JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
Australian Wilderness & Outback Journeys
Private and luxury journeys to The Kimberley, Kakadu, Arnhem Land, Red Centre, Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre...
Learn more
Greatest Rail Journeys in Australia
A luxury holiday of a life time on one of the great Australian rail journeys. Rail & Sail, Reef & Rail, Outback & Rail...
Departing from Christchurch, this six-day-five-night Best of Southern Alps Trek offers you off-the-beaten-track experiences of spectacular Southern Alps scenery and full of highlights including mountain peaks, valley systems, remote lakes, the magnificence of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring from high vantage points, and a spectacular heli-hike in Wanaka providing a spectacular finish to the tour.
Kick off your trekking journey from the highland region of Lake Tekapo with the first night at a private backcountry hut with superb alpine and lakeside vistas. Then trek east along a ridgeline to around 2000m, hike in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park on the ridge overlooking the Hooker Glacier and directly across from the spectacular Mt Sefton with its rumbling avalanches of ice and rock. After wandering the secluded Lake Ohau, transfer to Wanaka, ...
Kick off your trekking journey from the highland region of Lake Tekapo with the first night at a private backcountry hut with superb alpine and lakeside vistas. Then trek east along a ridgeline to around 2000m, hike in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park on the ridge overlooking the Hooker Glacier and directly across from the spectacular Mt Sefton with its rumbling avalanches of ice and rock. After wandering the secluded Lake Ohau, transfer to Wanaka, where you'll hike beside its picturesque lake nestled at the base of the Southern Alps. Your incredible Southern Alps trek ends in sensational style with a breathtaking helicopter flight to nearby tarns from where you hike in the region overlooking stunning Lake Wanaka and towards the Mount Aspiring range.
Accommodation is included each night and has been carefully selected to provide comfort and value in the best locations possible. On this trip, you'll stay at an Alpine Hut, Lake Tekapo Village Motel, Aoraki/Mt Cook Alpine Lodge, Lake Ohau Lodge and Ramada Resort.
All meals are included for the duration of the walk. Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances).
The tour starts from Christchurch and concludes in Queenstown. All transfers as well as guides are included. Small groups of twelve walkers are hosted by highly experienced and knowledgeable guides.
The walk is graded moderate and fully supported. The sense of isolation and wilderness is a strong feature of this trip. On the first day of the tour you will be staying in a private mountain hut. You will need to carry an overnight pack for that day and then back to the vehicle on the second day. The rest of the walks on the tour are day walks so a small pack with personal essentials is all you will need to carry. The support vehicle will then take the rest of the equipment.
This six-day Best of Southern Alps Trek & Heli-Hike tour is a dramatic trek, offering a grand overview of this spectacular mountain landscape.
Dates or itinerary don't fit? We are specialising in bespoke "tailor-made" luxury or private journeys. Please contact us for a "tailor-made" itinerary for your perfect adventure.
This tour is eligible to earn ONLYLUXE reward points.
More Info
Read Less
Walking distance: 3 - 4 hours walking (Moderate Grade).
Pick you up from your Christchurch accommodation around 8:00am before driving south to Fairlie and inland to Lake Tekapo for lunch. Drive along Tekapo’s lakeside to Mt Gerald station and then hike 3-4 hours into the Rex Simpson Hut (a 12 bunk private hut on the station). To greet us are stunning vistas across the lake and into the rolling tussock landscape that surrounds the area.
Walking distance: 6 - 8 hours walking (Moderate Grade).
From the Rex Simpson Hut you climb onto a broad easy spur which gradually gains height showcasing breathtaking views back down the lake and across to the Southern Alps with the prominent east faces of Mt Cook and Tasman. For the strong trekker, the summit of Beuzenberg Peak at 2070m is a just reward. Back at the hut you pack up and return to your supporting vehicle for a short drive back to Lake Tekapo and your motel accommodation.
Walking distance: 4 - 5 hours walking (Moderate Grade).
