Small group walking tour of New Zealand
Escorted 14 day small group walking tour of New Zealand. Off the beaten track, for hiking fit like minded people curious about history, culture wine and landscapes.
From £7,269GBP
Highlights
- 1. Explore temperate rain forest in Northland including the Kauri tree habitat
- 2. Enjoy the famous Kepler Track hike
- 3. Spend a day on the famous Milford track
- 4. Helicopter up into a former glacial valley the Southern Alps and tramp back down.
Departure Dates
Departure Date | Price |
---|---|
04 November 2024 Ends 17 November 2024 • 14 days £7,269 Twin £8,308 Single Available | Selected |
03 March 2025 Ends 16 March 2025 • 14 days £7,633 Twin £8,697 Single Available | |
29 September 2025 Ends 12 October 2025 • 14 days £7,633 Twin £8,697 Single Available | |
03 November 2025 Ends 16 November 2025 • 14 days £7,633 Twin £8,697 Single Available |
Small Group Walking Tours of New Zealand for seniors.
Odyssey Traveller is pleased to introduce our new small group walking tours of New Zealand for seniors and mature travellers, focusing on the spectacular scenery of the North Island and the South Island . Our walking tour is for up to 10 people, typically mature and senior travellers joining as a couple or as a solo traveller . These New Zealand hiking tours will guide travellers through the history, Maori culture, and landscapes of the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. Our itinerary for this guided walking tour gets off the beaten track into parts of New Zealand many do not explore. Away from the likes of a popular walking holiday such as the Hollyford track, or the Routeburn track.
For many visitors, the South Island gets all the attention, with the big tourist draws of Franz Josef Glacier, Milford Sound, Queenstown and historic Christchurch. But dig deeper and you'll find that New Zealand's North Island has as much to offer, including the beautiful Bay of Islands , Poor Knights Island, White Island, and Waiheke Island, the bird sanctuary of Tiritiri Matangi , the Art Deco of Hawke's Bay, alpine Tongariro , and the glow worm caves in the Waitomo Caves complex.
This small group walking holiday of New Zealand is limited to a maximum of 10 people. (You can book this program as a private group with a minimum of 4 people)
Our hiking tours of New Zealand for seniors walk between 8 to 20km each guided day walking (tramping) has been organised. This guided walking tour has an itinerary that is a blended collection a short walk and a reasonable hike in a diversity of settings with a tour guide as a collection. We have a collection of articles for getting fit for a walking tour.
They are walking tours of New Zealand that have monthly departures from late September to late April each year.
Overview of Walking tours of New Zealand
The arrival of Europeans - mostly British settlers - in New Zealand set in motion a startling and ultimately largely successful co-existence with the Maori people. Both Maori traditional owners and new settlers had to come to terms with the fiercely disparate environments and climates found through New Zealand , from the subtropical north to the alpine south. This is the route we will follow on this hiking tour. Heading North from Auckland we transfer up to the Bay of Islands , to begin this walking holiday then tracking south through Auckland and south to the Tongariro National Park . Your small group walking tour of New Zealand spends the day walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing a great outdoor adventure through stunning landscapes of the volcanic peaks in the national park.
On our small group guided walking tours of New Zealand :
New Zealand ( Maori : Aotearoa ) is an island country with a total land area of 268,000 square kilometres (103,500 sq mi) in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most southernmost countries in the world, about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia . The country has two main islands: the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu), and about 600 smaller islands.
Our 14-day small group hiking tours of New Zealand requires a reasonable level of fitness to be able walk up to 15 kilometres a day on flat to reasonable grades as well as uphill and downhill sections of track.
This small group tour will be accompanied by an Odyssey tour guide and are joined by expert local guides who will impart their knowledge about the places we will visit. Odyssey conducts educational tours designed for small groups of mature and senior travellers , focusing on history, culture, wildlife and other areas of particular interest where the trip is taking place. A small group tour is typically between 6 to 12 people, this program is limited to 10 travellers. The cost of a Odyssey Traveller guided tour is inclusive of all entrances (unless otherwise indicated), tipping, and majority of the meals throughout the trip .
