High Country Explorer - 2 Day 4WD Adventure Trip

2 Day Island Hills Station Experience with the option of farm stay accommodation (additional cost) or camping. Venture deep into the heart of the Hurunui high country on an immersive 2 day exploration of Island Hills Station.

High Country Explorer is a relaxed yet enriching two-day journey designed to showcase the scale, beauty, and quiet drama of one of the Hurunui’s most iconic high-country landscapes. With a choice between fully catered accommodation or camping and self-catering, this experience allows guests to explore Island Hills Station in a way that suits their travel style.

🌄 Day One – Into the Island Hills

Your adventure begins with a scenic drive into Island Hills Station, where rolling hills, open tussock country, and expansive valleys stretch as far as the eye can see. This working high-country station offers a rare sense of space and remoteness, providing the perfect setting to explore and connect with the land.

Upon arrival, enjoy a hosted morning tea in a scenic location while taking in the surrounding views. Guided exploration follows, with time to learn about the station’s history, high-country farming traditions, and the unique environment that shapes life in this rugged landscape.

Throughout the day, we climb challenging terrain, accessing elevated viewpoints that offer outstanding opportunities for photography and quiet appreciation of the landscape. We traverse dense beech forests and cross rocky mountain rivers. Keep watch for native birdlife, livestock moving naturally across the hills, and seasonal wildlife that inhabit the open country.

A freshly prepared lunch is provided, allowing you to relax and refuel while surrounded by the stillness of the high country.

As afternoon light softens across the hills, you’ll settle into your chosen overnight experience.

🏞️ Day Two – High Country Mornings & Final Exploration

Wake to crisp air and wide-open views across Island Hills Station. Morning light brings the landscape to life, with birdsong and shifting colours across the hills.

Enjoy a relaxed, Continental breakfast, then spend the morning exploring further into the station, reaching additional valleys and viewpoints not accessed the day before. This deeper exploration offers greater challenges than day one and an understanding of the land, its scale, and the quiet rhythm of station life.

After a final high-country experience, begin the return journey, concluding two days of immersion in one of New Zealand’s most striking rural environments.

Vehicle and Experience Requirement:

On & Off-Road Travel
Low Ratio Vehicle Required
Moderately Challenging - Designed for guests seeking a more engaging 4WD experience, with varied terrain and a rewarding sense of adventure

Ideal For:

Guests seeking an authentic 4WD high-country experience
Nature lovers & photographers
Couples, friends, and small groups
Travellers choosing between comfort or adventure

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