wilderness tours nz

September Spring Specials!

We have amazing special pricing on our 3 and 4 day Independent Walks - September only!

Wilderness Guides

Welcome to the queen charlotte sound, tōtaranui. find rich māori & european history as you explore meandering coastlines and protected native forest by foot, sea-kayak, or mountain bike..

The Queen Charlotte Track is known as the finest and most diverse coastal track in New Zealand. Beginning at the scenic & historic reserve of Meretoto Ship Cove, the 73.5km long track is truly one of the best in Aotearoa. Most people walk the track over four days, although any combination from one to five days is possible. Wilderness Guides are proud to have been part of the tourism landscape in the Marlborough Sounds for 23 years. We invite you to explore the Marlborough Sounds and Queen Charlotte Track with us.

3 Day Upgrade Independent Walk

1 Day Queen Charlotte Sound Guided Kayak

Mountain Bike Rental

4 Day Upgrade Independent Walk

1 Day Guided Walk

4 Day Guided Walk

4 Day Standard Independent Walk

4 Day Guided Walk & Kayak

5 Day Guided Walk

3 Day Standard Independent Walk

5 Day Standard Independent Walk with Rest Day

5 Day Upgrade Independent Walk with Rest Day

5 day standard independent walk each day.

5 Day Upgrade Independent Walk Each Day

3 Day Bike Hike Kayak Combo

1 Day Mountain Bike Trip – Ship Cove to Punga Cove

1 Day Mountain Bike – Torea Saddle to Punga Cove

1 Day Mountain Bike – Torea Saddle to Anakiwa

2 Day Mountain Bike Trip

3 Day Mountain Bike Trip

4 day all-inclusive walk.

1 Day Link Pathway Kayak & Walk/Bike

Half Day Queen Charlotte Sound Guided Kayak

See what people are saying....

The remote beauty of the Queen Charlotte Track awaits

Plan & prepare.

Picton & Track Accommodation

What To Bring

Conservation & Tiaki

Looking after our unique environment, now and in the future, is hugely important. Read more about Wilderness Guides's environmental practices.

Let our team show you the Queen Charlotte Track and Marlborough Sounds.

Our team live, work and play in this fantastic region - your guides are local people. Call us on +64 3 5735432 . Freephone (NZ only): 0800 266 266 . Freephone (Aus only): 1800 281 827

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New Zealand Tours

From magnificent fjords to “middle earth’s” epic great walks.

With its crystalline fjords, emerald mountains, and brilliant aquamarine lakes fed by colossal glaciers, New Zealand is where nature comes to play. Unplug and recharge on one of our journeys that take you along the best portions of “Middle Earth’s” iconic Great Walks and hiking trails, with overnights in authentic lodges, renowned wines, and fantastic cuisine.

All Trips to New Zealand

Small Group Adventure

New Zealand: Ultimate South Island

New Zealand

From $10,595

Hiker’s Journey to New Zealand

From $8,595

New Zealand: Hidden Treasures of the Far North

From $6,195

Cruise Collection

Antarctica: Voyage through the Ross Sea

New Zealand, Antarctica

From $31,500

Exploring New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds

From $3,650

The Best of New Zealand

From $6,995

Experience New Zealand

Extend Your Trip

Auckland and the Islands of the Hauraki Gulf Extension

From $2,395

Talk to an Expert

Our Pacific Specialists know every detail about our New Zealand Tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

Kayak Tours

• Kayak Classic
• Sunset Classic
• Private Kayak
• SUP Adventure

• Scenic Cruise
• Cruise & Walk
• Private Cruise

Fishing Charters

Quad Bike Tours

Off-road adventure tour, quad bike types, single quad bike, double quad bike, 3 seater buggy, need help choosing.

Try our Tours Filter TRY FILTER

COMBINE SAVE!

Promo codes for multiple tours CODES

Off-road adventure tour in Franz Josef Glacier!

