Culturally immersive and untouchable by self-drive and cruise, Crooked Compass launches New Zealand as part its luxury Classe collection. Truly exclusive wilderness accessed by helicopter and private boat, age-old Maori practices and luxury lodges showcase a destination rich in experiences.
Following the launch of Crooked Compass Australia in May, the small group operator is again staying ahead of demand to allow travellers to plan for the welcomed New Zealand travel bubble. Three itineraries – North Island, South Island or combined – are available for travel in February and October, 2021. Prices start from $14,995 for a 10-day itinerary with a maximum group size of eight travellers per departure.
Myths and Mountains uncovers hidden reaches of the North Island. This exclusive journey hosted by expert guides entwines storytelling, Indigenous culture and New Zealand’s contrasting nature. Be privy to a rare opportunity to gain access to the sacred land of the Waim?rama people. Pockets of the North Island are a foodie’s heaven – shuck your own oysters, cycle between cheese tastings, meet the makers of New Zealand’s finest wines. Kayak to the luminous glow worms lighting your way in silence as you paddle through millennia old caverns.
The Land Before Time explores New Zealand’s rugged South Island in pure comfort and style. Get lost in the tangle of the island’s dramatic and beautiful wilderness. The untouched deep south offers true escapism. Delve into Fiordland and access some of the island’s most remote reaches by helicopter and private boat. Be privy to one of the world’s rarest wildlife encounters as you spot wild kiwi on the beach at Stewart Island. Immerse yourself in age-old Maori cultural practices and come away with a deeper connection to life of this land before time.
The combined itinerary starts with the North Island program, followed by the South Island, for a 20-day itinerary for $28,995, offering a saving of $1,995.
Helicopter onto the Kepler track to then hike down to your private boat
In response to COVID-19, Crooked Compass is offering piece-of-mind on bookings made in 2020, honouring pricing and waiving change fees for bookings postponed as a result of COVID-19. Additional health and safety measures will be implemented on all departures, in line with government regulations.
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This category of tours involves light trekking, walking, cycling, rafting or kayaking for a few hours each day with a small amount of inclines and declines. You will require a reasonable level of fitness and good health to participate. It is important to note that due to the nature of some of our trips, they may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and can involve long travelling days on various modes of transport.
Suggested preparation : At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake aerobic exercise (this may include jogging, cycling or fast walking) for 30 minutes, three times a week. It is also advised to walk on variable terrain and in variable weather conditions. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week is recommended and for adventures which involve paddling and kayaking, it is important to gain confidence and rhythm rather than speed prior to departure.
This category of tours involve trekking, kayaking and cycling for period of 6 to 8 hours a day at a fairly consistent pace. Ideal for people looking to slightly increase the heart rate. For our moderately rated tours, you must have a good level of fitness and also be in good health. It is also important to be prepared for variable weather conditions. Altitude may also come into play. This category of tours may involve visiting remote areas where facilities can be quite basic. Accommodation may also involve camping, homestays or basic accommodation where facilities may not be considered of western standards. To enjoy this style of travel, it is suggested for travellers to have a reasonable level of fitness and health, a positive attitude, as well as a fairly active lifestyle. An open mind is also required.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake 45mins – 1 hour of aerobic exercise, three to four times a week. Some potential exercises that could be beneficial include hill walking with a backpack on over variable terrain and weather conditions, as well as running and cycling dependent on the activity you plan on undertaking.
This category of tours involves trekking, kayaking, cycling or other adventure activities in remote areas for up to 8 to 10 hours a day. It is important to note that with the remoteness of some regions comes a variety of other challenges such as variable weather conditions, accommodation as well as facilities. You must have an excellent level of fitness and good health to be able to partake in this category of tour. You must have confidence in your own ability and be in good physical condition. Includes extended periods of endurance.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 to 4 months of strenuous exercise, four times a week. When preparing for treks it would be beneficial to participate in hill walks with a weighted day pack (approximately 5-8 kg) once a week for aerobic fitness and strengthening of leg muscles. It is also important to do this on variable terrain to prepare for challenging adventures. When preparing for cycling adventures, regular bike riding (at least 4 to 5 times a week for 1-4 hours is essential). It is also important to cycle on uneven surfaces or even participate in other aerobic exercises such as running or swimming to build up strength and stamina. Altitude may also be a factor in these tours.
This category of tour often involves extreme trekking, cycling or other extreme adventure activities. It is important to expect remote and poorly defined tracks and to be prepared for variable weather conditions for 10 to 12 hours per day (may sometimes be more depending on weather and altitude). These adventures are suitable for travellers who have prior experience in strenuous travel and activities, are extremely fit and have excellent health. It is also important to note that some of the terrain on these adventures will involve trekking in snow, at high attitude levels and may require technical equipment.
Suggested preparation: It is important to note that physical fitness should be an ongoing activity, commencing around 5-6 months prior to departure, or even before if you have no prior fitness. Exercise should focus on building maximum endurance and stamina. Four to five hard sessions of 40-60 mins per week should be completed and can include exercises such as going to the gym, running, swimming or cycling to focus on building aerobic stamina. It could also be beneficial to prepare by hiking on rough terrain, in extreme weather conditions or partake in altitude training.
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