4-Day South Island Guided Tour: New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park

Kia ora! Welcome to Queenstown, New Zealand. If you arrive in Queenstown with some time to spare, there is no shortage of activities available – from cycling and hiking to dining and sightseeing. Today, your trip starts with a pick-up from Steamer's Wharf at 8 am. Take a private transfer to Te Anau, the centre of your 4-day walking trip and the gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. After dropping off your bags and checking in to your accommodation, take a scenic drive on Milford Road, stopping for a few short walks and photo opportunities. Your first walk of the trip is on the Routeburn Track. You’ll walk to Key Summit or Greenstone Valley for the next few hours, depending on the group’s fitness level and desires. After, return to the accommodation and enjoy a free evening to relax – or join your fellow trekkers for an optional dinner out.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals

Lunch

Included Activities

• Fiordland National Park - Routeburn Track Hike

Special information

The welcome meeting is at 8 am today at Steamer's Wharf where you will be picked up to start your trip, so it’s recommended you arrive the night before in Queenstown.

Your trekking distance today will be about 8 to 14 km, depending on the group’s fitness. Minimum 400m ascent + descent. Track is well formed but rough underfoot in places.

Weather conditions can change rapidly in this part of NZ, which can result in the need for changes to be made to our intended itineraries. Your tour leader will advise if the order of your itinerary needs to be changed due to weather conditions. 

After breakfast take a transfer to the Queens Reach Boat Ramp from where you’ll take a jet boat to Lake Manapouri – formed 20,000 years ago in the most recent ice age and now known as New Zealand’s loveliest lake. Take in the sweeping scenery full of glittering blues and greens, then head out on today’s walk on the Kepler Track. Along the way, appreciate the unique mountainous landscape akin to the wonders of Middle Earth and follow the terraces of the Waiau River through red and mountain beech forests. Cross the river on a swing bridge and stop for a packed lunch at Rainbow Reach. Depending on the time and weather we may stop in at Te Punanga O Manu Te Anau Bird Sanctuary to catch a glimpse at some of New Zealand's rare and endangered birds such as the takahe. Your afternoon today is free. You have the option to head to the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves. After a scenic boat ride on Lake Te Anau, you’ll sail beneath the bioluminescent worms and learn about this fascinating ecosystem from your local guide. If you’d rather, maybe just explore Te Anau on foot or walk around the lake and catch a screening of the spectacular Ata Whenua film at the Fiordland cinema. You can also catch a water taxi across the lake and take a scenic walk back to town from there (which takes about 3 hours).

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals

Breakfast & Lunch

Included Activities

• Fiordland National Park - Kepler Track Hike
• Fiordland National Park - Jet Boat Ride to Lake Manapouri

Optional Activities

• Te Anau - Ata Whenua Film Screening
• Te Anau - Glow Worm Cave with Cruise & Guide 
• Te Anau - Te Punanga O Manu Te Anau Bird Sanctuary

Special information

Your trekking distance today will be about 6 km on a mostly flat and easy track.

Get up bright and early this morning and prepare to explore one of the most popular spots in all New Zealand – Milford Sound, known locally as Piopiotahi. After breakfast, take a private transfer on the Milford Road to the Milford Track described as "the finest walk in the world". You’ll head to Giant Gate Falls from Sandfly Point on a guided hike. Pass through rainforest landscapes, taking in all the sights and smells of the track. You’ll pass countless fern species and hear the singsong of New Zealand tuis, bellbirds and kereru. Stop for a packed lunch when you reach the falls, which flow into Lake Ada, destined for the Tasman Sea. This gorgeous sight can be best appreciated on the swing bridge in front of the cascade. After your trek, head to the base of Mitre Peak for a 2-hour boat cruise on Milford Sound – and see why this location was dubbed the 'eighth wonder of the world' by Rudyard Kipling. Look out for bottlenose dolphins and fur seals and bask in the silence of the fiord as you sail past misting cascades, icy peaks, lush rainforest and twisting inlets. Depart the fiord in the late afternoon and return to your accommodation, where your evening is free.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals

Breakfast & Lunch

Included Activities

• Milford Sound - Milford Track Hike
• Milford Sound - Nature Boat Cruise

Special information

Your trekking distance today will be about 11 km on a well-formed track, it is rough and rocky in places requiring good stability. Very little vertical gain. Bring a change of clothes in case you get wet while walking. Bring a good rain coat - Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in NZ.

After breakfast this morning you’ll jump on e-bikes and take a scenic ride on the beautiful Lake 2 Lake Trail, following the Waiau River, with the Fiordland National Park just across the fast flowing waters. Take in lake, riverside and mountain views, native bush, wetlands and farmland scenery. Head back to town for lunch (optional) and then return to Queenstown via a private transfer, where your trip ends.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals

Breakfast

Included Activities

• Te Anau - Scenic E-bike Ride on the Lake 2 Lake Trail

Special information

Today’s bike ride is on e-bikes on mostly flat gravel trails. The total distance covered will be approximately 16km. Please note that the ride itself will be unaccompanied by your leader. They will be checking in on you at various points of the ride, and will wait for you at the end of the ride for your transport back to Queenstown.

Your trip finishes at 5 pm at Steamers Wharf in Queenstown. Please take this into account when booking onward travel. We recommend you book an extra night’s accommodation in Queenstown.