At a Glance
Walk the Hollyford Track, an unforgettable Fiordland tramp from the mountains to the sea. The Hollyford Track 4 day / 3 night hiking tour is an ideal way to experience the very essence of New Zealand's wilderness and its rich history. You will transect the Hollyford Valley by foot, jet boat and finally take a scenic flight into Milford Sound.
Beginning amongst the sheer rock walls of the Darran Mountains in Fiordland National Park, the Hollyford Track follows the Hollyford River/Whakatipu Kā Tuka on its journey to the sea at Martins Bay, on the wild West Coast. Marvel at Fiordland's two highest peaks, Mount Tutoko (2746 metres) and Mount Madeline (2537 metres). Retracing the footsteps of original Māori and early pioneer explorers, you'll journey through native beech forest and hear the ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Return coach transport from Queenstown and / or Te Anau
- Pre-departure briefing
- Small group of 16 or less
- Accommodation for one night at the Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas
- Dinner and breakfast at the Distinction MacKinnon restaurant
- 3 nights' accommodation in well-appointed private lodges with ensuite rooms. The ensuite rooms can be made up with queen or twin beds
- All bedding and toiletries including towels, hot water bottles, soap, shampoo, conditioner and hair dryers
- 3 course evening meals, cooked and continental breakfasts, and wilderness lunches, plus snacks along the way
- A selection of premium alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages are included
- Wilderness jet boat journey down the Hollyford river and across Lake McKerrow
- Friendly, knowledgeable & professional guides
- Amazing helicopter flight into Milford Sound
- Use of backpacks, rain jackets and walking poles if required
- Transport of your main pack from Ka Tuku Lodge to Waitai Lodge (while you use one of our smaller day packs for essential gear only)
Itinerary
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Pickup from Queenstown from 2:30pm, and Queenstown airport at 3:30pm. Transfer to Te Anau. The journey will take approximately 2 hours. A pre-departure briefing will be offered at 6:30pm in Te Anau. Pre-departure briefings provide an opportunity to meet the other guests in your group. We will cover the details you will need to know for your departure the following day such as what to bring, what’s provided, and an itinerary breakdown. This is also the opportunity to ask any questions and to collect and make use of our backpacks and rain jackets if required. |
Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas
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Walking distance: 19.5 km, approx. 7 - 8 hours walking (Moderate Grade). Highlights Include: Native Rain Forest / Alpine Views / Crystal Rivers / Waterfalls After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, at 7:45am we will depart Te Anau and make our way by private coach to the majestic Hollyford Valley, where we will officially begin our walk. Following the swift, clear waters of the Hollyford River, beneath the gaze of the mighty Southern Alps, including Fiordland National Park's two highest peaks of Mt Tutoko (2746m) and Mt Madeline (2537m). You'll retrace the footsteps of original Māori and early pioneer explorers, as the track undulates gently through native beech forest and beside impressive tumbling waterfalls. At the end of the first day of your guided walk adventure, you'll be welcomed at Pyke Lodge by your friendly lodge hosts. Here you'll enjoy hot showers, impressive 3 course cuisine and the opportunity to relax with a post dinner drink and savour the majesty of Mt Madeline while reflecting on a great first day of your guided walk experience. |
Pyke LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: 15 km, approx. 5 - 6 hours walking (Easy Grade). Highlights Include: Pristine Lakes / Wilderness Jet Boat / Pioneer Historic Sites / 1000 Year Old Native Forest / NZ Fur Seal Colony After a delicious breakfast, you'll be ready for the mystical forest, glistening Lake Alabaster and the optional crossing of one of Fiordland's longest swing bridges. After a short walk, you'll board our jet boat for the next part of your adventure. These powerful and safe machines provide an exciting scenic ride along the Hollyford River and down to Lake McKerrow, where the glassy waters whisk past and the mountains rise dramatically above. You may even encounter a family of Bottlenose Dolphins who regularly visit the lower river and lake. Before the ride is over even your professional jet boat driver will have a story to share. The human history in the Hollyford Valley is as incredible as the scenery. Throughout your multiday adventure you'll discover the triumphs and tragedies of ill-fated Jamestown, you'll pass ancient forests with thousand year old giants such as native Rimu, Totara and Kahikatea, and soon, the towering lowland podocarp forest transforms into a tenacious coastal garden. Thunderous surf on the rugged West Coast is a prelude to a bay of boulders, where the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin is a seasonal visitor. Continue on, and Long Reef plays host to a rookery of native New Zealand Fur Seals, here you'll marvel at their nimble skills in the crashing surf and relax as they laze on the rocks. Martins Bay Lodge completes an unforgettable second day. Raise a glass to the traditional 'Hollyford Toast' as a wonderful way to finish your day. |
Martins Bay LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: 8.5 km, approx. 3 - 4 hours walking (Easy Grade). Highlights Include: Isolated Sand Spit / Maori Historic Sites / Rugged Coast / Scenic Flight to Milford Sound After breakfast, today you'll explore Martins Bay Spit, a famous landmark separating the powerful Tasman Sea from the Hollyford Valley. Here you will view historical sites, where chief Tutoko and his people guarded entry into the Hollyford Valley, controlling access into and out of highly valued pounamu (greenstone / jade) gathering areas. Your guide will also highlight the plant and wildlife of this unique environment helping you to discover the diversity of this remote area. You will have the opportunity to explore the sand dunes, and wander along the isolated beach at your own pace, with the Tasman Sea as your companion. Returning to Martins Bay Lodge for lunch, your lodge hosts bid you farewell as you board the helicopter for a scenic flight along the rugged coastline and into the dramatic Milford Sound, where you'll marvel at the grandeur of vertical granite walls rising from the sea. Once in Milford you'll be met by your return shuttle host and travel along the impressive Milford Road, up through the famous Homer Tunnel, cutting through a divide of sheer granite rock, and stopping at the source of the Hollyford Valley and River before embarking on your last leg back to Te Anau. Return to Te Anau at around 04:30pm, and Queenstown at around 07:00pm. |
NoneBreakfast, LunchDates & Prices
Please contact us to confirm available room types and prices. Private group departure is available on request. Single supplement is available. Please enquiry.
More Info
The departure point is Queenstown or Te Anau, New Zealand.
Day 1: No Walk
Day 2:Approximately 19.5 km, 7 - 8 hours
Day 3: Approximately 15 km, 5 - 6 hours
Day 4: Approximately 8.5 km, 3 - 4 hours, and Scenic Flight to Milford Sound
Total: Approximately 43 km
In New Zealand, January and February are the warmest months of the year (summer), and July is the coldest (winter). Fiordland in the south is generally colder than the north, but weather varies throughout the region and can change rapidly within a day.
Summer in Fiordland offers the warmest days (e.g. between 10 - 18°C. Winter temperatures (between May and November) can be between 1 - 9°C (example from July), however cold weather can occur at any time of year.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All 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 Supplement
All 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 insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The 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 Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local 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 Prices
While 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 Limits
You 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 Operator
The 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.
Evacuations
In 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 Insurance
In 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.
