South Coast Tramping and Lodge Trips
2025 Dates now confirmed.
Bookings open Wednesday 10th July 2024 @ 10.30am.
Price $1300
Trip 1 - Tramping Trip: 15th - 18th March 2025
Trip 2 - Lodge Based Trip: 23rd - 26th March 2025*
*Please note the slight change of date on this trip.
If you have any queries about any of our trips, please contact the trip co-ordinator
Tim Wiel 021 294 5051 southcoast@ortt.org.nz
ABOUT;
The South Coast track heads into the southern reaches of the Fiordland National Park. The South Coast track is close by to the rugged southern coast of the South Island that borders the Southern Ocean - where there is nothing between us and Antarctica but sea.
The track itself travels along stunning bush tracks and an old bush logging tramway so it is nearly (but not completely) flat. It does have sections of mud in places but also has 4 very large wooden viaducts that we cross – including the Percy Burn Viaduct that is one of the largest wooden viaducts in the world. For the tramping trip the track gets down onto several beaches (beyond Port Craig) that have expansive views of Te Wae Wae Bay and on clear days views of Stewart Island.
On the western side of the Waitutu Lodge/Wairuarahiri River both trips get the experience enter the stunning Waitutu forest - a virgin forest that has never been milled so represents a small insight into what NZ's forest might have once been like - there is even a large flock of wild kaka and tui. We also get to hear from the Waitutu Lodge caretaker some of the amazing history and heritage of the SILNA lands we are travelling on.
And yet another highlight of our tramp is catching the Wairaurahiri Jet along the Wairaurahiri river and across Lake Hauroko. The boat ride lasts 90 minutes and is one of the most spectacular jet boat trips in the world as we drop around 200 metres of altitude over 34kms of Grade 3 rapids. This river is the fastest-flowing navigable river in New Zealand and is a breath-taking ride! The Wairaurahiri River is sometimes referred to by locals as "New Zealand's longest waterfall". Lake Hauroko is NZ's deepest lake and is locked away in a timeless forest and is often cloaked in mist ... creating a mystical place to visit! The lodge only trip gets two jetboat rides ... up and down the Wairaurahiri River and the tramping trip gets the exhilarating down trip only.
Please ensure your fitness and health is of a standard that can cope with strenuous excercise is remote alpine areas.
ITINERARIES
TRIP 1 - Tramping Trip: 15th - 18th March 2025 Jet Boat > Waitutu Lodge > Port Craig
Day 1: Vans leave the Leviathan Hotel in Dunedin at 9.00am for Tuatapere, stopping on the way for lunch at your own cost. The vans will drop you off for an afternoon Jet Boat Ride, 90 minutes down the Wairaurahiri River from Lake Hauroko to Waitutu Lodge.
Day 2: Spend the day exploring the Waitutu Forest as far as Angus Burn or further if party capabilities allow. The forest and terrain just gets more impressive the further west you go. Stay the night again at Waitutu Lodge.
Day 3: Depart Waitutu Lodge on a 16km walk to Port Craig. Experience the amazing Percy Burn Viaduct whilst walking along the old railway line. Here we'll spend the evening before walking out the next day.
Day 4: Tramp from Port Craig Lodge 20km (5-7 hours) to Rarakau Carpark (the start of the Humpridge Track). Then homeward bound.
TRIP 2 - Lodge Based Only : 23rd - 26th March 2025 Jet Boat > Waitutu Lodge > Jet Boat
Day 1: Vans leave the Leviathan Hotel in Dunedin at 9.00am for Tuatapere, stopping on the way for lunch at your own cost. The vans will drop you off for an afternoon Jet Boat Ride, 90 minutes down the Wairaurahiri River from Lake Hauroko to Waitutu Lodge.
Day 2&3: We Stay both nights at Waitutu Lodge and the day options depend on your fitness and preference:
- Come on the optional planned day trips exploring the Waitutu Forest as far as Angus Burn (or further if party capabilities allow). The forest and terrain just gets more impressive the further west you go. Walk through to the Percy Burn Viaduct along the Humpridge Track which also encompass two other of the South Coast viaducts.
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Other less active options you might like to do at Waitutu Lodge is enjoying the rugged beach, exploring rock pools at low tide, short bush walks around the lodge, painting the scenery, enjoying the birdsong and fauna, feeding the sandflies, etc.
Day 4: Jet Boat back up the Wairaurahiri River. Then homeward bound.
TRANSPORT AND FOOD;
Our vans leave from the Leviathan Hotel in Dunedin. We can pick you up enroute. Prices are all based on travel from Dunedin and there is no discount if we pick you up enroute.
We organise all the food and equipment to cook it with. You help carry it, cook it and eat it. Your share of the food/equipment you need to carry will be approximately 2kg. You will need to bring your own utensils and plate/mug, and sleeping bag.
CONTACT;
Tim Wiel
Phone; 021 294 5051
Email; southcoast@ortt.org.nz
SEE ALSO;
Trip Schedule
| Dates | Trip | Name | Price (NZ/Overseas) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15th Mar 2025 - 18th Mar 2025 | South Coast Track | South Coast Track Waitutu Port Craig | FULL |
| 23rd Mar 2025 - 26th Mar 2025 | South Coast Track | South Coast Track Waitutu Only | FULL |