Client Reviews

" The early November trek up to Caroline Hut was absolutely fantastic! Although challenging, the trek was truly rewarding and I learned a great deal to add to my basic mountaineering skills. I have our guide, Bia, to thank for this experience. Not only was she very professional, knowledgeable, and highly competent, she managed our skill ability exceedingly well. "
- K. Harris, USA. Feb 2017.

"My husband and I were extremely happy with our trip to the Caroline Hut. Our guide, Bia, was outstanding in so many ways. She was encouraging, supportive, enthusiastic, and showed a genuine interest in ensuring we enjoyed the trip. We had never spend a night in a hut and really enjoyed the experience. The hut was wonderful and the meal Bia cooked us was excellent. We had also never used crampons and ice axes and had fun learning new skills."
- R. & J. Gagnon, Canada. Dec 2016.

"Great all-round package, and an exciting trip. Ewan and Jono were brilliant, they were personable, exuded professional competence, had fantastic tips and advice, and were a pleasure to spend time with. For some of our party, having access to borrowed equipment was very helpful."
- Simon Prentice, Manager, Sovereign, NZ. March 2016.

"Id like to say well done to the Team at AR, I am overwhelmed with the whole experience. Thank you all for the trip and big thanks to Tom (our guide), I enjoyed his company and appreciate the way he was always focused on us. As a business owner I'd also like to say to the owners of AR, you should be proud this business as it offers life time experiences that customers NEVER forget and there is not many businesses that can say that.
Will I be back again? Without a doubt. Well done and many thanks."
- M. Adshead, Australia. March 2016.

"The trek exceeded expectation in the skills learnt, the views, the weather, the people. The guides were extremely knowledgeable, and gave confidence to the group in what was for some an unfamiliar Alpine environment with unfamiliar equipment (crampons, ice picks, harnesses). The three days were well divided, allowing a good balance between trekking and resting and skill work and enjoying the mountains. The Caroline hut was fantastic. Well stocked in supplies, and allowed for a good night sleep. I would definitely recommend the Ball Pass and Alpine Recreation to anyone interested in this style of trip."
- T. Thompson, Australia. December 2015.

"The overall immersive quality of the experience was exceptional - from the 4wd ride to the start of the track, to the walking, to the food, to the information provided by the guides along the way, to the drive back to Tekapo. The dynamic between us - the clients - as well as the guides felt like a group of friends or whanau on a trip together to a warm, homely family bach. I felt thoroughly welcome and included by your guides. They were also attentive to the needs of each individual party member and the absolute safety of the party at all times. Thank you so much for this utter privilege!"
- T. Low, New Zealand. April 2015.

"The relaxed, patient, warm, friendly style of guiding was superb. It was my first guided trip, and a great insight into the benefits it offers both newcomers and experienced trampers alike. I really enjoyed chatting to Elke and Paul about their decision-making processes, weather-prediction, technical tips, plant-lore and stories from the hills. And the food was phenomenal (especially coming off the back of months of long-distance ultralight trips!)."
- N. Low, New Zealand. April 2015.

"Extremely professional organisation and the guide was very informative, knowlegeable, and personable."
- S. Boazman, Ireland. January 2014.

"I was exceptionally impressed with your guide Martin on this trek, in a challenging environment his attention to detail, our safety, and passing on knowledge of the surrounding areas were outstanding. At all times on this trek my wife and I felt well attended to and safe which enabled us to thoroughly enjoy the trek and the mt cook mountain range. Please pass on my thanks..."
- J. Hayes, Sydney. April 2014.

"Ball Pass was by far the best hike myself and partner have done to date. You can expect to be physically and mentally challenged as it is no walk in the park and you must be focused on what you're doing at all times. The Caroline hut is nice and cosy and you couldn't ask for a better place to kick your boots off each night and enjoy great company and good wholesome food. Our guide Jane was fantastic and we knew we were in safe hands at all times with her depth of experience and her willingness to teach us some great new skills. I enjoyed the hike that much it felt like the opportune time to propose to my now fiancé with the Caroline face as our spectacular back drop and some inquisitive Kea parrots as my audience."
- P. Sinclair, Australia. February 2014.

"I think the whole package is exceptional. You do a brilliant job, it's a great trip, and the guides were fantastic."
- B. Osborne, New Zealand. January 2014.

