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Women’s Quest New Zealand Multisport Retreat

March 4th to March 16th
South Island of New Zealand

$7850 for base rate, double occupancy, sharing for 4 nights on the Milford Trek in a room with 3 bunk beds. We will send you the itinerary for that hike from Ultimate hikes.

March 4th –Queenstown

Arrive to Auckland on March 4 or before. Take a connecting flight to Queenstown to arrive by 11 a.m. We will pick you up or arrange transportation to our Airbnb (Highview retreat Airbnb and the Highview Airbnb)

We will have lunch at our Airbnb before we start our fun!

  • 1:00 Walk around the beautiful shore of the famous Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. Lake Wakatipu is Queenstown’s crown Jewel. This is our only time for a bit of last-minute shopping for outdoor gear because this is the outdoor capital of the world!! 
  • 3:00 Walk around The Frankton arm of Lake Wakapitu, through to the historic Queenstown gorge
  • 7:00 Dinner in Queenstown at Madame Woo which is a 10 min walk away

March 5th – Queenstown

  • 7:00 Yoga with our favorite NZ instructor 
  • 8:00 Breakfast at ‘THE Boatshed’ on the waterfront. 
  • 9:00 E bike ride to Shotover Jet Tour, the tour of your life! 
  • 10:00 SHOTOVER JET BOAT TOUR
    The Shotover river is beautiful, sitting in a spectacular gorge, and at times is only a few inches deep.  The Shotover jet boats draw no water and can speed over river while doing amazing turns and puts up front and personal with the river and the gorge.
  • 12:00 E  bike ride to our  incredible picnic lunch
  • 1:30 E bike afternoon ride Queenstown Trails (Lake Hayes to Arrowtown) 13 K ONE WAY
  • 5:00 Return bikes and walk back to Airbnb (20 min walk)
    6:30 Dinner out at the gorgeous Sherwood restaurant with organic garden

March 6th – Leave for the Milford Sound Trek

  • 7:00 Breakfast at accommodation and then ready to depart for Milford Sound Trek. Walk into town for ten minutes.
  • 9:15 Check in with Ultimate Hikes for Milford Trek

March 6th – 10th  –Hike the famous Milford Trek 

  • The Milford Trek, named the finest hike in the world, is 33.5 miles through the heart of New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound.  We will be trekking with Ultimate Hikes for our 5 day/4 night trek.  https://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/multi-day-guided-walks/milford-track/itinerary/ 

March 6, Day 1 Queenstown to Glade House 

The coach departs from the Ultimate Hikes Centre in Queenstown for the two-hour drive to Te Anau. We will have lunch in Te Anau before traveling on to Te Anau Downs, where a boat will take us to the start of the track at the northern end of Lake Te Anau. It’s a short walk to the historic Glade House, where we will be greeted with afternoon tea and shown to our rooms. 

Our guides will take us on a nature walk in the afternoon to give us an idea of the terrain and the environment we will be walking (we can always hike more this day if you want and have a yoga class). In the evening, we will have time to get to know our group over dinner. 

(Beer and Wine can be purchased) 

1.6 km (1 mile) 20 Mins to 2 hours.  Lunch, Dinner 

March 7, Day 2 – Glade House to Pompolona Lodge 

Your first full day of walking begins by crossing the Clinton River bridge. The smooth track
follows the river up the valley to the Hiere Falls lunch shelter. Take a side walk to the wetlands,
a complex eco-system unique to this section of track. After lunch look out for your first glimpse of Omanui/McKinnon Pass in the distance. You’ll stay in the beech forest, until you come out onto the Prairie – detour down to soak your feet in Prairie Lake. From this meadow you can capture the true nature of the ice-carved Clinton Canyon. From here, it’s a short climb to Pompolona Lodge. 

