Hollyford Valley - Freedom Plus

Accommodation | Departure Dates | Getting There | Fitness Level | Prices

Freedom Plus Itinerary

DAY 1: arrive in Te Anau
Report in to the Department of Conservation centre to check weather, sign the intentions book and collect your hut passes. Stay the night in Te Anau.

DAY 2: Te Anau, Milford Sound, Martins Bay Hut
Walk 30 minutes

Depart Te Anau for Milford Sound by coach. Board the plane at Milford Sound Airport for your short flight to Martins Bay. Half an hour walk to Martins Bay Hut at the mouth of the Hollyford River. Visit the fur seal colony at Long Reef on the wild West Coast with the chance to see the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin. At some stage pop in to the Martins Bay Lodge run by the Guided Walks operators to confirm your jetboat pickup.

DAY 3: Martins Bay Hut, Hokuri Hut
Walk 4 - 5 hours / 13.5 km ( 8.1 m)

Start the day with a walk along Lake McKerrow and through the historic site Jamestown. Walk through the ancient Podocarp forest with huge Rimu, Totara and Kahikatea trees wrapped in massive Rata vines to to Hokuri Hut near the lake shore.

Lush bush Hollyford Track DAY 4: Hokuri Hut, Hidden Falls Hut
Jetboat 1/2 hour.
Walk 2 -3 hours. 10.5 km ( 6.3 m )

Enjoy a captivating jet boat ( pick up time typically 8:15am ) across Lake McKerrow by-passing the infamous Demon Trail to the Pyke River confluence, well Pyke River Lodge actually.

Short walk to Alabaster Hut where you can stop for a cup of tea and explore the local area before heading off for the Hidden Falls Hut past Little Home Falls and Little Homer Saddle ... you get the picture. Some stunning views along the way finishing with a section of lowland forest draped with ferns and mosses.

DAY 5 : Hidden FallS Hut, Road End
Walk 2 - 3 hours, 9 km ( 5.4 m )

Cross Hidden Falls Creek by swingbridge, over Swamp Creek and surrounding flood prone areas by boardwalk to the end of the road. Shuttle back to Te Anau departs at 1pm. Dont miss the bus ! :)

Please note
Adverse weather may delay flights and jetboat times. When you arrive in Te Anau please call the flight operators and confirm the details of your flight. In some cases a helicopter may be able to operate when the planes can not but this is additional cost.

This itinerary may vary depending on availability of flights and jetboat.

Accommodation
Accommodation in Te Anau at a backpackers is included in this package.

Accommodation on the trail is in public DOC huts. Bunk beds are generally available in the hut (first in first served so you may need a tent in busy times) no power, toilets are outside and no cooking facilities.

Departure Dates
From 1 November to 30 April there are regular departures. These do depend on minimum numbers for the flights and the jetboat but generally if your itinerary is a little flexible we should be able to help you out.

Getting There
Te Anau has daily shuttle services from Queenstown and Invercargill. We are happy to help with transport arrangements.

Fitness Level
A moderate level of fitness is required. To enjoy your walk you need to be able to walk for 4– 8 hours over 10– 19 km ( 6 - 12 miles ) each day. The track is a mixture of natural bush and mountain tracks. You do need carry your own pack from hut to hut which is likely to be 7 to 12 kg. There can be some slips and tree fall which at times may make the going rough.

Prices
Your Freedom Plus package includes 5 nights accommodation, track transport ex Te Anau, flight from Milford Sound to Martins Bay and jet boat from Hokuri Hut to Pyke Lodge.
The price per person is NZ$545 including GST. We do not recommend the track for children under 10. Prices are valid to 1 November 2009.

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