Braemar Station Backcountry Tour

Explore New Zealand’s High Country with our legendary Braemar Station Backcountry Tour

Braemar Station Backcountry Tour explores remote high country on a scenic 4WD tour through the stunning Braemar Station. Travel through one of New Zealand’s most beautiful high country stations through roaming tussock grasslands with open vistas to the most outstanding views in The Mackenzie Country. Private access to Braemar Stations High Country offers guests the best views of unique landscapes and incredible scenery overlooking Mt Cook, Mt Tasman, Lake Pukaki and the Ben Ohau mountain range.

Journey along remote 4WD tracks, within some of the most unforgettable high country, and experience the heart of Tekapo’s backcountry landscapes at their finest. A wonderful tour from Lake Tekapo that will take your breath away.

Braemar Station Backcountry Tour Highlights

Our Braemar Station Backcountry Tour offers an authentic experience of The Lengendary Mackenzie Country, taking in vast and spectacular views of Mt Cook, the Southern Alps and Lake Pukaki. Braemar is a working High Country station farming New Zealand’s Perendale sheep, angus cattle and Red Deer. This scenic 4wd tour journeys across high tussock grasslands on comfortable 4wd track offering unique vistas to the outstanding natural landscapes that make up the Mackenzie Country. Private access offers people the chance to experience a slice of New Zealand’s incredible High Country wilderness all to themselves.

Exclusive private access to one of the most beautiful stations in New Zealand.
Remote backcountry 4WD high country station tour.
Stunning and unique views of Mt Cook, Mt Tasman, the Main Divide, Lake Pukaki, and the Ben Ohau Mountains.
Breathtaking scenery of New Zealand’s most impressive landscapes.
Educational information about the area’s unique landforms and species as well as the ecology & history of the Mackenzie Country.
Feed farm animals such as sheep, Angus cattle, goats, Red Deer
Refreshments and snacks

Tour Details

Duration

3 Hours

Departure

AOTEA GIFTS | Tekapo Township

Departure Time

9:00 AM October – May (No Tours During Winter June-September)

Minimum Group Size

2 People

Dress Code

Casual, Comfortable, Stable Footwear, Warm Jacket, Hat, Sunglasses, Camera

Included

✔️ Driver

✔️ Educational Tour

✔️ Light Refreshment

✔️ Light Snack

Not Included

❌ Meals

❌ Souvenirs

Season

October – July

Tour Notes

There will be opportunities for photos and breathtaking vistas to enjoy. Light walking to close proximity viewpoints for photos, so stable footwear is recommended.

Discover What Our Travellers Say

     Excellent  
     Based on 30 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Adri an 
 2024-03-02
 
 
  
  
 
       
   Olivia Saunders 
 2024-02-24
 
 
  I’ve been travelling for the last month doing a fair few activities and I really think this has been the best one so far!! It’s such an organic and personal tour which I loved because I’ve found so much here can be overly touristy. This is worth every penny for sure.
  
 
       
   Dale Thompson 
 2024-02-24
 
 
  We had our wonderful time on our trip up to Cass Valley with Tekapo Adventures. The very knowledgeable guide gave us lots of information about the area, and it was wonderful to be able to get off the beaten path to see the terrain carved out by the glacial activity. It was a privilege to be able to spend time on private land and see the reality of a working station.
  
 
       
   Richard Wooster 
 2024-02-14
 
 
  We had an amazing tour with Tekapo Adventures. Chris, our guide, shared his passion and expertise. A truly special trip.
  
 
       
   reece peh 
 2024-01-19
 
 
  Booked the 1pm Tour on the 19th of Jan but was contacted a day before giving me the option of changing it to 9am as the weather was going to be unfavourable later in the afternoon by Christina and thank goodness for that. Started to rain just as we ended our tour and winds were crazy strong. Thank you Christina! (:

First of, tour was amazing. We had the lovely Christina be our tour guide and she was soooo knowledgable and friendly. Made the entire trip so comfortable and enjoyable despite being an introverted person.

Second, views in Lake Tekapo is Amazing, but going on this tour on a 4WD is a whole 'nother level. The views were magestic. Got to see experience views of Lake Tekapo and more that the average New Zealander/Tourist would never get to see without a guided tour.

Was going to post photos but i didnt want to spoil it. Pictures WILL NOT do this tours ANY justice.

