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Day 1
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Depart UK
Day 2 -
Cross the International Date Line
Day 3
We meet our local guide with our transport (transport included) at Christchurch
International Airport and drive to our accommodation. Upon arrival at the
accommodation we will have a briefing with our guides to discuss the Challenge.
Some time will be given to allow people to go shopping with guide/s for any
clothing or equipment they may need and advice from the guides can be sought. A
welcoming dinner will allow the trekkers and guides to socialise and answer any
questions that may arise from the briefing.
Dinner is included and accommodation will be at a Hotel/Lodge on twin share
basis.
Day 4
After our breakfast and at approx. 8 am, we depart our Christchurch
accommodation and head for the West coast glaciers and accommodation in Fox. The
drive should take approx. 6 hours so there will be time to relax and catch up on
jet lag. Stops will be made at scenic highlights as we pass over the Southern
Alps and through many changes in topography. We arrive at Fox at approx. 3pm and
everyone will have 2 hours of free time to stretch their legs. The group will
then meet at the accommodation house with the glacier guides to preview the next
days glacier hike, clothing needed, weather forecast, etc. We then have dinner
together as a group.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included & accommodation at a Backpackers
Lodge/Hostel.
Day 5 -
Challenge #1 – The Fox Glacier Ice Walk
After breakfast and at around 8:30am we depart on coach for the Fox Glacier full
day hike with Alpine Guides. This hike will take us high onto the lower glacier
and we weave our way through the ice formations which have been sculptured as it
flows towards the sea. We then return to Fox township to board the group
transport and drive 4 hours onto Wanaka. This will be a lengthy day and we will
not arrive at the Wanaka accommodation until late and dinner will be on the
road.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 6 – Adrenaline Activities Day
Free day to take part in your choice of adventure activities including sky
diving, bungee jumping, helibiking, mountain biking, rafting, jet skiing,
parapenting, paragliding, All – terrain Vehicle, rally car driving, and more!
There are also less adventures activities like wine tours, walks, golf and
scenic flights to do. Wanaka is a very scenic place like Queenstown but not as
big so it has a better atmosphere.
Breakfast is only included today so participants have the freedom to do as they
wish throughout the day.
Day 7 – Trek to Middle Earth! -
Challenge #2 – The Skyline Trek Challenge
Above Wanaka, dominated by Mount Roy, is the dramatic Skyline Walkway. The route
is a stepp one out of the Cardronna Valley and via the subsidiary spur we reach
the summit ridge. The views to the mountains of the Aspiring National Park are
dramatic and sights of Wanaka and Lake Hawera are spread below. The trek today
should take us approx 8-9 hours with some 1,200m altitude gain and loss.
Trekking distance – 18km
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 8 -
Challenge #3 – The Drimrill Dale Challenge
8 am: After breakfast we depart by coach up the Cardronna Valley and onto the
Crown range. From here a number of LOTR sites are immediately evident, none more
so than the Dimrill Dale where the fellowship fled after the terrifying Mines of
Moria without Gandalf.
The site itself is set high on the Remarkables and the mountain road also
provides us with awesome views of the Kawarau River (River Anduin) and the site
of the ‘Pillars of the Kings’. (Although these are computer generated the site
is very recognisable!)
With Lake Alta forming a beautiful backdrop we drive to the ski-field and then
hike to the mountain lake before continuing onto Wye Saddle and the remote tarns
of the Wye Basin.
We continue our trek down into the untracked Wye Creek for approx. 15 kms, which
finally emerges at the roadside and our coach. From here a short drive takes us
to our accommodation at Athol.
Trekking distance – 15km
Camping in tents with bathrooms available and participants will have full access
to all their bags.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 9
 With a later start today to recover from the past two days trekking, we take a
90 minute drive through the tussock lands of Southlands which takes us back into
the mountains and remote Mavora Lakes, site of the Fangorn Forest and Nen
Hithoel (Sindarin, Lake of Many Mists). It was here the Riders of Rohan burnt
the remains of the dead Orcs, as well as the closing scene for LOTR 'The
Fellowship Of The Ring' as
Frodo and Sam sailed off into the mists.
From the roadside we leave our vehicles and trek through the beech forests, the
hidden lowland and then lakeside until finally, after 12km, we emerge at the
camp site tucked into the bush line. We then select our pitch for the next two
nights and relax in this stunning location.
Trekking distance - 12km
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 10 -
Challenge #4 – The Fangorn Forest / Mount Campbell Challenge
Above the lake rises the beech clad slopes of the Thomson Mountains. A small
peak, 1,345m, rises some 720kms above the lake edge and beyond it, Mount
Campbell (1,700m) and this is today’s Challenge. Through the beech forest slopes
we gradually make height before emerging onto the tussock slopes above. The 3-6
hour ascent over some 8 kms provides an amazing perspective on the Mavora Lakes
and the nearby Southern Alps. Once we summit and in the afternoon, we will begin
the decent back to our camp.
As Day 9, camping is in tents with camping ground toilets and participants will
have full access to their bags.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 11 -
Challenge #5 – The Mount Nicholas Challenge
Today’s hike is a finale which takes us firstly by coach from Mavora Lakes into
the vast basin of the Von Valley. At a midpoint we start a our final full day 17
kms hike which will take us by farm trail and remote valley, finally down onto
the shores of the Lake Wakatipu and the stunning views of the Glenorchy region
and its peaks above. Nearby is the famous Walter Peak station, a working high
country station which is accessed by the restored steamship SS Earnslaw. At
Walter Peak we will have a final celebratory buffet dinner and then finish with
an hours cruise across to Queenstown and our accommodation.
Accommodation in Back packers Lodge with bathrooms & full access to bags
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 12
After breakfast, we transfer to Christchurch via the middle of the South Island
with views of Mt Cook and the Pelennor Fields – site of the largest battle scene
filmed in the LOTR trilogy.
We should arrive into Christchurch late afternoon for our final evening
together.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 13
Depart Christchurch for return flight to the UK
Day 14 -
Arrive UK
(Itinerary correct at time of printing,
but subject to change)
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