Full payment is required at the time of booking. We do not have a deposit or instalment option and are unable to accept international bank transfers. We accept VISA/MASTERCARD/AMEX and do not charge any surcharge or merchant fees.
If you are a group wanting to book private rooms and want to pay per person, please contact reservations team at [email protected].
Yes. We STRONGLY RECOMMEND all guests, both domestic and international, arrange comprehensive travel insurance. This is essential to protect yourself against unexpected events that could prevent you from starting or completing your walk including illness, injury, flight disruptions or personal circumstances.
For further information plase see our terms & conditions.
Check first with the accommodation provider you are staying with prior to the walk. Otherwise some options are below.
Queenstown
Please note: We can only collect walkers from the Ultimate Hikes Centre.
Collection from the Frankton Bus Shelter must be by request. Please contact reservations prior to arrival.
We cannot pick up or drop off guests at the airport.
Te Anau
Please note: We can only drop off guests in Te Anau on the Milford Track guided walk.
All other walks finish in Queenstown only.
We recommend you leave any excess luggage at your pre and post accommodation. If this isn't an option, we can store excess luggage at our centre in Queenstown for an additional fee of $10 per day per bag. There is no need to book this – just bring it with you on the day of your departure.
Luggage storage is not available for Te Anau departures and drop offs. For further information, please contact our Reservations team prior to your arrival.
Before booking a hike with Ultimate Hikes you should be aware that Hiking on New Zealand’s Great Walks and tracks, involves risks that include natural hazards such as flood, rockfall, landslip, earthquake, tsunami (Milford Sound) and avalanche. Unpredictable weather including high winds, snow and heavy rain can occur at any time. The tracks are uneven, rocky and steep in places. Ultimate Hikes takes every reasonable precaution to eliminate or minimise the risks you could be exposed to, but natural hazards can be unpredictable and should they occur, they could result in injury and even death.
Yes we accept bookings for groups of friends and family groups. We recommend booking separately for the same date online. When you reach the walker detail page you will see an “Important Information” box please note that you are part of the same group, so our lodges and guiding teams are aware.
If you are a group wanting to book private rooms and want to pay per person, please contact reservations team at [email protected]
The minimum age we take on our guided walks is 10 years old, this is also the recommend age set by the Department of Conservation. The age limit of 10 years old has been carefully considered for health and safety reasons and for the safe operation and enjoyment of our walks. Children over the age of 10 are normally physically able to complete the distance and cope with the terrain of the track, weather events can occur often and without warning, which can severely alter the conditions. Children can be particularly affected by a sudden drop in temperature and wet weather.
No, you will need to meet us at our Ultimate Hikes Centre, 9 Duke Street, Ground floor of the Station Building, Queenstown.
Frankton bus shelter pick-ups can be organised in advance of your departure. Please contact our reservations team for more information [email protected]
No. Ultimate Hikes' guided walks are operated as fully guided experiences, so you cannot book our accommodation and walk independently of the group.
Our guides are positioned throughout the group to ensure everyone's safety while allowing guests to walk at a pace that suits them. Most days, the group naturally spreads out along the track, giving you plenty of space to enjoy the walk at your own pace.
Still deciding if a guided walk is for you? Find out what to expect and how our guided walks differ from walking independently.
All cancellations must be made in writing and sent to [email protected].
Cancellation fees for all Multi Day Walks are charged on the following basis per person:
To see our full terms and conditions including cancellations for private rooms and rooming amendments, please see here:
The bus will arrive back to Queenstown at approximately 4.00pm. To avoid unnecessary stress and to make allowances for delays we strongly recommend you book flights to depart after 6.00pm.
All walks depart from and return to the Ultimate Hikes Centre in Queenstown. We do not provide hotel pick up or drop offs. We can meet walkers in Te Anau for the Milford and Routeburn Tracks but only walkers on the Milford Track can be dropped off there. Milford Track walkers can also be dropped off at Frankton Bus shelter which is a 10 minute walk to the airport.
This is no problem. It is a great opportunity to walk with like-minded individuals from around the world. Please note however that we cannot always guarantee same sex shared rooms.
The health and safety of our walkers and team is at the forefront of our operation. We are members of outdoors mark and submit annual audits. Your guides are trained in first aid and go through an extensive pre-season training programme in mountain safety. You are required to always adhere to their instruction, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Guides and lodge staff are in constant touch with each other, the lodges and the Queenstown base by radio.
For the safety and consideration of others, walkers must sign a waiver to confirm they are not ill or been in contact with someone who is, within 48 hours of departing and should consult a staff member if they feel unwell on track.
For the Routeburn Track, please meet us at the Ultimate Hikes Centre, 9 Duke Street, Queenstown at 6:00am on the day of your departure. If you are departing from Te Anau, please meet us at The Alpine Centre cafe, cnr Sandy Brown Road and Highway 94 at 8.45am.
For the Milford Track or The Classic please meet us at the Ultimate Hikes Centre, 9 Duke Street, Queenstown at 9.15am on the day of your departure. If you are departing from Te Anau, please meet us at The Alpine Centre cafe, cnr Sandy Brown Road and Highway 94 at 11.30am.
If you have walked with us in the past 5 seasons, then you may be eligible for the repeat walker discount on selected departure dates. You can find more information here.
We offer an early season discount when we open bookings for the following season. If you want to stay updated on release dates and special offers please see here.
Our lodges offer a range of accommodation options, including multi-share rooms and a limited number of private rooms.
Our multi-share rooms are mixed gender, allowing us to keep couples, families and groups together wherever possible. On the Milford Track, shared rooms accommodate up to six guests. On the Routeburn Track, shared rooms accommodate up to four guests, with one room available that can sleep up to five guests. If you would like to request the five-person room, please contact our reservations team before your departure.
