Summit Track Guides Menu
ST JAMES RANGE LEWIS PASS Waiau River Hope River Lake Tennyson Dog Stream Heritage Forest Mt Isobel 1324m Springs Jct HANMER N 0 20 km

Summit Track Guides

Guided tramping & hiking — Hanmer Springs, Canterbury

14 Conical Hill Road, Hanmer Springs 7334

Easy Moderate Hard

Upcoming Trips

Date Trip Grade Duration Price Spots
Sat 3 Oct 2026 Conical Hill Loop Easy 2 hr $85 pp 6 left
Sun 11 Oct 2026 Dog Stream Waterfall Moderate 4 hr $95 pp 4 left
Sat 17 – Mon 19 Oct 2026 St James Walkway Mod–Hard 3 days $895 pp (lodge) 3 left
Sun 25 Oct 2026 Mt Isobel Track Moderate 5 hr $120 pp 5 left
Sat 1 – Sun 2 Nov 2026 Lewis Pass Crossing Moderate 2 days $545 pp 6 left
Sat 14 Nov 2026 Hanmer Heritage Forest Easy 1.5 hr $65 pp 8 left
Sun 22 Nov 2026 Lake Tennyson Circuit Moderate 6 hr $135 pp 5 left
Sat 5 – Tue 8 Dec 2026 Ada Pass Alpine Traverse Hard 4 days $1,295 pp 2 left
Sun 13 Dec 2026 Dog Stream Waterfall Moderate 4 hr $95 pp 7 left

Day Walks

Difficulty: Showing 5 routes
  • Conical Hill Loop
    Easy 2 hr 3.5 km 280 m gain

    A gentle loop above Hanmer village with panoramic views of the Hanmer basin, thermal reserve and surrounding ranges. Ideal first tramp for families.

    $85 pp
  • Mt Isobel Track
    Moderate 5 hr 12 km 850 m gain

    Steady climb through beech forest to the 1,324 m summit with views across the St James Range to Kaikoura. Above the bushline you cross tussock tops — snow poles mark the route in early season.

    $120 pp
  • Hanmer Heritage Forest
    Easy 1.5 hr 4 km 120 m gain

    Wander through one of New Zealand's oldest exotic plantations — Douglas fir, sequoia and Corsican pine planted in the 1900s. Your guide explains the forestry history and native regeneration work underway.

    $65 pp
  • Dog Stream Waterfall
    Moderate 4 hr 9 km 520 m gain

    Follow Dog Stream through regenerating bush to a hidden 18 m waterfall. Several stream crossings (boots get wet) and a short scramble section — your guide provides a fixed hand-line on the steepest pitch.

    $95 pp
  • Lake Tennyson Circuit
    Moderate 6 hr 15 km 440 m gain

    Transport included to the remote Lake Tennyson, source of the Clarence River. Circuit the tarn through sub-alpine tussock, then cross a low saddle with views into Molesworth Station. Lunch at the DOC shelter.

    $135 pp

Multi-Day Tramps

Difficulty: Showing 3 routes
  • St James Walkway
    Mod–Hard 3 days 66 km

    The classic Canterbury backcountry traverse — from the Boyle River through the St James Range to the Lewis Pass highway. Tussock tops, beech saddles and river flats with wild horse country. Lodge option includes cooked evening meals and hot showers at St James homestead; hut option uses Ada Flat and Christopher huts.

    $895 pp lodge  |  $695 pp hut

    from $695
  • Lewis Pass Crossing
    Moderate 2 days 34 km

    Cross the main divide via the historic Maori trade route from Canterbury to the West Coast. Day one climbs through mountain beech to the Lewis Pass tops; day two descends the Maruia Valley with its hot springs. Overnight at Cannibal Gorge hut. Transport both ends included.

    $545 pp
  • Ada Pass Alpine Traverse
    Hard 4 days 52 km

    Our most challenging trip. Cross Ada Pass (1,588 m) into the upper Waiau and traverse exposed alpine terrain with river crossings, scree travel and a short roped section. Previous tramping experience required. Maximum 6 participants. All camping gear provided.

