Hiking & Walking
Family-friendly Tours
Nature & Wildlife
Comfort, Culture and Connection in the Wilderness
What sets the Hollyford Track Wilderness Experience apart is the balance of wilderness and comfort. You’ll stay in welcoming lodges each night, enjoying warm hospitality, delicious meals and a touch of luxury in the heart of nature. After a day on the trail, there’s nothing like relaxing with a hearty meal and the sound of the river nearby.
This low-altitude walk is achievable for most with moderate fitness, making it an excellent alternative to New Zealand’s more demanding Great Walks. It’s a journey that invites reflection, conversation and genuine connection—with your group, your guides and the landscape itself. The experience is more than a hike; it’s a story of people, place and timeless Fiordland beauty.
Comfortable Lodges in the Heart of the Hollyford
Each night of the Hollyford Wilderness Experience brings you back to the comfort of a warm, private lodge deep in the Fiordland wilderness. With cosy ensuite rooms complete with duvets, linen, and even hot water bottles, you’ll have all the comforts of home at the end of a rewarding day on the track. Hot showers and flush toilets add an extra touch of luxury, while shared lounge and dining areas provide a welcoming space to unwind with fellow walkers over delicious meals and fine beverages.
On your first night, settle into Ka Tuku Lodge, tucked beneath majestic mountain ranges where the Hollyford and Pyke Rivers meet. Friendly lodge hosts are ready to welcome you with a gourmet antipasto platter and a drink in hand before a hearty dinner and dessert. The second night brings you to Waitai Lodge near Martins Bay, where wood-fired hot tubs and a crackling fire offer the perfect end to your coastal journey—alongside another incredible three-course meal shared with new friends.
- The days are long but not difficult.
- Day 2 can be challenging as you are required to carry your own pack for 19.5km. Follow our packing advice and your bag should weigh less than 7kg, given all food and bedding is provided.
- We have guests from the ages of 10 to 84 doing the walk and as long as you are an actively fit person you will manage the walk.
- Remember you only carry your pack on the first day's walk in and the last day's walk out if your are doing the walk out tour, the rest of the time it is taken by boat / plane.
What to Bring: Suggested Packing List:
Walking Gear
- Base layer – wool or polypropylene thermal long sleeve and long leg
- First layer – wool or micro fleece long sleeve
- Mid layer – warm jersey or jacket (wool or fleece, preferably windproof)
- Outer layer – 100% waterproof rain jacket with hood (we can provide if needed)
- Trouser – quick dry hiking trousers (zip offs give a good shorts option)
- Boots – hiking boots (preferably with ankle support and well ‘broken-in’!)
- Socks – wool or thermal blend
- Hat – wool / fleece for cold & peaked / brimmed for when hot
- Gloves – wool or fleece
- Waterproof trousers and gaiters (optional)
- Walking poles (we can provide these if you need them)
Evening Gear
- First layer – shirt or t-shirt
- Mid layer – jersey or sweater
- Trouser – lightweight trousers or track pants
- Night wear – whatever you like to sleep in
- Underwear / Socks
- Additional footwear – light shoes, sandals or jandals for the lodges
Accessories
- Water bottle – 750ml bottles are recommended as easier to fill up from streams
- Sunscreen – SPF 30+
- Insect repellent (we also recommend anti-histamines if you react badly to bites)
- Blister pack – ‘Second Skin’ or other blister protection
- Toiletries – toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, medications
- Camera – with memory card /spare film and charger / batteries
- Money – debit or credit card for beer, wine and souvenirs
Other
Travel insurance - we strongly recommend all guests have this.
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT
- A deposit of NZ$550 is required at the time of booking.
- The final balance is due 100 days prior to departure.
CANCELLATION TERMS
- More than 100 days from walk departure date: NZD$250 fee per person**
- Between 30 - 99 days from walk departure date: 50% of the total trip cost**
- Within 30 days of walk departure date: no refund
- No shows: no refund
- Once the walk has commenced no refund applies in any circumstance
Note: **Refund excludes credit card or payment fees if applicable, which are non-refundable.
Please see more information on refunds and cancellations in Go New Zealand's terms and conditions.*
All guided experiences, including our beautiful walks, carry inherent risks. While we implement thorough safety measures, we ask our guests to recognize that risks exist. Factors such as medical conditions, physical fitness may influence your ability to participate safely.
Please disclose any relevant medical conditions to our team during check-in, and feel free to discuss any concerns you may have. The Hollyford Valley is a dynamic natural environment that presents certain hazards including, but not limited to; fast moving water ways, river hazards, rockfall, windfall, heavy rainfall, cold exposure, flooding, uneven terrain, slips, trips, fall and sun exposure. Serious injury or death is a possibility therefore agreeing to participate is your personal decision.
