New Zealand
Hiking Under Southern Skies
Program No. 11592RJ
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Hiking Under Southern Skies
Hiking Under Southern Skies
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Participant Reviews
Based on 37 Reviews
SHOWING
Unforgettable trip I am SO glad I went. Hefty and varied hiking experiences, topped off by both usual AND unusual cultural experiences. Fantastic leaders. Everything you expect from active Road Scholar trips and more. I felt both challenged and supported. Loved it!
— Review left February 14, 2026
If you want a great overview of NZ and hike on some of its most beautiful tracks, this program is for you!
— Review left February 13, 2026
Exceptional program hitting many highlights of a wonderful country filled with warm and friendly people. There are not enough words to describe the beauty of NZ. Because of the time of year we traveled, snow covered the mountains - simply spectacular! Program leaders Peter Brady and Gerard Dunne were perfect ambassadors for this wonderful country helping cultivate an inclusive community during the trip. Their knowledge and caring really was the key to making this tour one of the best RS programs. This is a strenuous program so make sure you train before the trip.
— Review left November 22, 2025
This is the best RS program I have ever joined. Zero regrets. Great guides. CHALLENGING hikes. Wonderful country to visit! Please consider your abilities before registering. After all, you want to enjoy yourself! The program fills quickly, so if you don't hike much (or at all), and decide to sign up anyway, you MIGHT be okay if you start hiking multiple times a week and perhaps using a stair-climbing machine as well. I was challenged even though I hike 3 times a week at a state park with steep climbs. In retrospect, I would have added some 20 to 30 minute stair-climbing sessions to my preparation as well. Do it! Just be ready!
— Review left November 18, 2025
Going to New Zealand with Roads Scholar was one of the best decisions I ever made. Everyone who has been there just raved about how beautiful the country is and they were absolutely correct. Highlights were the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Rotorua with geothermal springs and the Maori Cultural Center on the North Island, our home stay in Staveley and hiking in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park on the South Island and spending time on Stewart Island where we actually observed a Kiwi not in captivity.
Our guides, Kathy and Robyn were outstanding. Their knowledge of New Zealand was encyclopedic. Though this wasn’t billed as a birding trip, they knew the names of all the birds and their sounds as we hiked and the names of the trees and myriad ferns. They were so organized and prepared not only for medical emergencies, but when needed, changing plans on a minutes notice to better accommodate our group.
My one recommendation – yes prepare for challenging hikes, but pay extra special attention and prepare for the descents. Unfortunately I was not prepared and missed out on several of the more difficult hikes that came later in the trip.
— Review left May 19, 2025
Excellent program for experiencing the natural beauty of NZ. Plenty of hiking with constant opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna along the way. Birdsong is still ringing in my ears! Our little band of travelers gelled from day one, and our guides Robyn and Kathy made every day special. Staying with a host family for two nights was an unexpected delight. I have always heard that NZ is like the world in miniature with its mountains, beaches, fjords, deserts and rain forests, and we got to experience it all! Great trip!
— Review left April 25, 2025
I can't imagine a more perfect trip thanks to our guides Peter Brady and Gerard Dunne! They were a perfect team, coordinating hotels, meals, hikes and communicating everything so thoroughly to all 18 of us. My shoes fell apart in the first wet hike and Pete arranged for new hiking boots on our next stop! Amazing! I was the oldest (82)and the weakest hiker, but Gerard guided me through one very tough climb (for me). We went to the most beautiful places but this trip is really meant for pretty seasoned hikers, though there was an 80 year old who did ALL the hikes with amazing ease. So you good hikers know who you are! That said, I'm still glad I went, only opting out of 3 of the more difficult hikes. Our group was lovely, everyone kind and accepting of each other--so patient with me. I was also struck by the friendliness of the New Zealanders (kiwis) wherever we went--they're a jovial, fun loving lot.
And of course, the beauty of the forests, lakes. I particularly loved the breathtaking Aoraki Mount Cook hike. It's a trip that will stay in your heart forever.
— Review left March 12, 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed this well-planned itinerary which was executed by expert leaders. The New Zealand landscape is absolutely gorgeous, and we lucked out with good weather. Felt we got to know the country pretty well after 3 weeks. NZ is beautiful, charming, friendly, clean. The variety of hikes and other activities such as watching a sheep shearing gang, seeing flocks of albatross and other birds, visiting small museums and visitor centers, etc. made for a very stimulating trip. The trip was well worth the time it took to get there. Highly recommend.
