Hollyford Valley
A leisurely journey along the world-renowned Hollyford track. We walk through rich southern beech / podocarp rainforest, often beside the clear Hollyford River. We'll see native birds, ferns, secluded moss gardens, pristine streams and glimpses of the glaciers and peaks of the Darran Mountains. more
Driving time: One and a half hours' scenic drive from Te Anau.
Walk grade: One to six hours' walking, as desired. Suitable for families.

Key Summit
A shady track rising through lush southern beech rainforest.
At treeline the forest opens out to a botanist's paradise of alpine shrubs and snow tussock grassland leading to a summit with panoramic views of mountains, snowfields and alpine lakes.  We can continue in the alpine area as far as you like. more
Driving time: One hour's scenic drive from Te Anau.
Walk grade: Two to four hours' walking, as desired. Average fitness and children over ten.

Lake Marian
We cross the Hollyford River by swingbridge, then ascend past waterfalls amid lush, bird-rich southern beech forest. We emerge in a high valley, where a perfect alpine lake is encircled by snow-clad mountains. A majestic picnic and swim spot. more
Driving time:One and a quarter hours' scenic from Te Anau.
Walk grade: Three hours up, two down. Suitable for walkers of average fitness and children over ten.

Gertrude Saddle
From the canyon-like cirque at the head of the Hollyford River, we walk up through southern beech forest, snow tussock grassland and alpine flower fields onto a zone of glacier-smoothed granite slabs and then across undulating snowfields to an open, grassy saddle.  From here we see an immense view of the precipitous Darran Mountains, Milford Sound and the Tasman Sea beyond. more
Driving time: One and a half hours' scenic drive from Te Anau.
Walk grade: Four hours up, three hours down. Suitable for experienced walkers.

Lord of the Rings Locations day trip
See where Sam swam after Frodo,
the launch site onto the River Anduin,
where Merry and Pippin were chased by the orcs,
where the orc dead were burned,
where Frodo's elven-brooch was found in the grass,
where the Riders of Rohan entered the forest,
Fangorn Forest sites. more
Driving time: 3 hours, in several stages through the day.
Walks: over to you. We can drive to each location but beautiful short or long walks are available at several of them.

Your own place !
We can show you a dozen other hikes of a day or less, ranging from flat forest floor ambles to challenging journeys into untracked, un-trekked areas.  Everything from stream-side moss glades to an iceberg-filled lake!

We design every trip to suit you personally so be sure to let us know about your special interests. Photography, geology, pioneer history, wildlife, bird watching, botany - Fiordland has it and we can find it. more