Hiking New Zealand — Local services in South Island

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the Southern Slice in April 2025. This 10day hiking tour started in Nelson and ended in Queenstown. Kelsi was our tour guide. She was really well organized and made sure we stayed on track/time every step of the way. She was very knowledgeable about NZ and Maori history and shared so much about the culture with us. We loved learning some Te Reo Maori words and other local stories and legends during the many long drives along the way. Her expertise definitely added to our overall enjoyment of the trip. The accommodations were very welcoming and comfortable as well. The highlights for us included getting to see Abel Tasman National Park, and the majestic views on the west coast, the baby seal nursery at Cape Foul Wind, catching the blow holes at the Pancake Rocks and the lush Punakaiki trails! We loved our time in Aoraki National Park, and were so glad we attempted the more challenging Sealy Tarns track in the morning and still had enough time to check out the famous Hooker Valley track in the afternoon too. Stopping off at Castle Hill was so cool on the way to lake Tekapo. We really enjoyed the views at the top of the Mt. John track and eating local NZ cuisine like pies from Fairlie and fresh fish & chips from Greymouth. We really appreciated the care and effort Kelsi took in setting up the lunch picnics which we felt were just like wonderful mini feasts. In addition, it was such a treat to have a special dedicated "snack basket" on the seat of the van filled with fruits and delicious NZ chocolate and other amazing things to munch on that met our dietary asks. As luck would have it on the days that we wanted clear sunshine we got great weather for exploring the trails. Then when we hoped for rain during the Milford Sound day, it poured like crazy and we got to see all the extra waterfalls along the road leading up to the marina and by the time we boarded the boat, the sky cleared. Simply incredible! This is just one example of the many experiences that made us realize this trip of a lifetime was meant to be. We're so happy we chose Hiking NZ to show us around their country kiwi style. The entire time we kept saying how perfectly planned everything was, from the timeline to the choices in hotels and restaurants. They really have thought of everything which meant we just had to show up with our gear and enjoy the ride! It really was a great mix of activity and rest, and even on the long drives there were hundreds of miles of stunning country side to enjoy. We highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting a true local perspective of great things to see and do in New Zealand. Our only wish is that we had more time to explore further in each of the towns/parks we visited. The great thing is we got a taste of a little bit of everything so next time we know where we want visit again. For example, we already know when we come back we've got to spend at least a week in Wanaka alone just to see more of it! *Special shout out to Fleur who was also another really cool guide who...

Wow what a trip! We did the 5 day Northern Portion and 3 day Abel Tasman trips. This is by far the most fun, interesting and beautiful trip my husband and I have taken in a long time! As a person that typically says no to a group tour situation I can tell you that we had such a great time with these guys and our group that we are already planning our trip back to do The Milford Trek next year. Our guides Mo and Vince were organized, fun and made transporting 7 people through the North Island on many hikes and scenic spots seem effortless. Mo's encyclopedic knowledge of New Zealand's history and land made the van rides from spot to spot fly by. By the end of the second day we felt like we were on a road trip with close friends. I especially appreciated all of the "off the beaten path" hikes we did that only a local would know about. Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing was by far the highlight of the trip. It's really too hard to describe just how beautiful and at the same time desolate and Mars like the landscape is. Just sign up and do it. Make sure you wear good hiking boots, and say yes to the poles if you have knees that get sore. 19.4km is a lot but sooooooooo worth it! Truly a wonderful journey and I can't wait for the next...

It was a pleasure collaborating with Hiking New Zealand on a 19-day North & South Island hiking adventure for a team of 11 from my hiking community in Toronto, Canada. From brain-storming itinerary ideas to execution of the trip, things ran smoothly, communication was prompt & effective, issues handled professionally and the entire experience was beyond expectations...fantastic value for money!! Guides were knowledgeable, humorous, organized and went out of their way to meet our needs and make us feel comfortable & safe. Their passion for the outdoors, admiration and respect for the country, flora and fauna were obvious. Their connection to nature was infectious. HNK will be my go-to company if I were to plan another trip to beautiful NZ!

Personal touch magic *appreciate that Malcolm made special effort to meet up with me in Auckland before the trip. *Justin's signature pancakes...loved helping to cook those super fluffy things and got to eat at least 5 pieces...so yummy! *Ali...trying so hard to find an Alpine (Mountain) Daisy in bloom for me and introducing...