— Review left March 12, 2025
Hiking Under the Southern Skies was an amazing program! Portions of several of New Zealand Great Walks were featured. Beautiful and challenging trails, gorgeous scenery and amazing people. If you are an active hiker, you will love this program
— Review left February 21, 2025
Hiking under Southern Skies is wonderful if you want to discover the magnificence of New Zealand fauna and flora under the guidance of amazing individuals (in our case Kathy and Robyn). The variety of landscapes we discovered, the quality of the hikes (yes, challenging at times, but that’s what you are signing for), and the kindness, knowledge, patience, and extraordinary physical fitness of the guides were impressive.
— Review left February 21, 2025
This is the ultimate introduction to hiking in New Zealand, in both the North and South Islands. The guides were a wealth of information about everything and researched the few things they didn't know offhand. A truly memorable adventure!!
— Review left March 29, 2024
A remarkable experience in a country full of friendly, caring people, stunning wildlife, forests, beaches, volcanoes, and waterfalls while walking on some of the finest trails in the world.
— Review left March 6, 2024
Hiking the South Skies of New Zealand under the leadership of Charles and Robyn Lambert was an extraordinary experience. It was our first Road Scholar trip and I fear that we have been spoiled for any others that we may attend in the future.
— Review left March 5, 2024
I can highly recommend this exciting program to hike under southern skies in New Zealand. The country is absolutely amazing. The geology and geography alone are worth the trip. Sitting on the ring of fire in the south Pacific, New Zealand is filled with fascinating landforms. The hiking, tramping, was fantastic, and we walked to volcanoes and up granite spires of the southern Alps. The leaders were encyclopedic in their knowledge about their country and were funny, kind, accommodating to all needs,….just fantastic guys. The time flew by and I inhaled every minute! What a fantastic trip.
— Review left February 23, 2024
This was a fabulous trip with challenging hikes through stunning scenery. Our leaders, Charles and Robyn, were warm, attentive, discerning, and joyful. Their love and respect for New Zealand was contagious. Our group was diverse, but we supported each other in achieving our individual and group goals, drawing us closer together. If you are looking for a true adventure and you are an experienced hiker, or willing to train, this is a great trip. By the time you complete the hikes, in the words of Charles and Robyn, "You are a hiker, not a tourist."
— Review left December 28, 2023
If you are interested in actively experiencing New Zealand's magnificent beauty this is the trip for you. You travel from North to South hiking on a wide variety of tacks, from very challenging to more leisurely but everyone is a treat.
— Review left December 19, 2023
“Hiking Under Southern Skies” was amazing! It had us traversing a broad range of geography and topography, covered the most gorgeous areas of New Zealand’s landscapes, included local and off the beaten track activities, and was led by truly wonderful guides. I recommend it at the highest level. One tip though: make sure to include going up and down steps in your training!
— Review left December 19, 2023
This is a very challenging program but I was warned about this. Doing some stair stepping exercises would have helped me be more prepared. The guides were exceptional, the country beautiful, and the overall experience life-changing.
— Review left April 18, 2023
Very challenging and exciting. This is a bucket list trip.
— Review left March 29, 2023
An awesome opportunity to hike in New Zealand's beautiful mountains with guides that know what to expect and are knowledgeable. Learning the geography and culture was wonderful to help understand the country.
— Review left March 28, 2023
Fabulous coverage of New Zealand from north to south on well maintained networks of trails. Guides were knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. Travel on the islands, when not hiking, was by private buses that were very clean and comfortable. Accommodations in hotels were more than adequate, and the stay with locals a real treat. Definitely a rigorous trip that was not for the weekend stroller, we covered the islands from beaches to mountains with lush rain forests, crystal blue lakes, and geothermal sites in between. Educational discussions included geology, history, biology, culture, art, and government by several competent experts. Meals highlighted local sources and provided a rich variety. The unusual native birds are not to be found elsewhere except in zoos and are aggressively protected. We saw evidence of a strong push for eco-friendly farming methods and achieving a zero carbon footprint. New Zealand is a beautifully maintained, bio unique destination that should be on any adventurer's bucket list.
— Review left January 20, 2023
Although it is close to a month since I've been home, I continue to feel the magic of this trip, often revisiting it in my mind. From the easy going ways of the Kiwis, and our generously attentive guides to the the vast country side, beautiful mountains, fauna, and flora. The balance between experiencing the New Zealand culture, and the nature in this beautiful country was so well done. Be sure to bring your easy going selves (and good raincoats) with you as this is a physically demanding trip and wonderfully exhausting hiking! So appreciative to have this experience in my front pocket.
