New Zealand Bush Experience // Island Hills Station

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This New Zealand Bush Experience has a focus on providing a mixture of adventures and activities that make what going bush is really all about in New Zealand. That feeling of reaching a hut you get all to yourself, mountain rivers you can drink out of, wildlife and wild foods are all on offer at this privately run station. This tour has been designed to suit people with all experiences and backgrounds and is fully customisable on the day - meaning if you turn up and prefer to relax or get into some hard work, we can accommodate.

Join one of Canterbury's leading Bushman into his backyard.

Itinerary:

• Arrive into Christchurch

On this day, you will arrange transport into Christchurch city (where applicable). In the afternoon, any gear or food you purchase will be delivered to your accommodation for you to pack that night. By night time, we will arrange a protein, energy heavy meal at an affordable price for everyone at Cafe Valentino. This is a great time to meet and get a final briefing and any last-minute requirements can be discussed. 

• Leave for Hurunui

Today starts at approximately 8 am with everyone picked up by the arranged transport (more concrete times will be shared once all guests people have booked). We head north through typical NZ country towns for coffee and pies. A few hours drive will have us head deep into the Canterbury Hills. By 10:30 am, we arrive at the beginning of Island Hills station where everyone is transported further to the first lodge to meet with Bushman Shaun, and receive the first briefing.

• Begin the hikes

After a meet and greet, health & safety prep and exploring the homestead, (depending on weather), the group will begin heading up into the mountains. This unmarked, epic hike is challenging but rewarding. You will head through traditional native beech forest with a lesson on natural growth and devastation. You'll head up into mountain ranges for epic views of the surrounding valleys at 1750m. This is a good 15km 5-6 hour hike. It's here you should prime your eyes for local stags (something Shaun frequently keeps under control). While heading back down the hillsides after a big day of hiking, you'll arrive at your next hut. Here, you'll be briefed on the conservation work and help prepare the camp for the evening (campfire and BBQ). 

• Conservation & Exploring

Today brings with it a variety of activities including bushcraft, checking & setting conservation traps (large, bulky boxes that earn you a cold beer or two) and checking for pests, big hikes around the full station (looking for local stag & pigs), replacing wood and resources...or for those keen to just take it all in, lounge around the lodge and sunbathe by the rivers that flow from the mountains. Shaun will put the team through some activities, teach you bushcraft, how to build your own hill stick, skinning a possum and preparing wild foods - a true backcountry experience.

• Wild Foods

This evening after a day of hard work and big walks, we'll feed you up and make it all worthwhile with some locally sourced, free-range foods (some of the finest in the region). This includes:

• wild venison
• Wild pork
• west coast whitebait
• homegrown lamb
• wild bacon
• free-range eggs
• Fruit & Veggies locally grown

The whole group will help prepare a feast and set up the campfire for a beautiful, fun night of socializing under a blanket of stars and zero connection to the outside world. Choice!

• Team Hike

Today, we will be focusing on using the bush-craft skills and hiking out of the station toward our pick up location along an easy marked track. A clean up of camp is closely followed by some lunch and a chance to soak in, get some photos and ask questions from the Bushman Tours team about the environment. We'll be heading out on a medium difficulty hike over a few hours (depending on team fitness). Early afternoon, we are met by the van to take us back into Christchurch (you may even get some complimentary snacks on the ride home). 

• Dinner

Once everyone has been dropped off at their accommodation or home, in a traditional fashion we will arrange dinner after a few hours. Grab a well-deserved shower, a quick nap if you need and we'll all meet at Welles Street Bar at 7 pm for a well deserved, hearty meal. (Please note, all guest must purchase their own meals and drinks)

Gear Required:

To be able to join this tour, you need to ensure you have the right gear. This gear is for your own comfort and safety. Weather can turn quickly in New Zealand and we also want to make sure everyone is safe. If you haven't got some of the gear, you can talk to us about hiring or borrowing items. 

• Sleeping bag
• Sun hat
• Headlamp & batteries
• Hiking Clothing: Warm, wet, cold gear
• Extra food: Snacks, BYO
• Hiking pack and day pack
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Hiking boots (no trainers)
• Water container (Atleast 1.5l)

Huts with history:

The wilderness, supporting conservation, and learning about this delicate part of Canterbury allows our Visitors to get a fully private and personal experience. The private, historic huts are just the icing on the cake. The lodges and huts are handmade and looked after by a team of locals. The history of them and the region is diverse and something you get the privilege to experience, without any intruders. Sit around the campfire and chat with Shaun about the dynamic history of this region.

Give back to conservation:

What's the catch? Well, during your Adventure, you'll learn a lot about what it takes to maintain an ecosystem like this. You'll learn a lot from Shaun like how to set traps, how to study the surroundings for conservation issues and helping him prepare for the winter by lugging some new traps up into some of the most dense bush in Canterbury. Challenging work that makes a meaningful difference will be rewarded with beers and a good feed that evening. 

At checkout, we'll offer you to donate $150 ($144 AUD) toward a new trap. You can put your name on this trap and will be directly supporting conservation work in New Zealand by donating it to the region. These hills are not supported by the Government, so it's people like Shaun who keep the pests under control for our native wildlife. If you can, please help us contribute to this. 

When you book with Bushman Tours, you must agree to our terms and conditions found at https://bushmantours.com/terms/

Every tour comes with unique gear requirements. If you arrive at the tour without the minimum requirements specific to the tour, your Bushman guide may cancel the trip. To avoid disappointment, visit your tour's unique requirements via our website - https://bushmantours.com