Australians looking to start 2026 with something more memorable than a backyard barbecue now have two extraordinary options across the ditch. Two of New Zealand’s most celebrated wilderness experiences are unveiling fresh, premium adventures just in time for the summer rush—and the word from the locals is simple: book early, or miss out.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides and the Hollyford Wilderness Experience, proudly operated by Ngāi Tahu Tourism, have polished adventure art with a luxury sheen. The result? Experiences that combine raw natural splendour with creature comforts, the kind of combination that makes even the most seasoned traveller stop and blink in disbelief.
Sleeping on a glacier literally
For those who like champagne chilled by nature, Franz Josef’s new Glacier Overnighter is a bucket-list dream with altitude. Imagine being whisked away in a helicopter to the ancient ice of Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere, better known as Franz Josef Glacier. Once there, guided hikes take guests across shimmering ice fields to a purpose-built alpine camp, perched at more than 1,500 metres above sea level.
Waitai Lodge Fiordland Escape
The reward? A hot meal beneath the stars, the Southern Alps as your dining companions, and a sunrise view over Aoraki / Mt Cook that would have old Captain Cook himself reaching for the sketchbook. Guests return the next morning via helicopter for a five-star wind-down at Te Waonui Forest Retreat, because nothing says civilisation quite like a plush duvet after a night atop a glacier. Select departures are available over New Year – so yes, you really can welcome 2026 from the roof of the world.
Fiordland’s hidden coastal gem
Meanwhile, Fiordland has raised its game with Waitai Lodge Fiordland Escape, the latest jewel in the Hollyford Wilderness Experience crown. Accessible only by helicopter (no Uber service yet), the lodge is nestled on the remote Fiordland coast, offering private rooms, chef-prepared dining, and the kind of silence city dwellers have long forgotten exists.
Guests can wander with expert guides through primeval forests, hop aboard a jetboat for a freshwater adventure, or soak in wood-fired hot tubs under an impossible quilt of southern stars. As Jolanda Cave, General Manager of Ngāi Tahu Tourism, puts it:
“These are some of the most unique and remote travel experiences available in New Zealand. For many of our guests particularly those visiting from Australia – it’s a chance to do something truly different. Whether you’re watching the sun rise over a glacier or dining by candlelight on the edge of the sea, these moments stay with people long after they return home.”
Waitai Lodge
It’s not just the marketing team saying this. Hollyford Wilderness Experience was named in the 2025 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for the second year, ranking in the top 10% of experiences globally. That’s no mean feat, considering the competition includes everything from gondola rides in Venice to camel safaris in Morocco.
Tradition meets innovation
Ngāi Tahu Tourism has worked hand-in-hand with its guides and mana whenua (people of the land) to ensure these offerings honour the landscapes they celebrate. The result is an experience that feels timeless and freshly minted – ancient mountains and forests presented in a way that makes even a seasoned traveller see them anew.
Why now and why you shouldn’t wait
New Zealand’s summer holidays are famously short and ferociously popular. Add in Australia’s school break, and you have a recipe for high demand and limited capacity. These wilderness experiences have small group sizes by design, so availability is more exclusive than tickets to a Paul McCartney comeback concert.
In short: if you’ve ever dreamt of ringing in the New Year on a glacier or sipping wine at the edge of the Fiordland coast, now is the time to move.
A parting thought
Travel has always been about contrasts: comfort and adventure, luxury and simplicity, tradition and innovation. With these new offerings, Ngāi Tahu Tourism has managed to serve all that in one unforgettable package.
So, Australians, here’s the challenge: skip the predictable and embrace the extraordinary. After all, when the calendar flips to 2026, wouldn’t you rather be telling friends you were watching the sunrise over Aoraki / Mt Cook instead of explaining how the backyard mozzies spoiled your New Year’s Eve?
The wilderness is waiting. The only question is – are you?
