Trans-alpine Traverse
Symphony on Skis
New Zealand's ultimate backcountry ski tour
Mountain Journeys Winter Adventures Ski Ski Traverses & ExpeditionsSymphony on Skis
Symphony on Skis
New Zealand's ultimate trans-alpine backcountry ski tour!
Linking together New Zealand's 4 main glaciers and traversing the Southern Alps from east to west, the "Symphony on Skis" is New Zealand's ultimate multi-day trans-alpine ski tour.
"The Symphony" starts in the Godley Valley at the head of Lake Tekapo and finishes at Fox Glacier on the West Coast. Covering 47km with 4100m/3800m of vertical ascent/decent this is a challenging adventure through New Zealand's most spectacular ski touring terrain and should be on every experienced ski tourer's bucket list!
Overview
This classic New Zealand ski tour (often referred to as the "New Zealand Haute Route") was pioneered by Alpine Recreation company founder Gottlieb Braun-Elwert together with Franz Waibl and Daniel Frey in a single day in 1985.
Their Symphony on Skis 1985 record, 18.5 hours from Rankin Hut in the Godley Valley to Chancellor Hut, was broken by Grant Guise, Javi (Spain) and Lorenzo (Italy) in just under 13 hours on 5 September 2009. The modern party travelled with ultra-lite ski touring gear and just day packs, whereas the original party carried full packs with sleeping bags, cookers, food for Chancellor Hut etc.
"A ski traverse is like a well composed piece of music. It flows with harmony, surprises with the unexpected. It engages all your emotions and the melody lingers in your mind afterwards. Good music needs players who are masters of their instruments." - Gottlieb Braun-Elwert after completing the first Symphony on Skis in 1985.
Articles
The Symphony on Skis - the original newspaper article by Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, 1985.
Symphony on Skis - Ski Mountaineering in the Southern Alps - article by Thomas MacTavish, 2012.
Tasman Saddle Hut
Tasman Saddle Hut is perched above the Tasman Glacier on a rocky knoll at 2400m. It provides a base for Glacier Trekking, Guided Ascents and Specialized Alpine Climbing Courses in the summer, and Glacier Ski Touring and Split-boarding in the winter.
It is a public hut that cannot be booked and works on a first-come first-served basis.
Equipment:
Participants must carry their own sleeping bags, personal gear and some of the group equipment, food, stove, fuel, and cooking utensils (all provided by us).
Centennial Hut
Centennial Hut is located at 2400m above the Franz Josef Glacier. It is a basic 20 bunk hut with a water supply, toilet, radio and an amazing view. Named to mark the centennial of the New Zealand Alpine Club (formed in1891), this alpine hut sits on a small outcrop of rock that protrudes from the Franz Josef névé. The vista of the sea lapping the west coast is spread below, and the peaks of the southern alps tower above. It is a public hut that cannot be booked and works on a first-come first-served basis.
Equipment:
Participants must carry their own sleeping bags, personal gear and some of the group equipment, food, stove, fuel, and cooking utensils (all provided by us).
Chancellor Hut
Chancellor Hut is located at 1240m above the Fox Glacier ice fall. A good finishing point for Glacier Ski Touring, the Symphony on Skis and the Westland Glaciers Trek.
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 |
|---|---|
| 6 - 12 October 2025 | guaranteed departure3 |
| 13 - 19 October 2025 | guaranteed departure2 |
| 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 $100 off the standard trip price (does not apply to any already discounted prices).
| Standard Price | 7 days price per person |
|---|---|
| Individual bookings group size | NZ$4395 2 per guide * |
Please read the information on minimum and maximum group sizes below.
Deposit Payment
A non-refundable per-person deposit is payable to secure a booking:
- NZ$1,000.00
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:
- IFMGA / NZMGA certified mountain guide
- National Park fees
- Hut accommodation
- Local accommodation for any nights required during the trip
- ALL meals (including snacks & energy bars) for the duration of the trip
- ALL avalanche safety and technical ski touring equipment (with the exception of ski touring boots)
The following items are NOT included:
- Meals and accommodation before/after the trip are NOT included.
