Ultimate Hikes

10/09/2024

Bird of the Year sparks fierce competition in Aotearoa/NZ and it’s that time again! This year we are championing the plucky Takahe.

We have a special bond with the Takahe. Thought to be extinct, it was found in the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland above Lake Te Anau in 1948 and since then huge efforts have been made to increase their population and habitats. Last year breeding pairs were released into the Greenstone Valley and have been thriving – even breeding! They are secretive birds so are hard to spot, but hikers on the Greenstone Track – Part of the Grand Traverse should keep a sharp eye out this season.

You can support us and the Takahe and vote for bird of the year on this website https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/ – but hurry voting closes on Sunday 15th September.

To read more about the Takahe recovery programme go to https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/takahe-recovery-programme/helping-takahe/

26/07/2024

On the eve of the Olympic Games we wish all the athletes the best of luck, and share with you a throwback to our own brush with Olympians past and present. We were delighted to host Mahe Drysdale and Juliette Haigh (now Drysdale), and Lydia Ko (accompanied by a clearly sports struck Shaun Liddy) on the Milford Track during the 2013 NZPGA Championship in Queenstown. Mahe and Juliette medalled in rowing in 2012, and Lydia is looking to add Gold to her previous Bronze and Silver medals and prolific golfing achievements. We're right behind you Lydia and Team NZ! 🥇🤞🏼🇳🇿

04/07/2024

Congratulations to our guides who were awarded NZOIA bush leader qualifications over the last season. Nine guides completed the qualification – you know who you are Mary, Nanae, Mitchell, Ben, Haisley, Sabrina, Sylvie, Donna and Lucy!

Ultimate Hikes recognises the value of NZOIA (NZ Outdoor Instruction Assoc.) for providing a pathway for outdoor instructing and guiding to be recognised as a profession. Several of our permanent team have trained as Assessors, and we are very proud of the programme we provide to our guides to gain valuable knowledge and experience they can take with them into their future.

02/07/2024

It's time! Apply now for jobs this NZ summer - live and work with fantastic people, meet new people every day, and live in an environment like no other. Applications are open for lodge managers, attendants (hospitality/housekeeping), chefs/cooks and guides across the Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks. Don't miss out on this dream opportunity. Visit our website for more details and links to apply.
https://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/plan-your-walk/employment/

21/06/2024

It's the shortest day of the year and while we wait for the real cold of winter to arrive in Queenstown, here's a taste of summer to come! We are almost ready to start recruiting our team for the 2024-25 season so watch this space. If you think three days is too short on track - six months should be just about right!

04/06/2024

Gather the family or a group and book the Routeburn Track this summer. Mix up an active adventure with the comfort of private lodges, great hospitality and good food.
Space is available across the season in multishare and private rooms. Don't miss out. Book now.

29/05/2024

The Milford Track is full of wonder - and there's no need to compromise. Hike this most famous Great Walk and enjoy comfort at the end of the day. Space is available across the full 2024-25 season. Visit our website for details.

09/05/2024

We are in the last days of our new season offer for 2024/25 season. Save $200 on departures between 1st Nov & 20 Dec 2024. But hurry - it ends on 15th May! T&Cs apply.
https://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/new-season-offer/

05/04/2024

We've just had an update from Jason from DOC on the Takahe released on the Greenstone - It's a great story with all the drama of romance thwarted, an epic journey and an heroic escape. Read on!

From Jason,
Project Lead - Takahē Recovery Sites

Here’s an update on the Greenstone takahē!

We initially released 24 takahē last year, then added another four on the 22nd March. So, there was 28 takahē in the Greenstone.

We have had a great first summer breeding season. We had ten pairs, eight of which nested, seven hatched chicks, and we still have at least four of these juveniles alive as of the 21st March!

We have so far (touch wood) had no deaths and very little dispersal (see below for Tahu’s one example!)

Poor Tahu lost her Male to another young female, and was wandering, I wanted to give her a male, which was one of the four we released at the end of March. However, when we released them, Tahu had disappeared! Had a fly around to get a signal for her on the 22nd March with no luck.

On Easter Monday Glen got a call from the North Mavora Campsite Warden saying there was a takahē hanging out not far from the campsite! She wasn’t going far and was limping.

The Burwood crew; James, Lisa and Erica went out to check it out, and it was Tahu! Caught her and brought her back to Burwood.

She was underweight (1800g) and her left foot was swollen and hot to the touch, she wasn’t putting much weight on it. We took her through to the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital. The foot was very swollen and infected, the cause is multiple pairs of puncture wounds that most certainly look like bite marks from a predator. So, it looks like either a big stoat or small ferret had a good crack at her, but she managed to escape! So glad we got to her at Mavora, this would likely have ended up being fatal if she wasn’t found.

