things to do at Jackson’s Retreat

Nature, Adventure, and Fun: Your Guide to Activities in and around Jackson’s Retreat

Discover an array of activities surrounding Jackson’s Retreat Alpine Holiday Park, from hiking scenic trails and spotting glow worms to boating and stargazing. Enjoy birdwatching and explore nearby gems like Arthur’s Pass and Lake Brunner, or dive into the history of Jack’s Mill Schoolhouse. Seasonal highlights include the Coast 2 Coast race and Wild Food Festival, making Jackson’s Retreat the perfect base for adventure and relaxation.

Simply use the booking form below to reserve your stay. If you have any special requests or need assistance with your booking, feel free to contact us—our friendly team is here to ensure your visit is as comfortable and memorable as possible!

Wild Food Festival – only 67 kms from Jackson’s Retreat!

Wild Food Festival – only 67 kms from Jackson’s Retreat!

A West Coast Tradition Wild Food Festival – The name says it all! Only 67 km's from Jackson's Retreat Back in 1990 a Hokitika woman Claire Bryant instigated the very first celebration of local wild foods. Her wine cellar was very well stocked with a home brew of West...

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Ngarimu Walking Track

Ngarimu Walking Track

Walk through the bush Tent Sites to the Rain Forest bush line and you’ll find….. Track : Quartz Mine Site – 3 hours return trip, Take a beautiful Rain Forest bush walk then zig-zag up the abandoned Battery Road to the site of a historic Quartz Mine where quartz was...

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Glow worms

Glow worms

Glow Worm Dells – a fun night-time adventure! We have 4 sites to check out! Did you know - the light from a glow worm comes from an organ which is the equivalent of a human kidney! These little glowing wonders of nature can be seen along the creek banks where it is...

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Local flora and fauna

Local flora and fauna

Jackson's Retreat is lucky to share the home of an extensive range of native birds. Many of our native birds are critical for dispersing seeds and pollination of native trees. Kereru, which was protected from hunting in 1922, also known as Wood Pigeon spread the seeds...

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Around Lake Brunner Cycle Race

Around Lake Brunner Cycle Race

Around Lake Brunner Cycle Race - only a 20min drive from Jackson's Retreat to the start line! Around Brunner started as a 130km sealed circuit cycle ride taking you through some of the most stunning scenery New Zealand has to offer. In 2015 the Enduro, 2 laps of the...

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Kathmandu Coast 2 Coast

Kathmandu Coast 2 Coast

Next Race - 11 & 12 February 2022 Book your Accommodation now! Kathmandu Coast 2 Coast – The Coast to Coast has become almost a right of passage for multisport athletes from around the world with over 20,000 people having completed the event in the 38 years to...

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Hiking, Cycling & Trails for feet and wheels

Hiking, Cycling & Trails for feet and wheels

The Bald Range - our southern range Rangi Taipo has an altitude of 1400m, widely tramped to the Kelly Range and up to Arthurs Pass. There is a beautiful river & bush trail for both feet & wheels along the Taipo River approx 5min drive West of our Park. Mt...

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Boating

Boating

For your adrenaline rush Jet Boating on the Mighty Taramakau River or you can choose to play on Lake Poerua or Lake Brunner. Contact us to find out more about outdoor adventure and activities available when you stay at Jackson’s Retreat Alpine Holiday Park.

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Skiing on the Southern Alps

Skiing on the Southern Alps

SKIING ON THE SOUTHERN ALPS – Jackson's Retreat back yard! Temple Basin Ski Field – 20 min drive East of Jackson's Retreat https://www.templebasin.co.nz Ungroomed ski and snowboarder's paradise in Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand. Craigieburn Valley Ski Area –...

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Arthur’s Pass

Arthur’s Pass

Arthurs Pass - The township and the pass are named after Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934). Arthur Dobson had been tasked by the Chief Surveyor, Thomas Cass, to find out if there was an available pass out of the Waimakariri watershed into valleys running to the...

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Lake Brunner

Lake Brunner

Lake Brunner is the largest lake in the northwestern South Island of New Zealand, covering an area of 40 km². The lake's outflow is the Arnold River, a tributary of the Grey River. The lake lies 31 kilometres to the southeast of Greymouth. The main settlement close to...

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Fishing opportunities

Fishing opportunities

Humphries Creek has friendly eels which you can feed and keep an eye out for the local adult Inanga. The annual whitebait (inanga) migration was an important mahinga kai resource for Māori all around Aotearoa. Adult Inanga were also taken during their downstream...

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Stargazing at the Jacksons Retreat

Stargazing at the Jacksons Retreat

Astrophotographers and Star Gazers Paradise – The South Island of New Zealand has the largest Dark Sky reserves  anywhere on planet Earth! Find a peaceful spot around the campgrounds to set up and gaze upward for a rewarding view, if the night is cloudy pop down to...

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Jack’s Mill Schoolhouse

Jack’s Mill Schoolhouse

History and culture – Visit Jack's Mill School at Kotuku (30 minutes via Lake Brunner road) one of the quirkiest sites on the West Coast, a historic miniature bungalow designed, built and furnished entirely by the Kotuku school children aged 10-12 years. The Kotuku...

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