Backcountry 4WD With Pickup

Scenic 4WD Tour Lake Tekapo Backcountry

★ 4.9 82 reviews

from $237.70 per person

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Duration: 3 hours
Meeting point: Lake Tekapo
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
On board: Refreshments, snacks, coffee or tea included
Run by: Tekapo Adventures

Overview

This half-day 4WD outing with Tekapo Adventures leaves from outside AOTEA GIFTS in Lake Tekapo township, where a red and green sign marks the meeting spot. From there a professional guide drives a group of no more than 6 travellers into the Mackenzie backcountry, going where you would not be able to access on your own, as one reviewer put it. The route takes in Lake Tekapo itself and the wider Mackenzie District, with live commentary on board for the whole ride.

Along the way the guide stops at spots that photograph well, something reviewers mention alongside praise for the vistas over Lake Pukaki and the Mount Cook area. One review also notes a coffee and chocolate break, and one group reported the guide running well past the scheduled finish because nobody was being hurried. Wildlife sightings come up in more than one review, including rare birds.

Light refreshments, snacks, coffee and tea are included, as is GST and the pickup and drop-off at the designated meeting points. Gratuities are the only listed exclusion. The tour suits most travellers who can climb into a 4WD; it is not wheelchair accessible, and children must come with an adult.

Late-summer February morning on the Mount John summit, New Zealand: two travellers from behind resting at a low schist windbreak above Lake Alexandrina's pale green shallows, golden tussock ridges running north, the quiet gravel summit square and white domes nearby.

What's Included

Included

GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Light refreshments
Snacks
Live commentary on board
Professional guide
Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
Coffee and/or Tea

Not Included

Gratuities

Itinerary

Meet at AOTEA GIFTSMeet outside AOTEA GIFTS in Lake Tekapo township, marked by a red and green sign. Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points are included.
Lake TekapoThe tour spends its 3 hours in the Tekapo backcountry.
Mackenzie DistrictThe backcountry driving covers the Mackenzie District.
Return to Lake TekapoThe tour ends back at the same meeting point outside AOTEA GIFTS.

GuideIncluded

PickupIncluded

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this backcountry drive.

Group size. The tour runs with a maximum of 6 travellers, as stated in the booking page.
Photography stops. A professional guide leads the trip, and one reviewer described being brought to several locations that were perfect for photography. Bring a camera in case your run includes similar stops.
Food and drink. Light refreshments, snacks, and coffee or tea are included. One review mentions a coffee and chocolate break during the drive.
Commentary. A professional guide gives live commentary on board. Reviewers describe guides as knowledgeable and passionate about the area.
Unhurried pace. One review described the trip as laid back, with no rush, and that group ran over the scheduled length.
Weather matters. The experience requires good weather, and the tour can be cancelled in poor conditions. If that happens, travellers are offered a different date or a full refund.

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Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and children must be accompanied by an adult. It needs a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met you will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. Weather can also force cancellation, with the same rebooking or refund options. One reviewer would have liked more stops to get out of the vehicle for photos. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

The price covers GST, light refreshments, snacks, coffee or tea, live commentary from a professional guide, and pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points. Gratuities are not included. That is the only listed exclusion.

Where Does The Tour Meet?

The meeting point is outside AOTEA GIFTS in Lake Tekapo township, marked by a red and green sign. The tour ends back at the same spot. Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points are included.

How Long Is The Tour?

The tour runs for 3 hours. One review mentions a run that went longer than scheduled, though the listed duration is 3 hours.

Is It Suitable For Children And People With Limited Mobility?

Children can join but must be accompanied by an adult, and most travellers can participate. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and it involves travelling in a 4WD vehicle.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Within 24 hours of the start time no refund is given and changes are not accepted. If the operator cancels for poor weather or low numbers, you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.

What Should I Bring?

The booking page does not give a packing list. Snacks, coffee and tea are provided, so the main things to consider are clothing suited to the weather and a camera, since reviews mention photo stops and wildlife sightings.