This particular tour has periods of free time built into the itinerary, allowing you explore some destinations at your own pace, and choose from a variety of available activities. This way, we make sure that there is something to enjoy for every kind of traveller.
Accommodation
New Zealand is well known for its network of boutique lodges and small charming hotels as well as traditional hotel style accommodation types. For this program we have selected accommodation that represents good value, is close to where we need to be, has some but not many amenities that the group need and has a good reputation for looking after travellers who are visiting and finally has rooms with terrific beds to sleep in after a day in the open air. We trust you enjoy the choices we have made that are above our usual choice of hotel to stay in.
For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link .
Articles about New Zealand published by Odyssey Traveller:
- Questions about New Zealand
- Foundations for democracy in New Zealand: 900s - 1945
- Definitive Guide to Auckland, New Zealand
- Preparing for a walking holiday
For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.
External articles to assist you on your visit to New Zealand:
Gallery
Itinerary
14 days
Day 1 : Auckland - Russell, Bay of Islands
Accommodation: The Duke of Marlborough Hotel
Haere mai ki Aotearoa – Welcome to the Land of the Long White Cloud.
This morning (time to be confirmed),the group and your private guide (Jean-Michel Jefferson) will meet at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland and start your journey North to Russell (drive time: 4 hrs. approx.).
Welcome dinner this evening is confirmed for 06:00pm at the hotel with the group.
This charming town is the perfect base for exploring the Bay of Islands. Russell holds an important place in New Zealand’s history, being the country’s first sea port, its first European settlement and New Zealand’s first capital in nearby Okiato. The town’s streets retain their original layout and names from 1843, and many of its historic buildings can still be visited today.
Day 2: Russell
Accommodation: The Duke of Marlborough Hotel
After breakfast, we will pick up our pre-packed lunch and board the ferry at the jetty in front of our hotel and take the 40 min journey to Urupukapuka Island.
Ferry details: 08:30am – Paihia Wharf (Pier 7) to Otehei Bay Travelling on Explore service 0830PRO (arriving 9:15 a.m.)
We will disembark at Otehei Bay and visit the Island Conservation Centre before heading off on your day walk. Here we can learn about the island’s fascinating prehistoric and colonial history, as well as the ground-breaking work of Project Island Song and DOC to restore native bird life to the recreation reserve.
Urupukapuka Island is packed with fantastic walking tracks, ranging from 1-hour strolls to 5-hour hikes, so whatever your stamina level we will find something for you. The most notable of these is the 7.3km Urupukapuka Island Archaeological Walk. This track, designed to be walked in a clockwise direction, can be accessed from most of the larger beaches on the island, and if a 5-hour trek is a bit too much for you, it can be broken down into two shorter 2.5-hour walks. As well as boasting some of the most spectacular panoramic views imaginable, you will be taken past many of the dozens of pristinely preserved archaeological sites on the island, some of which may be up to 1000 years old. From prehistoric Māori pa, villages, gardens, and food storage, right up to early 20th Century buildings used by famous author Zane Grey, there are countless historic sites to explore on Urupukapuka Island.
Return to Russell by ferry: 12:15pm: Otehei Bay to Paihia Wharf (Pier 7) Travelling on Explore service 1215ORP (arriving 1:00 p.m.)
Day 3: Bay of Islands - Auckland
Accommodation: The Heritage Auckland
After breakfast we depart Russell and drive to Puketi Forest (1.5hrs drive) where we meet our private walking guide. We enjoy an intimate 3-hour guided walk through Puketi Forest, the ancient kauri rainforest (15,000 hectares). With over 360 indigenous species of plants, this subtropical rainforest is one of the most diverse in New Zealand. Learn to recognise and name some of the native trees: the mighty kauri, tawa, rimu, totara and nikau (New Zealand’s native palm tree) to mention just a few. Listen and maybe see the native birds: tui, fantail, pied tit, fernbird and kukupa. Spot the Northland green gecko and tusked weta. Learn more about the unique flora and fauna. Discover what’s threatening New Zealand’s subtropical rainforests: possums, stoats, ferrets and kauri dieback and what we can do to protect the ecosystem.
