I expected a good time, but had a fantastic time. Stephen, UK

As a family, we would recommend this trip - the kids managed walks and kayaking easily and have hopefully learnt something about the flora, fauna and geology of New Zealand - better than being in school. Susan, UK

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.
John Lennon

Customised Guiding Samples

Family Groups Far North Safari

5.5 days Auckland - Auckland
Grade: A or B

Great for adults who love to get out hiking but these days need a trip that kids can do too.

The Far North is our shortest and easiest trip. It's the perfect trip for a couple of families to commandeer. We have had children as young as 7 on this trip in pretty much its regular form. We do plenty of swimming and snorkelling in secret coves of turquoise water, and lots of great day hikes. It is a bit warmer in the 'winterless North'. Highlights include: the remote forested coastal hike on Day 2 near the Bay of Islands, kayaking at Whangaroa, two nights of isolation at the very tip of New Zealand, and four-wheel-driving along 90 Mile Beach and Te Paki. We try and camp on every night.

For families we make the days more flexible, so if some want to turn back half way or take it easy, we can make that work. The kayaking is in the stunning Whangaroa Harbour rather than open coast, and as we use double kayaks it's safer. Contact us for more information about the specifics of this trip.

Day 1 Join trip in Auckland 1km/2 hours hiking
Drive to Bay of Islands. Camp by beach. Explore hills climbing up through the tropical bush behind the camp. Moonlight swim for the foolhardy.

Day 2 Bay of Islands 9km/6 hours hiking
Hike up and down over headlands separating sandy coves along Northland's best coastal hiking track - all on Maori land. Take a swim before driving via Paihia to camp.

Day 3 Whangaroa Kayaking 10km/5 hours kayaking
Sea kayaking ($85) along harbour coastline to volcanic headlands. Loads of beaches and even sea caves to explore. Drive to camp.

Day 4 90 Mile Beach, Cape Reinga 2km/2 hours hiking
Snorkel in bay, drive 90 Mile Beach and sandboard on dunes. Hike to Cape Maria Van Diemen. Sunset at Cape Reinga. Camp.

Day 5 Cape Maria Van Diemen, Kauri Forests 4-12km/2-4 hours hiking
Cliff-top walk in the morning. Drive south via Hokianga and camp in Waipoua Kauri Forest.

Day 6 Kauri Forests 2km/1 hour hiking
Visit the Trounson Kauri Reserve then drive to Auckland, arrive approximately 3pm.

Tour is subject to tide times and sea conditions and may happen in a different order than stated above. Far North vehicle has snorkelling gear, boogie/sand boards and barbecue.

Whirinaki Rainforest

5 days Auckland - Auckland (or Rotorua)
Grade: D

The Whirinaki rainforest and Te Urewera National park together contain the largest areas of native forest in the North Island. One of the most striking features of the majestic Whirinaki is the ancient podocarp forest dominated by towering kahikatea and rimu. Other notable plant life includes beech forest, tawa and many bizarre species of tree and ground ferns. The park has been described as one of the most primeval forests of the world, and many of the trees originate from the Jurassic era, 200 million years ago. The BBC documentary 'Walking With Dinosaurs' was filmed here. The forests of the Whirinaki provide one of the few places on the mainland where rare species of birds can still be seen in the wild. Kaka (bush parrot), kereru (native pigeon), kakariki (red crowned parakeet), native robin, whio (blue duck) and karearea (New Zealand falcon) are all found here.

Day 1 Join trip in Auckland/Rotorua 4km/1 hour hiking
Drive from Auckland to the Whirinaki Forest Park through Rotorua. Explore one of the amazing thermal parks. Drive through massive forest to the edge of the plateau, hike in an hour to camp at the Ash Caves or a little further to a remote hut by the Whirinaki River, arriving in the early evening.

Day 2 Whirinaki Forest Park 12km/3-4 hours hiking
Continue along the upper Whirinaki Valley to the Mangamate Saddle Hut. Splendid views over southern beech forest, with inquisitive robins and hear kaka, a large New Zealand bush parrot.

