ll pack up and depart back down the Sabine Valley. After reconnecting with the Sabine River, the valley broadens passing through ancient silver beech forest. The track continues down the valley and sidles above the river before leaving the river where it enters a gorge in the lower valley. After climbing steeply, then descending again, we’ll rejoin the deep river at a bridge across a narrow cleft. Easy walking for the final hour leads to Sabine Hut, with its expansive views over Lake Rotoroa. After having a delicious lunch on the shore of Lake Rotoroa, our water taxi will collect us for a 40-minute ride across the crystal-clear waters to where our van awaits us. The final leg today is a 2-hour scenic drive to our accommodation: a geothermal retreat nestled in the bush. Here we’ll be able to soak our muscles before enjoying the local cuisine at their in-house restaurant.

• Travel: 4 hours

We’ll start our final morning with a soak in the geothermal waters. As we make our way back South to Christchurch, we’ll get to reminisce over the incredible time we’ve had on our Wild New Zealand Hut to Hut Adventure. Our guide will take us either to the airport for flights leaving after 2 pm or to your hotel in Christchurch if you plan to stay in New Zealand a little longer.