Wanaka Hiking and Biking: Wanaka is a spectacular place for recreation: mountains, lakes and rivers, for all to enjoy and explore. Warm summers are ideal for the region’s wide range of readily available facilities: tracks to walk,hike or mountain bike. Check out the attached map and trail guide for a taste of the wide range of hiking & biking tracks you can explore independently, or we can arrange a guide to accompany you. Note: This guide is offered to demonstrate what Wanaka offers, please make sure you collect an up-to-date trail map when in Wanaka from the Department of Conservation.
Milford Sound Scenic Flight and Cruise: This scenic flight offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the world with views of spectacular Alpine Highlights in Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. See impressive 3030m high Mt Aspiring, pristine glaciers, rainforest, alpine lakes and rivers and cascading waterfalls. Your flight path takes you the full length of Milford Sound before landing to board your cruise boat. Wildlife such as seals, penguins and dolphins are often viewed during the cruise. Return highlights include the Milford Track, Sutherland Falls (NZ’s highest), The Dart River Valley and Lord of the Rings Locations. Flight time 1.5 hours return.
Matukituki River Journey Experience: The Matukituki River; fed by glaciers and surrounded by the peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park is one of New Zealand's most powerful and pristine jet boating rivers. Travel this fast flowing river past Lord of the Rings locations, watched over by Mount Aspiring and glaciers. Along the way your guide will share stories how these ancient lands were carved by ice and of the first settlers. Experience the exhilaration of speed in just centimeters of water and spinning turns in deep pools, along with a 40 minute wilderness walk through native beech forest.
Siberia Wilderness Experience: This wilderness adventure is in Mount Aspiring World Heritage National Park and the Wilkin River, which is fed by the glaciers of this beautiful National Park. A ride on the Cessna 185 high winged plane gives you the opportunity to view Mt Aspiring, sometimes referred to, as the Matterhorn of the South. See glaciers, ice, snow, mountain lakes, hanging valleys, vast rain forests, and dramatic unspoiled beauty. Landing in the Siberia Valley you begin a lovely walk through native beech forest to the wilderness of the Wilkin Valley. Rendezvous with the Jetboat to experience the ultimate in shallow water jet boating.
Fly Fishing: Wanaka is the perfect place to base yourself for your fishing holiday. From here we have access to the gin clear high country rivers and lakes of the Southern Alps. If weather does not permit we have access to the rivers and dams of the rain sheltered areas of Central Otago. In all of these rivers, lakes and dams you will have the opportunity to see and catch fish of an average weight of between 3-4lbs. All rivers are accessed by 4WD vehicle (helicopter fly in options are available). Some walking is involved during the day and we have fishing to suit most levels of fitness.
Mt Cook, Fox, Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers: Wanaka is a fabulous location to get up in the air. A breathtaking scenic flight following the Southern Alps right to New Zealand's highest Peak of 3753 metres. Experience magnificent views of the world famous Fox, Franz and Tasman Glaciers. Take in dramatically contrasting scenery from farm land to the natural wild wilderness of the Southern Alps. You will view huge chunks of the Mount Cook, Westland and Mount Aspiring World Heritage National Parks. Snow, Ice, rivers, valleys, rainforest, rugged mountains - awesome! Approx 1hr 30
Mt Aspiring & Glacier Heliflight with Mountain Landing: Departing over Lake Wanaka we fly up the long remote Minaret Burn valley, over high country farm land, past glaciated hanging valleys, before making a high altitude mountain landing near Mount Aspiring. Known as the 'Matterhorn of the South', this mountain is one of New Zealand's most sought after peaks. After a short walk, we fly on to see, close up, a number of great blue ice hanging glaciers, ice and water falls, sheer rock faces, mountain tarns, and native beech forest before returning via the wide braided Matukituki Valley, past Treble Cone Skifield and Glendhu Bay. Flight time: Approx 45 minutes.
Rob Roy Glacier Walk:
A scenic drive around Lake Wanaka to the Matukituki Valley leads us to a walk up through beech forest to view the magnificent Rob Roy Glacier. Highlights include spectacular snow-capped mountain and lake views, the magnificent Rob Roy Glacier, a variety of bird life, ancient native beech forest, mosses, lichens and ferns, waterfalls and a river gorge. Walking time approx. 5hrs / Distance: 6 miles with 600m elevation. Good level of fitness required. Walk available Oct - May.
