Hiking in New Zealand: The 10 Great Walks
There are many hiking trails in New Zealand, but the most spectacular are the 10 great walks. They are beautiful hikes through diverse and spectacular scenery. From native forests, lakes and rivers to rugged mountain peaks, deep gorges and vast valleys. All 10 of them are multi-day hikes, but you can walk sections of most of them so you can get an idea of the area in one day.
During these hikes you can spend the night in huts. Since these hikes are very popular, you have to book these overnight stays far in advance. The weather changes quickly in New Zealand so make sure you always check the conditions of the Great Walks before leaving. Find the most up-to-date information about the conditions and how to book the cabins here.
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1. Tongariro Northern Circuit (North Island)
* Difficulty: Medium
* 43 km
* 3/4 days
Most travellers have heard of the Tongariro Crossing, one of the most popular day hikes in New Zealand. The Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk is in the same area and the Tongariro Crossing is part of this walk. During the hike you will pass even more blue lakes, steaming geothermal areas, active volcanoes and lava flows.
2. Whanganui Journey (North Island)
* 145 km
* 5 days (3 days is possible)
This Great Walk is actually not a walk at all. You can follow this route with a kayak or canoe. The route follows the Whanganui River and takes you through native forests with abundant wildlife. This river has a rich history and cultural significance to the local Maori. You will fully experience this as one of the huts where you can sleep is a Marae, a Maori meeting house.
3. Lake Waikaremoana (North Island)
* Difficulty: Medium
* 46 km
* 3/4 days
During this track, you will walk along the shore of Lake Waikaremoana. Not only do you have beautiful viewpoints over the lake, you walk through a rainforest with waterfalls and secluded beaches. To see the Korokoro Falls you have to take a small detour, but it is worth it. Not only is it a beautiful waterfall, it is also a wonderful place to cool off on a hot day. The best view? Panekire Bluff!
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4. Abel Tasman Coast Track (South Island)
* Difficulty: Easy/ Medium
* 54 km
* 3/5 days
Abel Tasman is known for its beautiful golden beaches and light blue water. This route takes you along those stunning places, but also through native forests and along lakes and special rock formations. It is easy to do day hikes here as you can be dropped off at one of the beaches with a water taxi or kayak and walk back from there. You can also start at either end of the track. The Abel Tasman Coast Track has a reputation for being the easiest Great Walk, but don’t underestimate it, it is still a long, intense hike.
5. Heaphy Track (South Island)
* Difficulty: Medium
* 78 km
* 4/6 days hiking
* 2/3 days biking
This route starts in a rainforest and ends on the West Coast. You will encounter many different landscapes along the way, including a moss-covered forest and Gouland Downs. Around Gouland Downs is where you can see many of New Zealand’s native birds such as the Tui, Kea, Kaka, Weka and if you’re lucky the Kiwi.
6. Paparoa Track & Pike 29 Memorial Track (South Island)
* Difficulty: Medium
* 55 km
* 2/3 days hiking
* 1/2 days biking
This is the newest Great Walk of New Zealand, opened in December 2019 and it is located on the West Coast in Paparoa National Park. This route takes you through ancient forests full of native trees and flowers. The highlights are the Pororari River Gorge and the sunset from the Moonlight Tops Hut. The trail also takes you to the site of the Pike River Mine, an old gold mine.
7. Milford Track (South Island)
* Difficulty: Easy/ Medium
* 53 km
* 4 days
This route is located in the Fiordland National Park and runs from Te Anau to Milford Sound. You start with a boat trip from Lake Te Anau. During this hike you will pass river valleys, mountain peaks, green rainforests and breathtaking viewpoints. You will also encounter one of the highest waterfalls in New Zealand; the Sutherland Falls. Is the weather bad and do you have a lot of rain? Then you will see an incredible amount of waterfalls! It is also possible to do organised day hikes.
8. Kepler track (South Island)
* Difficulty: Medium
* 60 km
* 3/4 days
This Great Walk is also located in Fiordland National Park and is the only one in New Zealand that goes in a loop. It starts and ends near Te Anau. This is a very versatile route, you walk along lakes, over mountains and through lawns. You can also explore limestone caves along this route, so bring a flashlight.
9. Routeburn Track (South Island)
* Difficulty: Medium
* 32 km
* 3 days
Routeburn Track is the third Great Walk in Fiordland National Park and it traverses most of the mountains. The route takes you past valleys created by glaciers, beautiful lakes and meadows with alpine flowers.
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10. Rakiura Track (Stewart Island)
* Difficulty: Medium
* 32 km
* 3 days
This is the most southern of the Great Walks in New Zealand and is located on Stewart Island. This walk covers 80% of the island and is therefore the perfect way to explore the island. Stewart Island has only 400 inhabitants in the east of the island, the rest is nature, so it is pristine with many native animals. Keep your eyes and ears open while walking because this island is a paradise for bird watchers, you can even see the native Kiwi. It is possible to make day hikes on this island.