Wanaka Hike, Bike & Kayak

Take a deep dive into the Otago region on a 4-day active adventure in Wanaka. Let a local leader show you the very best as you cycle the heritage-filled surrounds of gold rush Arrowtown, hike up to the hanging glaciers beneath Rob Roy Peak, kayak the glassy waters of Lake Wanaka and taste regional flavours at a local winery. Soak in spectacular cinematic backdrops as you walk up Mt Iron, visit a secluded Lake Wanaka island and experience a brand-new and thrilling cycling trail. Enjoy 5 nights in Queenstown at your own pace, sample quality restaurants, stroll along the picturesque lakefront, or check out the abundant variety of superb shops in Frankton. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Walter Peak, followed by a jaw dropping cruise of the Doubtful Sound. Relax into the comfort of your seat as the Lindis Pass produces amazing views through valleys of the Southern Alps before reaching Mt Cook. Here sample one of the many hikes, whether it be one of New Zealand’s most beautiful hikes; The Hooker Valley, or a Heli Hike to the Tasman Glacier. Indulge your tastebuds in rich High Country Salmon on a local salmon farm and visit Mrs Jones Suncrest Orchard.

Your holiday package includes:

• Return economy class flights to Queenstown
• 5 nights in Queenstown including breakfast
• Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise
• Mt Cook Small Group Tour
• 4 day Wanaka Hike, Bike & Kayak Tour by Intrepid, Queenstown return
• 3 nights accommodation and 3 breakfasts
• Private return airport transfers

Included Intrepid Activities:

• Guided Cycling tour of surrounding area
• Leader-led orientation walk
• Private Boat to Mou Waho Island
• Flat Water Kayaking
• Mou Waho Island Hike
• Mount Iron guided hike
• Guided Hike to Rob Roy Glacier
• Maude Winery tasting room
• Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge
• Lake Dunstan Cycling Trail guided tour

***Rate based on twin share for travel 12 to 20 December 2022.***

***Alternative dates available, a surcharge may apply.***

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch and Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise
Cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw across to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Once at the lakeside Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant savor the delicious aromas as our chef has the best of local produce sizzling away on the grill. Overlooking Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown's alpine scenery, the Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm is the perfect place to spend a few hours. Its colonial architecture and sweeping grounds evoke the elegance of a bygone era. Our lunch menu has been refreshed with the introduction of our new executive chef. They’ve enhanced the seasonal menu with new salads, vegetables and a variety of succulent meats cooked on the wood-fired BBQ. We do not offer fish for lunch, but vegetarian options are available and there are delectable desserts to make room for too. An entertaining farm demonstration is also included or you can explore the beautiful lakeside gardens.
Doubtful Sound is a beautiful fiord; three times longer than Milford Sound, with twisting arms, it has a surface area ten times larger. With its rugged peaks, verdant rainforest and twisting, hidden inlets, Doubtful Sound will take your breath away. There’s no direct road access, so the only way you can to get to Doubtful Sound is a cruise across the picturesque Lake Manapouri, followed by a bus trip over Wilmot Pass - New Zealand's most expansive (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. Once you arrive, you will board the Fiordland Navigator for a 3-hour cruise on Doubtful Sound - a spectacular pristine fiord. During the cruise our knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will share with you their passion for the region. They’re always ready to answer questions, point out landmarks and provide all the information about the varied wildlife you may see, including dolphins, fur seals and the rare Fiordland crested penguin.

