Fiordland Guided Walks
Fiordland Great Walk 3-Day Package
Fiordland Great Walk 3-Day Package
This is our ultimate hiking package, where you walk through some of New Zealand’s most awe-inspiring and diverse landscapes. With Te Anau as base each evening, the package offers three days of fully guided Great Walk experiences on the best parts of the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler Tracks. Each of these premier walks showcases different sides of Fiordland, passing through spectacular scenery from native forests, lakes and rivers to mountain views, vast fiords and lush valleys.
Each day you will be accompanied by a local guide. Our guides are the backbone of our small, family run company. Friendly, patient and with a deep affinity for all things outdoors, our guides help bring Fiordland’s stunning landscapes to life, while providing a safe, enjoyable walk.
- 3.5-6hr each day
- Variable
- Moderate
- 3 days
- Helicopter
- Boat
Fiordland Great Walk Package - 3 hikes, 3 days
- Adult NZ$1450
- Child NZ$1350
Fiordland Great Walk Package with 4 nights STANDARD hotel room
- Single room (1 adult in 1 room) NZ$2575
- Double/ twin (2 adults in 1 room) NZ$4175
Fiordland Great Walk Package with 4 nights LAKEVIEW hotel room
- Single room (1 adult in 1 room) NZ$3100
- Double/ twin (2 adults in 1 room) NZ$4700
Day 1 Kepler Track Guided Heli-hike
This is a chance to experience a guided heli-hike on the Kepler Track. We begin with a spectacular flight by helicopter from Te Anau Township, over the hidden lakes to arrive at Luxmore Hut. The walk begins in the alpine tussock fields with mountain views, then descends through magnificent beech forest and under towering limestone bluffs, on a well-formed track. The effects of different altitude and weather conditions experienced in Fiordland are clear to see, as the trees and undergrowth quickly changes. We finish this hike at the sandy beach of Brod Bay, the pick-up point for the water taxi back to Te Anau township.
Day 2 Milford Track guided walk and boat cruise
Soak up the grandeur of a guided walk to Giant Gate Waterfall on the world-famous Milford Track.
From Milford Sound, we begin with a short boat ride to Sandfly Point. The walk meanders alongside the cascading Arthur River through lush rainforest to the Giant Gate Falls. This spectacular waterfall is best viewed from the large swing bridge spanning the river. There is much to see, from the ancient trees towering above, to the vibrant ferns and mosses, plus the array of birdlife inhabiting this lush environment.
On conclusion of the guided walk, you’ll complete the Milford Sound experience with a 2-hour scenic small boat cruise for the afternoon. With indoor and outdoor spaces on the boat, you can be sure you will get some great viewing opportunities including the geological drama of sheer cliffs, massive waterfalls, glaciers, rainforest, and Mitre Peak in all its grandeur.
Day 3 Routeburn Track, Key Summit Great Walk
We’ll take you on a guided walk to Key Summit on the renowned Routeburn Track Great Walk. This spectacular trail ascends through lush, temperate rainforest and onto the summit which is covered with a field of unique alpine herbs. Here on the summit, hikers experience panoramic views of snowy mountains, alpine lakes, and deep, glacier-carved, bush-clad valleys. Lunch is enjoyed here, or alongside Lake Howden.
Walking in a small group, you'll love learning about this stunning natural environment from your friendly Trips & Tramps guide.
What a fantastic 3 days on the Three Great Walks
My friend and I aren't the fastest walkers, we like to stop and view the scenery rather than fast track walking. The guides were amazing, very encouraging and totally allowing us to go at our own pace. Trips and Tramps was an exceptionally well organised tour. Prompt, all the back up one could need, great lunches provided.
I totally recommend to anyone thinking they couldn't do a full track walk with too many climbs to try this 3 days on 3 great tracks. It was so wonderful.
We had a fabulous time doing the 3 tramps and it was way beyond our expectations.
We had a fabulous time doing the 3 tramps and it was way beyond our expectations. Thanks to Steve, Douglas, Taisei, Michelle and Geoff. Your passion for your tramping and your area of Fiordland is very obvious and we enjoyed learning so much from your knowledge.
Each tramp showed us something different and gave us a taste of the country that's for sure.
Thank you for our wonderful holiday.
"Thank you for our wonderful holiday. June and I LOVED the helicopter ride today and the walk down the Kepler was wonderful."
Tour guides were of a very high level!
Very professional. Beautiful sights, especially rock cliff structure at Milford sound. The force of nature is amazing. Tour guides were of a very high level. Could engage in adult conversation with them. 1st day was with Jeff and Jill and they greeted us with a handshake. Very professional and fantastic local knowledge. 2nd and 3rd day was with Doug who had fantastic knowledge on flora and bird life. I would encourage other families form Auckland to do this trip with Trips and Tramps as it is an eye opener with the beautiful scenery in Fiordland.
