GENERAL INFORMATION

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Tour Starts: Auckland | Day 1 | 7:00am       Finishes: Queenstown | Day 15 | 5:00pm

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What to expect
•    Up to 4-5 hours of physical activity per day
•    At times carrying a backpack of 10lbs
•    Tracks generally in good condition
•    Altitude gains of up to 2000ft on harder days
•    No hiking experience necessary​

•    Maximum group size 16

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The full (optional) Tongariro Alpine Crossing on day 4 takes 6-8 hours and has an altitude gain of 750m.
 

Equipment
We can offer quality hiking equipment for use on your tour at no additional charge. We are able to supply fleece jacket, thermal top and bottom, raincoat and walking poles. Requests for equipment must be made at least 5 days before the departure date.

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Guides and Safety
Our handpicked professionals come from a range of backgrounds. Each has extensive outdoor and hiking experience and a passion for New Zealand’s wild and beautiful backcountry. Our guides are exactly that – they will guide you in the outdoors. Occasionally they might dash ahead to set up lunch or bring the bus around to meet you, but the rest of the day they are there for you. Expect a high level of care, knowledge and thoughtfulness. Our guides will ensure that your trip is truly inspiring, a huge amount of fun and safe. All guides are trained in Mountain Safety First Aid. All walks described in the itinerary are guided, however, the guide can suggest a number of shorter self-guided walks if you wish to do a little more or a little less walking on some of the days.
 

Food
Almost all of the meals are included on this tour, but when staying in the cities we let you do your own thing and try some of the excellent local restaurants (see “Additional Costs” section). Breakfast is usually (but not always) continental-style in the lodges and hotels. There are plenty of opportunities to graze the local cafes if you would prefer to explore in the morning. The lunches we prepare ourselves are often ‘on the run’ in picnic areas or on trails. Our guides usually set out lunch food for you and you simply help yourself. We provide healthy and wholesome food and include a lot of fresh produce. It is part of our philosophy to get everyone involved so there is a pretty good chance you may find yourself wielding a sharp knife or pushing the tea trolley around at lunchtime. Our customised trailers have a fold down table and cooking area that is perfect for preparing picnics at all those secret places we will take you. Included dinners are frequently in lodge restaurants (either set menu or a la carte), or in a restaurant in the town but occasionally somewhere out of the ordinary!
 
Transport
The average driving time per day varies; we have some days where we hardly drive at all. On a typical day we might be in the vehicle for 2-3 hours. But some days we will drive for longer. The driving time is a chance to rest and enjoy the fantastic scenery that is forever changing. We travel in a luxury minibus towing a custom-built trailer with food, equipment and your luggage. We carry a library box with some natural history reference books for you to peruse too. There will be a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. The guides are easily convinced to stop the vehicle if there is a great photo opportunity, vineyard or notable ice cream shop!
 

Accommodation
The New Zealand Uncut tour uses a range of hotels and quality lodges chosen for their good standards and wonderful locations. All rooms have private bathrooms. Some lodges have units with two bedrooms per unit. Rooms are twin share or doubles. If you are travelling on your own you will be given a twin share room with a fellow traveller of the same gender. Single supplements are available on this tour. The New Zealand Uncut tour has been created for those that appreciate a high standard of accommodation after a good day of hiking. Please note accommodation is subject to availability, and an equivalent style of property could be used if the advertised property is no longer available.
 

Laundry
Laundry facilities are available most nights, either as the hotel laundry service (additional charge) or as access to laundry facilities for hotel guests. Save up your NZ$1 and $2 coins as most washers and driers require these to operate. Laundry detergent is often available to purchase on-site.
 

Charging Devices
Devices such as cameras and cellphones can be charged throughout the tour - while travelling in the vehicle (bring along a charger adaptor) and during the hotel nights.