Mt Lyford Adventure Park & Lake Stella Mountain Retreat operate on a private mountain park spanning over the 3 peaks – Lyford, Terako & Tinline in the Amuri Ranges, North Canterbury. Family owned and operated, these guys also founded the area and run the Ski Area in the Terako Basin, so we can safely say they know how to show you an amazing alpine experience. And – you guessed it – your dog can come too! So wrap up warm, strap on the snow boots and prepare for a magical adventure like no other.
Photo courtesy of @hugo.the.vizsla.boss
With so many activities on offer, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Transport up the mountain for self guided mountain biking, hiking, skiing or snow shoeing, then swap your gear to ice skates and see how long you can stay vertical on your own backyard of Lake Stella (true Canadian style!) or the park’s own private ice skating rink. Skates and snow shoes are available to hire on location, so you’ll have no excuse. If you’re wanting something a little less challenging, the team at the adventure park can arrange access for 4WD’s and some 2WD’s to head up for tours or easier walking, hiking and biking access in summer. With vast knowledge of the are and weather conditions behind them, Tim and the crew here can advise the best zones for exploring on the day.
There are 27km of trails and roads to experience, with breath taking views in all directions. With a vertical drop of 1332m from peak to pub, you will have well and truly earned that mulled wine when you arrive back.
Photo courtesy of @hugo.the.vizsla.boss
Which brings us to Lake Stella Mountain Retreat, located in the heart of the Adventure Park and boasting stunning on-mountain accommodation. Relax in your private hut with its own exterior wood fired bath tub or fire up dinner on the barbecue grill. Before retiring to bed, partake in a bit of star gazing under the unobstructed skies and then curl up with your dog in your true alpine style abode. Find us a more magical experience – we’ll wait.
Photo courtesy of @goingroguenewzealand
One of DFNZ’s favourite followers, Hugo the Vizsla hiked Mt Lyford and around Lake Stella for his first South Island trip. He rates the adventure park and mountain retreat a 5 paw location as it provided him with days of exploring and hours of play time with Tim’s own dog Tig! His top tip is to bring a 4WD and chains, as they are both especially helpful for adventuring, especially when it snows! Judging by photos of December 2020, this can happen even in summer! White Christmas, anyone? Hugo’s favourite two hikes were up the saddle towards the summit of Mt Lyford, which took about an hour one way and offered an amazing 360 degree view of the area. The other was a track that lead to the Labrador lookout – being a much shorter and easier walk (around 20 minutes one way), this is a perfect option for beginners but still offers a fantastic view of the North Canterbury plains.
Mt Lyford Adventure Park and Lake Stella Mountain Retreat are top of our holiday list for 2021, so be sure to check them out and book in advance – if we haven’t already booked them up first!
For more information and to book, click here.
In collaboration with @hugo.the.vizsla.boss