16 km (10 miles) 5-7 hrs   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

March 8, Day 3  – Pompolona Lodge to Quintin Lodge 

From Pompolona Lodge the track leads up to Lake Mintaro at the head of the Clinton Valley, before climbing the Omanui/McKinnon Pass in a series
of zig-zags. Take your time and enjoy the views. 

At the top you can rest at McKinnon memorial before passing the highest point and stopping for lunch in Pass Hut overlooking the Clinton Valley. 

The descent into the Arthur Valley is steep and uneven so take care and use poles. Viewing platforms give you a great view of the Cascades waterfalls. Quintin Lodge is a welcome sight at the bottom of the Pass. Take a short break to revive with a drink and a snack then we highly recommend doing the optional 90-minute round trip to Sutherland Falls, at 580m/1904ft it is one of the highest in the world and well worth seeing. 

15 km (9 miles) 6-9 hrs  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

March 9, Day 4  – Quintin Lodge to Milford Sound 

Our final day on the track is the longest section at 21km. We will walk down the Arthur Valley to the historic Boatshed. After a short break and a hot drink, the track continues on past MacKay Falls through lush beech forest to the lunch spot at Giants Gate waterfall. The final stretch of the track follows tranquil Lake Ada to Sandfly Point. 

From Sandfly Point it is a short boat trip across the renowned Milford Sound; the fjord often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. Mitre Peak, the famously photographed pinnacle rises almost sheer from the Sound to a height of 1692m (5551ft). At Mitre Peak Lodge, relax in the bar enjoying the view, before sitting down to a celebratory dinner. 

21 km (13 miles) 6-8 hrs Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

March 10, Day 5 Scenic cruise on the majestic Milford Sound and then back to Queenstown 

Milford Sound to Queenstown 

This morning after breakfast we’ll take you on a cruise on Milford Sound. Watch for dolphins and fur seals and, if the waterfalls are in full flow, you’ll have seen Fiordland at its very best! 

Following the cruise it’s time to head back to Queenstown. The coach trip follows the scenic Milford Road through Homer Tunnel and on to Te Anau, where there will be a short break before the last leg of the journey to Queenstown. Lunch will be eaten along the way. 

No Walking but we could always get a few miles in before we leave Breakfast, Lunch 

  • 4:00 Drop off near our accommodation SUDIMA Hotel in Franktown is adjacent to the Queenstown airport.  Each individual room has a washer and dryer.
  • 6:00 Dinner (OYO) – Many restaurants to choose from within 100 meters of our hotel.

March 11th  – Transfer to Nelson and Kaiteriteri

  • 7:30 Breakfast at The Pantry
  • 9:00 Check in for flight to Nelson
  • 10:00 Flight to Nelson, Depart Queenstown and arrive in Nelson at 1:05.  2 flights actually – (Queenstown to Christchurch and then connect to Nelson).
    A minibus will pick us up in Nelson, 30-minute drive to Mapua 
  • 1:30     Lunch at Mapua (OYO)
  • Walk around the cute shops in this beautiful little fishing village on the way to Kaiteriteri
    3:30 Bus from Mapua to Kaiteriteri (1 hour trip)
    4:30 Check into our wellness eco-resort spa, KimiOra which means “Seek health” in Maori  
  • 5:30 Swim at the magnificent Kaiteriteri beach, go for walk, or get a massage
    7:30 Dinner at KimiOra (Vegetarian)

March 12th  – WAKA boat tour and hike Kaiteriteri headlands

  • 6:30 Sunrise WAKA boat tour
  • We’ll explore the waters and coastline of the Abel Tasman National Park in our outrigger canoe.  The waters will be calm and welcoming at this time of the morning
  • 9:30 Breakfast at KimiOra (you can arrange spa treatments for the morning ahead of time)
    10:30 Free Time for massage or hike, swim, relax at the beach
  • 12:30 Lunch at Kaiteriteri beach – Famous NZ fish and chips
  • 2:00 3 hour hike around the Kaiteriteri headlands with magnificent views and then back thru the forest to the wonderful and tranquil KimiOra resort
  • 7:00 Dinner at KimiOra (Vegetarian)