"I was impressed with the level of detail on the preparatory material. Clearly that process has been refined with care through feedback from responsible guides over the years. Next, I felt the private hut aspect was something very unique to the experience you offer. I felt I was a guest at your home. Next, I thought Elke was exceptionally professional. Aside from the obviously strong knowledge of the conditions & environment, I personally thought her strength was to judge the clients and the level of interaction each one wanted. I thought she also handled the situation with my friend, exceptionally well - she had one message that she delivered without repetition and in a way that motivated him the most. Overall, a lot of these strengths tie back into the fact that this is a family business and people involved truly care. And it shows. Thanks for the memorable experience and wish you the best. I will certainly not fail to recommend your company to anyone I know planning a trip to your beautiful country."
- S. Pandiarajan, USA. January 2014.

"I just wanted to jot you a note and thank you once again for the fantastic guiding experience that Alpine Recreation provided our team. The guys are still raving about it - with some describing the trip as being one of those "bucket list" experiences!! I know that we were all a bit sore on Thursday night, but after a great soak in the hot pools and a hot meal we were as happy as I've ever seen the team. I couldn't praise Alpine Recreation more for the absolute professionalism and commitment you showed to our team. As I said in my speech at the end, we talk a lot about leadership at Sanitarium - and both Elke and Martin demonstrated what it means to be a true leader - in spades! I would have no hesitation to recommend this trip to other (fit) executive teams - and my personal view is that it is first rate team building exercise. Thanks again for a wonderful and safe trip, and for wonderful memories of the Mt Cook National Park, Ball Pass, and the Caroline Hut experience!"
- Todd Saunders, General Manager, Sanitarium, Australia. February 2013.

"Caroline Hut is in a sublime location and I enjoyed the awe inspiring views of the Caroline Face and Mt Tasman. I will be back for another adventure!"
- C. Lambert, Hastings, NZ. February 2013.

"I enjoyed the trip with you a lot!!!! It was fantastic – one of my NZ highlights! Ewan was a very competent guide, a superb cook, good company and an excellent photographer ;-), the hut was cosy, clean and spectacularly located, the weather couldn't have been better and the trek was just amazing!! An unforgettable experience! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you very much! Thanks as well for the beautiful greeting cards I got at the end of the trip!"
- C. Riisch, Switzerland. January 2013.

"Reflecting on your website description for Ball Pass Crossing, I certainly felt your description of the climb to be neither over or understated. It was challenging physically, and at times mentally, which was what I came for. And what a privilege to be able to do it in the environment of Mt. Cook and the Caroline Face. I found the hut very comfortable, well maintained and clean, a very welcome refuge after a days climbing. Ewan looked after us very well, keeping us informed at all times, and very aware about what was required to have us be tested, while doing good predictions from a safety perspective. I felt very confident around accepting direction from him, which from me is no small praise. Living in a world where mediocrity it too readily accepted as the norm, I came away with the feeling that my experience in your care was a very good one. A nice, no fuss professionalism. I am very grateful that you make this experience possible. Minimise the risk, but let us not stifle it."
- D. MacDonald, New Zealand. November 2012.

"Thank you for one of the best adventures I have ever had. It was beautiful and tough at the same time,and I had an absolute ball"
- A. Moras, Australia. April 2012.

"I can't recommend it highly enough as myself and Scott loved every minute. Every aspect of the trek including gear provisions, accommodation in the well maintained private Caroline hut, meals and trek routes were of the highest quality. Our guides Elke and Gary are highly experienced and their pleasant and relaxed nature made the trek very enjoyable. The Caroline hut is situated on a protected ridge at approx 1800m looking straight onto the Caroline face of Mt Cook which is a spectacular backdrop. Consistent avalanches and the associated thunder made it a unique experience. The other side features the Tasman Glacier which we were situated well above giving fantastic views. The Ball Pass requires a climb to 2100m and features snow and glacier crossings. In the 3 days we didn't see any other trekking partys so it was a great remote experience and highly recommend to anyone considering."
- P. Horton, Australia. January 2012.

"I had an absolutely fantastic time on the trip and have nothing but positive things to say about you guys to the people I meet. I was extremely impressed by how our guide both explained and took steps to limit danger while on the trip. Given the nature of my work over here in Australia as a geologist, I was very happy to see the level of professionalism you guys had with regards to safety."
-N. Fenney, Australia. April 2011.

