Mountain river flowing down from peaks in the New ZealandBreathtaking waterfall in New ZealandWalking bridge over river in New ZealandBackcountry hut in New ZealandBlue Lake in New Zealand, clearest lake in the worldHiking trail on the South Island of New ZealandBeautiful lake with alpine peaks behind in the South Island of New ZealandStunning alpine valley in New Zealand

Wild New Zealand Hut to Hut Adventure

Christchurch, New Zealand

Trip Highlights

  • Ancient Forests, Glacial Valleys, Southern Alps
  • Deep Wilderness
  • Blue Lake: Clearest Lake in the World
  • Hike part of the most famous long track of New Zealand
  • Nelson Lakes National Park
  • Travers-Sabine Circuit

Description

The Travers-Sabine Circuit is a challenging 7-day journey through some of the most spectacular country that New Zealand has to offer. Ancient beech forests cloak even older glacial valleys. Large scree slopes surround you in the upper basins of the valleys, and as you gradually climb to the pinnacle of the walk at 5,900 ft., the Travers Saddle offers you breath-taking views east into the Travers Valley and West into the Sabine Valley. While the walk is challenging, it offers a unique opportunity to travel into the Southern Alps in comfort. You’ll hike to the clearest freshwater lake in the world, Blue Lake, sacred to Māori. With your guides leading the way and carrying the bulk of the food and equipment, you can relax with a relatively light pack; all your meals organized and cooked for you, and your knowledgeable and local guide on hand to bring your surroundings to life. The accommodation is in Department of Conservation huts – these are comfortable but basic and are shared with other hikers. We’ll conclude our trek with a stay at a natural hot springs resort – a perfect way to end this incredible week of hiking!

Read more …
From USD
$3650 Per Person
$245 Single Supplement  

$245 Single Supplement

The single supplement on this trip provides for single rooms in hotels for 2 nights. The other nights will either be in a shared dormitory-style hut or a single tent.

Trip Type: Hut to Hut Trekking Tour
Difficulty Level:
Solitude Level:
Group Size: 2-6 Guests
Trip Length: 9 Days
Distance: 43.4 MI/70 KM

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3

Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
This trip has long days of hiking with elevation changes up to 1,700 ft, while carrying a 25-25 lb. backpack. Expect an average of 6 or 7 hours, with a max of as much as 9 hours of hiking in a day. Most trails are slightly rugged so expect slippery rocks, rooted rocks, and some big steps.

Hiking Distances:

Up to 8.6 miles

Backpack Weight:

25-35 lbs.

Terrain:

Moderately Rugged

Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

Up to 1,706 feet

Heights Exposure:

Please Note: Terrain, Elevation Gain and Heights Exposure ratings reflect the section or day of the trip with the maximum difficulty of each. Much of the trip is at easier levels. See the trip itinerary for more detailed information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 25-35 pound backpack for 7-9 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on steep, variable and uneven terrain
  • River and creek crossings
  • Hiking with varied terrain, including bridges, slippery rocks, etc.
* For an official and complete list of physical requirements, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

SOLITUDE LEVEL 5

1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this New Zealand hut to hut hike a solitude 5. Expect to see only a group or two over the entire duration of your trip.

Minimum of 2 Guests

We require a minimum of 2 guests to confirm this trip. If a trip date is not confirmed yet, you can register and will be notified when the trip is officially confirmed. We recommend not making final travel arrangements until your trip meets the minimum number of guests and is confirmed.

In most cases, if a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 65-60 days before the departure date.

Private Trips

Private hiking group with Wildland Trekking

Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group or family!

In many areas we can run trips with group sizes larger than our normal capacity of 12 guests. There’s no minimum number of guests on a private tour, and in many cases, we have flexibility around minimum age as well.

For all international trips outside the United States, we quote private trip requests on a case by case basis. Please complete the form below to inquiry about a private tour.

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Day 1

Day 1

  • Accommodation: Hotel in Christchurch

On this New Zealand Hut to Hut Adventure, your guide will pick you up at the Christchurch International Airport. After getting settled into our first nights’ accommodation, we’ll meet together as a group for our orientation. Please plan to arrive no later than 1 pm today. 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. Though you won’t experience much jet lag as there is likely not much of a time difference depending on where you are flying from, you have travelled many hours crossing the international date line. We’ll call it an early night, so we are ready to take off into Nelson Lakes National Park tomorrow morning.

Day 2

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

After a good nights’ sleep and breakfast at fuel your day, we’ll load the van and begin our journey North to the stunning Nelson Lakes National Park. 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.

