The ECOTRAILS Experience
A guided journey through forest, river, and sub-alpine landscapes.
ECOTRAILS offers thoughtfully guided nature walks for those who want to slow down, look closer, and experience New Zealand’s landscapes (beyond the highlight reel).
We focus solely on nature-led walking experiences — small group journeys shaped by curiosity, observation, and a genuine connection to place. Our walks are not about ticking off summits or rushing between viewpoints, but about understanding the land as you move through it.
Full Day Nature Walk
A purposeful hike across varying terrain, leading to naturally stunning viewpoints
This nature walk is a full-day guided walk designed for guests who enjoy a steady, purposeful day on foot while staying deeply connected to the natural world.
This experience moves through a range of landscapes — from forest and river valleys to more open terrain — allowing time to observe native plants, birdlife, and the changing character of the land. While the pace is intentional and the distance meaningful, the focus remains on nature rather than speed or achievement.
The day unfolds with regular pauses for interpretation, photography, and rest, creating a balanced journey that feels complete without being rushed.
Duration: Full day with lunch included.(approximately 10 hours)
This experience is ideal for guests who value learning, presence, and a rich sense of the land.
Half Day Nature Walk
A relaxed, observant journey into the world of New Zealand’s native plant life
This nature walk is a half day designed for those who prefer a gentler pace and a deeper focus on the smaller details of the landscape.
This experience stays within lower-elevation environments, where there is time to explore native plants, seasonal changes, textures, and ecological relationships. The pace is slow and unhurried, with space for questions, quiet observation, and learning.
Distance covered is shorter, and the emphasis is on curiosity rather than progression — making this an ideal introduction to New Zealand’s natural environment or a perfect option for those seeking a lighter day outdoors.
Duration: Half day (4.5 hours)
How We Guide
All ECOTRAILS walks are guided with care, intention, and respect for the landscape.
We allow nature to set the rhythm of the day, adapting the pace to suit the group while maintaining a well-considered flow. Small group sizes ensure personal attention, meaningful conversation, and a calm, unhurried experience.
Good Food, Thoughtfully Prepared
Lunch is prepared in advance through a trusted local café, allowing us to collect the meals on the way to our destination.
Menus are kept simple and seasonal, with dietary requirements catered for. Meals are enjoyed outdoors as part of the journey, with time to pause, refuel, and take in the surroundings.
To minimise waste and support our eco-conscious approach, we encourage guests to bring a reusable/refillable water bottle. Fresh water refills are provided at the start and end of the walk.
Dietary requirements must be provided at the time of booking to ensure appropriate catering.
Designed around the Group
ECOTRAILS experiences are offered exclusively for couples and small groups, allowing each walk to be shaped around the people on it.
This approach ensures guests are never mismatched by pace or interest, and that every journey feels personal, relaxed, and well-supported.
A note on the journey.
ECOTRAILS experiences focus on the quality of the journey rather than ticking off milestones.
While conditions and timing usually allow exploration of higher sections, reaching a specific point is not guaranteed on every walk, often dictated by weather conditions and how immersed the group is at a particular spot.
What is always guaranteed is a considered, well-guided experience that invites you to see the track — and the landscape — in a new light.
The Practical Details
ECOTRAILS experiences are offered as full-day and half-day walks, each guided with the same intentional pace and attention to place.
• Duration: approx. 10 hours (Full day) or 4.5hours (Half day)
• Group size: 2–4 people
• Larger groups and Private experiences avaliable upon request.
• Lunch included (FULL DAY ONLY).
• Pick-up and Drop-off from Queenstown or Glenorchy.
• Operate year-round (weather permitting).
• Easy to moderate walking.
• Suitable for good fitness levels.
Ready to join us
in nature?
Want to talk
(to an especially nice human over the phone...) -------------------------------->