A limited number of private queen single rooms are available on the Routeburn Track and The Classic Guided Walk, subject to availability. To book a private room, please contact our reservations team at [email protected].
Please note that solo travellers cannot book a bed in a private twin room, as we do not pair individual guests together in private rooms.
We hold a pre track briefing the day prior to your departure at our Ultimate’s Hikes Centre in Queenstown.
If you are joining us for the Milford Track guided walk, or The Classic guided walk the pre track briefing, is 2.45pm the day prior.
If you are joining us for the Routeburn Track guided walk the pre track briefing, is 1.45pm the day prior.
If you are departing from Te Anau, or unable to attend, please email our reservations team at [email protected], a couple of months prior to your departure for further information.
To enjoy your walk, you’ll need to carry a medium pack (5–7kg) for 6–9 hours over 10–21km each day. If you’re not a regular walker, start training 6–8 weeks before departure, including hills, stairs, and walking with a pack in all weather. Tracks range from rocky, root-covered sections to well-formed paths, and you may walk through water in heavy rain. Walking poles, core strength, and sturdy boots with ankle support are recommended. Walk at your own pace, there’s always a guide at the back.
We recommend bringing just one set of clothing to walk in – the more you pack, the more you’ll need to carry. All of our lodges have handwashing and drying facilities, so you can wash and dry clothes overnight.
Choose lightweight, warm, and quick-drying fabrics such as merino wool, polypropylene, or fleece. Cotton isn’t recommended, as it holds moisture when wet and can leave you feeling cold.
See what to bring here, for a complete downloadable packing list.
Track conditions vary from wide flat and graded to very steep over rocks and tree roots. There are some steep steps too, both up and down, and in heavy rain, sections of the track are prone to flooding. Wind, rain and snow can also affect track conditions, particularly in exposed sections of the track. A high level of stamina and stability is required.
All of our lodges have flushing toilets. There are also toilets (some flush, some Kiwi long drop style!) at all our lunch shelters and huts.
We provide a selection of equipment to help you prepare for your walk.
The following items are available to borrow at no additional cost and do not need to be reserved:
Trekking poles are available to hire for $25 per set and can be collected on the morning of your departure. We typically supply Leki Eagle trekking poles, and these do not need to be reserved in advance.
You’ll carry your own pack between lodges, but rest assured it’s lighter than a typical hiking pack since you don’t need to bring food, tents, or cooking gear. On the Milford Track, you also have the option to send a small bag ahead to the final lodge at Milford Sound – details are included in your pre-walk booklet.
You can use your own pack or we can provide a 40L backpack for you, this can be collected at the pre-track briefing or from the Ultimate Hikes Centre. A photo of the pack can be viewed on our website along with some suggestions on what to bring.
The pack is likely to weigh between 5-7 kg (10-14lbs) full, if you follow our recommended equipment list.
Weather in Fiordland can change quickly, with sunshine, rain, wind and cooler temperatures all possible in a single day. Being prepared for a range of conditions will help you stay comfortable and enjoy your walk, whatever the weather brings.
Learn more about seasonal conditions and what to expect on here.
Sandflies are a natural part of New Zealand's wilderness and are present throughout the walking season, particularly near rivers and lakes where most of our lodges are located. You'll rarely notice them while you're on the move, but they can be more noticeable when you stop to rest or relax. Bringing a good insect repellent and wearing long, loose-fitting clothing will help keep you comfortable during your walk.
Power in the lodges is driven by generators. They are turned on in the morning (timings depend on lodges) and all are turned off at 10pm. There is no power from 10pm until the morning. Nightlights operate on small batteries charged during the day.
We are able to supply 600W power points to two private Rooms for a CPAP Machine at each of our lodges on the Routeburn and Milford Tracks to run machines through the night. You must have booked a private room and contact us to be allocated the room - they are subject to availability. There is no power source for CPAP machines in multishare rooms or in the first two lodges on the Greenstone Track.
Shared rooms sleep 4 -6 people in bunk or single beds on the Milford and the Routeburn tracks.
All shared rooms share bathroom facilities with cubicle showers and flush toilets.
There is New Zealand wine, beer and soft drink available for purchase at the lodges. This is paid for at the end of your walk.
There is no access to cell phone coverage or WIFI on track or at the lodges. Please let your friends and family know that you will be uncontactable during your time on track.
In case of emergency, messages can be relayed through the Queenstown office to the track via radio.
We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate general dietary requirements. However, due to the remote and challenging environment we operate in, we are unable to cater for strict diet plans or specific food requests.
All meals are prepared in kitchens that handle common allergens, including nuts, gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, sesame and seafood. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any meal will be completely free from allergens, and there is a risk of cross-contamination.
Guests with food allergies, intolerances or other dietary requirements must notify us in writing at the time of booking. While we will take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of allergen exposure, participation is at the guest's own risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by New Zealand law, Ultimate Hikes accepts no liability for any allergic reaction, illness, injury or other adverse effect resulting from the consumption of food or beverages provided, including as a result of cross-contamination or undeclared allergens.
Guests with severe or life-threatening allergies should carefully consider whether participation is appropriate. Guests are responsible for carrying any required medication, such as an EpiPen, and managing their condition at all times..
Yes, lodges have hand washing facilities with soap powder and drying rooms. Being able to wash and dry clothing helps keep the pack weight down. You can learn more about our drying rooms here.
Smoking and vaping is strictly prohibited in all Lodges and Ultimate Hikes facilities. Please ask at lodges where the designated smoking area is.
Let us help you choose your walk