Day 4 : Taupo
Accommodation: Hilton Lake Taupo Hotel
After breakfast we depart Auckland and continue Southbound to Sanctuary Mountain. (2hrs drive). We meet our guide for a privately guided tour of the Tuatari Wetlands. We discover the secrets of the Tautari Wetland and learn why wetlands need to be restored. We will hear the story of the people behind the wetland; the family who gifted the land to the Trust. Walk along the inside of our multi-species predator-proof fence and find out how we keep the wetland pest-free. Explore the Tuatarium with your guide for an insight into the fascinating world of tuatara – their history, life cycle and unique physical characteristics and hear about how they came to be at Sanctuary Mountain. The wetland is also home to a breeding pair of flightless takahē. A species once thought to be lost forever, the takahē made history when they were rediscovered 1948. Encountering a takahē for the first time can transport you to a pre-historic world! Please note: Viewing of takahē may be restricted during their breeding season (Oct-Jan).
Day 5: Taupo
Accommodation: Hilton Lake Taupo Hotel
Early morning breakfast is included at the hotel this morning, before heading to the meeting point to meet our private hiking guide. Today we will hike half-day a Volcanic Explorer Guided Walk. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Tongariro National Park with this half-day tour. We will start on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and head up to Soda Springs before returning to the start.
Day 6: Wanaka
Accommodation: Wanaka Homestead
We will have a more leisurely start today as you recover from yesterday’s big hike. We then travel to Rotorua to check in for your flight to Queenstown (1hr 45mins drive).
Flights included:
NZ8150 Rotorua to Auckland Departing 11:00am and Arriving 11:40am
NZ 621 Auckland to Queenstown Departing 12:25pm and Arriving 14:15pm
On arrival at Queenstown Airport, we will pick up our new vehicle and drive to Wanaka (1hrs drive).
New Zealand’s South Island hosts the purest natural landscapes you’ll ever experience. From wildlife to wineries, from glacial valleys to star-filled skies, nature’s best flourishes against a palette of dramatic scenes.
Day 7: Wanaka
Accommodation: Wanaka Homestead
After breakfast we will drive to Makarora (1hr drive) to start our Siberia Wilderness Adventure in Makarora with a 10-minute scenic helicopter flight, taking in aerial views of the towering ice-carved mountains and glaciers.
We land in the remote Siberia Valley and enjoy a relaxing 3-hour unguided walk on a well-marked track. You will then rendezvous for a fast-paced 30-minute return jet boat ride through the icy blue waters of the Wilkin and Makarora Rivers.
A packed lunch is included today.
Day 8: Wanaka
Accommodation: Wanaka Homestead
Today is a free day for the group to explore.
Wanaka is set against the pristine alpine backdrop of Mount Aspiring National Park . Crystal clear lakes and rivers are fed from the glaciers of Mt Aspiring National Park and is the backdrop to the stunning landscapes of the region. There are a number of options today such as exploring the Mount Aspiring National Park wilderness, or a trek up to the instagram famous Roy’s peak, or hiking around the lake or perhaps a late afternoon wine tasting from the local wineries which are known for their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Your driver/guide will be available to advise on activities and offer transfers where possible.
Day 9: Te Anau
Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel Te Anau
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Te Anau today with stopping off at Mavora Lakes for a short walk on the way, ending in Te Anau for the evening (drive time: 4 hours 30 minutes).
The quaint and peaceful township of Te Anau is nestled on the edge of a lake of the same name and is known as the “‘Gateway to Fiordland”. Fiordland National Park is the largest of New Zealand’s 14 National Parks with an area of approximately 12500 sqkm and is a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. We will stay three nights at Distinction Luxmore Hotel. Distinction Luxmore is conveniently located in the heart of Te Anau’s town shopping centre and a short stroll from Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest lake.