Day 3

  • Hiking Distance: 8.6 mi/13.8 km
  • Hiking Duration:
  • Elevation Gain: 656 ft./200 m.
  • Elevation Loss: 180 ft./55 m.
  • Accommodation: Hut or tent at 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, 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.

Day 4

  • Hiking Distance: 3.7 mi/6 km
  • Hiking Duration:
  • Elevation Gain: 1674 ft./510 m.
  • Elevation Loss: 160 ft./49 m.
  • Accommodation: Hut or tent at 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 although steep again, offers occasional views of the looming mountains and the Traver Saddle which we’ll conquer 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.

Day 5

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

Taking off early in the morning, we’ll cross the Travers River near the hut and follow 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 and heading upstream a short distance to West Sabine Hut where we will rest our tired legs for the night.

Day 6

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

After yet another delicious breakfast made by your guides, a truly incredibly 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.

Day 7

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

After having a morning coffee, we have the option today of resting on the shores of Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake 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 4,400ft, making it the largest alpine lake in New Zealand. This reach of indigo blue luminescence immerses the viewer into a world of alpine beauty virtually unrivalled elsewhere in New Zealand. Taking stock of scenes like Lake Constance are near impossible, being something you needed to savor and store amid the memories of the wild. After making our way back down the trail to Blue Lake Hut, we’ll continue down the valley to West Sabine Campsite where we were the evening prior.

Day 8

  • Hiking Distance: 8.5 mi/13.7 km
  • Hiking Duration:
  • 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 transport awaits us. The final leg our day 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 this in-house restaurant.

Waking up at Maruia Springs will be just what you need after a few challenging but rewarding backpacking trip. Maruia Springs is an award-winning natural hot spring, day spa, and wellness destination where guests will enjoy picturesque mountain views and look out to the flowing waters of the Maruia River while soaking in the hot springs.
The resort also offers complimentary sauna infusions, meditation and yoga classes. Massages are also available for an additional cost.

Day 9

  • Travel: 4 hours

We’ll start our final morning with a soak in the geothermal waters followed by a leisurely and tasty breakfast. 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 Backpacking Trip. 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.

Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however occasionally trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to: lodging/campground availability, extreme weather, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.

Trip Dates & Booking

TRIP DATES & BOOKING

Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.

Available to Book

AVAILABLE TO BOOK

This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!

Going Fast

GOING FAST

This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.

Request a Reservation

REQUEST A RESERVATION

This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.

Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.

800-715-HIKE (4453)

Trip Details

Trip Details

What's Included

  • A detailed trip packet that takes the guesswork out of your travel, training, packing, and preparing for the trip
  • Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
  • Lodging in hotels for 2 nights and hut or tent camping for 6 nights
  • Transportation for the duration of the tour, starting with airport transfer on Day 1 and ending with airport transfer on Day 9
  • All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 9, including snacks
  • Use of backpack, trekking poles, tent, and sleeping pad
  • Entrance fees and permits
  • Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device

Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.

What's Not Included

  • Transportation to/from Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Trip insurance that includes medical coverage and at least $200,000 in evacuation and repatriation coverage (strongly encouraged)
  • All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. flight cancellation, personal illness, strikes, etc. (we recommend trip insurance coverage for these variables)
  • Clothes, rain gear, and footwear
  • Bar bills, drink bills, telephone bills, Wi-Fi bills and other personal expenses (shopping/laundry/spa or sauna)
  • Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
  • Water bottles
  • Guide gratuities are optional and at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 10-15% of the total trip cost. Local currency is preferred, or USD is also appreciated.

Meals: What To Expect

New Zealand cuisine has a wide array of influences and style from land to sea food products with historical influences of British cuisine and Māori culture. You can find fish, lamb, beef, and BBQ. Stewed vegetables and boiled potatoes are common fair as well as fish & chips, meat pies, pavlova, and custard squares.

While on the trek, all meals will be cooked by your guide in the huts. Our guides are famous for their backcountry cooking skills!

Your guide will also provide an assortment of snacks. If there are particular hiking snacks you prefer (specific protein bars, jerkies, etc.), we recommend bringing some of your own as it may not be possible to find locally.

We can often accommodate vegan, vegetarian and non-gluten diets and make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee, and in some countries may be more difficult to accommodate than others. Please inquire with us for more information about the specific trip you’re interested in.

Lodging: What to Expect

We have a mix of accommodations on this Wild New Zealand Hiking Adventure.

