New Zealand: Wild West Coast

11 days
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Small Group Tour
With its many glorious rivers, fjords, mountains, lakes, and glaciers, the South Island’s rugged West Coast is an active traveler’s dream. Our itinerary is specifically designed to let you experience the myriad of adventures this region has to offer, but at a pace that lets you fully enjoy your surroundings. Your one-of-a-kind journey begins in Blenheim, on t...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Experience the singular beauty of the West Coast on a one-of-a-kind journey designed by our seasoned local guide
    • Come face-to-face with shimmering walls of ice on a half-day hike at Fox Glacier and a day hike in Mount Aspiring National Park
    • Take an exhilarating rafting trip through Buller Gorge, paddle unspoiled Okarito Lagoon and go sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park
    • Hike for two days on the iconic Queen Charlotte Track, with a stay at legendary Furneaux Lodge
    • Explore the remote and beautiful Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area by jetboat, a wilderness hike, and scenic helicopter flight!

What's this trip about?

    With its many glorious rivers, fjords, mountains, lakes, and glaciers, the South Island’s rugged West Coast is an active traveler’s dream. Our itinerary is specifically designed to let you experience the myriad of adventures this region has to offer, but at a pace that lets you fully enjoy your surroundings. Your one-of-a-kind journey begins in Blenheim, on the South Island, where you’ll enjoy a day in the Marlborough wine country.   You’ll take a hike at Fox Glacier, explore the remote Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area by jetboat and scenic helicopter flight, hike the famous Queen Charlotte Track, go white-water rafting in Buller Gorge, picnic below  dramatic Rob Roy Glacier, and kayak on unspoiled Okarito Lagoon. But you’ll also have the chance to unwind at exclusive lodges and out-of-the-way hamlets, taste world-class sauvignon blanc and pinot noir wines, and encounter rare Fiordland crested penguins. Experience the singular beauty and true essence of the West Coast, as only our expert, local guide can show it to you.

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Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBlenheim
End CityQueenstown

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • High Adventure
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • New Zealand

Attractions

  • Abel Tasman National Park
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Queenstown

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline
  • Hiking
  • Kayaking
  • Mountaineering
  • Nature
  • Rafting
  • Snorkeling
  • Trekking
  • Whitewater rafting

Trip includes

    • Expert leadership
    • Accommodations as noted in itinerary (or similar)
    • If applicable, tent or safari accommodations and all arrangements in the field, including camp and cook staffs,
    • Comfortable and roomy two-person tents, kitchen and dining tents, and other community equipment
    • Meals as noted in the itinerary
    • airport transfers
    • Sightseeing as noted in the itinerary
    • Ground transportation
    • Additional guides and porters where necessary
    • Tips for lodge, hotel, or camp staff
    • Entrance fees and permits, unless noted separately in costs
    • Basic medical and evacuation insurance

