Reviews and travel ratings on Alpine Recreation in New Zealand (90% from 26 reviews) Welcome to Alpine Recreation! We are all about outdoor adventures, specifically trekking, climbing, skiing & snowshoeing - plan your next adventure with us!

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  1. Lake Tekapo
  1. Lars Taarnhoej's avatar

    Lars Taarnhoej

    Denmark

    Road to Observatory, Lake Tekapo - fantastic view over the area.

    14 November 2010.

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Reviews for Alpine Recreation

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rachelandmark's avatar

rachelandmark

United States

Ranking: 10/10

Fantastic way to see Mt. Cook and glaciers up close and with no crowd. The Caroline Hut provides cosy comfort and a grea…

Fantastic way to see Mt. Cook and glaciers up close and with no crowd. The Caroline Hut provides cosy comfort and a great view. Shout out to our guide Ewan who managed to make the trip both more fun and more safe. These guys are highly recommended.

Reviewed 21 March 2012

Alpine Recreation
markwillers's avatar

markwillers

Australia

Ranking: 10/10

I did the Ball Pass Crossing in February with Alpine Recreation. Our guide, Ewan, was fantastic, had years of experience…

I did the Ball Pass Crossing in February with Alpine Recreation. Our guide, Ewan, was fantastic, had years of experience and was willing to share this with us on our journey. The Caroline hut is beautiful. I highly recommend this trek.

Reviewed 08 March 2012

Alpine Recreation
Melissa's avatar

Melissa

Ranking: 10/10

I completed the Intermediate Climbing course guided by Andrew Finnegan which started on Feb 7, 2012 and I'd rank the ser…

I completed the Intermediate Climbing course guided by Andrew Finnegan which started on Feb 7, 2012 and I'd rank the service from Alpine Recreation at a 10. From woe to go- It was fantastic value for money, I learnt heaps and it has opened Pandora's box in terms building my confidence and interest in subsequent alpine adventures.

Reviewed 23 February 2012

Alpine Recreation
scottdavidson's avatar

scottdavidson

Canada

Ranking: 10/10

I just wanted to say thank you for an excellent adventure on Mt. Cook, and for your wonderful hospitality in Tekapo. Mar…

I just wanted to say thank you for an excellent adventure on Mt. Cook, and for your wonderful hospitality in Tekapo. Marty Schmidt was a world-class guide, and I was really glad to be able to support a family run business. I'd recommend Alpine Rec to my friends in a heartbeat!

Reviewed 13 December 2011

Alpine Recreation
SandyC's avatar

SandyC

Australia

Ranking: 10/10

Ball Pass 24 – 26 November, apparently the first crossing for this season and a fantastic experience. Our guide, Wolfg…

Ball Pass 24 – 26 November, apparently the first crossing for this season and a fantastic experience. Our guide, Wolfgang, was highly professional, and showed himself to be a good cook as well. Caroline Hut is an excellent hut: we were forced inside for most of our second day due to very high winds, but library and supply of tea / coffee were good. As the person in our small group of 3 with least experience and highest level of nervousness at some of the day 3 traverses and descents I very much appreciated Wolfgang’s reassurances, (particularly his liberal use of the term “flat” to describe something I thought looked quite precipitous) and encouragement. The scenery was unbelievable: the experience unforgettable.

Reviewed 11 December 2011

Alpine Recreation
dakerr's avatar

dakerr

United States

Ranking: 10/10

Elke (my guide)was great and the scenery was spectacular. It was challenging, but not too difficult. I had little alpi…

Elke (my guide)was great and the scenery was spectacular. It was challenging, but not too difficult. I had little alpine experience prior to this and it was great. The hut was great. The view of the Caroline Face was stunning. To be that close to a mountain that is cracking and having avalanches (every 20 minutes)and changing its visage with the sun is life changing.

This is a must do for reasonably fit individuals who are anywhere near Mount Cook in the summer in New Zealand.

Reviewed 06 December 2011

Alpine Recreation
Paulie's avatar

Paulie

United Kingdom

Ranking: 10/10

I recently completed the intermediate climbing course, followed by the advanced climbing course. I didn't actually know …

I recently completed the intermediate climbing course, followed by the advanced climbing course. I didn't actually know what to expect, as I hadn't researched Alpine Recreation prior to booking. I joined up solely on a friends recommendation. I was not dissapointed. During both the courses the friendly and professional guides gauge your abilities and adjust the course material accordingly. In a group of 8 with two guides, they effortlessly came up with activities to improve our skills no matter what the different levels, and kept everyone involved and interested. I'll always remember Andrews games of Mafia in the evenings too. An awesome experience with a very well organised, and very friendly company that feels like more of a family than a business. I would highly recommend Alpine Recreation to anyone looking for the best experience in the mountains. I will certainly be booking my next trip with them. Cheers for such an awesome experience guys.

