Arthur's Pass Hike

CHRISTCHURCH – ARTHUR'S PASS – CHRISTCHURCH 
(4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS)

Challenge yourself to a 2-day hike then reward yourself with luxury at Arthur’s Pass Wilderness Lodge. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Southern Alps whilst hiking on part of the Te Araroa Trail (New Zealand Walkway). Enjoy canoeing, bird watching, star gazing walks and sheep shearing demonstrations from the comforts of the Wilderness Lodge.
Look for rifleman, New Zealand's smallest bird, bellbird, falcon, tomtit and creeper. Search for beech seedlings and rare mistletoe and discover the beech forest invading the surrounding shrublands and learn about Maori and European sheep farmers who pioneered this area.


Day 1. Christchurch to Hamilton Hut
You will be picked up from your Christchurch inner city accommodation from 7.00am. Please let us know in advance where you will be staying if we haven't booked this for you. From Christchurch we drive across the Canterbury Plains and over Porters Pass into Canterbury’s High Country where we begin our hike. After we have sorted our gear we hike up the Cass River into beech forest and enjoy a lunch break at a forest clearing overlooking the valley. A climb above the bush-line to Cass Saddle gives us great views of the Craigieburn Range. Descend slowly down to Hamilton Creek across river flats to Hamilton Hut. Descend slowly down to Hamilton Creek across river flats to Hamilton Hut. Enjoy a dinner prepared by your guide. Optional evening hike to Mirror lake. 5-6 hours hiking

Day 2. Hamilton Hut to Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge
Hike up the Harper River, across river flats, over a swingbridge and through a small gorge to West Harper Hut. Continue up river and start climbing steadily to a beautiful lunch spot by the stream. Continue climbing to Lagoon Saddle with it’s breath-taking views of Arthur’s Pass National Park and the Waimakariri catchment. Descend through forest right to Arthur’s Pass Wilderness Lodge. Your hiking guide will return to Christchurch but you will be left in the cable hands of the personel at lodge. There will be plenty of time to shower and clean up before dinner in the Mt. Kai Roto Lounge. 6-7 hours hiking

Day 3. Arthur' Pass Wilderness Lodge
Begin the day with a canoe on Lake Pearson, one of the few places to view the Southern Crested Grebe. Relax at the lodge and enjoy some of the self guided walks from the lodge. Maps and notes will be given to you at the lodge and they will even make up a picnic lunch for you. Your options included:
Rainbow Valley Nature Walk - 1 hour easy
Broad Stream Walk - 2 hour moderate
McKay Moa Forest and Wild Boar Hill - 2 hour easy
Waimakariri Valley Walk - 3 hour easy

Make sure you are back in time for the Merino shearing demonstration. Help shear a sheep and see the sheep dogs working with farm manager Andy Bitmead. Enjoy another delicious meal with a choice of fine wines at the lodge restaurant. Before retiring to your room enjoy a short night walk that introduces you to the Southern Cross and night sky and the history of our mountains 1-2 hours canoeing, 1-3 hours hiking

Day 4. Tranz Alpine to Christchurch
Start your day with a dawn birds and beech forest walk. The lodge has it's own predator eradication program so the surrounding forest is alive with activity at this time of the day. After breakfast pack up your luggage before driving up to Arthur's Pass itself and a guided alpine hike up the Otira valley in the National Park. Board the Tranz Alpine train in Arthur’s Pass and return to Christchurch via the spectacular Waimakariri gorge. Arrive at Christchurch railway station at 6.05pm. It is a 15 minute taxi ride to downtown hotels.3-4 hours hiking

Notes
Hiking:
No previous hiking experience is required, but you need to be reasonably fit and enthusiatic. We will be taking you into real wilderness areas so at times the tracks will be slippery, rough and we will need to cross rivers. To enjoy the hiking it is best to keep the backpack weight as light as possible, so leave any extra luggage in the minibus. The packs and sleeping bags we hire are all lightweight - see below.
Accommodation & Meals:
All the meals are included in the price.
On the hike you will enjoy lots of snack stops to keep you energy levels up - museli bars, scroggen, chocoloate. Lunch usually consists of rolls, crackers, cheese, salami and tomato.
The hut meal is simple but tasty - usually pasta with a delicious sauce with cheesecake for afters.
The lodge dinner menu changes daily and offers several choices. Meals feature the best of New Zealand fresh fish, meats, fruits and vegetables prepared by the lodge chef. Vegetarian and other dietry requirements are catered for with prior notice. Breakfast is a continental and home-style cooked breakfast.
Hamilton Hut - 1 night
This is a Department of Conservation 20 bunk hut with a wood burner and long drop toilet. We do share this hut with public users but have timed the hike so that we use it mid week when use is low. In the very unlikely case that the hut is full then we have the ability to camp.
Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge- 2 nights
Arthurs's Pass Wilderness Lodge offers comfort and warm hospitality in a spectacular mountain setting. Centre piece of the Lodge is the Mt. Kai Roto Lounge which is fully licenced with an excellent wine list. The David McLeod Library is a quiet place to relax amongst a collection of high country and nature books.
The rooms are spacious with queen sized bed, private bathroom with showers or bath, sunny views overlooking the Waimakariri valley and mountain peaks.
It is possible to upgrade to an Alpine Lodge room for and extra NZ$260 per person (2 client bookings only). These are very spacious with a lounge area and sundeck. They have super-king beds, spa bath, gas fire and stunning views.