  • Christchurch Hotel: This is a typical hotel with ensuite bathrooms
  • Huts or Tents: Guests will carry tents throughout the trek and will have an option to sleep in tents or in the huts, depending on individual preference. The huts are dormitory style and have kitchens and outhouses. If the hut feels too loud or busy, you may choose to tent camp nearby, while still having the option to use the hut amenities. The huts are generally not busy, but as a backup, we will carry tents.
  • Hot Springs Resort: Room type and amenities vary and we cannot guarantee which room each guest will be assigned to. Room types include individual cabins and more conventional hotel rooms. Some bathrooms will be shared.

Gear We Provide

  • Multi-day backpack
  • Trekking poles
  • Tent
  • Sleeping pad
  • Company-issued first-aid kit
  • Emergency Communication Device

Guest Packing List

When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.

Trip Logistics

Trip Logistics

How Do I Register?

Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.

Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!

Trip Start

Trip Start

Christchurch, New Zealand

Closest Airport

Christchurch International Airport (CHC). Transportation to and from Christchurch is guest’s responsibility.

Day 1

We will pick you up from the Christchurch airport upon your arrival. Please be sure to arrive no later than 1 pm.

Our pre-trip team will be in contact via email approximately 45 days before your trip to coordinate and confirm your rendezvous and answer any last-minute questions you have.

Trip End

Trip Start

Christchurch, New Zealand

Closest Airport

Christchurch International Airport (CHC). Transportation from Christchurch is guest’s responsibility.

Day 9

We will provide one group transfer to the Christchurch Airport. Please plan for flights to depart no earlier than 2 pm. If you are extending your travels, we can also drop you off at your hotel in Christchurch City Center.

Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging

We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Christchurch as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability. Please note we are unable to provide airport transfers if you arrive/depart outside of the trip dates. See above for the shuttle service we recommend.

Entry Requirements

For checking entry requirements, we recommend using our travel tool, Sherpa Travel. Here, you can view what is required to enter the country, depending on with which country you hold your passport. If a visa is required, you can apply directly through this service.

US Citizens will need to apply for an eTA to enter New Zealand.

Safety Precautions

Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.

In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.

Essential Eligibility Criteria

Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.

Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.

The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.

Guides

Our approach to international travel is to combine the best of two worlds: the dialed-in details, professionalism and consistency Wildland trips are known for; and the cultural immersion and intimate regional knowledge that only locals can provide. To excel with this approach, we vet and hire the best local guides, welcome them into the Wildland family and train them to meet our standard of excellence with every aspect of a trip. But along with managing logistics and safety, your guides will teach you about the area’s history and culture, and provide a level of familiarity and intimate detail only locals can.

Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.

Age Restrictions

Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:

  • 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)

Trip Insurance

Field evacuation, repatriation, and medical insurance is strongly recommended.

We recommend IMG/iTravelinsured. They are one of the world’s leading providers of travel insurance.

For information on the recommended IMG/iTravelinsured policies please click here.

If you already have the required insurance or wish to purchase from anyone other than IMG/iTravelinsured, we recommend careful consultation with the provider to ensure appropriate coverage. This is because many providers have a number of policy exclusions.

Weather in New Zealand

New Zealand’s climate is rich and diverse, varying from warm subtropical in the north to cool temperate climates in the south. The two islands have 12 distinct climate zones. New Zealand also experiences severe alpine conditions in the Southern Alps. Given that the mountains run the length of New Zealand in a North-South orientation, there is great variation in weather depending on what side of the range you are on. The West Coast of the South Island is the wettest area whereas 60 miles east of the mountains is the driest area.

The coldest month of the year is July (~35°F/1°C average) and the warmest is usually January/February (~73°F/23°C average). Be prepared for a range of weather, temperature, and precipitation.

Accommodations

Accommodations

MAYFAIR LUXURY HOTEL

1 NIGHT

Centrally located on Victoria Street, the Mayfair Luxury Hotel is a boutique hotel with spacious rooms. This modern, exquisitely designed hotel is close to many local attractions leaving the newcomer with plenty to do and see.

Huts/Tents

Marui Hot Springs Resort, Lewis Pass

MARUIA SPRINGS RESORT

Marui Hot Springs Resort, Lewis Pass
1 NIGHT

Maruia Springs is an award-winning natural hot springs, day spa, and wellness destination offering cozy accommodations with glimpses of the Maruia River and panoramic mountain scenery. This resort also offers complimentary sauna infusions, meditation and yoga classes. You’ll find that this resort is the maraschino cherry on top of your fantastic New Zealand adventure. This hotel offers two different types of rooms – Deluxe Glamping Pods with shared bathrooms or ensuite lodge rooms. We cannot guarantee which room will be available to you.

* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.

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