Description: The Abel Tasman Coastal Track is a 51 kilometre long track, and provides easy to moderate walking through coastal forests and along golden sandy beaches.

This walk generally takes between three and five days. The climate is reasonably mild and it is possible to walk the track at any time of the year.

Season: All Year

Contact person(s): Nelson Regional Visitor Centre
Address: Millers Acre, 79 Trafalgar St, Nelson
Postal Address: PO Box 375, Nelson
Phone: (03) 546 9339
Fax: (03) 546 9612
Email: NelsonVC@doc.govt.nz
Website: www.doc.govt.nz

Comments: See the DoC website for more extensive information.

Description: Hiking New Zealand has been specialising in providing small groups, maximum 11 people, with comprehensive 10-day or 5.5 day safaris which incorporate, sight seeing, wildlife viewing, overnight hiking and adventure activities for over 12 years. We guarantee to get hikers “off the beaten track”, you get to go to places that you couldn’t go as independent travellers.

We have five safaris covering both the North and South Islands:

• West Coast Wilderness – Hiking in lush rain forests, learning how to cross rivers and sleeping under giant rock overhangs. Glacier hiking on Franz Josef Glacier and kayaking on New Zealand’s largest wetland.
• Secret South – Hiking in stunning alpine areas such as Mt Cook National Park. Kayaking on Milford Sound and staying in the Catlins, home to the Yellow-eyed Penguin, Hector’s Dolphins and Sea Lions.
• Eastern Epic – Alpine hiking in Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi National Parks combined with whale watching in Kaikoura and sea kayaking in Abel Tasman.
• Volcanoes and Rainforests – Hiking in Tongariro National Park, soaking in geothermal hotpools and river caving with the glow worms in Waitomo.
• Far North – Easy coastal walks, no overnight hiking but lots of fun activities such as sandboarding, snorkelling and 4x4 driving along 90-mile beach.

Summer 2005 is seeing the launch of a fantastic new 8-day tour. This tour caters for active people who want to experience the stunning wilderness the South Island has to offer and still have the comforts of a hot shower and quality boutique accommodation in picturesque locations.

Location: Nationwide. Tours depart from Auckland, Nelson, Christchurch and Queenstown
Prices: $595 - $2750.

Contact person(s): Leah and Anne
Address: 27A Horotane Valley Road
Postal Address: PO Box 93, Lyttelton, Christchurch
Phone: + 64 3 376 6482
Mobile Phone: +64 274 360 268
Freephone: 0800 697 232
Fax: + 64 3 376 6483
Email: info@hikingnewzealand.com
Website: www.hikingnewzealand.com

Comments: Three times New Zealand Tourism Award Winners. Qualmark endorsed visitor activity.

Description: The Heaphy Track is one of New Zealand's Great Walks, as well as being one of the more popular walking tracks, providing everchanging scenery and landscapes. It stretching 82km from Browns Hut (which is 28km from Collingwood) to the West Coast.

It is generally walked over a period of 4-6 days. The entire track is smooth and of good width. It can be walked in either direction, but most tend to walk from the Golden Bay end, finishing on the West Coast.

Location: Starts 28km from Collingwood, ends at the mouth of the Kohaihai River on the West Coast.
Season: All Year, depending on access (during flood conditions the track can be inaccessable).

Contact person(s): Nelson Regional Visitor Centre
Address: Millers Acre, 79 Trafalgar St, Nelson
Postal Address: PO Box 375, Nelson
Phone: (03) 546 9339
Fax: (03) 546 9612
Email: NelsonVC@doc.govt.nz
Website: www.doc.govt.nz

Comments: Mountain-biking and dogs are not permitted on the Heaphy Track.