At a Glance
historic viaducts, and potential encounters with endangered New Zealand wildlife infuse this pure Middle-earth experience. This moderate to hard walk will definitely delight wilderness lovers and challenge the seasoned hiker.
South Island's dramatic southern extremity has an ‘edge of the world' quality. Hump Ridge track is a wilderness treasure set in a bizarre sculptured landscape of house-sized rock tors, icy alpine tarns and weird limestone formations. Walking the Hump Ridge Track is a life-changing experience. The physical exertion will challenge but the rewards will take your breath away.
You'll enjoy a short helicopter flight to take you across Te Waewae Bay and heli-pack your pack (max 15kg) up the hill on Day 1. Wooden boardwalks ease your passage on the climb to the Hump Ridge. At 1000m, you feel ‘on top of ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Small groups (maximum 12) return shuttle transfer from Queenstown or Te Anau to the walk
- A short helicopter flight to take you across Te Waewae Bay
- Heli-pack your pack (max 15kg) up the hill to Okaka on Day 1. Note: on day 2 and 3 you have to carry your own pack
- Fully catered with cooked breakfasts, packed lunches and three course dinners. Snacks and fresh fruit also provided for your walk
- Expert guides from the Southland region. They are trained outdoor enthusiasts who will explain the natural and human history of the area.
- 3 nights accommodation in backcountry lodges (single supplement available at additional charges). Including one night stay at The Cliffs Seaside Lodge, and 2 nights stay at private lodges along the track during the walk. Premium rooms with a king-sized bed (or two singles), all bedding, linen and towels supplied, and a hot water bottle.
Itinerary
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You will be pick up either from Queenstown at 2:00 pm or Te Anau 4:30 pm and transferred to Tuatapere. Pre-walk brief to learn about the track and get to know your guide before checking into your accommodation. You will spend the night in this cosy seaside lodge, located in Tuatapere Southland, Papatotara. There is a walkway with direct access to the beach from your accommodation. |
Last Light Lodge
Dinner |
Walking distance: approx. 12 km, 5 - 6 hours In the morning, shuttle will collect you from your accommodation where you will begin your trip with a half hour drive to the start of the track at Rarakau. You will board the helicopter for a scenic ride across Te Waewae Bay alighting at Flat Creek. You will climb up to the top of the Hump Ridge, experiencing the beautiful bush first hand as it changes dramatically with elevation as you head up the ridge to the Stag Point where the trees part and you are welcomed by the beautiful bay once more - this time from a different perspective. Not far to the top of the ridge now and on a nice day you can see many of our neighboring islands off the South Coast and of course the Fiordland mountains and lakes nearby. Take in the natural beauty of Bluecliffe Beach and the Waikoau River before leaving the shoreline for the gradual climb to the lodge. When you arrive at Okaka - the lodge 'on top of the world', all you will have to do is unwind as you admire the views. At 1000m, this is the track’s highest point and offers panoramic views of southern Fiordland and Stewart Island. Settle into your private room with super king bed and, of course, take a hot shower. You will feel at home with our lodge managers' home cooking and hospitality. |
Okaka LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: approx. 20 km, 7 -9 hours After breakfast you wander down the Hump Ridge, with 360 degree views of Te Waewae bay, the South Coast, Waitutu terraces and mountains behind them. While you are walking over the mighty wooden viaducts on the way to Port Craig Village, consider the men who built them almost a century ago. Our guide will share many stories from the days when Port Craig was a bustling sawmill town in the 1920's. If you are interested in the history and relics that surround Port Craig, choose to take the interpretive trail or just meander down to the beach and spy our resident Hector's dolphins who live at the old wharf poles in the surf. Awaiting you at the lodge, our friendly lodge manager will welcome you to your room and you can put your feet up and once again enjoy their hospitality while taking in your new coastal backdrop. |
Port Craig LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: approx. 20 km, 5 -7 hours To complete the track, you will first walk out under native bush canopy, then along our beautiful golden beaches - one named Blowholes because of the ring of rocks the waves blow up though as they come to shore - a spectacular finish to a fantastic trip. Walk back along the section you flew over on day one, and enjoy it once again but at beach level. You will arrive at Queenstown approx. 6 pm or Te Anau approx. 4.15 pm. |
NoneBreakfast, LunchDates & Prices
Departs every Friday on request. Tuesday departure can also be arranged on demand. Please contact us to book if you have a group of more than 12 people.
More Info
The departure point is Queenstown or Te Anau, New Zealand.
We provide private car or helicopter transfer service. Please contact us to quote and arrange private transfer. E: travel@onlyluxe.com.au
Day 1: Arrive at Tuatapere
Day 2: Approximately 12 km, 5 - 6 hours
Day 3: Approximately 20 km, 7 -9 hours
Day 4: Approximately 20 km, 5 -7 hours, return to Queenstown or Te Anau
Total: Approximately 52 km
Your Guides are trained outdoor enthusiasts who will explain the natural and human history of the area. They pride themselves on their safe, efficient and friendly service. All Guides are trained in First Aid and are in radio contact with each other, the Lodges and the office at all times. Your safety and comfort is paramount and your Guides may have to adapt the day's walk depending on the groups' fitness and weather or track conditions. While they will make every effort to meet your needs please adhere to their professional decisions if circumstances demand this.
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.
(Data sourced from www.fiordlandnz.com, Units = °C)
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.
