Mt Titiroa 2 Day Guided Walk
(NZ) $799 Including Heli flight and boat crossing. Extra days (NZ) $295/day
Grade: Moderate level of fitness required
Season: October to April
Departs: On demand - Please enquire for further details
Start: Boat from Pearl Harbour to Hope Arm
Walking first day: 4-5hrs
Walking second day: 5-6 hrs
End: Helicopter out from Snow White Clearing to Manapouri
Resources
Ref latitude: 45°36'11.36"S longitude: 167°24'41.51"E
Facts and Features of this walk:
- Mt Titiroa - “#1 of the 7 Natural Wonders of NZ” – Wilderness Magazine
- World Heritage Site (joining the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon as one of the most remarkable places on earth)
- Peak 1710m (5620ft)
- Magnificent & unique granite formations
- Expansive views over Lake Manapouri, the Hunter Mountains and on a clear day to Stewart Island
- Native mountain beech and rimu
- Bell birds, Tūī, Grey Warblers, Fantails, Tomtits and Woodpigeons are very common. Trampers may also see Fernbirds, Riflemen, Brown creepers, Parakeets, Yellowheads, Falcons and Kea.
- Paradise duck, Grey duck and the rare Blue duck are found in the river and lake edge environments
- Red deer, Possums
- 'Pearl Harbour', on the edge of the Waiau River - the departure point for our boat
DAY 1
Manapouri to Snow White Clearing
Duration: 4-5 hours
Distance: approx 6km (3.7miles)
The adventure begins in Manapouri township, where our boat picks us up and takes us for a stunning scenic cruise across Lake Manapouri before dropping us off at an idyllic cove called Hope Arm in Fiordland National Park. After a chance to take in the tranquility of this bay we start our walk through the native bush. As we go your guide will point out the various special flora and fauna that make this part of the world so unique as well as giving an insight into the history of the area. This part of the walk is along a gentle easy up hill track and provides an ideal introduction to the joys of adventuring in Fiordland. Once we reach our lunch destination we get our first real glimpse of Mt Titiroa and the terrain that lies ahead of us.
After lunch we drop back down again through low level woodland and over small natural springs until we arrive at our camp site situated in the Snow White Clearings. Camp is set up next to the tranquil river where there is the opportunity to go for a walk upstream spotting wildlife such as deer and the rare Blue Ducks or to relax, swim or bathe in the river before enjoying a traditional kiwi bush tucker feed and camp fire marshmallows
DAY 2
Snow White Clearing to Mt Titiroa rocky outcrops
Duration: 4-5 hours
Distance: approx 5km (3miles)
We rise with the birds to make the most of the day ahead and have a hearty cooked breakfast before starting our climb up to the tops of Mt Titiroa. From the camp site there are no tracks so the going is slow but still fairly easy. We break out of the bush some time later and arrive at a magical lunch spot affording views out over the surrounding peaks and valleys. After lunch we have time to explore the magical Granite Tors that make this area unique and "a photographers dream".
In the afternoon we start our descent back to our camp spot where we collect our gear and await the arrival of our helicopter to pick us up. The helicopter then takes us for a spectacular flight over Fiordland and Lake Manapouri before dropping us off back at civilisation.