— Review left January 14, 2023
A hard trip given the extensive hiking and busy schedule but you get to sample lots of New Zealand in one trip. Please prepare for this bucket list program
— Review left January 5, 2023
This is an amazing trip hiking in stunning locations. An excellent overview of famous tracks and national parks in New Zealand. Tongariro Alpine Crossing lived up to its reputation as the best day hike of New Zealand with volcanic landscape, and Blue and Emerald Lakes. A good level of fitness is very helpful, especially for hiking consecutive days. Be prepared for rain. The abundance of birds and their songs made this trip extra special.
— Review left January 4, 2023
This course is indeed intense and physically challenging, but a spectacular experience for anyone interested in getting to know New Zealand well, and seeking to get into shape exploring exotic, memorable landscapes. Just be sure that you are up to the hiking outlined before going, approach with happy-go-lucky attitude (the instructors are certainly knowledgeable and happy-go-lucky) and dive in for a tremendous, hospitable experience.
— Review left January 1, 2023
This trip includes several hikes though truly superb, world-class, forests; forests quite different from USA/Canada. The 'Alpine Crossing' is the only really challenging hike, but the other hikes were substantial enough to satisfy most hikers. I saw many beautiful places.
— Review left April 14, 2020
This was a dream vacation - gorgeous locations, great people, physically challenging - which made me proud of myself for finishing all the hikes - and a fascinating overview of one of the world's most intriguing places.
— Review left March 31, 2020
Everyone participating in this program read about how physically challenging it would be and, as a result, everyone in the group was well prepared for the rigors of hiking 2,000 to 3,000 ft. of elevation gain in a day and hiking nearly all day in some cases in a harsh environment. Each participant was a highly experience hiker and was closely matched in terms of physical fitness and skill. This is extremely important, since everyone needs to proceed up a mountain in fairly close order, and not be too spread out. Participants ranged in age from early-fifties to mid-seventies, with a median age in the upper-sixties, but all are regular mountain hikers and in excellent physical shape. This made for a harmonious group that enjoyed the challenges of these demanding hikes, and being able to see some of the most beautiful mountain and seashore landscapes and wildlife in the world.
— Review left March 5, 2020
Hiking Under Southern Skies in New Zealand is a fantastic bucket list trip ! The itineraries were well planned, and all the hikes were beautiful & scenic and taken at a relaxed pace. I was a solo traveler but never felt alone. I made a lot of friends and everyone was so nice. The trip leaders, Charles & Robyn, were awesome. They were knowledgeable, warm & friendly, and very attentive to anyone’s needs or request. My trip highlights include glow worm cave at Waitomo, hiking the Tongariro Alpine crossing/Emerald lake ( considered the best day hike in the world), seeing kiwi birds at bird sanctuary (sooo cute) and eating scones with jam & whipped cream (delish). Minor dislikes include ferry ride to & from Stewart island ( got seasickness) and farm/ picnic in sheep/ cow pasture where a lot of animal feces was present ( not a great place to eat lunch). Overall, it was a great trip & I highly recommend it.
— Review left March 1, 2020
This was a trip of a lifetime for me. The group leaders, Charles and Robyn Lambert, did a marvelous job leading our group through very challenging hikes, and were flexible and creative in arranging alternatives when adverse weather conditions closed off 2 of the planned hikes. We covered a lot of ground and experienced many of the enchanting and different terrains of New Zealand, learned about flora and fauna, ate well, listened to interesting lectures, and stayed in comfortable accommodations. The hikes are challenging and this trip should not be considered unless you are very fit and an experienced hiker.
— Review left February 26, 2020
This was an amazing trip! The group leaders were wonderful. We were able to see so much of New Zealand and do so many great hikes. What a trip for my first Road Scholar trip!
— Review left February 28, 2019
Harder hiking than the description would make you think. Beautiful country and great hikes. This is second most difficult of RS hikes I’ve done and you will need to be in excellent shape and have the ability to go go go all day.
— Review left February 23, 2019
Hiking Under Southern Skies was a GREAT program- interesting and challenging hikes, covering a lot of the country (North, South AND Stewart Island). Learned a lot about New Zealand- the people (including Maori culture), the fauna and flora.
— Review left February 20, 2019
Great trip! Five star! Go! Wile physically challenging, different preferences regarding intensity and endurance are accommodated.
— Review left February 13, 2019
My first Road Scholar trip
It was beyond my expectations and so fun!
— Review left February 11, 2019
Everything about Hiking Under the Southern Skies was wonderful; the hikes were challenging and the scenery gorgeous. The educational activities were informative. The accommodations were clean and comfortable, and the food was fantastic.
— Review left February 9, 2019
Lots of walking through diverse landscapes, interesting program, lovely participants, excellent leaders.
— Review left February 7, 2019