Thermal Safari Camp

A unique Dinner B & B Experience

• Overview
• Taipo River Camp
  • 4wd Option
  • Whitewater Rafting Option
• Wanganui River Camp
  • Helicopter Option
  • Whitewater Rafting Option
• Thermal Bush Camp Tour (2 Days)

A unique accommodation experience

The Thermal Bush Camp is a unique overnight accommodation experience located one hours easy guided walk into an Alpine Valley. (A 4X4 Adventure vehicle ride-in option is available.)

The trip is in an Alpine River Valley that starts in the heart of NZ's spectacular Southern Alps. It winds its way through some of this countries most scenic Alpine areas with its vistas of mountain peaks and glaciers. In doing so it crosses the Alpine Fault Line revealing a country of fire and ice!

You will enjoy about an hours easy escorted walk up the Thermal River Valley through tussock river flats and ancient fern covered forest. We reach a riverside terrace below a small gorge carved through the rock by centuries of water. This hidden site will be your home for the night.

Imagine relaxing with a glass of wine in one hand and some of NZ's excellent BBQ food in the other as you soak up the heat from the camps hotpools while gazing at the hauntingly beautiful scenery. This is the place where friends are made for a lifetime!

The Thermal Bush Camp site consists of a large communal dining and lounge tent with a series of smaller sleeping tents set amongst the ferns and tussock of the river terrace. Sleeping tents range in size from two to four persons and come equipped with camp beds & mattresses, sleeping bags and lighting. Tents are also set up to suit couples with double bedding and sleeping bags whilst being set back in their own private slice of heaven! Meals are cooked over the open fire and enjoyed under the stars or in the pools.

It's not uncommon here to find yourself relaxed out at two o'clock in the morning asking someone through the steam to pour you another glass of wine. In the morning we walk (or you can raft out at an extra cost) back to the main road arriving at about 10:00am

Have a look at the free offers and Spare Seat Travel Deals page as there may be discounted seats available on the days that you are visiting.

We have two Thermal Bush Camp sites - Taipo Camp and Wanganui Camp. You need to choose which camp you want to do. Your choice may be determined by the options available at each site and the time you have available. Cost includes guided walk, dinner, bed, breakfast.

Taipo Camp

Departing the road from the Taipo River Bridge on the Main State Highway 73 just east of Jacksons (on the Arthurs Pass West Coast Highway). Visitors are met at Greymouth or the Jacksons Tavern on Highway 73 (many people come over from Christchurch on the TranzAlpine Train and get off at Jacksons) where they will begin their guided walk or 4X4 ride to the Thermal Bush Camp. On this camp we take all your camping gear and food to the campsite by 4x4 vehicle. The walk is easy on a smooth surfaced bush road with some great views over the valley. You do not carry anything except your camera. We use an old pioneers bush lodge for the camps base. The camp's hotpools are a large cedar hot tub in the outdoors that we heat with a wood fired burner.

Options on this camp are:

You can ride in by 4x4 vehicle.

You can do a white water rafting trip back out to the road. This is a grade 3 fun river adventure in a large guided raft being on the water for about one and a half hours.

Wanganui Camp

Departing the road from the Wanganui River Bridge on the Main State Highway 6 just north of Hari Hari. (this is half way between Greymouth and the glaciers). Visitors are met in Greymouth or at the Wanganui River Bridge where they will begin their guided walk. On this camp the only way in is by walking (or helicopter) and we all carry packs with the camps equipment and food in them. These are all supplied as part of your tour. The track is easy but rough underfoot. We cross a river by boat to get to the hidden wilderness campsite. On arrival at the campsite everyone helps to set up camp. The camps hotpools are natural rock spas with hot water bubbling up from underground.

Options on this camp are:

You can take a helicopter ride into or back out of this camp each way with a minimum of 8 people.

You can raft out with a self guided 4 person raft with a group of similar rafts. One of the rafts will have your certified rafting guide trip leader aboard as supervisor to teach you all you need to have a safe and enjoyable rafting adventure. They will also watch over you to ensure your safety. You are on this grade 3 river for about an hour and a half and it finishes up with a dip in another set of hot pools when you get off the river. We finish back at the main highway at around 10:00am

Thermal Bush Camp Tour (2 Days)

Some groups like to extend their time by starting their Thermal Bush Camp Tour earlier and having two full days of activity and camp. We start these groups at 10:00am and finish at 4:00pm on the second day. During the day we do an extended walk further into the mountain valley and learn some facets of bush craft and about the foods and medicines found in these rainforests.

Cancellations: Tours paid for and cancelled within 14 days of or during travel will not be refunded under any circumstances. We recommend you have travel insurance & can arrange this for you.