• WHAT TO BRING
• WHAT’S INCLUDED
• FREE CANCELLATIONS

Franz Josef Glacier

Explore further in Franz Josef Glacier on our top-rated guided Off-road Adventure Tour.  Choose a single quad bike, double quad bike or an adventure buggy. Free photographs are included with each tour… 

COMBO TOURS

NEED HELP CHOOSING

Off-road adventure.

Join a guided off-road adventure tour!  Journey across riverbed and through the rainforest on our thrilling tracks. 

Ride a quad bike or 3-seater buggy through a beautiful Jurassic rainforest, splash through rivers and explore an ancient glacier riverbed.  Enjoy our incredible backdrop of the spectacular Southern Alps and Franz Josef Glacier as you follow your guide through our tracks.

On a sunny day enjoy some of the best views of the Franz Josef Glacier you can get from the township or get down and dirty in the puddles and the mud on a rainy day!  As we like to say “the wetter the better!”…

CLICK TO EXPAND MORE INFORMATION +

Choose a single quad bike (all to yourself) or take a double quad bike or buggy and bring a passenger along for the ride.  We also have one of our three-seater buggies that can fit two adults and one child.  Get in touch if you’re not sure what’s right for you!

(Please note passengers do not get to swap with the driver)

• Free high quality photos are included with each quad bike tour!
• Explore the Waiho riverbed where we can view from afar! 
• One of the South Island’s Top-rated Quad Bike adventures!  Read our reviews HERE  

CURRENT PRICES:

Single Quad Bike $205 NZD Double Quad Bike $275 NZD Triple Buggy $305 NZD FROM OCT 1st: Single Quad – $220 | Double Quad – $300 | Triple Buggy $385

Allow 2 hours

SINGLE QUAD BIKE: $205

“The wetter the better”

Our off-road adventure tour is Franz Josef Glacier’s ultimate rainy day activity!  Get down and dirty in the mud, splash through puddles and experience the rainforest in all it’s glory.  We provide all the equipment you need to stay warm & dry throughout…

Rainjackets

Water-proof pants

Off-Road Quad Bikes & Buggies

Our bikes are a selection of single quad bikes and unique 2 seater quad bikes.  You can also choose to drive a 3 seater buggy which is great for families with kids.  Read on for more information about our bikes, then choose which you’d like to ride on our Off-road adventure tour!

Ride your own bike on through the rainforest track & trails!

Our single quad bikes are 450 cc automatic Can-am Outlander’s. This quad bike provide a comfortable journey over rough terrain featuring independent suspension and power steering!

Our trained and knowledgeable quad bike guides will let you learn the ropes on our test track before we head out on the tracks – so even if you’ve never driven a quad bike before this is a great opportunity to learn!

NZ $205 per bike *Please note drivers must be a minimum of 16 years. FROM OCT 1st: Single Quad: $220

Our unique double quad bikes are the only certified passenger quad bikes on the market!  

Bring a passenger along for the ride and enjoy a comfortable trip all around.  These double-seater automatic Can-am Outlanders are 450 cc with power steering.  The front and back seats are both padded and spacious, so you’ll be riding across the riverbed in style.

• Please note: For safety reasons, drivers and passengers CANNOT swap during the tour.
• Children must be a minimum of 145 cm tall in order to be able to reach the footrests.
• Drivers must be a minimum 18 years old in order to have a passenger join them.
• A combined weight limit of 220kg is in place for a double quad bike.  If you’re worried you’ll exceed this please get in touch , or look at booking our single quad bikes separately!

DOUBLE QUAD BIKE: $275 Please note: booking 1 x double quad bike is for 2 people :) 

From Oct 1st: Double Quad $300 

DOUBLE QUAD BIKE: $275

Book the adventure buggy – which takes up to three passengers!

The adventure buggy has a steering wheel instead of handlebars, but takes on all the same terrain as our quad bikes!  The Can-am Defender buggy is great for children over 110 cm (generally 4-5 years old), and has a roof overhead.