    $1,295 pp

Gear Hire

Everything you need from our Hanmer Springs base. All gear is cleaned and checked between hires. Multi-day discount: 10% off hire totals over $100.

Available for Hire

  • Tramping pack (65 L)$25/day
  • Trekking poles (pair)$10/day
  • Rain jacket (Gore-Tex)$15/day
  • Sleeping bag (comfort 0 °C)$20/day
  • Sleeping mat (inflatable)$12/day
  • Headtorch$5/day
  • Gaiters$8/day

Included on All Trips

  • First-aid kit (group)Included
  • Personal locator beaconIncluded
  • Map & compassIncluded
  • Emergency shelterIncluded
  • Hot drinks & snacks (day walks)Included

You Should Bring

  • Sturdy tramping boots—
  • Wool or synthetic base layers—
  • Sun hat & sunscreen—
  • Water bottle (1 L min)—
  • Personal medication—
  • Packed lunch (multi-day: provided)—

Your Guides

Hana Tuhoe

Lead Guide

NZMGA-certified tramping guide with 12 years leading groups through the Canterbury high country. Hana grew up on a North Canterbury station and knows the St James Range better than most — she completed her first multi-day at 14. Qualified wilderness first-responder and avalanche practitioner.

Mike Ashworth

Senior Guide

Former Search and Rescue volunteer with Hurunui SAR, now full-time guiding. Mike is a qualified wilderness first-responder and holds a Bushcraft NZ instructor certificate. His speciality is the Lewis Pass crossing — he has led the route over 80 times in all seasons.

Jess Tan

Guide & Conservation Lead

Five years with the Department of Conservation managing the St James Conservation Area before joining Summit Track. Jess brings deep knowledge of native flora, pest-control programmes and the conservation story of the St James. She runs our Heritage Forest walks and leads our predator-trapping volunteer days.

Safety Practices

Your safety is our first priority. Every trip follows these non-negotiable standards.

  • Trip intention filed with AdventureSmart and DOC before every departure
  • Satellite personal locator beacon (PLB) carried by the lead guide on all trips
  • Maximum participant-to-guide ratio of 8:1 on day walks, 6:1 on multi-day
  • All guides hold current wilderness first-aid certification (minimum 40 hr course)
  • Weather check at 6 am on trip day — trips postponed if MetService severe-weather warning is active for Hurunui District
  • River-crossing protocol: no crossing if water above knee height or rising; alternative route briefed in advance
  • Group first-aid kit, emergency shelter, and satellite communicator on every trip
  • Pre-trip fitness and health questionnaire reviewed by lead guide 48 hours before departure
  • Vehicle breakdown kit and second driver on all transport legs

What Trampers Say

"Hana's knowledge of the St James Range is extraordinary. She pointed out wild horses on the tussock tops and explained the station history at every turn. The lodge accommodation was a wonderful surprise — hot meals after a day on the track."
— Sarah K., Christchurch · St James Walkway, March 2026
"We booked the Dog Stream Waterfall walk as a team outing. Mike handled our group of eight with patience and humour, and the waterfall was genuinely spectacular. Highly recommend for anyone wanting an easy-to-organise day out from Hanmer."
— Tom R., Rangiora · Dog Stream Waterfall, January 2026
"The Ada Pass traverse was the hardest four days I've done — and the best. Jess and Hana ran a tight, safe trip through genuinely remote country. The river crossings were nerve-wracking but they had us roped and confident. Would do it again tomorrow."
— Priya M., Wellington · Ada Pass Alpine Traverse, February 2026
"Perfect first tramp for my 10-year-old. The Conical Hill loop was short enough to keep her engaged and the views from the top gave us a real sense of achievement. Hana even had hot chocolate waiting at the finish."
— Daniel W., Amberley · Conical Hill Loop, April 2026

Book Now

Choose your trip and preferred date below, or call us on 03 315 0000 to discuss options. We'll confirm availability within 24 hours.