Day 10: Te Anau - Milford Track
Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel Te Anau
After breakfast at the hotel we will meet our hiking guide who will join us on our Kepler Track hike. A packed picnic lunch is included today. We begin with a short helicopter flight over scenic Lake Te Anau, beech forest and alpine areas to land near Luxmore Hut on the Kepler Track. From this Department of Conservation Hut we explore the alpine tussock fields and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Fiordland mountains. From here we have the possibility of ascending to the summit of Mt Luxmore if fitness levels, the weather and time allows. After time in the alpine area, we hike down the mountain on the well-formed Kepler Track. The track descends through mountain and silver beech forest and passes under towering limestone bluffs to the sandy beach of Brod Bay, the pick-up point for the rewarding water taxi trip back to Te Anau. From Luxmore Hut it is a downhill walk (8 km) requiring a medium level of fitness. If you wish to explore past the Hut and toward the Summit there would be an additional 1-3 hours of hiking up and down. Your guide provides an opportunity to learn about the natural and human heritage of Fiordland, with plenty of stops for photographs, bird-watching and interpretation along the way.
What to Bring: Comfortable walking boots/shoes, waterproof jacket, warm clothing including thermal hat and gloves, sun hat, water bottle, and day pack. Walking poles are optional and may be provided by tour operator, if requested.
Day 11: Te Anau
Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel Te Anau
After breakfast at the hotel, we meet our hiking guide who will join us on our Milford Track hike. A packed picnic lunch is included today. We will experience a guided walk on the ‘finest walk in the world’. Departing from the Milford Sound end, this 11 km walk meanders alongside the cascading river to the spectacular waterfall Giants Gate, and is suitable for all abilities. The Milford Track walk is in the lush west coast rainforest at sea level. This tour includes water taxi transfers and a scenic cruise in Milford Sound. We will cruise along calm waters between sheer cliffs, carved out by centuries of ice erosion, catching sight of majestic Mitre Peak and cascading waterfalls that thunder into the depths below – it’s no wonder Rudyard Kipling described it as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’.
Day 12: Queenstown
Accommodation: The Heritage Queenstown
Today we transfer to Queenstown, where we meet our private driver for a back road 4wd adventure from Te Anau to Queenstown and end it by taking a shared Earnslaw cruise, Queenstown.
This leisurely 90-minute cruise across Lake Whakatipu showcases some of Queenstown’s spectacular alpine scenery, while offering you plenty of time to explore a piece of Queenstown’s living history – the over one hundred year-old TSS Earnslaw. Inside a visit to the engine room reveals the giant steam engines at work. Close by, we will be able to view the collection of historical photos in our mini-museum, check out the bridge, or, if you’d rather, kick back and enjoy a wine or beer or some café food at our on-board Promenade Café and Bar. The TSS Earnslaw has carried many famous visitors, including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip and even President Bill Clinton.
Day 13: Queenstown
Accommodation: The Heritage Queenstown
Today is a free day in Queenstown, but we suggest a drive over the Crown Range and stop for lunch at the iconic Cardrona Tavern (at own cost) before descending into the Queenstown Basin. We can stop off at historic Arrowtown and have some free time to explore the area. If desired, some of the group can go on various short walks in the area.
Tonight we will enjoy a group farewell dinner at Botswana Butchery.
Day 14: Queenstown
Our walking tour of New Zealand concludes after breakfast.
Includes / Excludes
What’s included in our Tour
- 13 nights accommodation.
- 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 2 dinners.
- Transport by modern and comfortable coach.
- Entrances and sightseeing as specified.
- Services of a Tour Leader for the duration of tour
- Detailed Preparatory Information
What’s not included in our Tour
- Return international airfare and departure taxes.
- Comprehensive travel insurance.
- Items of a personal nature, such as telephone calls and laundry
Participants must be in excellent health, extremely mobile and live an active lifestyle. Program activities may include up to 6 hours of continuous strenuous, moderate-to-fast paced activities per day on varied terrain.
