Great Walks of Fiordland

For the first day of your trip we’ll meet you in Queenstown and get straight on the road to head to Te Anau where we'll tick off our first Great Walk for this adventure - the Kepler Track. Interestingly, the Kepler Track differs from the Routeburn and Milford Tracks in that it didn’t actually evolve from a Maori greenstone trail, but was custom-built for hiking. The section we’ll hike today passes over the control gates at the outlet of Lake Te Anau and meanders through ancient beech and podocarp forest. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a tasty lunch before heading back around the lake to the Department of Conservation birdlife park in Te Anau. The centre takes care of injured or ageing birds which would struggle to survive in the wild - it’s a great opportunity to see some of our rarest birds up close, so don’t forget your camera! We'll make our way to our accommodation for the next three nights, Matai Lodge, and enjoy the scenery and the delicious local fare.

• Today we’ll take the day to explore the lesser-known sound in Fiordland, Doubtful Sound! There’s no direct road access, so we’ll board a boat for the cruise across Lake Manapouri, before a drive over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove - New Zealand's most expensive (and majestic) road. We’ll pause along the way to experience the dense Fiordland rainforest and view Doubtful Sound glistening below. This isolation makes this fiord a very special place, only those in the know get to see.
• Doubtful Sound is a large and remote wilderness area, and once we arrive, we'll board the boat for a 3-hour cruise on the sound - a spectacular pristine fiord. During the cruise, knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will share with us their passion for the region. They’re always ready to answer questions, point out landmarks and provide all the information about the varied wildlife we may see, including dolphins, fur seals and the rare Fiordland crested penguin! We'll make our way back to Te Anau the same way we came so have your camera ready in case you missed any great shots!

• This morning we’ll take a drive into Milford Sound, checking out a few of our favourite viewpoints along the way in Eglinton Valley. We'll continue on through the Homer Tunnel to emerge at the top of a spectacular glacier-carved valley for a memorable descent to the shore of Milford Sound (actually it’s a fiord!). Rudyard Kipling rated Milford the eighth natural wonder of the world and it’s truly breath-taking, with steep granite walls plunging over a thousand metres to the Tasman Sea and waterfalls cascading into deep inky water. When we arrive at Milford Sound we’ll relax on the deck of a ship, cruising the dark, deep waters of the fiord in the hands of a knowledgeable captain and the nature guides on board. We’ll marvel at the majesty of Mitre Peak - so named for its likeness to a Bishop’s hat - and get up close and personal with several waterfalls! The landscape here looks superimposed because of the sheer scale of your surroundings.
• After our cruise and some lunch, we’ll drive back to the Divide, where we’ll hike part of the Routeburn Track, the second of the Great Walks you’ll experience. We hike through beech forest, sub-alpine shrubland and picturesque alpine tarns, before reaching Key Summit. Here you’ll be standing at the head of three different valleys (the Hollyford, Eglinton and Greenstone), with stunning views over the Great Divide, which separates west and east-flowing rivers. This is an out and backtrack, so we’ll retrace our steps back to the bus and to Te Anau for our last night together!

• After our last breakfast together we'll set off for our hike on the Milford Track. Wild, tempestuous, and ruggedly beautiful – all of these words describe the Milford Track during this time of year, and the track’s famous waterfalls, forests and mountain views come alive in vivid blues, greens and snowy whites. We'll take a boat ride across Lake Te Anau to Glade Wharf and set off on the trail, with our turnaround point being Clinton Hut, where all hikers spend the first night. Take a minute to soak in the scenery at the wharf at the mouth of Clinton River surrounded by mountains more than 3,000 feet taller than the lake. As we walk, we'll enjoy birdsong from resident grey warblers, bellbirds, even tui, and perhaps enjoy a visit from friendly fantails and curious robins.
• After our time on the Milford Track we'll boat back to Te Anau and begin our journey home – refreshed and renewed by a shared appreciation for the truly great outdoors. We’ll arrive back in Queenstown in the early evening when our trip ends. Your guides will be able to make recommendations for dinner if you’re dining out tonight.