From native forests, lakes and rivers to rugged mountain peaks, deep gorges and vast valleys...there's a Great Walk for everyone! Take five minutes and learn how to prepare for a multiday tramp and #MakeItHomeNZ. All southern Great Walks are now back up and running with the Routeburn Track officially reopened, the Department of Conservation announced. Information on all New Zealand walks, tramping tracks and routes. New Zealand has a lot of hiking trails to choose from. These Great Walks are New Zealand’s best hikes, awe inspiring adventures on tracks through pristine wilderness. Aoraki/Mt Cook is interwoven with the human history of New Zealand, from the legend of Maui and his brothers to the mountaineering feats of the most famous of all Kiwis, Sir Edmund Hillary. Most of our South Island hikes are between 3 and 5 days, and include tasty meals. Our all-inclusive multi-day New Zealand hiking tours have been carefully designed by New Zealand’s most seasoned operators, and it shows. We enjoy some time in the National Park to make the most of the walking and photographic opportunities this alpine wonderland offers. Great Walks are accessible … The 82-kilometre, four-day tramp attracts visitors from all over the world every year. There are a number of walkways in New Zealand, however most of these are relatively short and can be walked in a day or less. Find out more about our amazing team here. An added bonus for flower lovers, the Hooker Valley has abundant native flora and is a sublime spot to see the Mt Cook buttercup in season (usually late October to mid December). SEND ME MY COPY. Aoraki / Mt Cook, New Zealand's tallest peak, stands proud above the Hooker Valley. Includes the best Short Walks in New Zealand, how fit to you have to be and what to bring to enjoy your Walking Holiday in New Zealand. All of our guides are Kiwi born and bred. The ten Great Walks are two to six-day adventures on well-formed and signposted tracks. A simple introduction to walking in New Zealand for overseas travellers. Milford and Routeburn Track guided walks. Some of the walks also include good accommodation with hot showers and cozy beds available. Māori made New Zealand’s first walking tracks as they travelled around the country. Sign up below and we'll email you once in a while – exclusive specials,new trips and updates to remind you how much you want to visit New Zealand. Dunedin's walking tracks provide a challenging and outstanding way to experience the scenery around the city. Today, it’s an important part of Te Wahipounamu, … Natural wonders abound in this untouched paradise. The best walking tracks you can walk in the South Island of New Zealand totally for FREE. New Zealand South Island Walks and Hikes are for those wanting to explore some of the South Island’s best hiking tracks and trails in the magnificent wilderness areas of the South Island of New Zealand. Tramping the full length of the trail generally takes three to six months. There are jewel coloured lakes galore amidst a Mars-esque landscape. Air New Zealand is a national partner with DOC for conservation, and is proud to support DOC's Great Walks. Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) is New Zealand's long distance tramping route, stretching circa 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) along the length of the country's two main islands from Cape Reinga to Bluff.It is made up of a mixture of older tracks and walkways, new tracks, and link sections alongside roads. Great Walks are accessible from major towns that are well serviced by local operators and accommodation and transport providers. This guide to New Zealand includes tour info, itineraries, maps and heaps of photos of our well-established trips! It was the first National Park to be gifted by a country’s indigenous people, It’s a Dual World Heritage site in recognition of its outstanding natural characteristics and its cultural significance, It’s the home of Mount Doom in Tolkien’s legendary stories. South Island tramping, hiking and guided walks directory, New Zealand. Get dates for when bookings open and for which booking periods. A visit to the Tongariro National Park is included in our Sweet North Tour. If you are planning to go hiking in New Zealand or just want to get some authentic New Zealand outdoor experiences we can help with your travel plans. Located right alongside its more famous cousins, the Hollyford Valley is rich in history and is considered one of the most authentic, untouched corners of New Zealand. Explore alpine peaks and untouched forests of New Zealand’s South Island whilst enjoying the comfort of our private lodges. 