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Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Wine Country, Blenheim
Our New Zealand adventure begins in Blenheim, in the heart of Malborough's renowned wine country. A Mountain Travel Sobek representative will meet you outside the arrival area of the airport in the morning and transfer you directly to our first winery. The region, famous...
Day 2: The Start of the Queen Charlotte Track
After arriving in Picton and taking a stroll around town, we'll board our boat and set sail across Queen Charlotte Sound towards Ships Cove. From here we'll begin our hike on the Queen Charlotte Track, which takes us through lush coastal forest preserve of tree ferns, ni...
Day 3: Queen Charlotte Track
After a good breakfast, we'll walk to Punga Cove to take in some great views of the Marlborough Sound before taking a boat ride around Queen Charlotte Sound and back to Picton. The Punga Loop section of the track generally follows the coastline around Endeavour Inlet, mu...
Day 4: Abel Tasman National Park
Today we have an early morning start as we drive to the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park for a day of sea kayaking. Once there we board a water taxi and head towards the northern beach of Onetahuti. From there we paddle to Tonga Island and its flourishing seal colon...
Day 5: Rafting on the Buller River
Leaving Nelson we head west along the Wairau Valley to the town of Murchison. After donning our wetsuits we drive to the put in for our class III-IV raft trip through the Buller Gorge. We experience exhilarating Class III-IV whitewater rafting as the Buller River surges ...
Day 6: Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks & Blowholes
Continuing south, we follow the coastline with impressive coastal views of the Tasman Sea on the ocean side, and spectacular mountain views of the Southern Alps inland. Stopping at Punakaiki, we take a stroll around the.limestone formations known as the Pancake Rocks bef...
Day 7: Explore Okarito Lagoon by Kayak and Foot
Back on the coast road we continue south to the seaside hamlet of Okarito. Kayaks offer a wonderful way to explore the Okarito Lagoon, allowing us to enjoy the flora, fauna and scenic grandeur of New Zealand's largest unmodified coastal wetland, covering more than 3240 h...
Day 8: Hike on Fox Glacier
After breakfast we take a 3-hour glacier hike on famous Fox Glacier. At 8 miles, Fox Glacier is the longest of the awe-inspiring glaciers of New Zealand's West Coast. Our guide leads us on a walk beside the river bed to the glacier terminus, from which you will walk uphi...
Day 9: Wilderness adventure in New Zealand World Heritage
Area and Mount Aspiring National Park Leaving glacier country, we bid the West Coast farewell and head inland following the Haast River before climbing up to Haast Pass. After crossing the divide we arrive at Makarora, where we’ll stop for our next adventure. Boarding a ...
Day 10: Hike to the spectacular Rob Roy Glacier
The drive up the Matukituki Valley to Mount Aspiring National Park is awe-inspiring. We’ll hike up Mount Aspiring National Park’s Matukituki Valley to the Rob Roy Glacier. On this spectacular trek—one of the best day hikes on the South Island—you’ll discover why Kiwi fil...
Day 11: Depart Queenstown
We journey to Queenstown where we’ll have a relaxed breakfast, and one last opportunity to look around the town before heading out to the airport.From Queenstown you'll fly back to Auckland and connect with your homeward-bound flights. Or choose to stay on a bit to enjoy one of these great options:

Option 1:
Queenstown is a lovely place to spend some time. It’s an incredibly scenic town located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu with spectacular mountain views. In addition to the scenery, it is renowned as the adventure capital of the world due to the many adventurous activities...

Option 2:
Explore more of New Zealand on our Milford Track or Hollyford Track extensions. Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,495
Price per day$590
Single supplement (single occupancy)$1,200
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek).

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
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Tish

Aug 2023

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Recommend Japan hikes but not with Mt Sobek

First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfor...

A

Anne

Dec 2019

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Company Reviewsby MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Spectacular scenery

Spectacular scenery, great hiking, and fascinating conversations with...

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Andrea

Dec 2019

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Company Reviewsby MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Truly enjoyable

Thanks to MT Sobek this trip was seamless and truly enjoyable. The accommodations, logistics, and guides were all excellent. I always felt safe, cared for, and well ...

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Tour Operator

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

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Mountain Travel began with the belief that there is a little bit of adventure in everyone. The early days were fueled by the passions of outdoor enthusiasts who loved exploring wild places. 40 years later, we offer almost 200 adventures to destinations worldwide.

Expert Guides: When you venture into foreign lands, tackle snowy peaks or raging whitewater, you want the best guides at your side. With decades of experience in the field, MTS guides offer inspirational enthusiasm, exceptional leadership, and sheer volume of knowledge (better than any guidebook!).

What makes us great!

At Mountain Travel Sobek, we are driven by two philosophies.

One is the credo by which we have guided our company for over 30 years. Mountain Travel Sobek is a continuing experiment in discovery: of new lands, of exotic cultures, and of wondrous wildlife far from fences and highways. We believe the best way to bring to light the marvels of nature, the people of the world and ourselves, is by traveling in small groups—treading lightly with responsibility and sensitivity—while enjoying firsthand the boundless beauty and variety of our miracle planet.

The other is our philosophy for you, our client. Plan nothing, enjoy everything. We take care of all of the logistics so that you can have more time to do what's most important: relax, enjoy the experience, and have fun!

Active Unique Itineraries

Our adventures are planned with reasonably paced itineraries, incredible attention to detail, and the right mix of fun, learning, and challenge that ensure a memorable vacation. You will find our adventures physically active and culturally rewarding. Whether you ride a camel in Rajasthan or climb to the top of Kilimanjaro, you'll experience firsthand the cultures and environments of the region you are visiting. And after a long day of adventuring, we ensure you a comfortable night's rest in deluxe accommodations from regional inns to our own private camps.

In keeping with our founders' adventurous spirit, Mountain Travel Sobek is constantly seeking innovative new trips throughout the world. You will always find an array of new trips to exotic locales in our trip list in addition to the classic adventures for which we are renowned. So whatever your level of adventure, there is a Mountain Travel Sobek adventure just right for you.

