Trips to meet your interests and abilities

Bush and Beyond treks are arranged with your abilities and interests in mind (eg flora, fauna, photography), regardless of your age.

• Our experienced guides are available all year round. October to May is the best time for high country walking. However, there are many areas in the park available for winter trekking as well.
• An emphasis on the environment and conservation values will be a feature of all trips. We want to share with you our passion for the preservation of this special natural area.
• Guided walks are available on well formed tracks through to off track wilderness, and from one to multi-day duration.
• Bush and Beyond offer guided tramps to most areas of Kahurangi National Park, and for all ages and fitness levels, ranging from easy walks through to the untracked wilderness. We specialise in tailoring trips to our clients needs and interests (eg flora, fauna, photography). Travel will be at your pace, allowing time to enjoy the environment.

For the uninitiated, the New Zealand mountains and bush can be difficult and even dangerous. We can guide you safely through this wilderness environment. Our knowledge of the area, and its demand on both people and equipment, will make your holiday both an enjoyable and safe one.

Focus on the environment

We have a deep knowledge of all aspects of the natural environment and history of Kahurangi Park, and love to share this with our clients. An emphasis on the environment and conservation values is a major feature of all trips. The preservation of this area is of great importance. See our conservation statement.

Bush & Beyond walking cuisine

On Fully Serviced trips Bush & Beyond provide all food. Tasty, wholesome food (and plenty of it) is a feature on all our trips. We endeavor to use fresh food whenever possible, and offer varied menus from day to day. The following are example menus on our trips.

Typical daily menus

• Breakfast: Choice of porridge or muesli. Toast and condiments. Coffee or tea.
• Lunch: Fresh bread or ‘wraps’, along with cheese, fresh tomatoes, lettuce and cold meat/s, or tuna. Hummus and pickle.
• Dinner: The main dishes are all home cooking. Our meat dishes include Thai Chicken Curry, Venison or Beef Mince, Fish Mornay, Apricot or Satay Chicken, Sausages, and Corned Beef. All meals are accompanied by vegetables and potatoes, rice or couscous.
• Before and after dinner snacks: Crackers and cheese, chocolates and sweet bisquits.
• 'Tea breaks' and snacks during the day: A choice of tea, coffee or hot soup. Snacks such as chocolate, fruit, snackbars, and nuts are always available from your guide or for you to carry in your own pack if you wish.

Special diets and preferences

We cater for vegetarians with main dishes such as vegetarian sausages, tofu, etc. We also cater for any other food speciality including vegan and gluten free. We encourage people to help us design a menu to suit themselves under these circumstances.

Accommodation

Department of Conservation ("DOC") public huts are spread throughout the park. These huts range from large 28 bunk huts with wood stoves to basic remote 4 and 6 bunk huts with open fireplaces. There are no shower facilities at any huts, but during the summer months there are many lakes and rivers for swimming. We use quality tents, and most tenting is within reach of huts if extreme weather occurs.

Our featured trips also include options to suit those who don’t wish to carry a heavy pack or stay in public huts. From a comfortable base you can experience the Kahurangi wilderness, whether you want an alpine experience (Cobb Comfort) or palm fringed beaches (West Coast Escape).

 

 

Fully Serviced guided walks

Most of our trips are Fully Serviced walks. We provide interpretation, focused on flora, fauna, geology, history and conservation. We also supply, carry and cook all food, including snacks, and organize all transport (ex Motueka), hut passes and safety gear (medical kit and locator beacon).

Complementary pick up and drop off from/to Nelson the day before and after the walks is also included in this package.

On the Heaphy Track, Mount Arthur Tablelands, Cobb Valley and Kahurangi Lighthouse, clients will be expected to carry their personal gear, e.g. clothing, sleeping bag. All food will be carried by the guides. On our more arduous trips, e.g. Mount Owen, clients will be expected to carry their share of the food.

• On designated ‘Comfort Trips' clients only carry a light day-pack.
• On Fully Serviced trips, parties of more than 4 clients will be accompanied by 2 guides.

