Trips Around the Lodge and Further Afield
LONGER OPTIONAL GUIDED ADVENTURE TRIPS
As well as exploring on your own and joining in with our complementary activities you can also join in our longer guided wilderness adventures.
RAINFOREST, CANOEING AND SEACOAST SEAL AND PENGUIN ADVENTURES
Join a small group and accompany our skilled nature guides.
On safe, well-planned adventures you will get close to wildlife, learn about the forest, experience amazing scenery and friendly company.
The charge for these trips ranges from NZ$88 to NZ$140 per person. A minimum of 2 people are required for these to depart and they can be booked on arrival.
Click below for a sample programme that shows you some of the activities that may be on offer when you visit.
If you would prefer your own guide, book a day of 'exclusive guiding' - see Exclusive Guided Trips for further information on this option.
SOME OF OUR TRIPS:
- Wilderness Seacoast, Fiordland Crested Penguin and New Zealand Fur Seals Tramping Adventure - our "signature walk" This is a dramatic and challenging walk along a rugged section of the Tasman seacoast. It requires moderate fitness and provides great wildlife viewing opportunities. We will see New Zealand fur seals, penguins (in season) and possibly an elephant seal. Enjoy refreshments beside a waterfall tumbling down to the beach after some scrambling over volcanic beach boulders. Fossick for natural beach treasures and finally climb steeply up from the shore into the dense rainforest.
- Wilderness Seacoast, Hector's Dolphins and seashore ecology A gentle walk along a beautiful yet rarely visited piece of seacoast. We will discover rockpools, islands and coastal caves and we will probably see Hector’s dolphins, the world’s smallest marine dolphin species and maybe New Zealand fur seals. Following the coast we search for polished beach pebbles and wave-sculpted driftwood.
- Lake Moeraki Kayak Safari to Glacier Beach and the Giant Rimu Trees Our nature guides give you instruction in our safe and stable kayaks. We then paddle upriver past tall rainforest to enter the shallow wetlands of Lake Moeraki looking for water birds like black swan and crested grebe. On reaching the head of the lake we enjoy refreshments on a delightful beach tucked between the lake and the rainforest before visiting some of the largest trees in the Moeraki Valley.
- Ancient Rainforest Guided Walk and Canoe Safari to the Lower Moeraki River and the Tasman Seacoast. Easy Option: Canoe the Moeraki Lagoon Our nature guides take you on a gentle walk down the valley through giant rainforest trees, past historic cottages and across freshwater springs and wetland moss forest. At the Moeraki lagoon our canoes and life jackets are waiting. We paddle down river beneath the forest and out into the Moeraki lagoon. We reach the Moeraki beach and walk to the Tasman seacoast where we enjoy refreshments, fossick for gemstones, shells and driftwood
- The Moeraki Mountains, Historic South Westland Pack Track, Moeraki Rapids and Blue Hut The Moeraki Valley was the last valley in South Westland to be accessed by road in 1965. Prior to this the only way south to Haast by land followed a historic pack track at the foot of the mountains. We drive 8 km up the valley to the start of this walk. The track crosses a series of small steams as the thunderous noise of the Moeraki rapids grows louder. When we reach these spectacular rapids, we cross on a high swingbridge then continue a short way to the historic Blue Hut. We enjoy lunch either at the hut with a roaring fire and billy tea or beside a huge pool in the Moeraki River.
Genuine wilderness! Great range of activities for folks with an outdoor mindset. Great location and real tranquility. Many thanks for first-class hospitality!
Dave and Jill Rogers, Surrey, England - 23 September 2011
As well as joining in our complementary and longer guided trips you may also like to have a day with your own guide.
To book a day of exclusive guiding, see Exclusive Guided Trips for further information.
A wonderful place - We enjoyed the kayaking, fishing, penguin watching (we saw 6 of them!), eels, glowworms, the food, service and everything. Thank you so much for your hospitality.
Genny and Sam Yong, Singapore, 28 September 2011
INTERESTED IN FISHING FOR TROUT?
The lake and rivers have good numbers of Brown Trout and in March & in April there are some Quinnat Salmon. The lodge has basic rods with lures but NO fly-fishing equipment.
You will need a fishing licence to fish in the area - you can purchase these from the Lodge.
With prior notice local guides can be arranged but please check with us if fishing is to be the focus of your stay. You cannot fish in front of the Lodge where we have giant tame brown trout.