Mt Cook Small Group Tour
Your tour starts in the stunning city of Queenstown. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventurous day but also point out and guide you past some of the areas top highlights. Departing Queenstown we then make our way through the stunning Kawarau Gorge passing stunning views, the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and the famous Roaring Meg Lookout. Time and light permitting we will stop for that first great shot of the tour. Exiting the Kawarau Gorge we enter the fruit and wine growing region of Cromwell. Passing huge fields of vines, we cross Lake Dunstan and follow this beautiful lake towards Lindis Pass. Climbing in altitude, Lindis Pass has amazing views down through the valleys. Being one of only three alpine roads through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps, we stop at the famous lookout at the top of the pass for an essential photo. While driving through the endless plains of the Mackenzie district we will spot several of the famous Merino breed of sheep before stopping at the quaint township of Omarama. While in Omarama we have time for a break or even to try the best creamy chicken pie in NZ (in our opinion)! Turning west we begin to enter the Aoraki National Park and Lake Pukaki begins to emerge in front of us. Lake Pukaki is one of the bluest lakes you will ever see and is stunningly framed by the backdrop of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. We stop for some amazing photos and to just marvel at the sight that we are beholding. It’s not hard to see why many Lord of the Rings scene were filmed nearby and we will point them out for you. Arriving at Mt Cook Village, weather depending, we should get some amazing shots of the mountain itself. At 3724m, Aoraki/Mt Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak, however, the mountain can be viewed without any acclimatisation whatsoever from the village which is just 750m above sea level. While in the national park you have 4 hours free time to enjoy free walks/hikes or one of the extra optional activities. Some of our recommendations include: The Hooker Valley hike – thought to be one of New Zealand’s most beautiful hikes. Heli Hike - this adventure on the Tasman Glacier is the ultimate way to enjoy the area. Scenic flights – see the region from the air and land on the Tasman Glacier. Whatever you decide to do we will pick you up and drop you off where you need to go and make sure you are well looked after. Farewelling Aoraki/Mt Cook Village and making our way back to Queenstown we stop in at High Country Salmon, a local salmon farm, where you can feed the fish and taste some of the freshest salmon in New Zealand. During summer months when the sun is still up as we get close to Queenstown we often stop at Mrs Jones Suncrest Orchard to try or buy her delicious local fruit or real fruit ice cream. Sadly the tour must come to an end as we re-enter Queenstown and say our goodbyes.

Wanaka Hike, Bike & Kayak Tour
15-18DEC22

Day 1: Queenstown to Wanaka
Kia Ora and welcome to Wanaka! Your action-packed adventure begins with a pickup in a centrally located spot in Queenstown at 10am – please see the joining point instructions in the Essential Trip Information for more details. Chat with your leader and fellow travellers as you make the short drive to historic Arrowtown. Put on the map by the gold-rush of the mid-19th century, many heritage buildings, old cottages and relics of the town’s history remain today. Stop at a local cafe for a welcome meeting where your leader will give you a briefing on the days ahead, then hop aboard a bicycle for a 32km (3-4 hour) cycling tour of the region. Your leader will regale you with stories of the surrounding area and its past as you pedal through equally fascinating scenery. This afternoon, make your way by vehicle across the Crown Range to the Cardrona Valley, tucked between two mountain ranges and a perfect place for a coffee (or beer) stop. Hit the road again for the final stretch to Wanaka, then settle into your accommodation. Before dinner, you can stretch your legs on a short introductory walk with your local leader and discover #thatwanakatree – the willow that inspired a thousand pictures. Time permitting you may choose to continue your stroll along the Millennium Trail to Waterfall Creek or up to Rippon Winery. Tonight you may like to join your group for dinner at a local restaurant, or perhaps venture out on your own.
Accommodation: Hotel

Optional Activities
Queenstown - Bungee jumping - NZD205
Rippon Winery visit - Free

Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 32 kilometres, mostly flat.