The 3-seater buggy can be booked as a double or triple passenger option great option for those looking for a different driving style, but want to join the same adventure tour as those on the quad bikes.

Drivers must be a minimum 18 years old in order to have a passenger join them. Children must be a minimum of 110 cm tall (generally 4-5 years old) to ride in the buggy. Drivers & passengers cannot swap during the tour – it’s for your safety!

TRIPLE BUGGY: $305 (or book as a Double Buggy for $275)

From Oct 1st: Triple Buggy $385 Double Buggy: $300

TRIPLE BUGGY: $305

OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE

Absolutely brillliant! Great fun, well looked after, everyone from the office to the guide was lovely and helpful. We had a hoot!

Perth, Australia

We loved every minute of this well organised kayak on the lake. The guide was knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Excellent views and reflections of the mountains and the flora in the lakes. We even had a closeup visit to a white heron. Highly recommended!

Simi, New York, USA

I cannot recommend this enough! I’ve now done it twice in 3 years and both times it was spectacular, both in terms of scenery and overall experience. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable and was taking candid snaps all throughout the trip that we had access to later on. I highly recommend the morning trip, as that’s when the water is like glass and it feels so serene gliding over it. It truly is one of the best experiences in Franz Josef.

Hourikhat, Sydney, Australia

What to bring:.

Dress in comfortable clothing 

Camera (optional, as we also provide  FREE  photos)

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Free high-quality digital photos

Wet Weather Jackets & Pants

Rubber Boots (aka Gumboots)

FLEXIBLE & FREE 24 HR CANCELLATIONS

We want you to be confident when you book directly with us! We provide hassle-free full refunds without any penalties.  We do ask that any cancellations and changes are made a full 24 hours prior to the trip time . Cancellations made within the 24 hour time frame cannot be refunded (for any reason including medical or other) so please let us know in time if you need to change, or cancel your booking!  Good travel insurance will cover last minute scenarios you might encounter that affect your bookings.  Private/Group bookings or charters incur a 48 hour cancellation policy.

We reserve the right to cancel tours if minimum numbers are not met or in the event of unsafe conditions, in which case full refunds are issued.

We're here to help, so feel free to drop us an email if you have any questions.

• Tripadvisor

Southern Wilderness specializes in Gourmet Guided Walks on the Heaphy Track, Old Ghost Road and throughout the Nelson Lakes and Abel Tasman National Parks.

Old Ghost Road

Heaphy Track

Nelson Lakes

Abel Tasman

Mountain Bike Transfers

At Southern Wilderness we are dedicated to making sure that we have a positive impact on not only the guests that come on our gourmet guided walks, but on ourselves (the crew), the environment and the community that we work within.

We love fresh, colourful food. We enjoy providing gourmet meals in a remote setting, breaking the conventional norms of hiking where dehydrated and tinned food is expected.

We believe in providing our guests with fresh nutritious food to fuel their bodies for their adventure with us.

“This is so the best way to walk this Track….Not only did we have amazing food freshly prepared throughout our trip but they constantly helped and supported us for the 4 days…..I cannot praise this outfit enough – and recommend their services . Well done Angus and your team !”

– Trip Advisor Review

Our Gourmet Guided Walks

Heaphy Classic Five Day

Heaphy Classic Four Day

Travers Sabine

Mt Angelus Alpine Experience

Nelson Lakes Three Day Walks

Abel Tasman Five Day

Gourmet Sailing Three Day

Abel Tasman Two Day

Three Parks Package

Southern wilderness gourmet guided walks.

Southern Wilderness is a locally owned hiking company specializing in Gourmet Guided Walks in the Kahurangi , Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes National Parks.

The most popular walks include The Heaphy Track in  Kahurangi National Park ,  The Coastal Track in the  Abel Tasman National Park as well as the Travers Sabine Circuit and Mt Angelus Alpine Experience in the Nelson Lakes National Park . We offer a range of other walking trips in these three parks. Introducing new tours, Gourmet Sailing Three Day which we will be offering this season, and a Wine and Walking All Inclusive Tour which is currently in planning phase.