A perfect sampling of New Zealand's greatest walks
My grandson and I had a marvelous time on the 3 day trip and tramp on the Kepler, Milford and Routeburn Tracks. A perfect sampling of New Zealand’s greatest walks. Excellent guides who were both personable and highly knowledgeable. Also, very accessible pre trip for planning. The logistics were flawless. Magnificent views and sights. Highly recommend this company and this tour program.
Lots of laughs and fun with friends
It was a great 3 day trip that we recently went on, organised by Jill.
Day one was the Kepler Track with guides Michelle and Taisei. Day two was the Milford Track with our guide Douglas and a 2hr boat cruise around Milford Sound. Day three we did the Key Summit walk on the Routeburn Track with Helen. Jill did an amazing job organizing all 3 days for Janine, Francis and I.
Jill explained the itinerary for each day very well. There was also packed lunches for each day which were delicious.
Thank you so much to all of our guides, as they explained to us about the trees, plants, birds and alot was said about each area that we walked. We are all lady’s from the South and had a lot of laughs.
Outstanding Company!
“Outstanding Company!..They were prompt, well prepared, friendly and fully knowledgeable of the area.”
We are so glad to have booked with Trips and Tramps.
We thoroughly enjoyed all of our walks with you guys. Caitlin and Becs were well versed with loads of information about the tracks, the wildlife that we saw, the flora and fauna as well as just general things about New Zealand. They were incredibly friendly and made us feel at home with their hospitality. We enjoyed our conversations with them.They matched our pace and so none of the walks were taxing though we had an older adult with us. It feels like they went the extra mile to ensure that we were all having a good time. We particularly appreciated Becs for arranging our transport back on the second day as well as for being so flexible on our last day.
4 of the best days walking we have ever experienced ...
We've just completed 4 of the best days walking we have ever experienced with Trips and Tramps (Kepler Track, Milford Track, Routeburn Track & Lake Marian). The service provided by Trips & Tramps was nothing short of exceptional from the initial enquiry back in Jan through to the service provided by the guides on the walks. The office team (Madeleine) were prompt and extremely helpful through the booking process and follow up emails with clear and accurate information provided. The guides during the walks (Andrew, Douglas, Michelle & Becs) were all experts in their fields and provided knowledgeable and interesting commentary during the walks. The walks whilst challenging, were worth every ache and sore muscle with views from the top of Mt Luxmore, Lake Marian and Earland Falls the highlights for us. We would highly recommend Trips and Tramps for anyone seeking a variety of walks in Fiordland.
Lots of laughs and fun with friends
It was a great 3 day trip that we recently went on, organised by Jill.
Day one was the Kepler Track with guides Michelle and Taisei. Day two was the Milford Track with our guide Douglas and a 2hr boat cruise around Milford Sound. Day three we did the Key Summit walk on the Routeburn Track with Helen. Jill did an amazing job organizing all 3 days for Janine, Francis and I.
Jill explained the itinerary for each day very well. There was also packed lunches for each day which were delicious.
Thank you so much to all of our guides, as they explained to us about the trees, plants, birds and alot was said about each area that we walked. We are all lady’s from the South and had a lot of laughs.
- Te Anau
- Divide
- Key Summit, Routeburn Track
- Luxmore Hut, Kepler Track
- Brod Bay
- Lake Te Anau
- Milford Sound
- Milford Track
- Giant Gate Water Fall, Milford Track
Departure Point, and transport logistics
This trip uses the township of Te Anau as the base. With a wide range of shops, accommodation providers and plenty of dining options, it is the perfect place to step into Fiordland National Park.
Most people find it easiest to fly into Queenstown. From there it is a 2-hour drive via State Highway 94 to reach Te Anau. From Queenstown you can rent a vehicle or catch the Tracknet bus. Tracknet have 3 departures daily, see www.tracknet.net for more details.
It is also possible to access Te Anau via Invercargill or Dunedin, however you would need a car to get to Te Anau from these places. Once you are in Te Anau we will pick you up each day from your accommodation (if it is within the town boundaries, or on the Milford Highway), this includes private residences. Sorry we do not pick up from outside the township.
Accommodation
We recommend a minimum of 3 nights’ accommodation in Te Anau, but 4 nights is optimal. Te Anau has plenty of accommodation to suit every style and budget. Please note if you have chosen the walking package only, your accommodation, dinner and breakfast is not included in the cost and needs to be arranged separately (see www.fiordland.org.nz for suggestions).
Accommodation and walking packages are available in conjunction with the Distinction Hotel. These include 4 nights' accommodation and breakfast daily. Dinner is the only meal not included.
