Luxury Adventures have compiled a selection of must do experiences on the West Coast for you to include in your New Zealand itinerary. Enjoy!

Overnight West Coast Mountain Hike

This overnight fully guided trip is a unique New Zealand mountain experience. Begin your trip with a thrilling helicopter flight over rain-forests, and magical ice formations. Landing on the Chancellor Shelf, with beautiful alpine meadows.

From the Chancellor Shelf hike through the mountain gully and ascend 2,004 meter (6,526 feet). This climb offers stunning views across the Southern Alps towards the Tasman Sea and West Coast beaches. Arriving at the Chancellor Hut enjoy a well-earned glass of New Zealand wine. All whilst enjoying a view that surpasses almost all others. Watch the sun-setting over the mountains and beyond. Tonight an alfresco dinner prepared by your guide and a cosy night in the Chancellor hut will round off the day perfectly.

In the morning descend to the Victoria Flat. The hike down takes you through alpine meadows filled with daisies, buttercups and waterfalls. There are fantastic ice features to discover. In-season you may see chamois (mountain antelope), along with the inquisitive Kea (NZ mountain parrot).

The helicopter will pick you up from Victoria Flat and return you to Fox Glacier township at the completion of your adventure. For this hike you’ll need a good level of fitness. Talk to us if you would like to include this must do West Coast activity in your South Pacific honeymoon or luxury vacation?

Paparoa and Pike29 Memorial Track – walk or ride

Officially opening on December 1, 2019 this will be New Zealand’s tenth “Great Walk”. The track crosses the Paparoa Range through alpine tops, limestone karst landscapes and thriving rain-forests. There is also the opportunity to take the Pike29 memorial track, which leads to the former site of the Pike River Mine. At the mine you’ll learn about the areas tragic mining history, where 29 miners perished in 2010. Explore the spectacular Pororari River Gorge and soak up stunning Tasman Sea sunsets. Talk to Luxury Adventures about incorporating this great walk into your New Zealand itinerary.

Guided Greenstone tour

New Zealand Greenstone, or Pounamu as known by its Maori name, is a popular souvenir for visitors to New Zealand. Our greenstone is highly revered and often taken home. It also has spiritual and cultural significance particularly for the indigenous Maori. Precious greenstone is found in many places on the West Coast of the South Island and Jewellery fashioned from the Greenstone can be purchased in many gift stores in the area. But why not have your own very unique piece of Pounamu, with its own story to tell!

Luxury Adventures have access to a local Maori Carver with over 30 years of experience. They will personally guide you along the Arahura River where Greenstone is found. Your informative guide will explain the history of the river and the Maori Iwi’s (tribe) significance in the area. Try sourcing your own piece of Pounamu which you can take back to the workshop and fashion into a unique piece of Jewellery. A truly cultural and special day.

Old Ghost Road – walk or ride

On the North West corner of the South Island, this old miners road has been restored and is aptly named “The Old Ghost Road“. With 85km of single track mountain biking or hiking trails Luxury Adventures highly recommends New Zealand’s newest mountain trail adventure. The Paparoa trail will replace the Old Ghost road as New Zealand’s newest west coast experience on December 1st, 2019. Discover more about the Ghost Road in our earlier blog.  

Sky Dive Franz Josef

New Zealand is well known for its thrill seeking adventure activities where thousands of people enjoy Skydiving throughout. This polarising activity is available in several of the key destinations including Taupo, Wanaka, Franz Josef and Queenstown. Which all happen to be must see locations! With New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook (Aoraki) and the largest glaciers of Franz & Fox, this has to be one of the best places to skydive. Talk to Luxury Adventures if you want to tick a sky dive off your bucket list!