Bonus, we got to see sheepdogs in action herding sheeps, endangered birds in NZ and drink straight from a waterfall.

10/10 would recommend.
  
 
       
   Leslie Rupper 
 2024-01-18
 
 
  We had a fantastic experience as part of a small group of six touring the Cass Valley Back Country with Cristina yesterday. She was so knowledgeable and had personal connections with the owners of the private land that we were able to tour, giving us unique access to this stunning scenery. She stopped often to let us walk around, offered to take our picture and even treated us to chocolates and fresh spring water! Highly recommend!!
  
 
       
   KR Koo 
 2023-12-13
 
 
  
  
 
       
   Max Ward 
 2023-11-18
 
 
  Incredible tours! I went to Tekapo last week to visit for a couple of days and booked the Cass Valley tour. Ben who was our guide did a fantastic job showing us around the landscape! For anyone visiting Tekapo, make sure to book as well! It is more than worth it!
  
 
       
   Joel Koo 
 2023-10-16
 
 
  My wife and I booked the Cass Valley Backcountry tour and were not disappointed by it. We were fortunate enough to be the only 2 customers for the trip and Ben was such an awesome guide.

During the tour, Ben provided highly informative commentary about the locations that we were visiting. He didnt just simply share generic information about the location but also provided insights into the history of the area. We were also provided with binoculars to spot some of the local bird species.

Highlight of the tour was definitely the river crossing as well as the pit stop at one of the huts where we got to drink water straight from the source. Being a city boy, i was definitely apprehensive of drinking unfiltered water, but that was some of the freshest and cleanest water i've ever drunk. We even got to experience a "sheep made" traffic jam (the ewes were being moved from 1 paddock/pen to another).

The vehicle was well maintained, clean and comfortable. Ben definitely loves his Land Rovers.

I would definitely recommend Tekapo Adventures to anyone visiting Lake Tekapo. You get to explore the Tekapo area from the comfort of the vehicle. If we get the chance to visit Lake Tekapo again, Tekapo Adventures will be the no.1 activity on our to do list.
  
 
       
   Dinesh Raj 
 2023-10-14
 
 
  Cristina & Ben beautifully executed an awesome afternoon adventure. The whole family really enjoyed the experience. Ben was very knowledgeable, and made the drive engaging for everyone involved including my toddler. One of the best ways to experience a little bit of pristine outdoors and a glimpse of adventure in NZ.

Would definitely recommend and return for an encore!

General Questions

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How rough is the 4 wheel driving? Will I be comfortable or is it rough?

Our scenic 4wd tours are more of a scenic experience in comfortable custom fitted 4WD vehicles to ensure a smooth tour, while maximizing the incredible landscapes. You won’t be bouncing around that much. We explore on farm tracks and through side streams and rolling tussock country side, and some rougher terrain.

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Is there a lot of walking? How physical are the tours?

Our tours are made for exploring mainly by vehicle, and we take plenty of stops for photographs. They don’t require hiking, or walking far. On The Cass Valley Tour, there is an option for a 20-minute hike uphill to a waterfall, for those who are in relatively decent shape and have adequate footwear. Your guide would be the judge.

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Are kids allowed?

Yes indeed! We love sharing nature with kids. Our tours are family-friendly and offer a wonderful experience for little ones to explore pristine nature and marvel at the surroundings and animals. We ask that you bring your car seat for infants or kids needing to be in a car seat.

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How long are your tours?

Most of our tours are 3 HRS long. Our private tours are 4 HRS and explore further.

Our 1.5-hour tours are generally only available for groups of 4 or more.

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What's so special about where you take people?

We give people access to private land where they cannot travel on their own. Our private access allows guests to experience a slice of New Zealand’s most beautiful scenery on their own, away from anyone else.

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How many people can you fit in a vehicle?

Our 4WD Vehicles can fit 6 people comfortably.

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How big of a group can you take?

We can easily take groups of 18 with 3 4WD Vehicles. With advance notice, we can accommodate up to 30 + people.

Our general day-to-day tours take 6 people per vehicle per tour, some days we could be 2 vehicles on tour.

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Where do we meet, and where do your tours depart from?

Our tours depart from Lake Tekapo Township, next to the statue of a Kiwi Bird, Moa Bird, and a Sheep. Right outside AOTEA Gifts, a big red and green sign and across from Kiwi Treasures information center. Your 4WD vehicle & driver will pull up there at the time of your tour.