"The trip sounded good from the info but actually the trip exceeded all my expectations when I did it?the professionalism, knowledge and friendliness of the company and the guides. The warm welcoming hospitality. Real connection to the land. The hut is well appointed and we were always careful to be environmentally conscious. It was a perfect trip. Based on the online information I was very excited and impressed by the quality of your company. I think I watched some of the videos on the site, which were great. And the photos. Both those things were really helpful."
- V. Fransisca, Sydney. Nov. 2015.

"Weather is amazing, beautiful, stunning and the views and scenery even better! Was about a 7 hour round trip to BZ (Beuzenberg) Peak, drowned our faces in the stream, followed by a cup of tea and a glass of wine! What more can one want!"
- S. and I. Kremenskiy, Russia, Norway and New York. February 2015.

"We did the Lake Tekapo High Country Hike, our guide Gideon showed exceptional skill in identifying where our strengths/weaknesses were and walked us based on that and tested our skills at times. He read our needs and abilities very well. We liked the size of the groups and were especially impressed that you were still prepared to take us on our trek even though there were only the 2 of us booked in the end. There's also a warm personal feel about the group and your approach to business which we especially liked, integrity is the word I immediately thought."
- G. Buch, Australia, January 2015.

""An absolutely stunning walk. We enjoyed the ever changing colours and moods of Lake Tekapo. We were lucky to have .. awesome views Silberhorn, Tasman and Aoraki. This was my daughter's (Grace, age 10) first overnight hike and her first experience of snow; a lovely challenge for our party of 3 generations. Unique, picturesque; we enjoyed the experience, the vistas, the tussock grass and the solitude.""
- Three Generations, Adelaide. November 2014.

"Stunning scenery, wonderful food,amazing night vista and Stella our guide is a star!"
- Family of five, Auckland, April 2012.

"It's the silence and space...two elusive acquisitons"
- L. O'Keef, Australia, January 2012.

"Paysages magnifiques depuis les différents pics. En espérant que nos photos sauront restituer un peu la magie des lieux."
- Once Upon a Trip Group, France, January 2012.

"Beautiful, two days trek...good weather, amazing colours, very quiet place, a "must" for hikers."
- R. Marion, Terres d'Aventure, France, March 2011.

"We did the Lake Tekapo High Country Hike, our guide Gideon showed exceptional skill in identifying where our strengths/weaknesses were and walked us based on that and tested our skills at times. He read our needs and abilities very well. We liked the size of the groups and were especially impressed that you were still prepared to take us on our trek even though there were only the 2 of us booked in the end. There's also a warm personal feel about the group and your approach to business which we especially liked, integrity is the word I immediately thought."
- G. Buch, Australia, January 2015.

Custom Snowshoe Trek to Lady Emily Hut via the Cass Valley

"Another top trip with Alpine Recreation. Our original destination, Caroline Hut, was not accessible due to avalanche danger on the road in. Although we were initially disappointed, the change of venue turned out to be an excellent alternative. Superb mountain terrain and two huts full of character and history - Memorial Hut with its rustic charm and the delights of cooking over an open fire, which also gave us wonderful warmth; and Lady Emily Hut, located about 600m higher in an atmospheric position on a ridge, with peaks leaping up on all sides and the ground diving away in between ? spectacular!
Highlight of the trip was snowshoeing further up the steep valley on the second day ? mountains towering all around and a perfectly sunny day; magical white-and-blue landscape. Snow conditions gave us a good workout, from heavy-going on the valley floor to crisp and steep on ridges + some exciting technical sections ? all enjoyable and very rewarding.
We were in good hands with Peter, who patiently waited for stragglers (us), cooked delicious meals and was all-round very professional. We felt safe at all times and appreciated Peter's breaking ground in very testing conditions on the valley floor, and filling us in on local history + firsthand accounts of deer hunting. A bonus on the last day was dropping in to Mount John and the Observatory Caf? with hot drinks all round ? thanks, Peter! A super trip ? 3 days weren't enough to explore these magnificent mountains and we would happily return for more snowshoeing here and a chance to experience further the history and culture of the high country."
- I. Bruce and C. Tow. August 2017.

