A cheeky New Zealand bush robin on the Heaphy Track. © Steve Gibbons

Trampers survey the majestic surroundings in the Nelson Lakes National Park. © Steve Gibbons

THE NELSON LAKES DAY WALKS

So you're planning a trip to Nelson but don't have the time to head out into the wilderness for a few days? Or perhaps you've already arrived and are wondering what to do for a day?

How about letting Southern Wilderness treat you to day of great walking, great company and great food?

Southern Wilderness offers two different Day Walk packages, one a gentle exploration of the shores of Lake Rotoiti, including a boat ride to the end of the lake and a scrumptious lunch that Southern Wilderness has become famous for. The other option is a climb to the Mt Robert Ridge offering stunning views and vistas of the surrounding Mountain Ranges and many Valleys, (and of course the scrumptious lunch!)

The Rotoiti Shoreline Nature Experience

Grade: Easy to medium

Leaving Nelson around eight in the morning, and drive up to the beautiful mountainous area of St. Arnaud nestled in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Stopping for a coffee and a look through the DOC information center, we head down to the lake shore for our boat ride to the southern end of the Lake. Here we jump out and walk up to the Hut where your guide will prepare and delicious lunch with some hot coffee! Leaving the hut we wander along the Western border of the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project Here the Department of Conservation is managing a massive area of 5000 Hectares ( a wee bit over 12355 acres!) Expect to see and hear some beautiful birds along this walk, and gentle undulating amble takes you through Mature Beech Forest alive with the sounds of Bell Birds, Tuis and the south Island Bush Robin to name just a few. We arrive back at the van and drive back to Nelson delivering you back to your door around 6pm.

PRICE: $180 per person

The Mount Robert Ridge-line Walk

Grade: Medium to hard

If you love getting above it all and basking in the views, then this is the walk for you! Leaving Nelson around eight in the morning we drive up to St. Arnaud, and sit over a coffee as we discuss our day. Then we drive up to the Mt Robert car park, (Giving us a wee head start!) From the car park we start walking. After a relatively short time we come out into the open and are rewarded with some great views of the lake below us. The views simply improve as the day goes on, until we reach Bushline Hut where your guided will put some hot drinks out, and conjure up a gourmet delight! After lunch you head up to the ridge line where superlatives will be lost on the expanse laid out before you, Kahurangi National Park (The second largest National Park in New Zealand) Is stretched out to your left, the Tasman laid out in front of you and the Alpine Fault (Responsible for the Southern Alps) running down to the Pacific ocean via the mighty Wairau Valley. After soaking up the views its time to head back, descending down through the magical Beech Forest. Once at the van it a short drive home dropping you off at your door.

PRICE: $170 per person

Each package includes:

All Food; Gourmet delights thrown together by your guide!
Transport; Picking you up from your accommodation and returning you safe and sound!
Personal Guide; Focus on safety, entertainment, interpretation of the amazing area you will be in and, of course, the artistry of amazing food!
Southern Wilderness Snack Pack; That's right you get your own pack of snacks for the walk!