Weather
Fiordland is in a wilderness environment, and adverse weather conditions can increase the walk difficulty, so you need to be prepared.
The weather in Fiordland in general, can be unpredictable and change dramatically, very quickly; the proximity of towering mountains and the ocean makes for conditions and temperatures that can vary markedly during any day, plus we can get a lot of rain at times. Summer months average around 20°C but in the alpine areas it can still get very cold, with the combination of wind and rain. It is not unusual to experience 4 seasons in the one day!
Cancellations and Travel Insurance
We have a 7 day cancellation policy, please see our website for full details. If an accident occurs on the track, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) will cover the costs related to personal injury whilst in New Zealand, but not all associated costs. We highly recommend that all walkers have personal travel/medical insurance to cover any costs associated with injury, medical events and to guard against last minute cancellations.
More information
For all information on day schedules, pre-trip training, weather, safety, cancellations, travel insurance, and a gear checklist, check out our brochure here.
Fitness
The Great Walks are mostly well-formed tracks, and the steeper places are either negotiated by steps or zigzags. The trip is suitable for most ages (8+ years) and for those who have the physical ability to walk 3-6 hours, including up and down hills. The Kepler Heli-hike is the hardest day, due to the mostly downhill walking, which can affect knees. Your guide will manage each day to ensure the best possible experience, factoring in the landscape, weather, and group’s fitness levels.
If you have a good level of fitness, including hill training, you will find each day highly rewarding. We recommend you are capable of walking for 4 hours on varied terrain to get the most out of this package. Although the tracks are well-formed, they can be rough and rocky underfoot in some places.
Most of us have aches and pains from time to time. This trip can aggravate those. We canaccommodate most medical conditions*, but it is important that you disclose these to the guide before participating.
* Note: This trip is not recommended for guests with neurological conditions that affect stability, mobility, and decision making. It is also not suitable for those with recent knee injuries, recent surgery, moderate to severe joint issues and moderate to severe heart conditions. Finally, this trip is not suitable for those who may wish to physically extend themselves by going further or faster than the average person, or for those who are not interested in participating in a group activity. However, we believe in giving everyone the opportunity to experience these Great Walks in a way that meets their wants and needs, and we can accommodate most restrictions on a private basis. If you think you fall into one of the categories listed above, please contact us to discuss booking a private trip.
Risks and Hazards
Fiordland is a remote wilderness area. Events which may impact on our tours and your comfort and safety include environmental conditions such as extreme weather, remote locations, natural events like earthquake, avalanche, landslide, rough terrain, travel on sealed and unsealed roads, travel in boats and aircraft operated by third parties. Risks and hazards also include walking for a sustained period over sometimes steep and or rough terrain, injury, medical event/ fatigue. On the rare occasion adverse weather, road or track conditions may require us to make alterations to or cancel trips, in this event, part refund may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
Trips & Tramps has a robust Safety Management System to manage hazards, risks and emergencies of our tours and transport. Guests must follow the instructions of the guide and parents must ensure children do the same. The guide has the right to amend the trip or a client’s participation at any time if they believe safety, or the safety of others may be compromised.
If you participate in this activity, it is taken that you understand there are risks and
hazards associated with the tour. We recommend you obtain adequate travel insurance for all those in your group.
In participating in the activity, you confirm that you:
• are physically fit and well enough for this trip and will disclose any relevant medical
information to Trips & Tramps prior to the trip.
• consent to receive medical treatment in the case of injury, accident, or illness during the activity and to indemnify Trips & Tramps against any claims, costs, or expenses in respect of the treatment.
• will bring suitable clothing, footwear, and equipment for the trip as outlined in the trip brochure.
• will follow the directions of Trips & Tramps staff and any third-party operators.
• parents will supervise their children at all times.
Pre-departure Briefing
Before the Kepler Heli-hike begins on the first day, we will have a briefing to give you an opportunity to meet everyone and ask any questions. We will cover in detail the itinerary for each day and any extra information you may need to know. If you need to borrow any of our equipment, we will get that sorted as well.
We have organised two package deals with the local Distinction Hotel, to make your Fiordland holiday hassle free. Of course you are welcome to book any other accommodation option in Te Anau too, but this must be arranged directly by you.
These package offerings combine your Fiordland Great Walks 3 day package with a 4 night stay, including full cooked breakfast(s) each morning prior to your Trips & Tramps morning pickup, leaving you fueled for your day of adventure ahead. FREE unlimited WiFi and complimentary off-street parking is also included.
Both options are conveniently located in the heart of the Te Anau township, so you can access the main street easily, and no vehicle is required.
The only meal not included in the package cost is your evening dinner. These may be purchased at an additional charge from the hotel, or you can access a great array of options right outside the hotel doors!