Snowshoeing in the Lake Tekapo Highcountry

Rex Simpson Hut book entry: ..."a great experience staying in this isolated hut on top of a mountain, a fantastic view and our selfie group photo is great. It was really great and memorable snow-trekking in NZ. I hope to be back again one day. Greetings from hot and sunny Singapore!"
- Four friends from Singapore: They found each other on the internet and arrived in Tekapo to experience a snow shoe trek. With no experience of cold and snow in the mountains they bravely struggled in to the Rex Simpson Hut in mizzy weather. The reward was powder snow falling overnight and a beautiful sunny day to showcase fantastic views. August 2014.

Rex Simpson Hut book entry: "I have no experience before and I proud of myself. Hope in the future more Chinese can try to hike. Alpine Rec staff are very friendly and they have lots of experience before I trust them. Chinese commend snowshoeing."
Two students from China: Studying at university in Sydney and Melbourne Shu and Yu decided on a completely different holiday; a snow-shoe trek in Lake Tekapo, NZ. July 2014.

"Fantastic couple of "Blue Bird" days in the Two Thumbs Range. Incredible scenery, great company, accomplished guides, cosy hut. Definitely coming back."
- Kimberley and Rhiannen, Australia. August 2011.

Snowshoe Mountaineering to Caroline Hut

"I just wanted to say thanks again for 3 fantastic days that I spent with you. Your guiding certainly took me beyond my comfort zone on more than one occasion and on reflection I'm glad I persevered with it!
It's not very often that you come across someone so meticulous about safety. Thanks for the skills that you passed on to us it has certainly given me a great base from which to pursue further interests. Thanks again, Elke, and I hope to see you again next year!"
- Andrew Youl, Australia. July 2015.

"- From the first check up at 8a.m in the morning in Lake Takapo to the return, I felt completely safe and cared for. I have been doing a lot of similar trips in France, Bolivia, Tanzania and Nepal, and I have to say the level of professionalism of Elke / Marty has far exceeded the previous trips I have been doing. On the material side, Alpine Recreation level of service has been extremely high, with high quality recent material ready for the five of us (with a lots of different sizes available). We spent a whole day stuck in a hut due to bad weather. The hut was always warm, with food being not only plentiful but actually really good. Retrospectively, it was actually a good day, as surprising as it might seem, thanks to the guides. Even if you know nothing about mountaineering, you can feel Elke / Martin were very qualified professionals always eager to warn us in advance of potential dangers and teaching us about the mountain. I rarely take the pain of writing feedback but I thought I had to do it on this one given the level of professionalism and friendliness of the Alpine team. Should you be a beginner or an experience mountaineer, I can confirm you you will have a great/safe experience with Alpine Recreation, whatever the conditions."
- P. Fossat, London. October 2011.

Custom Snowshoe Trek to Mueller Hut

"I appreciated the honesty over the weather conditions and the fact that the trip we booked originally might not have been the trip that we got to go on. As it turns out we got a cracking day of weather on the ascent to Mueller Hut afterall. But I can't bear expedition companies who can't be honest about things like this. It is a credit to Alpine Recreation that you are not just shoving people up and down mountains. By the way I should also omment on the fact that when I took a bit of a tumble on the descent that Dave was really great. He had me back on my feet in no time. I felt very safe in his capable hands and under no pressure to hurry downhill etc. And therein lies the reason why I believe that paying a reputable company for a good guide is money well spent."
- P. Boast, Bahrain. September 2011.

Ball Pass Summit Trek

"Great all-round package, and an exciting trip. Ewan and Jono were brilliant, they were personable, exuded professional competence, had fantastic tips and advice, and were a pleasure to spend time with. For some of our party, having access to borrowed equipment was very helpful. "
- Simon Prentice, Manager, Sovereign, NZ. March 2016.

"I just wanted to jot you a note and thank you once again for the fantastic guiding experience that Alpine Recreation provided our team. The guys are still raving about it - with some describing the trip as being one of those "bucket list" experiences!! I know that we were all a bit sore on Thursday night, but after a great soak in the hot pools and a hot meal we were as happy as I've ever seen the team. I couldn't praise Alpine Recreation more for the absolute professionalism and commitment you showed to our team. As I said in my speech at the end, we talk a lot about leadership at Sanitarium - and both Elke and Martin demonstrated what it means to be a true leader - in spades! I would have no hesitation to recommend this trip to other (fit) executive teams - and my personal view is that it is first rate team building exercise. Thanks again for a wonderful and safe trip, and for wonderful memories of the Mt Cook National Park, Ball Pass, and the Caroline Hut experience!"
- Todd Saunders, General Manager, Sanitarium, Australia. February 2013.