License to Chill- Rees Valley Day Trip

Departing from Queenstown, we drive along Lake Wakatipu towards Glenorchy before leaving civilisation behind us and disappearing into the Rees Valley. At the end of a dirt road, we'll spend some time getting prepared before starting our walk.

The hike in in stunning. Hanging glaciers, towering mountains and a river that flows through open grass lands. This is an amazing wilderness area, known for it's whitetail deer and the back drop to many Hollywood movies. It's not unusual for us not to see any other people in the valley as we wade through the river and amble along the track towards our lunch spot. The hike is relaxed and easy, without steep hills and should take between an hour and half to two hours to cover the 8-9km.

We'll have a heart feed sitting opposite the impressive Lennox falls before being introduced to our pakcrafts. Your guide will show you how to inflate them (not with lung power as many people imagine!) before giving you a full briefing and showing you how to safely navigate the river....then we're away! 

Paddling back along the river gives you a new perspective on the valley and turns "out and back" trip into a circular route. The Rees river itself is a super mellow, braided river that you can either float along blissfully on or seek out the small waves and faster flows of the occasional small rapids.

Eventually, all good things must come to an end and we'll have to take off the river. Your guide will show you how to deflate and store your boats back into your backpacks before the short walk back to the car park where we started. For many of our guests, this is not only the best thing they've experienced in the area, but the highlight of their entire New Zealand experience!

A. We appreciate your custom and aspire to provide a friendly and safe experience. B. We advise that all activities do carry a degree of risk and that by participating in the activity provided by the Operator you are expressly assuming those risks personally and are, to the maximum extent permitted by law, releasing the Operator and its officers and employees from any liability, claims, losses, damages or expenses caused by any event including, but not limited to: • Personal injury or death • Property loss or damage • Acts which may be construed as negligent or accidental • Any other loss, damage, suffering, emotional or nervous disorder 1. In participating in the activity I, the customer, agree to the conditions set out in A and B as above and consent to the conditions in clauses 1 a. to 1 f. below, 2 to 5, 6, 6 a., 6 b., 6 b. i to 6 b. iii, 6 c. and 7. • a. I agree that my successors, executors, administrators and next of kin are bound by the terms and conditions. • b. I agree not to commence any litigation or proceedings in any country in relation to the risks and perils set out in B above and to indemnify the Operator against any such claims. • c. I confirm that I am physically fit and suffer no medical conditions, which may be aggravated by this activity. • d. I consent to receive medical treatment in the case of injury, accident or illness during the activity and to indemnify the Operator against any claims in respect of this treatment. • e. I agree that any films, sound, video or other recordings taken of or during the activity will not be used in any promotion or advertising without the prior consent of the Operator, however the Operator may use such recordings itself at its complete discretion without any prior approval. • f. I agree to listen to my driver / guide / host, follow their instructions and make sure any children in my care do the same. 2. An itinerary is issued by the Operator providing the services and activities described, and are non-transferable. 3. The Operator accepts no responsibility for any loss or additional expenses arising from changes, delays or cancellations of the services and activities of the Operator. 4. An itinerary is based on fares and tariffs, which are, to the best of the Operators knowledge, correct at the time of issue. Any increases since the date of issue are at the cost of the customer payable to the Operator. 5. Trip Cancellations – the Operator reserves the absolute right to cancel any service as a result of weather conditions, insufficient reservations or any other unforeseen event or circumstances. The Operator also reserves the right to cancel any departure that does not meet the minimum requirement of 3 guests. The Operator also reserves the right to cancel any departure or booking should the operator perceive the participant to be unsuited to the activity. 6. Booking Cancellations and Refunds – the Operator reserves the right to assess cancellations on a case by case basis and the following refund criteria applies: • a. Deposits are non-refundable. • b. If customers advise cancellation prior to your trip departure date, the following refund will apply: • i. Within 48hrs = no refund applies • ii. 7-12 weeks = deposit non-refundable, 80% of any balance paid refunded • c. Once the walk has commenced no refund applies due to any circumstance. • d. We highly recommend that all customers have personal travel / medical insurance. e. If a trip needs to be canceled due to Covid lockdowns, illness or restrictions (excluding non-compliance with covid guidelines) 100% of the fees will be refunded 7. Any decision regarding an exception to the stated policy will be made entirely at the discretion of the Operator. 8. Due to the complex nature of some trips, some itineraries may be altered for safety or logistical reasons by the Operator. 9. Trips will leave at stated time and dates. Customers are asked to arrive 15 minute prior to a trip departure time. Customers arriving after this time will be classified as a "No-Show" and will be treated as a last minute cancelation, with no refund.