- Flights are NOT included
- Bus transport from the West Coast at the end of the trip is NOT included
Flights
It is neccesary to fly out from Chancellor Hut to Fox Glacier township at the end of the trip.
Flights are not included in the price, as costs vary according to the venue, type of aircraft and occupancy. Depending on the venue, it is often possible to be picked up from a lower landing site on the return flight or to combine flights with other groups heading in to and out of the mountains to significantly reduce flight costs.
Weather dependent: As there is no guarantee of being able to fly (due to weather) and no obligation to fly, we like to be able to pass on any potential savings directly to our guests.
| Price per flight (the cost is split equally amongst guests) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | Aircraft | Spaces | Price |
| Mt. Cook Airport to / from Centennial Hut Lower pick-up option avaialble | Helicopter | 5 | NZ$1,467.00 |
| Mt. Cook Airport to / from Pioneer Hut Lower pick-up option avaialble | Helicopter | 5 | NZ$1,284.00 |
| Fox / Franz Josef Airports to / from Pioneer / Centennial Huts Lower pick-up option avaialble | H 500 Helicopter | 3 | NZ$770.00 |
| Fox / Franz Josef Airports to / from Pioneer / Centennial Huts Lower pick-up option avaialble | AS 350 Helicopter | 5 | NZ$1,050.00 |
| Fox Airport to / from Chancellor Hut | H 500 Helicopter | 3 | NZ$420.00 |
| Fox Airport to / from Chancellor Hut | AS 350 Helicopter | 5 | NZ$575.00 |
Please note: Flight prices are given as examples only and are subject to change by aircraft operators at any time. In addition to guests, each aircraft will also transport the guide and gear.
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$2,810.00 for 7 days ) - rescheduling to another trip/date
- a full refund
A maximum number of 2 participants per guide is defined by our safety management plan. For groups larger than this, it is usually possible to allocate additional guides.
Previous Experience
A very high level of fitness is required. Participants need to carry a full pack (approximately 20kg including skis) over sometimes rough ground for 6-8 hours each day.
Participants need to be able to ski very steep terrain and in all snow conditions with a heavy pack. Previous ski touring experience is essential (including some 6+ hour multi-day ski tours).
Good preparation for this trip is our Mount Cook & Westland Glaciers Ski Touring week.
Difficulty Ratings
Endurance: 5 - Extreme
Regular alpine starts with long and sustained days (14+ hours) on difficult or technical terrain. Expect to carry a heavy pack at times (12-16kg) between huts or bivvies. Consecutive days with ascents of 1200+ vertical meters in often steep terrain are expected. Prior experience with bivouac / snow camping is recommended. For hardened mountaineers only.
Agility: 4.5 - Advanced scrambling agility +
Committing and challenging for experienced trekkers. Sustained concentration and focus required for difficult sections. Exposure to heights or large drops likely. Confident footwork and scrambling over rough, loose and steep terrain required (eg. pulling yourself up on vegetation, clambering over boulders). Crampons and ice axes required for crossing moderate snow slopes (≤ 35°), alpine passes and/or glaciated terrain.
Technical Mountaineering: 2.5 - Introductory-intermediate mountaineer +
In-depth crampon, ice axe, self-arresting and climbing skills instructed by guide. Basic rope skills, knots, abseiling, anchor placement, belaying skills instructed if applicable. Ability to apply skills with coached practice and demonstrate proficiency required to progress to next grade. Prior rock climbing experience beneficial.
Technical Ski Ability: 5 - Expert ski tourer / split-boarder
Skis the fall-line on all slopes and in any conditions. Confident and controlled skiing on steep slopes up to and above 40°. Uses appropriate techniques to ski couloirs or restricted slopes safely and at a reasonable speed. Uphill speeds of 500m+ per hour and ascents of 1500m+ are expected. Extra equipment includes harness, rope, carabiners, boot crampons and ice axe.
