Tekapo
High Country Hike
Guided overnight hikes in the Two Thumb Range, Lake Tekapo
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Tekapo High Country Hike
Guided overnight hikes in the Two Thumb Range, Lake Tekapo
Overview
Hike above worry level in the foothills of the Southern Alps. Be inspired by the magic light of the Mackenzie High Country across golden tussock, snow-capped peaks and the turquoise of Lake Tekapo. Climb a 2070m peak and return to a cosy mountain hut to savour the sun setting behind mountain silhouettes and a star-studded sky - one of the clearest and darkest skies in the southern hemisphere.
The Tekapo High Country Hike is in the Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park. It is available in 2 and 3 day options and also as a guided snowshoeing trip in winter. It is based from the fully stocked Rex Simpson hut, so there is no need to carry in non-perishable food and sleeping bags, this means pack weight is kept to a pleasent minimum.
The area encompasses the spectacular landscapes of ice-steepened mountains and broad glaciated valleys of the Two Thumb Range. Views of Mount Cook and surrounding peaks are spectacular from Snake Ridge on your way up to a 2070m peak on the second day. If you are new to hiking, then this is an ideal introduction, especially for familiy groups.
This is the least strenuous trek we offer. For a more difficult option, take a look at our Aoraki Mount Cook Trek.
Rex Simpson Hut
Rex Simpson Hut sits at an altitude of 1300m in the Two Thumb Range. It is located in a beautiful setting, with great views of the Southern Alps and vistas over Lake Tekapo across the Mackenzie Basin. It is a fantastic location for star gazing - the Mackenzie District is renowned for the clarity of its sky and freedom from light pollution, which is why the area was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Privately Owned
The Hut is privately owned by Alpine Recreation and is an ideal base for backcountry skiing with ready access to a range of slopes suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers. It is our base for the Tekapo High Country Hike in Summer and Alpine Ski Touring, Nordic Skiing, Snowshoeing and Instruction Courses during the winter.
Easy Access
No aircraft required: The hut can be reached in 3 hours' walking from the road end and is located at 1300m, in a beautiful setting, with great views of the Southern Alps and out over Lake Tekapo across the Mackenzie Basin.
Fully Equipped
The hut is equipped with firewood, gas, solar lighting, sleeping bags, bunks, pillows and mattresses, and nonperishable food. A wood-fired stove means there are good heating and drying facilities.
Facilities
The hut consists of three rooms, sleeping up to 13 participants and 2 guides in total. There are no showers, but warm water and a basin can be provided for washing or you can find a private spot somewhere along the alpine stream. The toilet is a traditional longdrop loo with a view!
We recommend settling guiding dates well in advance since peak season times are often booked up. Please allow extra time in case you are held up in the mountains due to weather.
| Dates | Spaces |
|---|---|
| 5 - 6 May 2025 | 6 |
| 9 - 11 May 2025 | 6 |
| 12 - 13 May 2025 | 6 |
| 16 - 18 May 2025 | 6 |
| 19 - 20 May 2025 | 6 |
| 23 - 25 May 2025 | 6 |
| 26 - 27 May 2025 | 6 |
| 30 May 2025 - 1 Jun 2025 | 6 |
| Updated: 3 March 2025 at 11:00 pm | |
Standard bookings
Loyalty discount: If you have been on an Alpine Recreation trip before, you will be eligible for 5% off the standard trip price (does not apply to any already discounted prices).
| Standard Price | 1.5 days price per person | 2.5 days price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Individual bookings group size | NZ$705 2 - 6 per guide * | NZ$1075 2 - 6 per guide * |
Please read the information on minimum and maximum group sizes below.
Group discounts: get a group of family and friends together and book as a group. The amount of discount you will be eligible for, will depend on the group size - the more people you book, the more your discount will be. If our scheduled dates don't suit your group's travel plans, please contact us so we can reschedule a trip to suit (subject to guide availability).
Please note that group bookings are not private bookings - if you wish to keep your group closed and have a private guide just for your group, a surcharge will apply.
| Group Discounts | 1.5 days price per person | 2.5 days price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Group booking of 3 | NZ$670.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$1,025.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 4 | NZ$670.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$1,025.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 5 | NZ$635.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$970.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 6 | NZ$635.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$970.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 7 | NZ$670.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$1,025.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 8 | NZ$650.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$990.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 9 | NZ$650.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$990.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 10 | NZ$635.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$970.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 11 | NZ$635.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$970.00 2 - 6 per guide |
| Group booking of 12 | NZ$635.00 2 - 6 per guide | NZ$970.00 2 - 6 per guide |
Deposit Payment
A non-refundable per-person deposit is payable to secure a booking:
- NZ$300.00
The remaining balance of the trip price (including any applicable discounts) is due 60 days prior to departure. If you are booking within 60 days of the trip start, the full amount will be due.