Day 3 Whirinaki Forest Park 15km/6-7 hours hiking
From Mangamate Saddle Hut, splash down river then climb up Moerangi Saddle and follow a cascading creek on a rougher trail down the other side. The rainforest of weeping ferns and forest giants is breathtaking as you hike to Moerangi Hut. Enjoy an evening campfire, the sounds of the bush, and the feeling of being a million miles from anywhere.

Day 4 Whirinaki Forest Park 7km/7-8 hours hiking
We become experts at river-crossing techniques as we travel through remote wilderness completely off the tourist trail. We stop for lunch on the way and can have a quick swim in the cascades, which boast crystal-clear water you can drink. We often see rare blue duck and hear the whistling calls of the male and female pairs on our way to Skips Hut.

Day 5 Finish in Rotorua or return to Auckland 10km/2 hours hiking
After hiking for a couple hours through beautiful forest to the road end we have time to look at a natural hot river and some cave drawings on our way to Rotorua (arrive 3-5pm). You can finish your trip here or continue with us back to Auckland.

Tongariro Volcanoes

Tongariro National Park
4 days Whakapapa - Whakapapa (or Auckland - Auckland)
Grade: D

Day 1 Wednesday Hike starts Whakapapa 6km/3 hours hiking
Meet up with your guide and group at the Visitor centre. Your guide will advise you on what to pack - some storage is available for surplus gear. We drive south, stopping to see The Mounds, an incredible series of small hills that tobogganed off the top of nearby Mt Ruapehu (2797m) coming to rest here - 14 kilometres away. We do a food shop before leaving the Desert Highway for a rough vehicle track that leads across volcanic ash to the base of Mt Ruapehu. The 300 metre ascent to our wee mountain hut, although not steep, crosses rough rocky ground. Perched above a jagged gorge at 2000 metres we get fantastic views.

Day 2 Thursday Ohinepango Springs 15km/8 hours hiking
Hike to a viewpoint above the lava flows of the Whangaehu Gorge. This outlet from the Crater Lake released lahars (mudflows) in the 1996 eruption. There are impressive views up the gorge to the many pointed peaks of this active volcano. Note that late spring snow and ice, or bad weather, may prevent us from climbing very high on the mountain. We return to the hut, collect our packs, and begin our descent through Rangipo Desert. Passing gnarled hebe bushes and crossing many dry sand streams, the track leads us finally to Ohinepango Springs which gurgle out beneath old lava flows into the beech forest. Hut/camp beside Waihohonu stream.

Day 3 Friday Oturere Hut 7 or 15km/3 or 6 hours hiking
We traverse under the flanks of the perfect volcanic cone of Mt Ngauruhoe (2291m). We may make an off-track side trip to a remote turquoise-blue lake for lunch and a snooze. Frequent puffs of steam, or even smoke, can be seen spiralling out of the craters of the nearby volcanoes. We return to the track (and our packs) before continuing to Oturere Hut (1500m) in the late afternoon.

Day 4 Saturday Hike finishes Whakapapa 15km/6 hours hiking
The track follows the Oturere Valley, winding through the contorted lava mounds that jut out of the sandy valley floor. Climbing up past emerald lakes to 1900 metres gives us a view into the vent of Red Crater. This startling crater with its stratum of red ochre and charcoal greys last erupted in the early 1900s. If weather allows we may climb one of the other volcanoes too. The descent to the western side of the park leads down past the lava flows of the 1954 Ngauruhoe eruption and into the now tranquil Mangatepopo Valley. We drive back to Whakapapa Visitor Centre, usually arriving in the late afternoon. Note: Parts of the track on this day are required to be unguided.

Some of the trips that we have run before.

Family Groups - Far North Safari (Auckland to Auckland)
We put this together after a lot of requests. The Family Groups Far North is simply our northern trip, but for families with kids (better if 8 years or older). A bit more flexible, but essentially the same as the regular trip.

Whirinaki - 5 day wilderness trek (Auckland to Auckland)
An amazing wilderness hike in the world’s only living example of Jurassic-like rainforest. Remote and wild - camping and huts. You may well see no one for 4 days!

Tongariro Volcanoes – 4 day traverse of this World Heritage Area (Auckland to Auckland)
Experience the remote east side of Mt Ruapehu. Stay in a tiny alpine hut above 2000m and traverse the Rangipo desert before joining the last section of the famous Northern circuit and Tongariro crossing.