Trip Difficulty Ratings - more infoRoute Information
The route is typically done from east to west, starting in Lake Tekapo and finishing in Fox Glacier on the West Coast. Depending on the season and conditions, the route may be done in reverse, starting on the West Coast. Your IFMGA / NZMGA ski mountaineering guide will decide on the best option for the traverse based on group ability, weather and snow conditions at the time.
East to West route:
Lake Tekapo - Godley Valley - Liebig Range - Murchison Glacier - Tasman Saddle - Tasman Glacier - Rudolph Glacier - Graham Saddle (crossing the Main Divide) - Franz Josef Glacier - Fox Glacier.
| Gear Check | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 pm | 8:00 am | 5:00 pm |
First Day
Meet the evening before the trip for a gear check at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. Drive up the western side of Lake Tekapo to the Rankin Hut site.
Days 2-6
We leave Rankin Hut site and head up the Godley Valley by torchlight. By the time the sun hits, we are skinning up Rutherford Stream to our first pass: Armadillo Saddle. It feels good to be skiing down after our long ascent. We head down to the Murchison Glacier then up around the corner to Murchison Hut for a well earned rest.
Day break sees us heading up the Murchison Headwall to Tasman Saddle. We can now look forward to one of New Zealand's longest ski runs - the Tasman Glacier. We turn right at De La Beche corner and begin our journey up the Rudolf Glacier to Graham Saddle, the highest point of the Symphony. A downhill run then a traverse across the Chamberlin Snowfield to Centennial Hut.
The following day we cross the Davis Snowfield to West Hoe Pass and then enjoy a long ski descent down Fox Glacier to Chancellor Hut. Fly or walk out from Chancellor Hut to Fox Glacier township. It is recommended to fly from Chancellor Hut, as the route is often exposed to rock fall.
2 days reserved for weather contingency, and/or the option of staying at Tasman Saddle Hut to split the longest (middle) day.
Last Day
Return to Lake Tekapo from Fox Glacier, either by bus or by plane, arriving about 6pm.
Symphony on Skis - 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. All food, cookers, fuel, etc. is provided.
Please note that you must bring your own alpine ski touring boots, or if you need to hire them, please see below.*1 While Alpine Recreation can provide all other ski mountaineering and avalanche safety equipment, it is strongly advised that you invest in your own ski touring setup. We are happy to advise on equipment choices pre-purchase.
*1 Ski touring boots & split-boarding gear: these can be hired 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 |
|---|---|
| avalanche safety equipment transceiver, shovel, probe | 1 |
| backpack - 45L must have side tension straps | 1 |
| buff / sun scarf for protecting ears & neck | 1 |
| headlamp with spare battery | 1 |
| lightweight polypro / fleece gloves | 1 |
| mountaineering equipment helmet, ice axe, crampons, harness, carabiners, slings, prussics | 1 |
| polypro / merino thermal leggings | 2 |
| polypro / merino top long-sleeved | 2 |
| ski touring equipment (excluding boots) skis with touring bindings, poles, skins, ski crampons | 1 |
| snow gaiters to fit over ski boots or built-in gaiters in your ski pants | 1 |
| sun hat | 1 |
| synthetic / fleece jacket | 1 |
| waterproof gloves / mitts with removable inner for quick drying | 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 |
|---|---|
| 4 season sleeping bag lightweight | 1 |
| alpine ski touring boots with removable liners for easy drying | 1 |
| camera | 1 |
| down jacket | 1 |
| drink bottle / thermos flask wide-mouth, minimum 1 litre | 1 |
| ear plugs in case of snorers | 1 |
| lightweight insulated sleeping mat if not going to a hut | 1 |
| personal first aid please provide your own blister kit | 1 |
| personal underwear | 1 |
| quick-drying shirt long-sleeved, for sun protection | 1 |
| small dry bags for organising gear | 1 |
| snow goggles | 1 |
| soft-shell pants | (optional) 1 |
| split-boarding equipment split-board, boots, poles, skins, split-board crampons | 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.
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.
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.
