Holiday at Home: 10 great New Zealand walks

Whether you’re an active hiker looking for a 3-day challenge or a leisurely day walker seeking new trails, New Zealand has some stellar walks all over the country, with 10 very special destinations designated ‘Great Walks’ by the Department of Conservation.

Here we explore the 10 Great Walks on the South and North islands.

GREAT WALKS ON THE SOUTH ISLAND

Milford Track The Milford Track is in Fiordland, New Zealand’s largest national park. Visitors spend four days/three nights following historic Maori routes through a dramatic landscape of forest-covered valleys, mountains and steep fiords from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound. For this popular route, bookings are necessary well in advance, for both independent and guided walks.

Routeburn Track The Routeburn Track boasts some of the most diverse scenery: forests, alpine flora, lakes, several waterfalls and panoramic views. The three-day trek covers 39km (24 miles).

Kepler Track The Kepler Track follows a loop that begins and ends at the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre in Te Anau. It takes four days and traverses lakeside forest and open tussock grasslands, with one day spent walking along the mountain tops above the bush line.

Abel Tasman Coastal Track The Abel Tasman Coastal Track, at the top of the South Island, only requires light walking shoes for the 50km (31 miles) route lined with golden beaches. Along the way, five huts and 21 campsites offer accommodation, but transport has to be arranged from one end or the other.

Rakiura Track Wilderness explorers wanting to experience the ‘end of the earth’ should head for Stewart Island, New Zealand’s southernmost and least populated island. The Rakiura Track has the most birdlife, unpredictable weather and conditions but planked walkways keep feet dry and ensure the three-day walk is possible year-round. It has gentle gradients – never more than 300m above sea level – and two huts provide accommodation.

Heaphy Track The Heaphy Track, in the northwestern corner of the South Island, has undemanding gradients over 80km (around 50 miles) and takes about five days to complete. The track is accessible year-round, but winter snow can make the higher sections chilly. Attractions on the Heaphy Track include the nikau palm-lined beach at its western end, red tussock downs, lush beech forests and fields of alpine herbs.

The Paparoa Track In Paparoa National Park on the rugged north-western South Island coast, this trail traverses the Paparoa Range, revealing spectacular limestone landscapes, verdant rainforest and astonishing views.

The track travels from Blackball to Punakaiki and includes parts of the existing Croesus and Pororai River tracks. The 55km trail is of significant meaning to the locals and will act as a tribute to the 29 Pike River miners who lost their lives in the 2010 disaster. The national park has been extended by 3971 hectares to include the Pike River area.

Tongariro Northern Circuit The Tongariro Northern Circuit is a loop track of three to four days, starting and finishing at the foot of Mount Ruapehu. Few places equal the drama of this active volcanic region with its lava formations, tussock grassland, fumaroles and geysers, and emerald green mineral lakes – the setting for the scenes in New Zealand director Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Altitude and climatic conditions mean the Tongariro circuit is best walked from late November to March. The Tongariro Crossing – one section of the circuit – is one of New Zealand’s most renowned day walks.

Lake Waikaremoana Track Lake Waikaremoana is situated east of the central volcanic plateau, in one of the North Island’s most remote regions. The 46km track encircles the lake, providing a four to five-day walk. Apart from one day climbing a steep bluff, the track follows a leisurely path through rainforest.

Whanganui Journey It’s a Great Walk, but the Whanganui Journey is actually a 145km kayak or canoe journey down the Whanganui River. Beginning in Taumarunui, this journey takes about five days to complete and provides an early New Zealand history experience. For hundreds of years the Whanganui River was an important Maori route; later, in early European settlement days, it became a steamboat highway. The winding river and surrounding lowland forest are now a national park.

Important Information:

Weather conditions can change rapidly, especially in the mountains, and it is essential, even in summer, to carry warm, waterproof clothing. No hike should be undertaken without consulting a detailed guidebook and a map.

Bookings are required for accommodation in huts, but permits or admission fees are not required for day walking. Bookings can be made through the Department of Conservation.