When life doesn't stick to the plan

Life doesn't always stick to the plan.

You might be looking forward to a trip, only to discover that a surgery date, a medical procedure, or an unexpected health issue has landed right in the middle of it.

Suddenly you're faced with a difficult question: Should I still book? Should I cancel? Or should I wait and see?

The honest answer is: it depends. And the even more honest answer is: you don't necessarily have to decide right now. Booking while uncertain is not reckless

It can feel strange to book a tour when you know a surgery is coming up. But sitting on your hands and waiting until everything is resolved can mean missing out entirely, on a departure that suits you, on travelling with a friend who is ready to go now, or simply on having something to look forward to.

If you are already booked and a surgery date appears, or if you are thinking about booking but wondering whether it's sensible given what lies ahead, the most useful thing to know is this: depending on how much notice is given, transferring to another departure may be possible, subject to availability and our booking conditions.

The earlier you get in touch, the more options there may be available. For example, more than 90 days before departure, a transfer currently incurs only a NZ$150 administration fee plus any difference in tour price. Full details can be found in our booking conditions, or simply contact us and we can explain what options may apply to your situation.

Of course, surgery is not the only reason plans change.

Over the years, we have had women postpone a tour because family from overseas decided to visit, because a wedding suddenly landed on the same date, because a new grandchild arrived earlier than expected, or simply because life became more complicated than it looked when the booking was made.

Not every change of plan involves a medical issue. Sometimes priorities shift, opportunities arise, or family commitments become more important.

That is why it is often worth getting in touch before assuming that cancellation is the only option. What the tour structure actually means for your recovery

This is where the practical side matters, and it is worth understanding the difference between our tour types before making any decisions.

Multi-day hiking tours such as Banks Peninsula, Island Hills, Nuku, Queen Charlotte and others involve full days on the track, often over several consecutive days. Distances, terrain and elevation vary from tour to tour, but these trips generally place significant demands on your legs, knees, hips and overall fitness.

On most hiking tours, if a particular day becomes too difficult, there is often limited opportunity to skip part of the route and rejoin the group later. For this reason, hiking tours are not usually the ideal first step back after a major operation.

Walking tours work differently. Our Top of the South and West Coast Experience tours involve shorter days, gentler terrain, and a more relaxed pace.

Depending on the day's programme, there is often more flexibility to take a quieter day if needed, whether that means enjoying a coffee with a view, exploring at your own pace, or simply relaxing while the group heads out for a walk.

There is simply more room to adapt than on most multi-day hiking tours.

For many women recovering from surgery, a walking tour can be a genuinely realistic option when a hiking tour feels like too much. Not as a compromise, but as an enjoyable holiday in its own right. Hip surgery, knee surgery, and everything else

Every operation is different, and every recovery is different.

We are not in a position to tell you when your body will be ready. That is a conversation for you and your surgeon, specialist, or physiotherapist.

What we can do is explain exactly how a tour works, what a typical day looks like, what the terrain is like, and what level of fitness is generally required.

Every tour page on our website includes grading information, distances, and a detailed itinerary. If you read through that information and are still unsure how it relates to your situation, please ask.

We cannot replace medical advice, but we can help you understand exactly what to expect on the ground. A postponed tour is often just that: postponed

One thing we have learned over the years is that a surgery date does not automatically mean the end of your travel plans.

Hip surgery in particular often results in a significant improvement – some women find they are more capable after the operation than before. Others simply need a little more time than they originally expected. Some transfer to a later departure, others choose a gentler tour while they rebuild confidence and fitness. We have also had women decide that the timing was not quite right and come back a year later instead.

More often than not, the journey still happens, just not always on the original date. Let’s look at your options together

If surgery is on the horizon and you are wondering what this might mean for a tour you have booked, or one you are thinking about booking, get in touch.

We will look at your options together, answer your questions honestly, and help you make the decision that feels right for you.

Without pressure, without guesswork and without rushing you into a decision before you are ready.