Trip Questions

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What makes this tour so special?

This tour offers some of the best scenery in New Zealand. Traveling through remote Tussock high country and seeing the incredible glacial blue lake of Lake Pukaki with snow covered and glacial glad mountains, leading up to NZ’s high peak MT Cook. The scenery on this tour takes people’s breath away. If you're not planning to go to Mt Cook, you should do the Braemar Station Backcountry Tour, as it will be your best experience of Mt Cook’s landscapes.

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What's the difference between the Cass Valley VS Braemar Tour?

The Cass Valley tours explore a remote alpine river valley on the western shores of Lake Tekapo. It offers a closer-up experience into a beautiful valley and rolling alpine lakes, with stream and river crossings.

The Braemar Station Backcountry Tour offers incredible expansive views of Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook, Mt Tasman, and The Ben Ohau Range. It's very different from driving to Mt Cook National Park. Travel is through remote tussock country, offering a variety of breathtaking views. Many of our guests come back to do either of the tours they missed out on, or they do both!

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Do you go to a backcountry hut on this tour?

Yes there is a wonderful Backcountry hut on this tour, and also a newer hut to stop in and have tea at along the way.

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Do you feed animals on this tour?

If you’d like to feed animals, this is the tour to do so. There is a lovely pet feeding area for kids and animal lovers, if you would like to on the tour. Just mention it to your driver, and you’ll get to feed a lovely mob of sheep, horses, goats and even a deer sometimes.

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What time of year does this tour operate?

This tour operates from October 1- June 1 annually. This tour does not operate during the winter season ( June - September 30th)

About Braemar Station

Braemar Station is one of New Zealand’s most remarkable High Country Stations, offering impressive and highly memorable scenery of the Natural Outstanding Landscapes found within the Mackenzie Basin. Braemar Station is located on the Eastern Shores of the turquoise coloured Lake Pukaiki, bordered by the majestic Gammack Range in to the North, and Lake Pukaiki to the West. This traditional High Country Sheep Farming Station is 15,216 hectares in size, and has been run by the Mackenzie family since 1969. Braemar is known for having some of the best uninterrupted views of Lake Pukaiki and Mount Cook. The special landscapes discovered on this tour will leave you with a strong sense of remoteness as you journey though wide open Tall Tussock Grasslands and Red Tussock covered unique landforms of spectacular lateral moraines. The magnificent backdrops of Mt Cook NZ’s tallest peak, and the glaciated Main Divide will leave you breathless and your camera full as you take in some of the finest scenery New Zealand has to offer. Learn about the unique species that exist within New Zealand’s largest Intermontane basin, while taking in a truly memorable scenic journey from Lake Tekapo.

Meet Our Guides

Ben

Founder & Guide

Ben

As kiwi as it gets, hails from a long history of guiding throughout New Zealand and overseas. From The Milford Track, driving jet boats on the Hollyford track, or multi day hiking tours and enduro mountain bike expeditions, he is a man of many talents! Filled with a rich and passionate knowledge of geology and history, and wild places. Ben is the co founder of Tekapo Adventures and enjoys sharing his passion with people from around the globe. On his down time you can find him riding bikes with the kids, hunting and tramping and fixing vehicles!

Cristina

Founder & Guide

Cristina

A Can- Iwi as we call her, shes born in Canada and lives in New Zealand alongside Ben and their little two monkeys. You’ll enjoy her local knowledge and passion for nature and wild places, alongside her rich experience in guiding throughout the southern alps by hiking and Mountain biking for over 16+years. She looks after alot of the admin and marketing and sales and you can also find her behind the driver’s seat too! On her down time you can find her exploring nature with the kids, or doing yoga.

Paul

Guide

Paul

A Tekapo local ( Content To come !) On his down time you can find Paul planting native trees for the community, or spending time with his grandkids.

Why Choose Tekapo Adventures

Choosing Tekapo Adventures means opting for a uniquely immersive experience in the Mackenzie Backcountry. Our intimate knowledge of the land, family roots, and commitment to sustainability make every journey with us not just a trip, but a foray into the heart of New Zealand’s natural majesty. Join us to discover why our exclusive access, expert guidance, and diverse, educational adventures set us apart as the preferred choice for discerning explorers.