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Easing your journey
Crossing international borders with restrictions
The list of requirements to travel internationally has changed and will continue to change for several years. Odyssey is here to assist you in managing your way through these requirements:
For more information see our Crossing international borders with restrictions page.
Book With Confidence
If less than 30 days before your tour starts you are unable to travel as a result of Government travel restrictions, Odyssey Traveller will assist you with a date change, provide you with a credit or process a refund for your booking less any non-recoverable costs.
See Terms and conditions for details.
Peace of Mind Travel
The safety of our travellers, tour leader, local guide and support staff has always been our top priority and with the new guidelines for public health and safety for keeping safe for destinations around the world, we’ve developed our plan to give you peace of mind when travelling with us.
See Peace of Mind Travel for details.
Reviews
Odyssey's walking tour of New Zealand was a perfect return to travel after the Covid break. It exceeded all my expectations and was a great sample of what NZ has to offer for the active mature-aged traveller. Elizabeth W. Nov '23
Reading List Download PDF
History and Traditions of the Maoris of the West Coast, North Island of New Zealand Prior to 1840
Stephenson Percy Smith
Excerpt from History and Traditions of the Maoris of the West Coast, North Island of New Zealand Prior to 1840
This history is much longer than perhaps suits the ordinary reader indeed, it is over a hundred pages more than was originally contemplated. But the amount of information collected will prove of interest to those living in the localities mentioned in after times; and it could never be collected again, for the old men who gave it have now passed on to Te Hono-i-wairua.
To others than members of the Polynesian Society it is right to say that the book has been published in the Society's Journal by instalments - it would otherwise never have appeared on account of the expense - and that the number of maps in it is due to the liberality of the Government, who had them drawn and printed at their expense.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
New Zealand: People, Places and Events that Shaped the History of New Zealand
James Boyle
New Zealand is a country that has forever been admired for its beautiful landscapes – a wilderness that barely seems to be touched by humans. The populated areas are surrounded by forests, plains, rocky mountains – even beaches. All of this gives New Zealand that heavenly vibe.
However, the place we admire today has been heavily affected by its history. People who wanted to farm the land versus people who wanted to keep the land the way it is. A land that, despite the wars it had been through, has managed to hang on to its beauty.
Packed with colonization, war and expansion, the history of New Zealand is something everyone should know and study in this day and age.
The Penguin History of New Zealand
Michael King
New Zealand was the last country in the world to be discovered and settled by humankind. It was also the first to introduce full democracy. Between those events, and in the century that followed, the movements and conflicts of human history have been played out more intensively and more rapidly in New Zealand than anywhere else on Earth.
The Penguin History of New Zealand tells that story in all its colour and drama. The narrative that emerges is an inclusive one about men and women, Maori and Pakeha. It shows that British motives in colonising New Zealand were essentially humane; and that Maori, far from being passive victims of a 'fatal impact', coped heroically with colonisation and survived by selectively accepting and adapting what Western technology and culture had to offer.
Pounamu Pounamu
Witi Ihimaera
Pounamu Pounamu is classic Ihimaera. First published om 1972, it was immediately endorsed by Maori and Pakeha alike for its original stories that showed how important Maori identity is for all New Zealanders. As Katherine Mansfield did in her first collection In a German Pension (1911), and Janet Frame in The Lagoon (1951), Witi Ihimaera explores in Pounamu Pounamu what it is like to be a New Zealander - but from a Maori perspective. The seeds of Ihimaera's later works are first introduced in this ground-breaking collection: The Whale Rider in his story 'The Whale', The Rope of Man in 'Tangi', and the character of Simeon form Bulibasha, King of the Gypsies in 'One Summer Morning'; and the themes of aroha (love), whanaungatanga (kinship) and manaakitanga (supporting each other), which are so intergral to Ihimaera's work.
Do They Speak English Down There?
Susan C. Tunney
Read how one family transformed a fantasy into reality when they traded in their San Diego lifestyle to move to rural New Zealand along with the challenges it presented adapting to a new culture. From duct tape to #8 wire, its been one helluva journey.
Small group walking tour of New Zealand