Small Groups

You're probably wondering about the people with whom you'll share your adventure. Chances are, they're a lot like you. Our guests come from all walks of life and are spirited travelers who share a passion for our wonderful world. They range in age from their late 20s to mid-80s, reminding us all that you can never be too young or too old to have fun!

Our groups are intentionally kept small—usually less than 15 people—to allow you a more intimate experience with the people and wildlife you encounter on your Mountain Travel Sobek adventure. With such a small number of people, we can take advantage of many unexpected invitations and opportunities that would be impossible with larger groups.

Our guides often have very close ties to the local community and we are readily welcomed into the lives of the local folk. We may be invited to share lunch with a Turkish family or visit an artist's studio in Tuscany. Don't forget to ask us about the time we spent Thanksgiving at a Fulani "festival of the cows" in the Dogon lowlands of Mali—now there's something we won't soon forget!

Private Adventures

Our Private Adventures are an incredible series of itineraries designed especially for small groups, whether it be families, couples, or treasured friends. These selected trips are ideal for reunions with family or old friends, a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary - and can you imagine a more exotic honeymoon?

Like all Mountain Travel Sobek trips, you can count on an adventure that reflects Mountain Travel Sobek's time-tested commitment to authentic, personalized experiences and world-class service.

Customized Adventures

You can either book your group on one of our scheduled departures, choose your own dates for one of our regular trips, or let us create a special trip hand-tailored to your specific needs and wishes. If you can imagine it, we just might be able to make it happen!

Safety

Our safety record is unparalleled (good to know if you're stepping into a river raft for the first time or planning to trek in the high mountains of Nepal). The guides are fully trained, our equipment is state-of-the-art, and we continually monitor conditions with our worldwide team of outfitters to make certain every trip is run safely and with the highest standards of quality.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance); optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; excess baggage charges; airport taxes (international—varies by location); cost of medical immunizations; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Accommodation

,Furneaux Lodge — Queen Charlotte Sound Nestled at the foot of Mount Furneaux, in the outer reaches of the Queen Charlotte Sound, Furneaux Lodge has the most picturesque scenery in the Marlborough Sounds region. Built in the early 1900s, the lodge is surrounded by virgin forest and its Hikers Cabins are secluded private bunk rooms hidden among the trees. The Hikers Cabins have shared bathrooms. Marlborough Vintners Hotel — Blenheim Surrounded by vineyards in the heart of sauvignon blanc country, Marlborough Vintners Hotel in Blenheim is your cuisine and wine destination when traveling to Marlborough. This boutique vineyard accommodation and restaurant is set in six tranquil acres, and each suite is complete with top amenities, including king-size beds, toweling robes, a spacious bathroom with handmade natural amenities from a local supplier, DVD player, TV, a great range of complimentary DVDs for loan, private patio, and a small kitchenette with tea and coffee making facilities. High-speed wireless broadband access is also available. Mercure Monaco Resort — Nelson The Mercure Monaco Resort offers a superior standard of accommodation, and views of colorful cottage gardens, Nelson's mountain range and the Waimea Inlet. Its 20 elegantly furnished boutique rooms include queen-size beds, en-suite bathroom, tea and coffee facilities, Sky TV, telephone, writing desk and high-speed internet. Each room varies in style and size. The spacious lounge lobby is just the place to relax at the end of the day with a fine wine or local lager. Oakridge Resort — Wanaka Grand Mercure Oakridge Resort Lake Wanaka is a 4-star hotel set in a stunning mountain landscape offering majestic views overlooking the Southern Alps. The resort features heated rock pools, seven hot tubs, a gymnasium, sauna, day spa, and restaurant to provide guests with a unique and relaxing experience. Punakaiki Resort — Punakaiki Situated on New Zealand's wild west coast, 30 minutes north of Greymouth and 300m south of the famous Pancakes Rocks and Blowholes, the Punakaiki Resort is surrounded by the Paparoa National Park and is only a stone's throw from the beach. Its spacious, modern studio units all have en-suite bathrooms and either an ocean or garden view. Westhaven Motel — Fox Glacier The Westhaven is a new and modern property, centrally located in the Fox Glacier township. Epitomizing luxurious, stylish, contemporary accommodation, it provides a high level of service and its comfortable rooms are fitted out to a very high standard. It's flowing with touches are ideal for the discerning traveler.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
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