After meeting with your driver this afternoon at around 4.00pm in Central Christchurch, your journey north begins through rural Canterbury to Island Hills High Country Station. On arrival, familiarize yourself with the Cookhouse accommodation and facilities. The farm museum is worth a look and provides a glimpse into New Zealand's farming past and high country station life many years ago. Dinner this evening is a hosted barbecue with local produce.

Meals:  D

It's going to be a 5.00am wake up call this morning in order to begin the Skedaddle challenge. Your guides will meet you at the Cook House for a safety briefing before you set off for your big challenge. Your main bags for transfer will be left at the starting point and you will only carry a day pack and all that you need for the challenge, baring in mind conditions can quickly change. Mt Skedaddle sits at 1704 metres, but don't be fooled by it's size. Today you will be heading off track and cross country, as you hike along the high ridges of the Island Hills, on rocky and often steep terrain, to the peak of Mt Skedaddle. Be greeted by open grassy knolls, views of big mountain surrounds and beautiful high country scenery. There will be some narrow, rough and steep sections and careful footing will be required. After the summit, you will make your way down to Valley camp through the ridges and the surrounding forest. Down is often more taxiing than up, but you will be rewarded with a fabulous dinner to celebrate the achievement. ** PLEASE NOTE: Mt Skedaddle can only be undertaken if the weather is favorable. Should this not be the case, we will instead do a high ridge challenge instead which will still be off country and challenging but suitable to the conditions.

Meals:  B,L,D

After a hearty breakfast, an early start is needed out on the trails for today's challenge day. Today you will follow the foothills through belts of native manuka, regenerating beech forest and sub-alpine ridge lines with your guide. Expect quite rough and uneven terrain at times. There are sections of uphill and downhill as the track climbs and descends over the spurs for 9kms to Bush Hut. From Bush Hut it is further 9.5kms back through to Cook House. This is an easier section of the trail compared to that encountered so far. Your bags should arrive back at the Cook House by the time that you do. We will transfer you back to Christchurch at the end of your challenge, departing Island Hills around 3.00pm, back in Christchurch around 4.30pm. Challenge arrangements end on arrival in Christchurch.

Meals:  B,L