5 Reasons to Visit During Spring in New Zealand, New Zealand National Parks | A Complete Guide, Queenstown | Adventure Capital of the World, 5 Reasons Milford Sound is Best in the Rain, Kiwi Bird | The New Zealand National Bird, New Zealand Wildlife | Our Top 14 NZ Animals, Keep Safe on the Trails with Mountain Safety Council, Easy access and short journey time from Queenstown, Glenorchy, Paradise and the 'Top of the Lake' are not to be missed, One of the few places to see one of our rarest native birds, the Mohua / Yellowhead, Less people; most days we hardly see anyone out here, Wildlife in nature, NZ fur seals, penguins and even dolphins, Combine your walk with iconic adventure activities like a helicopter flight and backcountry jet boat, Incredible night skies in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, Relax after your walk in the iconic Hermitage Hotel bar, Two of the best visitor centres / museums in the country are located the village. It was the first National Park to be established in New Zealand way back in 1887 at which time it was only the fourth National Park in the world. In the case of the Hollyford Valley, a helicopter ride allows fast access to the heart of this special place – Martins Bay – bypassing the three day walk. The track intersects the meandering Hollyford River in true Kiwi style - with a swing bridge! It started life as an early Maori trail from Lake Wakatipu to Fiordland. New Zealand is one of the world’s most beautiful countries, and with thousands of kilometres of hiking tracks, it’s no wonder so many people take the time to get around it using only their own two feet. There is everything from gentle jaunts on well laid out tracks to more ambitious hikes including overnight hut stays – and it's all easily accessible. While most people prefer to explore on their own terms, guided trips offer a bit more comfort. A stunning drive from the popular resort of Queenstown, the Glenorchy end of the Routeburn Track offers one of the best day walks you'll find anywhere. Let’s talk – we’d love to hear what you think. It's difficult to describe the tranquility of the Hollyford. In the South Island they made trails up the valleys and across the mountains to the West Coast, the only region that had precious pounamu (greenstone). Hiking New Zealand's finest tracks. Mount Cook, It has an other-worldly landscape in some parts and is definitely worth a visit whilst you’re in New Zealand! Arguably New Zealand’s most famous walk, the 53-kilometre journey begins at the head of Lake Te Anau, and leads you across suspension bridges, board walks and a mountain pass. Our relaxed and active New Zealand adventures tick off the big names like Milford Sound and Mount … Eager to explore the real New Zealand with our expert local guides? 5. If you’re properly prepared, hiking is a safe and exhilarating way to see the South Island at their own pace. Today, it’s an important part of Te Wahipounamu, Southwest New Zealand’s World Heritage Area. Plan your land based trip into the New Zealand outdoors. The Hollyford has a truly Kiwi story; it was visited by early Maori in their searches for Greenstone and later was the site of some over-ambitious and eventually doomed development plans by European settlers. Pop your details in below and have your say. Many people choose to walk only to the first or second huts on the track instead of walking … Hiking the Great Walks From Queenstown. This guide to New Zealand includes tour info, itineraries, maps and heaps of photos of our well-established trips! If you're up for a challenge, a climb to Routeburn Falls will reward you with views which arguably surpass those on any other day walk in New Zealand. Our favourite walk here is the Hooker Valley, a day walk full of scenic highlights at every turn. We spend a day in the National Park on our Sweet North trip to make the most of the walking and photographic opportunities this alpine wonderland offers. Plan for a safe trip. What’s the Best Time for Hiking in New Zealand? Over the course of four days the Milford Track takes you 53.5km right through the heart of Fiordland. The Milford Track will show you pristine lakes, sky-scraping mountain peaks and enormous valley views; and it will take you to feel the misty breath of Sutherland Falls, the tallest waterfall in New Zealand. Here's our pick of the best walking tracks in the country - a compelling range of experiences and environments, all of which are featured in most of our trips. From native forests, lakes and rivers to rugged mountain peaks, deep gorges and vast valleys...there's a Great Walk for everyone! Taking a break on the Routeburn Great Walk, Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/walking-and-tramping/great-walks/. There are 590 moderate trails in New Zealand ranging from 0.7 to 93.7 miles and from 0 to 6,505 feet above sea level. One of New Zealand's 'Great Walks' and a real notch in any global hiker's belt, the Routeburn has a rich history. Get outdoors with MSC. Short Walks Day Hikes Great Walks Family-friendly walks and tramps. There's so much to see in the remote corners of New Zealand that we sometimes need a little help. Small, friendly groups led by expert Kiwi guides will make your New Zealand Trails tour