She was probably looking for a mate, which is a bu**er as part of the reason we released those extra males on the 21stwas to give her a male! Now I have a spare male wandering around in the Greentone… 🙄

04/04/2024

Guide Kana captured this inversion layer coming out of the zig zags on McKinnon Pass recently - the Clinton Valley and Nicholas Cirque are beneath the cloud - you can see the track on the side of the picture weaving up to the McKinnon Memorial. Autumn is a great time to see some interesting weather and cloud patterns over the Milford Track.

28/03/2024

A great viewpoint of the Clinton Valley on the right and Lake Te Anau on the left from Skelmorlie Peak. Glade House at the start of the Milford Track is in the clearing. The track follows the river up the valley to Pompolona Lodge.

15/03/2024

The days may be shorter - but all the better to see amazing sunsets over The Darran Mountains from Mackenzie Lodge on the Routeburn Track. Thanks Lara for holding your nerve to get the perfect mixture of light and cloud!

01/03/2024

We are feeling the slight chill of an Autumn morning already in the lower South Island - not that you would know it given the evergreen nature of our National Parks. Some say March is a great month to walk - we say the best time is your time.

21/02/2024

This view never gets old. Our 2024-25 Season is open for bookings - come and check out this amazing view for yourselves. 😊🌱🌿

04/02/2024

Another day, another view of Omanui/McKinnon Pass. Gotta love summer in Fiordland.

02/02/2024

Guide Hannah was given this photo taken by Regan who was walking with us on the Milford Track. The rainbow ends at the memorial where Guide Rosie and Milo are resting. Reports of a pot of gold are not forthcoming as yet...

26/01/2024

The guides always get excited when they see different flowers and plants come out in the alpine environment over the season - this odd-leaved orchid can be seen now on the Milford and the Routeburn Tracks. This one beautifully photographed by guide Hannah.

12/01/2024

Mirror image of Emily Peak in Lake Mackenzie on the Routeburn Track. Thanks guide Rachel W!

09/01/2024

When the weather comes in - make a rainbow! Ben and his team of merry walkers made the most of a cloudy cruise on Milford Sound recently.

03/01/2024

Happy New Year from the finest walk in the world. Another aerial perspective, this time of the Arthur River - the Milford Track weaves alongside it to Milford Sound. We hope everyone has a wonderful 2024.

22/12/2023

From our team to yours, we wish you all the very best for a happy festive holiday and a prosperous and settled 2024.

15/12/2023

The mighty Sutherland Falls fed by Lake Quill - taken on a recent re-supply by Shaun - you can make out the three leaps.

13/12/2023

Who do you think was more surprised to see the other - the ruru or guide Kana walking past?

30/11/2023

How exciting is this - Takahe chicks have hatched in the Greenstone Valley!

The first birds were released at the Otago site in August in an attempt to establish a self-sustaining wild population, and now the first chicks have hatched.

29/11/2023

We love to celebrate milestones - and none better than a team member on completing his 50th trip guiding. Michael started two and a bit seasons ago on the Routeburn Track in the challenging environment of covid and is loving greeting international travellers this season alongside our kiwi and aussie hikers. Congratulations Michael - day one of 50 more starts soon!

24/11/2023

There are benefits to walking early in the season - variety is one of them. Who doesn't like to see sunshine and snow in the same day?

17/11/2023

We may have lost Bird of the Century but third is pretty respectable. Seeing Kea is a highlight for walkers on the Milford Track and this one was happy to pose atop the McKinnon Memorial for 50 odd photographers.

10/11/2023

There's been high drama around Forest and Bird's Bird of the Century Competition. Here's our plug for the Whio - blue duck - after 10 days of our season opening, guides are reporting sightings of families with chicks on the Milford Track - they are still quite a rare sight so let's support them on a grand scale - Vote Whio!
https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

02/11/2023

We're back on track! - The Milford, Routeburn and Grand Traverse guided walks are all heading off this week. Our lodges are stocked and ready to greet you, and our guides, new and returning, can't wait to show you the stunning landscapes we live and work in - hopefully we will see a Takahe or two in the Greenstone valley - we'll keep you posted on sightings through the season!

24/10/2023

Beautiful Day. Great Views - The Routeburn turned it on this weekend for the guide training trip. Say hi to the (almost complete) team of '23. Their on track training week may have started like this but in true NZ Alpine fashion they will likely see the flip side before the end is out...