Ultimate Hikes walking season kicks off

29 October 2012

Ultimate Hikes walking season kicks off

New Zealand’s premier guided walking company is launching its 2012-2013 season this week with walkers on The Routeburn Track multi-day guided walk now able to choose to stay in brand new ensuite rooms.

Queenstown-based Ultimate Hikes operates fully-catered guided walks on the Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks.

The Milford Track, often described as the finest walk in the world, traverses the Fiordland National Park, and the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks stretch across Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks.

All the walks expose walkers to some of the most magnificent scenery in which they can walk at their own pace in their own time, safe in the knowledge that an experienced and informative guide is at hand should they need some assistance or a question answered.

Milford Track walkers will set off from Thursday November 1 while the Routeburn guided walks start from Friday November 2. The Classic walk -- encompassing both tracks -- also starts on November 1, and the first Grand Traverse heads out on November 5.

Ultimate Hikes General Manager Noel Saxon said the new rooms on the Routeburn looked “fantastic” and had been very popular with pre-bookings.

“The rooms blend in with the existing structures, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer the same level of service to our guests on the Routeburn Track and the Routeburn leg of the Grand Traverse as we have been doing for a number of years on the Milford Track.

“The lodges are very comfortable and hospitable and located in idyllic, awe-inspiring surroundings,” said Mr Saxon.

“We welcome all our walkers with refreshments on arrival at the lodges after a day of walking. They can then have a hot shower, relax and enjoy a three-course meal and, of course, at the end of the day a very comfortable bed is waiting whether they are in private rooms or multi- share.”

Mr Saxon said there was still space available on all the tracks for this season but suggested people book as soon as they could if they wanted a particular departure date, to avoid missing out on what past guests had described as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’.

He said he, his management team, and the 110 seasonal staff who contributed to ensuring every walker had a fantastic experience were excited to have the season underway after months of preparation.

“We’ve just completed our staff training which followed a thorough setting up process on the tracks and in the lodges,” he said. “We’re now very much looking forward to a great season ahead.

“We apply decades of experience to ensuring people’s enjoyment and safety on these iconic walking tracks.

“We offer a range of multiday and single day walks and take pride in making the pristine environment and magnificent landscapes accessible for people of all ages and varying fitness levels.”

The Ultimate Hikes season runs until late April 2013. Each walk includes the safety and support of expert guides, transport to and from Queenstown, accommodation, all meals and snacks on track, backpacks and rain jackets.

Bookings for the 2012/13 walking season can be made online at www.ultimatehikes.co.nz or through the reservations centre – 03 4501940, info@ultimatehikes.co.nz.

About Ultimate Hikes:
Ultimate Hikes is New Zealand’s premier guided walking company and operates on the Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks and Hooker Valley Track. Based in Queenstown, Ultimate Hikes offers private guided treks through New Zealand’s prime walking tracks including the Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone tracks which traverse Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks and the Hooker Valley, located in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. The Parks are the cornerstone of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. The walking season runs from November 1 until late April. Ultimate Hikes prides itself on its standard of service. Professionally trained guides are carefully selected to ensure that every walker has a memorable time. This is endorsed by clients who invariably refer to the ‘exceptional walking, superb accommodation and top guiding’ they encounter. Packages include all accommodation, meals, snacks, backpacks and rain jackets, and while the minimum age for walkers on the Ultimate Hikes experience is 10 years old, there is no maximum age. While many guests are not experienced hikers, they are often adventure seekers keen to face fresh challenges.

ENDS

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