March 13th

Hike the world-renowned Abel Tasman from Bark Bay to Awarowa

  • 7:00 Early Breakfast at KimiOra and leave with picnic lunch 
  • 8:00 Qigong with Colleen 
  • 9:00 Abel Tasman Seashuttle dropping us at Bark Bay. On the way, view the seal colonies and see the famous ‘split apple rock’. Keep an eye out for dolphins
  • 10:30 Arrival at Bark Bay. We will provide a packed lunch, bring a day pack with water, and your main pack will be transported to Awaroa.  Hike the world-renowned Abel Tasman track from Bark Bay to Awaroa. 
  • 4:30 Arrival at Awaroa with a traditional Maori (Welcoming ceremony – Whakatau ) with Kamaarie!  Kamaarie will open up the Wairua with a very special blessing for the land (Whenua), and the surrounding Waters.
  • A bit about our Maori guide:

Kamārie of Ngāti Uepohatu and Ngāti Porou ancestry is a lifelong learner of Te Whare Tapere (traditional Māori performing arts). As a storyteller and traditional musician Kamārie is dedicated to normalizing the presence of unapologetic indigenous knowledge in the world and confronting the systemic racism and rampant oppressive narratives that restrict the health and wellbeing of humanity. Through these traditional practices Kamārie aspires to reconnect all people to their sacred essence.

Awaroa, our home for the next 3 days, is a private beach community in the Abel Tasma National Park which is where Scott and Erin’s home is, in a remote and beautiful area (lucky us!)  

Free to walk, swim and observe the beauty of the 9th most beautiful beach in the world

  • 5:30 check into your new accommodations
  • 7:00 Dinner in the evening provided by Kellianne and Jo at The Farm

March 14th  

Kayak – Hike – Kayak, Hike, Swim, in Awaroa

  • 7:30 Yoga with Maura
  • 9:00 Breakfast with Kellianne and Jo
  • 10:00 Kayaking with Josh in the stunning waters of Awaroa in the Tonga Marine Reserve
  • 12:30 Lunch on the deck at Erin’s house 
  •   Afternoon Hike 3 hours:  Upper track walk to see and hear about the history of the region, plus Flora and Fauna of the area (Hikoi whenua) with Kamaarie
  • Early evening free time to swim, sauna 
  • 7:00 Dinner provided by Kellianne and Jo
  • 8:00 Stargazing Introduction to traditional instruments – Taonga Puoro. Offered as hands on play. Cosmology storytelling around the ahi  – Kōrero Pūrakau

March 15th – Totaranui to Awaroa

  • 7:00 Qigong with Colleen
  • 8:00 Breakfast by Kellianne and Jo
  • 9:00 Swim and mussel collecting for tonight’s dinner!
  • 10:00 Seashuttle trip to Totaranui late morning, packed lunch and small day pack required.
    Trek back from Totaranui to Awaroa… approx 3 hours with a tidal crossing.  Time to swim or relax in the pristine bays and take in the beautiful beach forest of the area.
  • 5:00 Glow worm cave experience. 
  • 7:00 Farewell Dinner and traditional Closing ceremony – Whakawatea with Kamaarie

March 16th  – Farewell and departure

  • 8:00 Yoga and closing circle with Colleen
  • 9:00 Breakfast provided by Kellianne and Jo
  • 10:00 Time for a last early morning walk along this most beautiful beach
    12:00 Time to say goodbye. Depart Awaroa by Water Aqua Taxi 
  • 1:00 Arrive back to Kaiteriteri by 1pm with time to grab a bite in Kaiteritei before getting on the bus to the Nelson airport..approx 1 hr and 20 minutes. 
  • 3:25 Air departure from Nelson to Auckland.  Arrive at 4:55