7 reasons why a hiking holiday is the ultimate bonding time

Dust off your hiking boots and gather up your mates, because there’s nowhere better for a group adventure than New Zealand’s Routeburn Track.

If a quality catch-up with family or friends is long overdue, skip the pub quiz and plan something truly memorable: a guided hike through the epic wilderness of New Zealand’s South Island. The Routeburn Track is one of the country’s most beautiful treks; it’s a challenging but achievable walk that provides the ideal framework for bonding with parents, siblings or uni mates.

Ultimate Hikes in New Zealand offers exclusive access to guided multi-day walks on both Routeburn and Milford Tracks, setting you and your group up for the perfect blend of adventure and comfort.

Here’s why the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, is the perfect escape for quality time with those who matter most.

1. Disconnect to reconnect

In a hectic world, finding time to fully disconnect and just be present is harder than ever. A guided walk offers a unique opportunity to be fully present and immersed in epic scenery with the company of loved ones.

There’s limited phone service along the Routeburn Track – and that’s a good thing. Pop on your out-of-office and switch off outside distractions so you can be fully engaged in your adventure. The awe-inspiring beauty of Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks deserves your full attention.

Think of the roaring waterfalls, jagged peaks and sparkling sapphire lakes as a palette cleanser from life’s stress. It’s the ideal place for reconnecting with those that matter most.

You’ll have support from your Ultimate Hikes guides whenever you need them, but you’ll also have the independence to have your own space and set your own pace.

Switch off, tune in and let nature take the lead

2. No need for decision making

Group travel with friends or family can often be fraught with disagreements, from where to go for dinner to who gets which bedroom. The beauty of an Ultimate Hikes guided multi-day walk is that everything is already perfectly planned out for you.

Say goodbye to decision fatigue and the stress of planning, as your experienced guide knows the track like the back of their hand and will plan the perfect lunch breaks and photo ops. Comfortable lodges will be waiting for you each afternoon, making logistics smooth and easy.

Leave the planning behind and simply savour the adventure.

3. Deepen your connections through a shared adventure

Nothing brings people together like a challenge. And Routeburn offers the perfect mix of rocky terrain and elevation gain and flat sections – plus regular rest breaks that are ideal for a warm cuppa and an afternoon snack.

You don’t need to be an elite athlete, but this moderate hike will cover 32 kilometres over three days, making it an achievable goal for parents and their adult children looking for a family challenge.

Outdoor adventures like multi-day hikes are truly intergenerational travel at its best, fostering connections and family bonding in nature.

Take on the trail together.

4. Make lifetime memories along epic alpine landscapes

After the accomplishment of completing one of the world’s best hiking trails, you’ll be left with lifetime memories for you and your travelling party to cherish forever.

The unique landscapes of Routeburn include mossy forests, open ridgelines and alpine views as you cross through both Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks. The legendary Middle Earth-like views of Lake Harris or Routeburn Flats are epic panoramas that will leave you speechless.

Hike through breathtaking alpine landscapes.

5. Regale stories of each day’s adventures over local New Zealand produce and wine

Ultimate Hikes offers a unique blend of adventure and comfort, so after a full day of hiking, you don’t need to think about pitching a tent or opening a can of tinned tuna for dinner. Instead, you and your group will arrive at your comfortable lodge, greeted with a cold (or hot) drink and a snack.

After a positively heavenly warm shower, enjoy an afternoon tea then relax before dinner, a three-course feast, showcasing the best of New Zealand’s cuisine and produce. This is the perfect time to share stories from the day while enjoying a gourmet meal within one of the country’s most beautiful national parks. Choose your main course and toast to friends, new and old, over a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc as you dine and unwind.

Whether you end up in stitches over your brother’s crazy story of his icy plunge into the crystal-clear Lake Mackenzie or you just share your favourite memories of the day, the dinner table is the ideal place for connecting.

Share the day’s triumphs over delicious local fare.

6. Private lodges are ideal for cosy evenings in

Private lodges provided by Ultimate Hikes are ideal for groups who crave more comfort and space than the Department of Conservation huts or rough camping provides.

Designed with communal spaces for guests to chat, indulge in a drink or fire up a card game. In the evenings, be sure to spend some time on the deck together gazing at the incredible night skies. As darkness falls, the constellations and galaxies twinkle brightly into view, free from light pollution.

Then, retire to your spacious room in the custom-built lodge, a cosy and relaxing oasis after an invigorating day out in the elements.

After a day on the trail, recharge in a cosy lodge.

7. Quality over quantity

Taking only three days and two nights, a guided Routeburn Track adventure is popular with families or groups short on time. Easily achievable over a long weekend, with Queenstown just a quick flight from most major Australian capital cities.

You’ll make the most of your time together, but the hike isn’t so long that you’ll start to crave alone time. Or, extend the trip and spend time enjoying Queenstown.

Make every step of the Routeburn Track unforgettable with Ultimate Hikes.

Start planning the Routeburn Track adventure of a lifetime at ultimatehikes.co.nz.