Day 2: Mt. Iron, Lake Wanaka & Mou Waho island
Rise early and take the 5km track (approximately 1.5 hours) up the nearby Mt Iron. The gravelly track can be steep in places, but the hike is well worth it as the 250m-high rocky knoll provides an unforgettable 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape. Hike back down to the Wanaka waterfront to take a private boat across the glittering waters of Lake Wanaka to Mou Waho island. Here you’ll find a real anomaly – an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island. Take a short hike up to a viewpoint from where you can admire the unique landscape from a different perspective. Keep an eye out for weka along the way – this predator free island has been used as a conservation site for these charming little flightless birds that have been extinct on the mainland since the 1920s. Even the bugs here are special, and you may be lucky enough to stumble across a giant weta. Perhaps cool off with a dip in the beautiful Arethusa Lake, then soak in your surroundings over lunch on the island. After hiking back down, leave Mou Waho behind and take your boat across the lake before arriving back to Wanaka. Get ready for a change of pace and terrain this afternoon as you rest your legs and enjoy an upper body workout during a kayaking tour of Lake Wanaka. This gently paced, guided tour will take you across flat water from Roy’s Bay and across the waters of Lake Wanaka, with magnificent mountain views wherever you look. Paddle out to Ruby Island, once home to exotic cabaret shows in the 1920’s, and feel the sand (okay, pebbles!) between your toes before returning to Wanaka for a relaxing evening.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Rob Roy Glacier & Wanaka
After fuelling up with breakfast, lace up your hiking boots for a walk like no other. Have your camera at the ready for a scenic 1-hour drive along the winding Matukituki River, arriving at the trail head of the Rob Roy track. While mostly uphill, the track is gradual and pretty easy going – the views of Mount Aspiring National Park and the dramatic alpine landscape of snowfields, glaciers, sheer rock cliffs and waterfalls will take your breath away more than the walk will! Your 3 to 4-hour hike follows Rob Roy stream over swing bridges, through beech forest and a lush understorey of ferns and mosses before giving way to alpine vegetation and spectacular views of the hanging glaciers beneath the towering 2644m-high Rob Roy Peak. The glaciers are active and from the safety of the viewing point you can watch and listen for avalanches and other signs of movement. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the viewing point, but be sure to keep a keen eye out for crafty kea (mountain parrots) who might make a grab for your lunch! Continue back down the now mostly downhill track then drive back towards Wanaka. This afternoon you’ll be rewarded for the day’s efforts during a visit the renowned Maude Wines for a wine tasting. This family-owned wine company is a true local icon that have been producing hand crafted Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc wines from their nearby Mt Maude vineyard for almost 30 years.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Optional Activities
Stand up paddle board hire - NZD20
Milennium Track walk - Free

Day 4: Lake Dunstan Cycling Trail & Queenstown
After breakfast, say a final goodbye to Wanaka, then drive on to historic Clyde. From here, take a shuttle to Cromwell, located on the shores of the mirror-like Lake Dunstan, and saddle up for a bike ride with a difference. While the nearby classic Otago Rail Trail hogs the headlines, locals have been busy at work adding an exciting new section of trail – the Lake Dunstan Walking and Cycling Trail. Be among the first to ride this new trail as you cycle from Old Cromwell Town to Clyde (approximately 38kms, 3-4 hours). This inspiring trail is exposed in places and includes some challenging ups and downs as well as flat terrain while you take in wonderful views of the lake and pass delightful vineyards. From here things get really interesting as you ride into the Cromwell Gorge along man-made wooden trails secured to the bottom of sheer rock faces – perhaps the most remarkable stretch of cycling trail in Otago! Cruise the final few kilometres past the Clyde Dam and into the small town of Clyde, where your ride comes to an end. Drive towards Queenstown, stopping off at the 19th century Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, birthplace of bungy jumping, to witness people leap from the equivalent of a 10-storey building secured by a giant elastic band. Your trip comes to an end on arrival in Queenstown at approximately 5pm. If you have extra time to spend in Queenstown, make sure to get out and take advantage of the numerous adventure activities on offer.
Meals: Breakfast

Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 38 kilometres, mostly flat.

Prices listed are per person in Australian/New Zealand Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking. Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 13 May 2022 and can be withdrawn without notice. Cabin categories include prepaid government fees and port taxes unless otherwise stated. Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Visas are not included. Airfares are based on economy class flights from Sydney and are subject to the carriers’ flight schedules and conditions, please call us for prices from other cities. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Single travellers will share a twin a room with another traveller of the same gender. If you’d prefer not to share, a single cabin supplement is available at an additional charge. A single passenger cannot be booked or confirmed in a double cabin unless a single supplement is paid.