Booking conditionsInclusions & Exclusions
All prices include the following:
- Guide
- Department of Conservation licence fees
- Heated PRIVATE hut accommodation
- Local accommodation for any nights required during the trip
- Ground transport (Tekapo - Mt. Gerald return)
- ALL meals (including snacks & energy bars) for the duration of the trip
- ALL trekking equipment
The following items are NOT included:
- Meals and accommodation before/after the trip are NOT included.
Minimum & Maximum Group Size
A minimum number of 2 participants is required to run this trip. If you end up being the only person booked on the trip, you will be offered the choice of:
- paying an additional fee to run the trip at a reduced guide-to-guest ratio
( NZ$460.00 for 1.5 days, NZ$700.00 for 2.5 days ) - rescheduling to another trip/date
- a full refund
A maximum number of 6 participants per guide is defined by our safety management plan. For groups larger than this, it is usually possible to allocate additional guides.
Difficulty Ratings
Endurance: 2 - Slightly challenging
A good level of aerobic fitness is expected. Suitable for people who regularly undertake multi-day hiking/trekking/tramping trips. Must be comfortable carrying a light-moderate backpack (5-8 kg) for 4-6 hours. Expect ascents of 500-800 vertical metres.
Agility: 1 - Basic hiking/trekking agility
Hiking on unmarked routes in sub-alpine terrain. Able to move efficiently on uneven terrain with steps, rocks, tree roots etc. while carrying a light backpack. No scrambling or technical equipment required. Little or no exposure.
Trip Difficulty Ratings - more infoPrevious Experience
The Tekapo High Country Hike is designed for active, outdoorsy people with a good base level of hiking experience. If you are relatively new to tramping, then this is an ideal introduction, especially for families — our experienced guides will lead you across the route safely.
Ideal previous experience includes:
- Day hikes on hills with sustained ascents and descents.
- Multi-day tramping trips, carrying a pack with your own gear (8–10kg).
- Confidence walking on uneven trails, rocky or muddy slopes, and open tussock country.
You should be comfortable walking for 4–6 hours a day over uneven, sometimes rough or steep terrain. Good fitness, sure-footedness, and a positive attitude toward changing alpine weather are essential for enjoying this wild and beautiful part of New Zealand!
Is This Trip Right for Me?
✅ I enjoy hiking for 4–6 hours a day, carrying my own pack (up to 10kg).
✅ I have completed day hikes or multi-day tramps over rough or uneven trails.
✅ I’m comfortable walking up and down hills with sustained elevation gain and loss.
✅ I’m happy hiking in remote alpine terrain, sometimes without a formed trail.
✅ I’m prepared for changing mountain weather, including cold, wind, and rain.
✅ I have a good level of cardiovascular fitness and leg strength.
✅ I’m looking for an authentic New Zealand backcountry experience, away from crowds.
✅ I have a positive attitude, enjoy teamwork, and love a good adventure!
Recommended Fitness Training
The Tekapo High Country Hike is a slightly challenging alpine trek, suited to hikers with good general fitness and a love of the outdoors. You'll be carrying a pack, hiking over varied terrain including tussock grasslands, rocky ridges, and rolling high-country hills. Some steep ascents and descents are part of the adventure, so being well-prepared will make your experience much more enjoyable.
We recommend:
- Aerobic Fitness: Aim for activities like jogging, brisk hiking, cycling, or swimming for 45–60 minutes, 3–5 times per week. Build up your endurance to be comfortable with sustained activity over 4–6 hours at a time.
- Pack Training: Get used to hiking with a loaded pack. Start with 5kg and gradually build up to 8–10kg. Take your pack on local walks or hills to simulate the trekking conditions.
- Hill Workouts: Include uphill hiking, stair climbing, or using a treadmill set at an incline. Strengthen your legs for sustained climbs and descents.
- Strength & Core Training: Incorporate squats, lunges, step-ups, and core exercises (like planks) 2–3 times per week. A strong core and legs will help with stability and endurance on uneven ground.
- Flexibility & Mobility: Stretching regularly and practices like yoga can help with balance, flexibility, and injury prevention.
The better your fitness, the more energy you’ll have to enjoy the sweeping views, the serenity of the high country, and the satisfaction of reaching the hut.
Train well — and the Tekapo High Country will reward you with an unforgettable alpine journey!
| Gear Check | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm | 5:00 pm |
Day 1
Meet at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo at the above start time for a gear check.
