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Two Lodge Itinerary

​Five & Seven Day Itineraries

We recommend at least 2 or 3 nights at each Wilderness Lodge. Building both Lodges into your South Island itinerary provides huge variety and is a wonderful way to experience the best of the South Island. The lodges also provide convenient stopping points between Christchurch/Nelson and Queenstown or Wanaka.

To help with your vacation planning we have prepared the following itinerary ideas. Contact us if you need further help or alternatively we can refer you to a specialist travel agent in your home country to make your arrangements.

The view from New Zealand's Wilderness Lodge on the West Coast of the South Island is simply stunning

Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass is the perfect base for exploring the Southern Alps

5 DAY ITINERARY

Day 1
7 DAY ITINERARY

Day 1

Drive from Christchurch/Christchurch Airport to Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass (2 hours - 130 km/80 miles) Walk from your room and enjoy the easy Rainbow Valley Beech Forest Trail or our Broad Stream Gorge Walk. 

You may prefer to relax around the lodge and take in the mountain views. Join in with our complimentary afternoon activity before enjoying dinner in the Mt Rolleston Restaurant.

 

Try your hand at kayaking during your holiday stay at Wilderness Lodge, NZ.

5 DAY ITINERARY

Day 2
7 DAY ITINERARY

Day 2

Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass Discovery Day. Explore the heart of the Southern Alps with a day of adventure on the summit of Arthur's Pass. Explore gardens of alpine flowers and search for mountain parrots.

Return to the Lodge mid-afternoon to discover the Wilderness Lodge farm. See sheep dogs muster merino sheep, hand feed tame lambs and watch shearing. After dinner join a guide to see the Southern Cross, Milky Way and southern stars.

Feed an adorable orphan lamb at Wilderness Lodge on New Zealand's West Coast.

Orphan lambs like nothing better than meeting guests for a bottle of milk and a cuddle.

5 DAY ITINERARY
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7 DAY ITINERARY

Day 3

Extra Arthur's Pass Discovery Day. Head east from the Lodge to explore natural limestone castles. Join a guide to paddle kayaks on beautiful Lake Pearson. Look for rare crested grebes and enjoy a lakeside picnic lunch.

Relax at the Lodge before joining the complimentary afternoon activity to discover the bizarre 'moa plants' on the Wilderness Lodge reserve lands.

 

Visit Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki and take a day excurion to explore the Moeraki Rapids.

The Wilderness Lodge at Lake Moeraki sits on the banks of the Moeraki River surrounded by ancient World Heritage Rainforest.

5 DAY ITINERARY

Day 3
7 DAY ITINERARY

Day 4

Drive over Arthur's Pass - Hokitika - The Glaciers - Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki (6 hours - 370 km/230 miles) Visit the craft stores in Hokitka and enjoy lunch at the Glaciers. Walk up the Glacier Valley to view the ice or perhaps take a helicopter flight over the ice. Arrive at Lake Moeraki and settle in to your room. Stretch you legs on one of our rainforest trails or visit spectacular Monro Beach.

See cute Tawaki Penguins up close on the Lake Moeraki Coastline during your Wilderness Lodge stay.

5 DAY ITINERARY

Day 4
7 DAY ITINERARY

Day 5

Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki Discovery Day. Take a guided Wilderness Seacoast Walk along a stunningly wild and rugged section of the Tasman seacoast. See NZ fur seals, search for natural beach treasures and see Fiordland Crested Penguins (in season).

Join a  guide to discover the abundance of life that teems beneath the surface of the Moeraki River - snails, shrimps, trout and giant tame eels. After a relaxed dinner in the Riverside Restauarant take a gentle stroll to see glowworms in the rainforest and listen to morepork owls.

Stunning views, food and wine

One of New Zealand's finest restaurant outlooks

5 DAY ITINERARY
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7 DAY ITINERARY

Day 6

Extra Lake Moeraki Discovery Day. Explore the wild Cole Creek beach. Watch the world's smallest dolphin surfing just offshore and collect green mussels from the reef and cook them over a driftwood fire. Drive to historic Jackson Bay and enjoy fresh lobster or fish and chips for lunch.

Borrow a canoe from the lodge and look for waterbirds on the sheltered waters of Lake Moeraki. Keen fishers may wish to try their luck at hooking a renowned Lake Moeraki brown trout. 

 

Walk the wild and dramatic Moeraki Coastline in New Zealand's South Island.

Protected by the elements, this coast remains one of New Zealand's most wild & unspoit

5 DAY ITINERARY

Day 5
7 DAY ITINERARY

Day 7

Drive over Haast Pass to Wanaka (180km/110miles) or Queenstown (280km/170 miles). Depart the Lodge and travel over spectacular Haast Pass. Say goodbye to the Lake Moeraki Wilderness and return to the tourist hubs of Wanaka and Queenstown.

These ideas may be modified to fit with your particular travel plans and commitments. For further information please contact us.

Fresh Kiwi baking at Moeraki Riverside Restaurant, South Island, NZ

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Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki is located on the South Island’s West Coast between the Glaciers and Wanaka/Queenstown. It is a comfortable 5.5 hours drive from Wilderness Lodge Arthur’s Pass and 3.5 hours from Queenstown Airport. We have driving notes available for the journey north or south.

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Wilderness Lodge Arthur’s Pass is located on Highway 73 between Christchurch and the West Coast. It is less than 2 hours drive from Christchurch and the towns of Greymouth & Hokitika and a comfortable 5.5 hours to Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki. The TranzAlpine train stops in Arthur’s Pass and transfers to/from the lodge are available.

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