Lake Tekapo
Adventures
The best backcountry adventures in the Lake Tekapo region
Overnight and multi-day guided hiking experiences
Lake Tekapo Backcountry Adventures
Lake Tekapo Backcountry Adventures
Multi-Day Guided Trips in New Zealand’s Big Sky Country
Nestled in the heart of the Mackenzie Basin, Lake Tekapo is the perfect launch point for unforgettable mountain adventures with Alpine Recreation. From here, our guided multi-day trips take you deep into the remote wilderness of the Two Thumb Range and the vast Cass Valley, offering a rare chance to explore the Southern Alps far from the crowds.
Whether you're hiking between private high-country huts, skiing untouched powder, or crossing alpine passes, these journeys combine wild landscapes, rich ecology, and genuine backcountry experience — all led by professional mountain guides who know the region intimately.
Explore the Two Thumb Range
Alpine hikes, ski touring and snowshoeing adventures
Running parallel to the Main Divide, the Two Thumb Range rises dramatically above Lake Tekapo. This spectacular mountain range offers the ideal terrain for both summer trekking and winter ski touring.
In summer and autumn, guided hikes take you across high ridge-lines, alpine basins, and hidden valleys. In winter, the same terrain transforms into a snowy playground — perfect for backcountry ski touring and snowshoeing.
Explore the Cass Valley
Ski touring, split-boarding, snowshoeing and alpine trekking adventures
Nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps, the Cass Valley offers an unparalleled backcountry experience for ski tourers, split-boarders, snowshoers, and alpine hikers. Just a short drive from Lake Tekapo, this private high-country wilderness provides exclusive access to pristine snowfields, rugged peaks, and stunning glacial valleys.
Explore the Cass Valley
Lake Tekapo Alpine Treks & Hikes
Overnight and multi-day adventures
Explore the high country around Lake Tekapo with our guided alpine hikes and multi-day treks. These journeys offer a true wilderness experience — away from busy tourist trails — with panoramic views, remote terrain, and exclusive access to private mountain huts.
Join an overnight hike or a multi-day adventure and enjoy hiking the alpine basins, ridge-lines, and snowgrass meadows surrounding Lake Tekapo.
Lake Tekapo Ski & Split-board Tours
Explore the Backcountry
Experience the thrill of untouched powder and wide-open alpine terrain on our backcountry ski and split-board tours. Led by qualified ski guides, these hut-based adventures take you far from the ski field crowds and into some of the most scenic touring terrain in the South Island.
Stay in private mountain huts, earn your turns on rolling basins and ridge-lines, and soak up panoramic views stretching from Lake Tekapo to Aoraki / Mount Cook. Ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers and boarders with backcountry ambition.
Plan Your Lake Tekapo Adventure!
Professional guides ~ small groups ~ equipment included ~ private huts ~ exclusive access
Discover the Mackenzie high country around Lake Tekapo on one of our guided backcountry adventures. Alpine Recreation specialise in alpine treks, snowshoe hikes and ski / split-board tours and have been guiding in the mountains and valleys surrounding Lake Tekapo for over 40 years - we were the first guiding operation established in Tekapo. Our professional NZMGA qualified alpine trekking guides are passionate about what they do and will take you to the most stunning remote locations in the Mackenzie region.
Alpine Recreation complies with The Safety Audit Standard for Adventure Activities, and is certified by Adventure Mark.
So you know you'll be in good hands on your adventure!
Articles
Features and editorials about Lake Tekapo Backcountry Adventures
Winter in the Cass
An ode to Falcon’s Nest Hut
A poem about ski touring at Falcon’s Nest Hut in the Cass Valley.