Mt Cook beckons as we drive 90 mins to the heart of the National Park. From here a number of hikes are available dependant upon fitness levels from the previous day. Mt Sebastopol and the mountain tarns are a favourite as is the Hooker Valley with its profuse vegetation. Nearby Red Tarns with stunning views directly onto Mt Sefton involves the treadmill of the staircase that climbs quickly to this stunning view point. From here you get views directly up the Hooker valley and back down the Tasman Valley.
The Hooker Valley Track is one of New Zealand’s most famous day walks and a must-do experience in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. The walk is approximately 3 hours’ return and takes in spectacular views of Aoraki Mount Cook and the Southern Alps, the Mueller and Hooker glaciers, glacier lakes and icebergs. Distant avalanches can frequently be heard, and sometimes seen, on the peaks.
Tonight’s accommodation is within the Mt Cook Village itself with outstanding views of the sun setting on the peaks.
Walking distance:3 - 4 hours walking (Moderate Grade).
In the morning you have a further walk in the area, usually dictated by what you achieved yesterday. For some the Hooker Valley hike will be a delight, while for others the nearby Sealy Tarns awaits. The walk is approximately 3-4 hours’ return and climbs a daunting 2,000-plus steps to reach the tarns. The track takes in spectacular views of Aoraki Mount Cook across the Hooker Valley. You’ll also have amazing views of the Southern Alps, vast glaciers, glacier lakes and close views of towering Mt Sefton. Distant avalanches can frequently be heard, and sometimes seen, on the peaks. After a late lunch we drive south and onto Lake Ohau Lodge for the overnight before a short bush walk to explore the beech forest remnants in the area.
Walking distance: 3 hours walking. (Moderate Grade).
Leaving the Mackenzie basin we cross ‘water-sheds’ and drive through to Wanaka. Here we take a boat trip to land on a remote beach and enjoy the next 3 hours hiking on the trail with stunning views back to Wanaka and the surrounding mountains. In the late afternoon we drive the short distance back to our accommodation.
From an early start we drive to the helicopter base for today’s heli-hike. Across the Matukituki Valley at 1500m is a series of small mountain lakes with great reflections and views of Mt Aspiring. After a time to take in the spectacular views we hike through the tussocklands to other vantage points. Around us the vistas are amazing as we look into neighbouring valleys and the headwaters of Lake Wanaka. Returning to the welcoming tarns there may be time to swim and relax before rejoining your helicopter for the short flight back to base. On landing you’ll be transferred to Queenstown and deliver you to your accommodation of choice.
Note: Please be aware that heli-hikes are weather dependent and the itinerary may be varied if flying is not possible.
- The departure point is Christchurch, New Zealand.- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Christchurch.
We provide private car or helicopter transfer service. Please contact us to quote and arrange private transfer. E: travel@onlyluxe.com.au
Day 1: Approximately 10 km, 3 - 4 hoursDay 2: Approximately 15 km, 6 - 8 hoursDay 3: Approximately 12 km, 4 - 5 hoursDay 4: Approximately 10 km, 3 - 4 hoursDay 5: Approximately 10 km, 3 hoursDay 6: Heli-hike, departTotal: Approximately 50 km
In New Zealand, January and February are the warmest months of the year (Summer). The temperature is in the 75F/25C range. February is generally regarded as the best weather month which means it’s also popular on the trail.March temperatures average at 70F/21C and is the most stable time of year to visit weather-wise, with little rain and low wind. April and May start to get a little cooler in the South, but it offers crisp clear evenings for stargazing.June to August is Winter. Temperatures in the far south experiences an average of 47F/8C.September to November start to warm up with flowers dotting the green forests. The average temperature is 58F/15C in the South.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.Payment DetailAll pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.Single SupplementAll accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.General Cancellation Policies- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurancePlease Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.LiabilityThe participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.Child PolicyPlease consult travel consultant on age limit.Changes to ItinerariesLocal conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.Changes in PricesWhile we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age LimitsYou need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.Cancellation by The Tour OperatorThe walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.Force Majeure'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.EvacuationsIn rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.Travel InsuranceIn view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.