Reviewed 01 December 2011

Alpine Recreation
olivierbonnet's avatar

olivierbonnet

France

Ranking: 10/10

Hi,
I have been on Mt Cook early October 2012 with Alpine Recreation.
What I liked: clear presentation of the ascent …

Hi,
I have been on Mt Cook early October 2012 with Alpine Recreation.
What I liked: clear presentation of the ascent on the website + quick and easy exchanges about the program + very flexible adaptation to enable the ascent outside the season: in October + very flexible on site because we changed the program to Dixon 1st and then Cook to straight to Cook after 1 day skiing, due this lovely uncertainty of the local weather + very kind welcome in Lake Tekapo. At the end summit reached + top ski + 4 beautiful days. Thanks to Anne& Marty.
It is quite important when you book it and travel from far away (France) to have a reliable and safe organisation and good communication because it is quite an investment.
Don't hesistate to liaise with me, if you need more information,
olivier

Reviewed 29 November 2011

Alpine Recreation
jaredlaverty's avatar

jaredlaverty

New Zealand

Ranking: 10/10

Two great days in the Two Thumb Range ski touring. Great views of the Southern Alps. Our guide was friendly and knowledg…

Two great days in the Two Thumb Range ski touring. Great views of the Southern Alps. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Rex Simpson Hut was very comfortable.

Reviewed 26 September 2011

Alpine Recreation
Kiwitony's avatar

Kiwitony

New Zealand

Ranking: 10/10

Friendly and competent guides. Thoughtful itineraries, great private huts and awesome scenery.

Friendly and competent guides. Thoughtful itineraries, great private huts and awesome scenery.

Reviewed 15 September 2011

Alpine Recreation
JFAiken's avatar

JFAiken

New Zealand

Ranking: 10/10

Our 3rd trip with Alpine Recreation. Started at Rex Simpson hut in Two Thumb range due to poor forecast for Mt Cook regi…

Our 3rd trip with Alpine Recreation. Started at Rex Simpson hut in Two Thumb range due to poor forecast for Mt Cook region. V comfortable hut. Interesting terrain. Great food and compang. Weather improved so relocated for 3 days on Tasman glacier. Great time. Excellent guide in Jane Morris who exceeded our expectations both touring and skills based training

Reviewed 11 September 2011

Alpine Recreation
rossly's avatar

rossly

Australia

Ranking: 10/10

I did the Backcountry Ski Course out of Rex Simpson Hut for four days. The course exceeded expectations through the qual…

I did the Backcountry Ski Course out of Rex Simpson Hut for four days. The course exceeded expectations through the quality of the instruction, the relevant routes selected, the logistical planning and attention to detail; all in order to ensure that the skiing was both enjoyable and rewarding. The knowledge, experience and ability of the instructor towards both the mountains and skiing in particular were second to none. I have already booked to attend some future climbing courses with Alpine Recreation; I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I attended the Intermediate Climbing Course followed immediately by the Advanced Climbing course in November with Alpine Recreation. Both courses were fantastic, achieving everything that I expected insofar as the insruction and practice of technical skills were concerned. Underpinning the positive experience were the professional and motivated guides, who always made the time and effort to ensure the best possible learning experience for the course attendees. Similar to the Backcountry Ski course conducted in August with Alpine Recreation, these courses again exceeded expectations and will be back again for guided ascents in the New Year. Well done!

Reviewed 01 December 2011

Alpine Recreation
ruthandjosh's avatar

ruthandjosh

New Zealand, Aotearoa

Ranking: 10/10

I wanted to get away from phone, fax, email, Facebook, patients (i'm a doc) and any outside contact that I didn't want f…

I wanted to get away from phone, fax, email, Facebook, patients (i'm a doc) and any outside contact that I didn't want for me or my 12yo son! having originally enquired re a xc ski trip and being recommended to do the snowshoe trip in view of lack of sufficient snow at time of booking, we had 3 days hiking up to then staying at Rex Simpson hut under Elke's guiding.. she was awesome.. my son absolutely loved the experience, including the avalanche training skills learnt, toboganning :-) and we'll never forget the vistas, the solitude, pristine landscapes, the "hare footprints almost as big as ours with snowshoes on!!) and all the extras that went with this trip! won't ever forget the cold that even froze the tomatoes and pears in their tincans to solid iceblocks! :-) ..thanks Elke and Ann for the suggestion.... we'll definitely be back and have already recommended this trip to heaps of our friends..also really appreciated Elke's compassionate manner when we found out when got back to car that we'd lost a loved one whilst being away...def 10/10 for us!

Reviewed 03 August 2011