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The Hump Ridge isn’t a Great Walk yet, but it will become one next year. Fiordland’s Milford Track is undoubtedly New Zealand’s most famous Great Walk, once described by the poet Blanche Baughan as “the finest walk in the world”. And while it’s pretty hard to beat the dramatic valley views along the four-day trek, the Hump Ridge Track in southern Fiordland comes pretty close. Along the three-day walk you’ll enjoy coastal, forest and mountain views, including panoramic vistas over the Southern Ocean and even out to Rakiura/Stewart Island. While the track requires a decent level of fitness, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts when you reach the track’s two lushly appointed private lodges, which boast flush toilets, hot showers, a licensed bar and shop, and free porridge for breakfast. You can even upgrade to a private room.
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Nugget Point in the Catlins is a must-visit stop on the Southern Scenic route and offers spectacular panoramic views.
Are your summer holidays at an end and are you already dreaming of your next trip, perhaps during the next school holidays or the next time you can squeeze in a long weekend? When the leaves on the trees begin to change colour and the magnificent mountains are lightly dusted with the season s first snow, it s a perfect time to set out on one of New Zealand s most wonderful adventures. The 600-kilometre Southern Scenic Route is a leisurely drive, which takes in five provinces and promises a host of experiences you ll never forget.
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Your next Great Walk: Southland track with creature comforts
6 minutes to read
Affordable Great Walk with hot showers? Try the Hump Ridge Track, writes Monique Perrin
There are many pleasures of doing a Great Walk, from challenging yourself physically, to communing with nature. But, unless you re on a pricey private tour, ending the day with a well-earned beer and a hot shower usually isn t one of them. Southland s Hump Ridge Track, however, is not like most Great Walks. It fills a gap for independent walkers, offering a remote wilderness experience with some welcome creature comforts.
Read More It s pretty nice at the end of the day, especially after a day of hard hiking, says Kim Mackay-Wallace from Cromwell, who walked the track in early November. You ve just climbed this massive hill and then you get there and there s a super-king bed with a down duvet and a hot shower.
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