WHY CHOOSE SOUTHERN WILDERNESS?

A Gourmet Guided Walking Trip enables you to experience the great outdoors in our region with relative ease and luxury – without the burden of carrying your own food and equipment or the time consuming task of organizing all the logistics of your trip. We take care of your transport, meals and safety planning. You will carry your personal clothes and belongings, we do the rest.

We pride ourselves on hiring the best people with the best smiles. Let our friendly and experienced guides bring your walking experience to life with a depth of knowledge that is refreshing, fun and informal. Ask us about conservation, local history and culture, as well as New Zealand native flora and fauna. You get to set the parameters of what you want to learn or get out of the trip, and we do our utmost to meet and exceed your expectations. We have also been known to tell terrible jokes and play a nearly unbeatable game of Pictionary.

GOURMET FOOD

We love fresh, colorful food and enjoy providing gourmet meals in a remote setting where tinned and dehydrated food is the expectation. We believe in providing our guests with fresh nutritious food to fuel their bodies for their adventure with us.

We will where possible choose to buy local produce, supporting local business and promoting product freshness.

Our vision is to move into using purely organic ingredients over the next few years. We are beginning to build relationships with local organic businesses and incorporating their products into our menus where we can.

Our guides advanced cooking and creating skills ensure that our meals are fresh, vibrant, tasty and attractive. At meal times all you need to do is relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Our guides are all well trained in all aspects of safety and risk management. All guides employed by Southern Wilderness hold current first aid certificates and food handling certificates. They are equipped with up to date knowledge and safety/communications equipment, and have excellent critical thinking skills. Southern Wilderness has an outstanding, blemish free safety record.

Ask us about Upgrading Your Holiday with our custom package options, we are happy to work with you to meet individual needs. There are plenty of ways we can customize each trip, including helicopters, water taxis, porters, extended trips and combination packages.

We collect you at your accommodation in Nelson or surrounding areas, and return you to your accommodation at the end of your Southern Wilderness experience.

ACCOMMODATION

We would be happy to organize your accommodation for you. We also have a number of favorite hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts in town we recommend, who offer our guests discounted rates. Let us know how we can help you with this today.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Come and experience the top of the south in Southern Wilderness style where you can be sure of staying safe, satisfied and entertained throughout your trip.

Tours offered are quality New Zealand wilderness experiences with an emphasis on your enjoyment. Once you have hiked with us we consider you a part of our Southern Wilderness family. We like to keep in touch and love to see our family holiday snaps on our facebook , instagram . Be sure to like our facebook page and tag us in pictures. We value the shared memories and the unique differences you bring to our trips.

CONTACT US to book your Southern Wilderness Gourmet Guided Walking Trip today.

Or call us on +64 (3) 545-7544  . We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Winner of the New Zealand Tourism Awards - Visitor Experience Award 2022

Book your place on our four day, three night all-inclusive guided walk through the spectacular hollyford valley..

Located in Fiordland National Park, the remote and spectacular Hollyford Valley is home to breathtaking beech forest and a rich New Zealand history.

Traverse the valley by foot, jetboat and helicopter. Along the way your experienced local guide will bring to life the diversity of the landscape, vegetation and wildlife. Enjoy first rate cuisine and personal service in our comfortable private lodges.

The Hollyford Wilderness Experience is a low-altitude walk along the valley floor, achievable for those with a reasonable level of fitness. A huge benefit is that you only need carry your pack on the first day, after which we supply a small day pack which is more than enough for your daily needs.

VIEW rates & dates

Expert Guides

Our passionate, experienced and knowledgeable guides live and breathe the Hollyford and love to share the incredible wealth of knowledge they have. Our guiding team are dedicated to New Zealand's environment, culture, history and heritage and are experts in their field. 