From Lake Tekapo township we drive along the lakeshore to a typical high country sheep station. Three hours' hike with a climb of 550m/1805ft (about 7km) brings us to the cosy Rex Simpson Hut, at 1300m/4265ft. The only sounds to be heard are the skylarks singing, or the chirp of an occasional pippit. This peacefulness is one of the first powerful impressions, giving a real sense of isolation and remoteness. The views over Lake Tekapo are expansive. Evening entertainment regularly comes in the form of an inspiring sunset behind the alps and/or spectacularly clear displays of our Southern Hemisphere stars.
Day 2
We trek along a 6 kilometre-long ridge-top, nicknamed "Snake Ridge", that was formed by ice-age glaciation, and ascend Beuzenberg Peak (2073m/6800ft). The terrain is untracked with a moderate gradient.
As we hike higher the splendour of the Southern Alps unfolds with the East Face of Mount Cook dominating the western skyline. To the northeast Braun-Elwert Peak, named after Alpine Recreation's founder, watches our progress up Snake Ridge.
Unique alpine scree plants and maybe an alpine weta can be spotted by the observant. Early summer the tussock will be interspersed with mountain daisies (Celmisia Lyallii). In late summer the red berries of Little Mountain Heath (Pentachondra Pumila) dot the ground, along with white and pink snowberries.
Walk back down to Rex Simpson Hut, collect your overnight gear and continue down, returning to Lake Tekapo the same day (8-9 hours walking, with an additional 550m to descend after returning to the hut).
| Gear Check | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 am | 10:00 am | 1:00 pm |
Day 1
Meet at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo at the above start time for a gear check.
From Lake Tekapo township we drive along the lakeshore to a typical high country sheep station. Three hours' hike with a climb of 550m / 1805ft (about 7km) brings us to the cosy Rex Simpson Hut, at 1300m / 4265ft. The only sounds to be heard are the skylarks singing, or the chirp of an occasional pippit. This peacefulness is one of the first powerful impressions, giving a real sense of isolation and remoteness. The views over Lake Tekapo are expansive. Evening entertainment regularly comes in the form of an inspiring sunset behind the alps and/or spectacularly clear displays of our Southern Hemisphere stars.
Day 2
We trek along a 6 kilometre-long ridge-top, nicknamed "Snake Ridge", that was formed by ice-age glaciation, and ascend Beuzenberg Peak (2073m/6800ft). The terrain is untracked with a moderate gradient.
As we hike higher the splendour of the Southern Alps unfolds with the East Face of Mount Cook dominating the western skyline. To the northeast Braun-Elwert Peak, named after Alpine Recreation's founder, watches our progress up Snake Ridge.
Unique alpine scree plants and maybe an alpine weta can be spotted by the observant. Early summer the tussock will be interspersed with mountain daisies (Celmisia Lyallii). In late summer the red berries of Little Mountain Heath (Pentachondra Pumila) dot the ground, along with white and pink snowberries.
Walk back down to Rex Simpson Hut to be well fed and entertained by your guide (6-8 hours walking, 770m in altitude to ascend and descend).
Day 3
There is an option to trek to an old musterers' hut before walking back down through the farm and returning to Lake Tekapo. The hut door carries part of a dog collar, dated 1898, and the interior could be reminiscent of Scott’s hut in Antarctica. (About 8km distance, 3-4 hours hiking).
Finish about 1pm in Lake Tekapo.
After your return to Lake Tekapo we recommend a scenic flight with Air Safaris over the Southern Alps (not included in price).
Tekapo High Country Hike - Clothing & Equipment Checklist
Your gear check time will be provided at time of booking. Please bring as many of the items on the equipment list as you can. We can provide (at no extra charge), any of the items in list A that you are missing. Your pack with your own gear should not weigh more than 6kg. Remember that you will be adding some fresh food (bread, meat, cheese, veges) to this weight, to end up with about 8kg to carry on the first day. Reminder: all food is provided.
Sleeping bags, mattresses, pillows and hut shoes are at the hut. We provide you with a sleeping bag liner and pillow case (if you have your own sleeping bag liner, please bring it).
*1 Boots: must be well broken-in and waterproofed, with good ankle support. Please note that we stock mountaineering boots ranging from EU size 37-48; if you have feet outside this range, or prefer a lighter, softer boot, you are encouraged to bring your own, or hire boots independently from: Gnomes Alpine Sports, Darfield; Small Planet Sports, Queenstown; or MT Outdoors, Wanaka. Book any hire equipment well in advance.
*2 Blister kit: we recommend Compeed and Leukoplast - available at chemists in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka.
