Good news for those who enjoy hiking, but hate to compromise on comfort — there is a way to pepper your exploration of NZ’s revered Hollyford Track with luxurious private lodges , writes Julia D’Orazio Over the past few years, something has come over me; I have entered my hiking era. This new love of multi-day hiking has led me to blitz Western Australia’s famed coastal walk Cape to Cape and venture to the hills, well, mountains in Alaska’s backcountry. My abs were given the ultimate workout , carrying a house on my back — tent, food, water, clothes and, dare I mention, a pee funnel — and slowly making my way through trails less trodden.
The thought of encountering grizzly bears and snakes was another burden that weighed on me. So, imagine my delight in discovering there are, indeed, multi-day trail experiences absent of menacing sharp claws, slithering jaws and hauling gear. READ MORE: Which NZ Great Walk is best? Stepping on to the Hollyford Track feels like a dream.
If my mortal enemies are only sandflies, so be it. Located in the World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park , the 56km one-way track is bound by epic mountainous scenery. It winds through the almighty Hollyford Valley, with still lakes, misty falls, and rainforests festooned with water drops and bright carpets of moss, all aiding its mystical appearance.
Adding to the fantasy is knowing I won’t resemble a tortoise with a big bag glued to my spine, subsequently matching it in the speed stakes.