An Unforgettable 4 Days

On your journey you will explore the remote and spectacular Hollyford Valley, which has remained largely untouched for thousands of years. Following your experienced guide, you will traverse this historic valley by foot, jet boat, and finally, helicopter as your guide brings to life the diversity of the landscape, vegetation, wildlife, and history.

Cosy Accommodation 

At the end of each day you arrive to a warm spacious lodge, a hearty welcome from your lodge hosts and the enticing aroma of delicious cuisine and fine wines. Our lodges have all your bedding, linen and toiletries in ensuite rooms.

The guides were outstanding, so much knowledge of the area. The hosts at the lodges were very welcoming, the drivers of boats, buses and helicopters great. We saw more and learnt more than if we had done a freedom walk- seals sand dunes and extra out of way scenery. if you haven’t done much multi day hiking this is a great walk with minimal challenges. Would recommend Hollyford Wilderness Experience without hesitation.

The Hollyford track is fantastic. Wonderful flora and fauna, beautiful old forests, bird life. The icing on the cake were the guides, Elly & Izzy, who made it come to life with the stories they shared of the Hollyford track and it’s people ; so creating the memories that will last.

After many years of lugging packs in small groups of friends, we found we adored this trip - the jet boat, the helicopter ride, making it possible to do the track in 3 days and enhancing the experience, the comfy lodges and beds, and amazing meals excellent indeed.

This was our first time in the Fiordland National Park and the Hollyford Vally and to be there with your guides, benefiting from their knowledge and experience, was so appreciated.

We loved the elegant simplicity and comfort of the two lodges and the welcomes made us feel special and pampered. The evening meals were delicious, and all the other treats were delightful and surprising. This is a time we will remember always. Thank you.

A scenic wonderland with much variety. Stupendous bush. Good trail. Excellent guides who are solicitous and aware of your needs. Accommodation is superb and all the staff at the lodges welcoming and prepare stunning meals.

If you are remotely considering the Hollyford Wilderness Experience, I couldn't be more enthusiastic in recommending you do it! This was a spectacular walk through incredibly beautiful and diverse scenery.

The trip was amazing from start to finish. We had fabulous guides (Ellie and Claudia) who explained the Māori and European history in the area in a relaxed, easy to understand way.

The accommodation and meals were amazing and very welcoming after the first long day of walking. Loved the lunch venue on Day 2.

Wonderful, wonderful experience. Not a traditional track in which you just hike every day to get from point A to point B. Day one was a long, wonderful hike through a gorgeous valley. Day 2 was a short hike to a lake, then a fun and scenic jet boat ride. Day 3 was a hike on the beach, and then a spectacular helicopter ride to Milford Sound. The two lodges were amazing and the food excellent. The whole experience was first class.

Couldn’t imagine this experience being any better. Andy - an excellent driver. Jack and Isabella, our guides were very enthusiastic, informative, funny and masterful storytellers. Some of the ancient trees in the bush (and the bellbirds) were breathtaking. The lodges were extremely comfortable and the hosts welcoming and those platters superb (as were all the meals). Jetboat driver, Bill provided a great ride.

The product is so well thought through and fine-tuned. It is apparent that lot of time and effort has gone in to ensure an amazing guest experience. The lodges are definitely next level. All the staff carried themselves with dignity and professionalism - whilst still having a laugh and telling great stories. They made everyone feel welcome. Thanks to all - especially those of you behind the scenes keeping the wheels spinning.

First-rate accommodation, sustenance and hospitality at the lodges, fun jet boat and helicopter rides, and most, truly excellent guides. I will have no hesitation in recommending this walk and your company to my travelling friends - in fact, already have!

I was especially impressed by and enjoyed Bard’s excellent knowledge of the bush, native trees and plants, geology and history - and he shared it in such a nice way. I’ve traveled with hundreds of guides all over the world and he is the best. Talia, similarly, did a great job - with insight, thoughtfulness and just the right touch.

NOT YOUR USUAL WALK IN THE PARK

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