A. Equipment which Alpine Recreation can provide if you do not have your own:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| backpack - 35L | 1 |
| buff / sun scarf for protecting ears & neck | 1 |
| gaiters to fit over trekking / mountaineering boots | 1 |
| headlamp with spare battery | 1 |
| hiking boots | 1 |
| polypro / merino thermal leggings | 1 |
| polypro / merino top long-sleeved | 1 |
| sun hat | 1 |
| synthetic / fleece jacket | 1 |
| trekking / hiking poles | 1 |
| warm gloves / mittens | 1 |
| waterproof hard-shell pants full-length zip | 1 |
| waterproof pack liner to keep your gear dry | 1 |
| waterproof parka must have a hood | 1 |
| wool hat / balaclava | 1 |
| woollen socks | 2 |
B. Equipment you must bring yourself/Alpine Recreation do not provide:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| camera | 1 |
| drink bottle wide-mouth, minimum 1.5 litres | 1 |
| ear plugs in case of snorers | 1 |
| personal first aid please provide your own blister kit | 1 |
| personal underwear | 1 |
| quick-drying shirt long-sleeved, for sun protection | 1 |
| quick-drying trekking pants / shorts | 1 |
| small dry bags for organising gear | 1 |
| sun and lip screen high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| sun glasses high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| toiletries please keep these to a minimum | 1 |
How do I make a booking?
Simply click on Book Your Adventure, fill out the enrolment form, and pay your deposit fee. Once you have submitted your completed enrolment form and we have received your deposit payment, we will confirm your reservation on the trip. You will receive a formal confirmation receipt by email.
Your scheduled dates don't work for me - what should I do?
Please contact us with your available dates. We may be able to accommodate your request.
What happens if we have really bad weather?
New Zealand's weather is notoriously fickle. It is possible you could be delayed getting into or out of the mountains due to the weather. For this reason, we recommend leaving 1-2 days spare at the end of your trip to avoid disruption to other travel plans. Your guide will endeavour to provide alternative activities/venues to give you the best possible experience. In some cases, if all participants and the guide have flexibility with time, it may be an option to postpone the whole trip by a day (however we cannot guarantee this option and it is at the discretion of the guide).
In many cases, the weather may not be as bad as the forecast might lead you to believe - please remember that we are used to dealing with New Zealand's weather on a regular basis and know where to go and what to do to make the most of it!
Please see our Bad Weather Policies for more information.
When is the gear check?
All trips start with a gear check at Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. For your specific trip gear check and start times, please refer to the Itinerary section of the relevant product page.
What trekking equipment do I need to bring?
Please refer to the clothing and equipment checklist in the Equipment section. Any equipment you need to borrow from us will be issued by your guide at the gear check. We can provide boots, trekking poles, outdoor clothing and packs at no extra cost if necessary.
Do I need travel insurance?
In the case of an accident, New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme (ACC) will cover the majority of costs (about 80%) involved with evacuation and injury treatment, even for visitors to New Zealand. However, we strongly recommend taking out travel insurance, as you still need cover for things such as cancellation if an injury prevents you taking part on the trip, or a close relative suddenly becomes ill; and medical insurance in case you become ill. Many standard travel insurance policies DO NOT cover high-risk adventure activities so be sure to check the wording of your policy.
More information on New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme (ACC).
Recommended insurance providers:
→ New Zealand Alpine Club provides mountaineering specific insurance options for New Zealand or Australian residents.
→ Austrian Alpine Club provides world-wide rescue and repatriation insurance to members.
→ World Nomads provides travel insurance for guided adventure activities.
→ Insure4less provides cover for a selection of high-risk activities for Australian residents.
How do I get to/from Lake Tekapo?
The easiest way to get to Lake Tekapo is to catch the bus from Christchurch or Queenstown, or hire a rental car. Most buses arrive in Tekapo around midday.
→ Lake Tekapo Transport recommendations.
Where is the best place to stay in Lake Tekapo before/after my trip?
Alpine Recreation provides accommodation at Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. This is also where your gear check takes place before departure. It is recommended you book the nights before and after your trip here to facilitate the gear check and to allow flexibility in case of any delay in trip start due to weather. To book your nights, simply answer the relevant questions on your trip booking form.
→ Other Lake Tekapo Accommodation recommendations. We strongly recommend that you book your accommodation well in advance, as Tekapo is a popular tourist destination and options become limited during peak season.
Where can I park my car?
Secure off-street parking is available by Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge. Please leave your car keys with us (in case we have to move your vehicle if someone is parked in and so you don't lose your keys on the mountain!).
What do I do with my spare gear while on the trip?
We have a gear storage room at Edelweiss Lodge for you to leave any spare bags or gear while you are on your trip.
