Jetsettersblog

Active New Zealand
CONTACT: Mark Samways
TEL: 800-661-9073 (US & Canada)
E-MAIL: mark@nzactive.com
WEB: www.activenewzealand.com

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand–Deserted beaches, spectacular alpine passes and cozy mountain huts, New Zealand’s backcountry holds a lifetime’s worth of off-the-beaten-track adventure… if you know where to look.

Over the last 14 years the guides at Active New Zealand have explored just about every nook and cranny of the Kiwi backcountry. Here are some of their suggestions of where to begin your search for the ultimate off-the-beaten-track experience.

Siberia Valley

If you’re looking to get into the wilderness but don’t have too much time to spare, then a trip into the Siberia Valley is a great way to go.

Thanks to a grass airstrip installed by deer cullers back in the sixties, this amazing spot can be accessed by light aircraft, getting you into the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park in swift and thrilling style.

Hump Ridge Track

This track on the south coast of the South Island started life as an idea at a 1988 Tuatapere Promotions Committee meeting, aimed to bring visitors to this forgotten corner of the South Island (apparently the little town’s existing hook; “New Zealand’s sausage capital” just wasn’t working).

Ten years later the Hump Ridge Track was a reality – and what a stroke of genius it’s proven to be.

Angelus Circuit

Tucked away in the Nelson Lakes National Park, this trail is a brilliant introduction to tramping in New Zealand, with enough facilities to be user-friendly without losing the million-miles-from-anywhere feeling that makes the region so special.

Over three days you’ll experience tolkienesque beech forests along the shores of Lake Rotoiti, pristine mountain streams, alpine meadows and the stunning alpine amphitheatre of Lake Angelus, a spectacular location for one of the route’s huts… and a ‘refreshing’ spot for swim if you’re feeling bold.

Cascade Saddle Route

Be warned, this trip is not for those faint hearted. However, if you’re well prepared and reasonably fit then the Cascade Saddle is a must.

The view from here is truly jaw-dropping; with Aspiring Hut barely visible below, Mt Tyndall and Plunket Dome rise from either side of the saddle, beckoning you to try for their summits, while in the distance the shattered ice of the Dart Glacier creeps towards the valley floor.

Marlborough Sounds Kayaking

There’s nothing like taking to the water for the ultimate sense of freedom – and the Marlborough Sounds the place to do it. In the sounds, you’ll see bush-clad hills running into emerald green water seabirds chasing schools of kahawai and fur seals, once nearly hunted to extinction, now living the good life – occasionally scoffing seafood, but mainly just lazing in the sun.

About ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND:

ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND has operated small group, guided adventure trips including hiking, biking and kayaking around the North and South Islands of New Zealand since 1996.

Our New Zealand trips offer the perfect blend of outdoor activities, friendly local guides, home cooking and legendary service in some of the most awe-inspiring Kiwi destinations.

Visit www.ActiveNewZealand.com  for the full story.