Mesopotamia High Country Walk

The Mesopotamia High Country Walk is an awe-inspiring four day fully guided walking tour, which includes the Mesopotamia High Country Station and the spectacular Peel Forest Scenic Reserve. You will experience soaring landscapes, snow capped mountain ranges and wide open tussock covered tundras. High country stations have a unique part in the history of New Zealand and the early pioneering characters have been immortalised in print in numerous books covering this era.

The region gained its early fame from the first owner of Mesopotamia Station – Samuel Butler – the renowned English writer and author of the brilliant satire Erewhon….. which was based on the wonderful landscapes found in the area. Your knowledgeable and friendly guide will entertain you with the history of Butler and the resilient families who broke in and farmed this wonderful land.

On the Mesopotamia High Country Walk you will…

Explore the huge expanse of Mesopotamia Station - when you walk along the top terraces of this iconic New Zealand farming environment.
Be entertained by the guide with stories of how the pioneers survived and prospered on this land.
Gaze at the picturesque Lake Clearwater surrounded by high mountain peaks as you walk to the enchanting Mystery Lake.
Be rewarded with panoramic views of the majestic “Two Thumbs” mountain range of the Southern Alps.
Enjoy the rustic charm of your overnight stays in the comfortable high country accommodation.
Look for fallow deer and chamois as you stretch your legs on the rambling farm tracks within this incredible backcountry terrain.
Walk the wonderful Peel forest, alongside the Rangitata River, experiencing the abundant bird life and wide variety of native ferns.

Features of the Mesopotamia High Country Walk:

You will be accompanied by an experienced guide and also an excellent cook.
All of your luggage will be transported for you. All you need to carry is your day pack and your camera. You should have clothes for all seasons, as the weather can be extreme.
The tour begins and ends in Christchurch – the gateway to the South Island, with its own international airport.
There is comfortable, good standard farm accommodation, on two nights and in a lodge for the other night.
All meals are provided for the duration of the trip and each night you will experience a variety of local cuisine. The atmosphere and ambience of the journey is an important part of the Tuatara adventures.
There are four days of very special high country walking.

Itinerary

Day One

You depart from Christchurch and are transported to Mesopotamia Station, situated at the headwaters of the mighty Rangitata River.

The day is a unique experience – walking across the Brabazon near the historic Mesopotamia Station Homestead, looking back towards the Hakatere Station, and taking in the remoteness and stunning backdrop of the bold mountains. You will also enjoy the many tumbling streams as you wander along…… hearing about the adventures of the original pioneers.

After a peaceful lunch you will continue your exploration of the grand Mesopotamia property…… looking at the interesting variety of native flora and fauna.

This evening you will have an overnight stay in the Mesopotamia Station cottages. You will enjoy the rustic charm of these character buildings and relax within the secluded setting, set amongst the impressive Oregon Pines.

You will enjoy the pleasures of a good country meal, in front of a cosy fire.

Day Two

Your adventure will continue this morning after breakfast, when you are guided along the top terraces of Mesopotamia Station, with a backdrop of the majestic “Two Thumbs” mountain range of the Southern Alps. From here you can admire the views that attracted Samuel Butler to the area…….and was the inspiration behind the writing of the satirical novel Erewhon.

Part of your walk is spent within the game park where you are likely to see fallow deer, red deer, chamois, tahr and elk. This 25,000 acre family run is home to over 11,000 merino sheep, 3,000 farmed deer and 500 beef cattle.

You will again be accommodated in the cottages of the Mesopotamia Station.

Day Three

Your adventure will continue after breakfast, when you will visit the final resting place of Dr Andrew Sinclair, botanist and Colonial Secretary to the New Zealand Government. You will hear an intriguing story of how he lost his life (1861), when crossing the Rangitata River with his good friend, geologist Julius Von Haast.

You then go (mid-morning) to Mount Peel, where you will walk the trails of the Peel Forest Scenic Reserve. The Reserve has a wide range of native flora, and the mild moist climate is ideal for ferns (around 36% of all native ferns grown in New Zealand are found in this area). You will be captivated by the canopy of towering podocarps, which host a rich variety of native bush and bird-life underneath.

The scenic features include the Acland Falls, Deer Spur, Fern Walk and Mills Bush……where you will enjoy the beautiful range of flowering shrubs.

The nearby lovely Rangitata River is renowned for its world-class salmon fishing.

The evening is spent relaxing and enjoying the cuisine in a comfortable lodge, near Mount Somers.

Day Four

After breakfast you will head to Lake Clearwater, which is situated in a tussock covered mountain valley, at the foot of the Southern Alps.

While gazing at the surrounding high mountain peaks and enjoying nature at its best, you will walk up until you reach the shoreline of the enchanting Mystery Lake…….where you will enjoy your picnic lunch. You should keep your eyes peeled for brown trout (there are a lot of them!)……. among the bull-rushes growing in the shallows of the lake.

This afternoon you will be guided along the ravine above the Potts River, with great views of the valley below and a fantastic panorama of Mesopotamia Station. The walk today finishes at the Potts River Bridge……..but if time allows, you will also walk to the top of Mount Sunday (well known as the village Edoras in Peter Jackson’s blockbuster film The Lord of the Rings).

Your high country walking experience then ends with a drive across the South Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.