Southern Alps Winter Adventure

  • 5 Days
  • Avg Group Size: 12
  • Activity Level 3
    • Activity Level 3

      Those who take on our Level 3 tours are looking for more challenging hikes that will raise their heart rate.

    Read more about the Active Range

  • Trip Start: Christchurch
  • Trip End: Queenstown
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Experience the magnificence of New Zealand's spectacular Southern Alps as whimsical winter wonderland

You’ll be treated to stunning mountain views at every turn as you travel into the heart of the Southern Alps. From a cozy alpine lodge, to magnificent Aoraki Mt Cook, to the remote backcountry of Mt Aspiring National Park, to the captivating charm of the adventure capital of Queenstown - where you can enjoy a local world-class pinot noir and reflect on your 5 days of snowy alpine delights.

Trip Highlights

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Hiking

Wanaka

Biking

Mt Aspiring National Park

Hiking

Explore Queenstown

Plus...

Download Our Handy Trip Itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip.

DOWNLOAD ITINERARY PDF

New Zealand Winter Adventure ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Christchurch Trip End: Queenstown

Download our Handy Trip itinerary

Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip

  • Day 1Arrive to Christchurch, hike Mt John

  • Day 2Hike Aoraki Mt Cook National Park or ski/snowboard Ohau Ski Area

  • Day 3Mt Aspiring Hut: Hike and overnight in Mt Aspiring National Park

  • Day 4Hike out of Mt Aspiring National Park and bike Wanaka

  • Day 5Depart

  • Day 1

    Arrive to Christchurch, hike Mt John

    #56967

    Most people leave the Northern Hemisphere on a Saturday evening, arriving in Auckland early Monday morning. You’ll lose a day crossing the dateline – but you get it back on the way home! It’s a short flight from Auckland to Christchurch on the South Island where we’ll meet you. We then head to Lake Tekapo for a hike along the lakeshore before emerging above the treeline on Mt. John for breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

    Then we’ll carry on to the remote and beautiful Lake Ohau Lodge. The lodge is tucked in beside an alpine lake, with stunning views stretching across to Aoraki/Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps – the ideal spot to soak in the hot tub and star gaze! Today is a relaxed introduction to New Zealand. Depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll probably find jetlag is no big deal. For instance, it’s a 12 to 13-hour direct overnight flight from the west coast of the USA to Auckland so you’ll appreciate the gentle start to your New Zealand adventure.
    Accommodation: Lake Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau
    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

    Hiking: 5 miles (8 kilometers), 2-3 hours
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,080 feet (330 meters) ascent, 1,080 feet (330 meters) descent

     

  • Day 2

    Hike Aoraki Mt Cook National Park or ski/snowboard Ohau Ski Area

    #56968

    After a late breakfast on the balcony overlooking Lake Ohau, we’ll take an impressive hike at the head of Lake Pukaki, up the Hooker Valley to a glacial lake complete with icebergs! This is a great spot for lunch and on a clear day, the views of Aoraki/Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, are stunning.

    We’ll return to the lodge where we’ll enjoy a sumptuous dinner. An option today is to spend the day skiing at the small and friendly Ohau Ski Area, one of the South Island’s more remote backcountry ski fields.
    Accommodation: Lake Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Hiking: 5.6 miles (9 kilometers), 2-3 hours
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 328 feet (100 meters) ascent, 328 feet (100 meters) descent

  • Day 3

    Mt Aspiring Hut: Hike and overnight in Mt Aspiring National Park

    #56969

    After leaving Wanaka, we’ll venture up the Matukituki Valley and hike two to three hours into Mt. Aspiring National Park to reach our home for the evening – a spacious mountain hut nestled in a valley in the middle of nowhere. The track meanders past majestic peaks, fresh mountain streams, and natural beech forest. You’ll be carrying a sleeping bag, a few spare clothes, and some food, so your pack won’t weigh much more than a regular day pack. The scenery is off the charts with Mt. Aspiring rising 9,951 feet (3,033 meters) into the blue sky. It’s amazing how far you’ll feel from civilization after this relatively short walk! Tonight your guide will whip up dinner in the backcountry kitchen while you relax by the fire.
    Accommodation: Mt Aspiring Hut, Mt Aspiring National Park
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Hiking: 5.6 miles (9 kilometers), 3-5 hours
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 197 feet (60 meters) ascent 

  • Day 4

    Hike out of Mt Aspiring National Park and bike Wanaka

    #56970

    We have a leisurely start today, enjoying breakfast and a cuppa while admiring the view, before hiking back to the trailhead. Along the way, we might encounter the cheeky kea – they’re really inquisitive and like to get pretty close at times!

    We'll head out for a bike ride along the lakeshore, and then it’s a short but dramatic journey over the Cardrona Saddle to Queenstown, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, our base for the next couple of days.
    Accommodation: Heritage Hotel, Queenstown
    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

    Hiking: 5.6 miles (9 kilometers), 3-5 hours
    Elevation Gain/Loss: 197 feet (60 meters) descent

    Biking: Up to 6 miles (10 kilometers), 2-3 hours

  • Day 5

    Depart

    #56971

    Your trip finishes here in Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand (if not the world!) and all the comforts of civilization are packed into this tiny resort town: restaurants galore, stylish lounge bars, day spas, and boutiques. You’ll also find incredible optional activities here, including horse trekking, a gondola, fishing, winery tours, a historic steamship, bungy jumping, jet boating, and skydiving as well as some great hiking opportunities. Or you can just soak up the atmosphere by the fire at one of the local cafés or pubs.

