Person hiking along a path towards a lake with mountains in the background in New Zealand

Ultimate Hikes New Zealand: 4 Days of Guided South Island Hiking

PAST Outdoors

$2,018.00

Dates Available:

September 2026 September 2027

Variant

1% for the Planet We'll donate $20.18 from this purchase to environmental charities.

Features

Next hike: September 13-18th 2026

Ultimate Hikes New Zealand — 4-Day South Island Itinerary

Begin in Christchurch with a group dinner and equipment briefing before heading north through the Canterbury foothills to Lewis Pass. From Palmer Lodge, hike the Nina Valley through beech forest and alpine terrain to Devilskin Saddle (~6 hrs), then descend through tussock basins and native forest to Doubtful Hut on the Doubtful River (~5 hrs). The final hiking day follows the valley out to State Highway 7, with a lunch stop in Culverden before returning to Christchurch for a farewell dinner. Airport transfers are provided on departure day.

Accommodation: Christchurch (nights 1 & 4), backcountry camp (night 2), Doubtful Hut (night 3)
Meals: All meals included from Day 1 dinner through Day 4 dinner
Hiking days: 3 days on trail, plus arrival and departure days
Transfers: Christchurch airport on arrival and departure

Specifications

General Notes For All Trips

Weather & Conditions

New Zealand alpine weather is highly variable. Route changes, delayed departures, or alternative campsites may be required depending on river levels, snow conditions, and forecast weather.

Group Size

Small group sizes allow greater flexibility, safer decision-making, and a more personalised experience in remote terrain.

Accommodation

Trips utilise a mixture of:

backcountry huts
remote campsites
and Christchurch accommodation before and after the trip.

Recommended Experience

These itineraries are designed for hikers seeking more than standard front-country walking tracks. Participants should arrive prepared for:

multi-day pack carrying
rough terrain
physically demanding alpine travel.

4-Day Ultimate Hike New Zealand: Lewis Pass Region New Zealand South Island

September 13-18 2026

A compact alpine traverse through remote West Coast backcountry, New Zealand.

Enjoy this incredible 4 day, 3 night New Zealand hike

The Nina Valley, Devilskin Saddle and Doubtful Traverse is a shorter but highly rewarding alpine trip through the rugged terrain surrounding Lewis Pass.

This route combines river valley travel, alpine saddles, isolated camping locations, and classic West Coast beech forest into a condensed backcountry experience well suited to hikers wanting a challenging alpine journey within a shorter timeframe.

Crossing Devilskin Saddle provides expansive views into the surrounding valleys and delivers a genuine sense of remoteness despite the relatively accessible starting point.

Trip Highlights