Self Catered guiding (backpacking trips only)

This service is an economical alternative for people who want expert guiding but who are willing to provide their own food. Full interpretation is provided, with a focus on flora, fauna, geology, history and conservation. Bush & Beyond also provide transport (ex Motueka), safety gear (medical kit and locator beacon) and hut passes (and bookings if required). Clients will be expected to supply, carry and cook all their own food, using their own cooking gear.

Student group trips - discount pricing

At Bush & Beyond we are passionate about the preservation of our fragile ecology. Conservation education is the key to saving our many endangered species. We love sharing our knowledge and views with young people and students! The following trips are offered for groups of students (ages 13+ years to adult) at 25% discount off our standard rates.

• The Heaphy Track – 5-days Minimum 6 maximum 10 including tutors. Optional added day in Oparara Valley is available.
• Cobb Comfort – 3, 4, or 5-days Minimum 6 maximum 16 including tutors. Includes a visit to see the Friends of Flora conservation programme.

Quality backpacker (hostel) accommodation can be arranged for before and after student trips.

Contact us for more details and to discuss arranging a special trip for your student group.

When to come tramping with us

Any time! Alpine flowering is at its best during January and February. Winter opens up new dimensions in Kahurangi, with most places still being accessible.

Kahurangi is situated in a temperate climate zone, with summer temperatures rarely exceeding the high 20's Celsius. In the winter snow is only frequently encountered in the high country above 1000 metres and although frosts are common, the average overnight lows seldom drop lower than approximately minus 2 to 3 Celsius. Most areas of the park are accessible all year round. There is no rainy season as such. Precipitation can occur during all seasons and rain fall varies throughout the park. Long spells of dry weather are more often experienced from January through March and frosty mornings followed by clear days are most often experienced in the winter months of June through August.

Pricing

Fully Serviced trips
See prices listed with each of our trips. Prices are quoted in New Zealand dollars. Currency conversion calculator. Prices include GST, hut fees, food, and transporation as indicated in trip descriptions. Unless otherwise stated, these prices are per person, based on parties of two or more clients. There is a 50% surcharge for solo trips. However, we will endeavour to include individuals on trips already arranged to avoid the extra charge. Prices for custom tailored trips will be negotiated on request.

Self Catered trips
For trips where applicable, prices are listed in a separate box. Prices include GST, hut fees and transportation as indicated in the trip descriptions. These prices are per person based on parties of four or more.

Off-peak rates
5% reduction for trips commencing June 1 to August 31.
Applies to both Fully Serviced and Self Catered trips.
Does not apply to day trips or 5-Star Nature.

Student Group Discount
25% reduction for special trips designed for student groups.

All trips are GST inclusive and cover:

• All food and cooking gear (Fully Serviced trips only)
• Tents and medical and safety equipment
• Hut passes where applicable
• Transportation to and from Motueka
  We will arrange complementary transport from Nelson Airport if required.

Accommodation before and after the trip
Your accommodation in Motueka or Nelson before and after your trip with us is not included in our pricing, but we can book this for you on request. See our accommodation page.

Personal equipment - what you have to carry

On all Fully Serviced trips clients carry their own personal equipment, e.g. cutlery, plate, sleeping bag, and clothing. On the following trips, Bush & Beyond guides will carry all food, cooking equipment and tents if required: Heaphy, Mt Arthur Tablelands, Upper Cobb, and Kahurangi Lighthouse. On all other backpacking trips, clients will be expected to carry their share of the food, but Bush & Beyond guides carry all the cooking, safety gear and tents.

On Self Catered trips, clients carry their own food and cooking gear.

Click here for a printable gear list.

Safety

All guides have current First Aid Certificates and are registered with the Department of Conservation. Risk management sheets depicting planned route and client information are completed prior to each trip, and left in Motueka with Bush & Beyond personnel.

A cell phone is carried on all trips, and where cell phone reception is not within easy reach, a mountain radio and/or emergency locator beacon is carried as well.

New Zealand Tramping Terminology

• Tramping Hiking, back country walking, trekking
• Track Walking trail, path
• Route Course to be taken off-track
• DOC (or DoC) Department of Conservation, responsible for national parks, tracks and huts
• Hut pass Pre-paid DOC ticket for nightly stay
• Botanizing Identifying and studying flora (plants) in their native habitat.