    Alternatively, you can go skiing or snowboarding for the day at one of four nearby ski areas.
    Accommodation: Not applicable
    Meals: No meals

Southern Alps Winter Adventure Departure Dates

Looking for a longer winter trip? Check out our 14-Day New Zealand Winter Adventure.

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Included

  • Our own highly experienced guides, driver, and cook, with you from start to finish
  • Industry-leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
  • Your own ‘Account’, an online space with everything required for your adventure
  • Our knowledgeable Customer Service Team to answer your queries - just a phone call, email or chat away
  • Customer Service pre-trip phone calls to ensure you’re 'trip ready'
  • All accommodations for the duration of your trip
  • All meals except where indicated in the itinerary
  • Unlimited snacks to keep you fueled
  • All activities outlined in the itinerary
  • All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities, including Hiking Poles
  • All park and other entry fees
  • Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern, and comfortable!



All 2024 NZ Adventures guaranteed

Adventure Guaranteed in New Zealand!

Our New Zealand 2024 adventures are filling up, so we are guaranteeing ALL trips to depart. Be in quick and book with confidence to secure your spot, and get set to take off on the adventure of a lifetime.

New Zealand is a nature lover's paradise, with unspoiled scenery everywhere you look. From snow-capped mountains to pristine beaches, deep fjords to ancient glaciers, turquoise lakes to volcanic plateaus, New Zealand really does have it all.

Our expert, local guides will take you hiking, biking, kayaking, and more, so you can experience the stunning backdrop close-up. Combine this with a warm and welcoming people, beautiful Maori culture, and world class wines and cuisine, and you've got an incredible, unique adventure you'll never forget.

Get in touch before our 2024 New Zealand departures completely sell out!

What Our Guests Say

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Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance - you can find details here.

*Terms & conditions apply – read more here

 

Useful Info

Where does the trip start?

On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Merivale Manor at 9:30am or the Christchurch airport (CHC) in front of the Help Desk (near door 7) at 10am. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at this hotel directly or any other hotel in Christchurch, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends after breakfast and you're free to fly out any time. You'll need to organise your own transfer to Queenstown Airport (ZQN) in time for your departing flight.

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: If you're flying in on the first day of the trip, we recommend arriving in Christchurch before 9.30am on Monday.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, you can depart from Queenstown at any time.

How fit do I need to be for this trip?

You’ll need a solid level of fitness for this trip. We’ll get you into the back country to experience Iceland up close so you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy yourself. While you don’t have to be extremely fit, you should be in the habit of doing regular aerobic exercise, ideally involving some up hills and down hills and perhaps even carrying a pack! With a little preparation before your trip begins, you’ll enjoy the active and outdoor nature of your trip all the more.

Please head to our Fitness Guide for great tips on how to prepare along with a workout plan!

What accommodations do we stay at on this trip?

We’ve selected the accommodation on your trip for the stunning settings, unique character and adventuresome feel. We prefer to stay in quaint, comfortable bed and breakfasts, lodges and apartments, some of which have private bathrooms and some shared bathrooms. You may be sharing a two bedroom apartment or bathroom with other group members at some stage. Some places are fairly basic - like when we stay at Mt. Aspiring Hut on our overnight hike - and the true Kiwi experience makes it all worthwhile.

If you've selected a single supplement for your trip, the overnight hike is not included as no single rooms are available in the huts, and the single supplement price takes this into account.

We recommend bringing enough clothing so you don't have to do laundry during your trip.

How much luggage can I bring on this trip?

You are allowed one piece of luggage on your trip, plus a daypack. Your main piece of luggage should not exceed 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and can be anything from a duffle bag to a sports bag with wheels or a suitcase. You'll also want a good quality backpack sized 25-30 liters (2000 cubic inches) to use throughout the days.

You'll also need a good quality trekking pack with well-fitting shoulder and waist straps. Your pack should be 60 litre size (3500 cubic inches), large enough to fit your sleeping bag inside along with all your multi-day gear.

Tell me about the overnight hike?

Your overnight hike into Mt. Aspiring Hut is designed to ease you into the overnight hikes. It’s a three hour hike
(10 kilometres / 6 miles) to Mt. Aspiring Hut, your humble home for the night. Here you’ll be treated to a candle-lit
dinner - mountain style whilst looking up at New Zealand’s second highest peak! The following day you return the way you came, and you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the glacier.

What will the weather be like?

Seeing you’re visiting New Zealand during the winter months, temperatures tend to be pretty cold, so be sure to pack those extra warm layers (see the gear list below). On the odd occasion, the weather can get in the way of our planned activities, so we try and be as flexible as possible and we always have great Plan B’s up our sleeve! Your guides will always inform you of any changes that need to be made during the trip - we ask for your flexibility and understanding under these circumstances as such decisions are always made with your safety in mind.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 120 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement.

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Is tipping expected in New Zealand?

Tipping is neither required nor routinely expected in New Zealand, but it is appropriate for very good service. In New Zealand you don't usually tip in restaurants, or if you take a taxi, or get a haircut. Many of our guests do choose to tip our guides and we recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per guide. You are welcome to tip an equivalent amount in the local currency. There are plenty of ATM’s and banks in the larger towns of New Zealand.

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