Come to
New Zealand
with us
Ten nights with Jared Kreiss
and Bryce Campbell
For the fourth year running, we're heading back to New Zealand, and this time we're bringing friends.
Ten days around the South Island in autumn, to the hikes, lakes and places we keep going back to. We're handling the organization, the accommodation and the transport, and we've planned the days. All you need to do is get yourself to Queenstown. Think less "group tour" and more a small hosted trip with two people who know the place.
Who we are
Jared was born in New Zealand and has spent the last several years traveling the country with a camera, finding the best hikes, hidden gems and local spots along the way. He's a photographer, and the landscapes on this page are his.
Bryce has joined him for the past few years and has come to love New Zealand so much that he married a Kiwi and is making it his home.
This is the trip we've taken ourselves for three years, planned the way we'd plan it for our own friends. We'll both be with you the whole way.
Day by day
This is the plan. New Zealand weather has its own ideas, and everything outdoors depends on it, so some days may shift or swap. We'll use our local knowledge to make the most of whatever cards we're dealt.
Fri 2 April
Welcome to Queenstown
Try your best to stay awake through the time change. Land in Queenstown and get your first look at the Southern Alps and Lake Wakatipu, then we'll meet you at the airport. We've booked a house in town and a welcome dinner so everyone can meet properly.
Sat 3 April
The gondola, Ben Lomond, and the road to Mount Cook
Breakfast is on us, and so is the famous gondola ride up Ben Lomond. This is your first taste of the mountains: climb all the way to the summit, or pause and enjoy the view. In the late afternoon we drive north to Twizel. Rolling in, you get your first sight of Aoraki / Mount Cook across the impossibly blue water of Lake Pukaki.
Sun 4 April
Aoraki / Mount Cook and the Hooker Valley
Today is New Zealand's highest mountain. The Hooker Valley track is the perfect warm-up: an easy, mostly flat walk across three swing bridges, with glaciers hanging off the peaks around you, ending at a lake full of icebergs right under Aoraki. Afterwards we grab a bite at The Hermitage in Mount Cook village, with the mountain in the window.
Mon 5 April
Over the Lindis Pass to Wanaka
A couple of hours' drive through golden high country brings us to Wanaka, a small town on a big lake and our home for three nights. First stop is the line at Pembroke Patisserie for some of the best pastries you can imagine. You have to try a mince and cheese pie, of course. Then we settle into the apartments, walk the waterfront, and finish the day in the hot tubs.
Tue 6 April
Haast Pass: waterfalls and the Blue Pools
A day trip up past two lakes and into the rainforest of Haast Pass, where the road is lined with some of the most incredible waterfalls, and photo opportunities, you can imagine. We stop for the short walks, the Blue Pools, and a hidden waterfall canyon nearby that most people drive straight past.
Wed 7 April
Roy's Peak, or a slow day in Wanaka
No driving today. For the hikers, this is the big one: Roy's Peak is the iconic New Zealand hike, a serious climb to the ridge-line view over Lake Wanaka you've seen a hundred times. If you'd rather sit this one out, there's plenty to do: walk the waterfront, head around to Glendhu Bay, or just eat your way through town. Big Fig and Bombay Palace are our picks.
Thu 8 April
The Cardrona road, Arrowtown, and back to Queenstown
We take the high road over the Crown Range, the highest main road in the country, and drop down into Arrowtown, an old gold-rush town that turns red and gold every April. We wander the main street and the river, then carry on to Queenstown for a free afternoon: the waterfront, the gardens, and a Fergburger, which is worth the queue.
Fri 9 April
South to Te Anau
An easy one. A slow morning in Queenstown, then a couple of hours' drive down the lake and across to Te Anau, the small lakeside town that is the gateway to Milford Sound. Settle in, grab dinner in town, and get an early night. Tomorrow is the big day.
Sat 10 April
Milford Sound
We're out the door after an included breakfast, around 6:30am, hours ahead of the tour buses coming from Queenstown. The road in is half the experience: mountain valleys, mirror lakes and a tunnel bored straight through the rock. Then we board a morning cruise out through the fiord, under cliffs that rise a kilometre out of the water. Secretly hope for rain. When it's wet, hundreds of waterfalls pour off the walls. We picnic on the way back to Te Anau.
Sun 11 April
Back to Queenstown, one last night
Breakfast at the B&B, then an unhurried drive back to Queenstown and the same big house we started in. The afternoon is yours for last walks and souvenirs. Tonight we cook one more meal together and argue about which day was best.
Mon 12 April
Home
One last breakfast at the house, then we run you to the airport for your flight home.
Where we sleep
A home within walking distance of town. First and last nights.
A house for two nights near Mount Cook.
Three apartments, each with a kitchen and a hot tub.
A B&B for two nights, breakfast included.
Rooms are shared between two people of the same sex. Couples get their own room. Want a room to yourself? Ask us and we'll see what we can do.
Good to know
Getting there
Fly into Queenstown (ZQN) any time on Friday 2 April and out on Monday 12 April. We'll pick you up and drop you off. Flights aren't in the price; return fares are usually $1,000 to $1,500 if you book early.
How fit do I need to be?
Fit enough for a long walk is plenty. The two big climbs, Roy's Peak and Ben Lomond, are optional, and both reward you early: the views on Roy's Peak get good well before the top, and the gondola does the first part of Ben Lomond for you. We'll be there with you, so go as far as feels right, then hang out or turn around. Nobody is keeping score!
What's April like?
Autumn. Crisp mornings, mild days, cold nights, and weather that changes fast in the mountains. Bring layers, a proper rain jacket and shoes you've already hiked in.
Bringing a camera?
Do. Jared has photographed these places for years and is happy to share tips, whether you shoot on a camera or a phone. If the group is keen, we can talk about shaping a day around the light.
What if the weather turns?
Every hike, cruise and outdoor activity on this trip is weather dependent. If a day gets rained, snowed or blown out, we'll reshuffle or swap in something else. We can't promise any single activity will happen, only that we'll find the best version of each day.
How does paying work?
A $500 deposit holds your spot and is refundable for 30 days. The rest is up to you: one payment, a few bigger ones, or fortnightly installments, finished by 3 March 2027. We'll set up whichever suits you once your deposit is in.
Eight spots
Eight spots on a trip hosted by us, small on purpose. Three prices, filled in order, so the first to join get the best deal. A $500 deposit holds your spot today; the rest gets sorted with you in the coming weeks, in one payment or on a payment plan. Per person, in US dollars.
Flights are not included. Return fares from the US to Queenstown are usually $1,000 to $1,500 if you book early.
The $500 deposit is refundable for 30 days. After that, you choose how to pay the rest: one lump sum, a few larger payments, or fortnightly installments, all finished by 3 March 2027. We'll set it up with you once your deposit is in. Bank transfer preferred; paying by card adds about 3 percent.
Not sure yet? Use the form below and we'll call you.