a favourite travel memory for life. RSS feed for all comments. New Zealand Department of Conservation's nine Great Walks are unforgettable journeys. Critical Ecosystem Pressures on Freshwater Environments, Biodiversity inventory and monitoring toolbox, Get dates for when bookings open and for which booking periods. The following day we start with the freshest of air and begin our walk on the Hollyford Track. From MoaTrek New Zealand Small Group Tours. They combine spectacular scenery and surroundings with unique wildlife encounters, first class facilities and ease of access, creating memorable hiking experiences that will be the icing on the cake of your New Zealand vacation. For a more energetic experience, don your hiking boots and hike the tramping trails throughout the South Island of New Zealand. New Zealand's Great Walks are premier tracks that pass through diverse and spectacular scenery. Vastly different from the wide expanses of National Parks like Fiordland, Aoraki/Mt Cook is much more compact and provides a real alpine walking environment, even on shorter day walks. Often they walked along the beach, but they also cut tracks through the forest, and used ladders or pegs to climb cliffs. Take in spectacular New Zealand landscapes from beaches to volcanoes to forests to cities. Experience the alpine grandeur of the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Kepler Track, Hollyford Track and Hump Ridge Track or the coastal magnificence of the Queen Charlotte Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track. New Zealand’s longest and most spectacular cycle trail – this is a trail not to be missed. Ultimate Hikes are the exclusive operators of multi day guided walks on the famous Milford & Routeburn Tracks, two of New Zealand's most iconic Great Walks. Following a plane crash in 1936, Gunn made a remarkable journey for help, travelling from Martins Bay to Marian Corner in 21 hours. There’s plenty of easy walking, but some steep, challenging terrain means a … Come and explore beautiful New Zealand. Most of the track is on boardwalks and follows the coastline. These popular walking and cycling trails in New Zealand traverse around the base of mountains, through sprawling vineyard lands, over sandstone cliffs, and along abandoned railways. There’s everything from stunning Red Beech forest to the azure blue Routeburn River and a moody, dramatic gorge as well as the natural amphitheatre that is the Routeburn Flats, which looks positively Tolkien-esque. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! No need for a guided tour. Our favourite hike here is the Tongariro Crossing – a trek that is often referred to as the best day hike in the world. Hollyford Track. Dreamed of taking on one of our spectacular Great Walks but feel like you need some more training under your belt? Incredible when you find out the journey usually took four days! Fast forward to the mid nineteenth century and it was a planned route to transport gold from Queenstown to Martins Bay for export. Prepare yourself for a short hike along the exquisitely wild Fiordland coast to Long Reef, where we'll see the New Zealand Fur Seal and, if we’re lucky, the Fiordland Crested Penguin. Related. New Zealand's popular walks will be packed over summer – the huts on the Milford Track were booked within an hour of going on sale. Being surrounded by the friendly forest giants (trees!) While most people prefer to explore on their own terms, guided trips offer a bit more comfort. Nowhere else in New Zealand offers such easy access into a truly alpine environment, and you’ll never tire of the views of New Zealand’s highest peaks and glaciers. 0800 920 2011, Get hold of your free New Zealand Trails brochure here. Today, the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s most historic tracks and the alpine pathway between the Fiordland and Whakatipu communities, officially reopened end to end. New Zealand's best secret walks for summer stuff.co.nz - BROOK SABIN. The crystal clear waters of the Routeburn River will bring a smile to any face. This track is the jewel in New Zealand's hiking crown, an extremely popular 4-day track through Fiordland, from Lake Te Anau to the stunning Milford Sound. Milford Track. Read more here. Take a walk, a Great Walk, through some of New Zealand’s most awe-inspiring landscapes on premier walking tracks. There are five hikes for North Island and 11 hikes for South Island. New Zealand's Great Walks. The Hollyford Track feels a world away from everything. The name says it all; start at Aoraki Mt Cook in the heart of the stunning Southern Alps or the equally beautiful Lake Tekapo Village and wind your way round mountains, deep-blue lakes and canals, then rolling farmland before meeting the Pacific Ocean on the edge of Oamaru Harbour. We’ve got walks & hikes from the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, time to get out and enjoy New Zealand. New Zealand's most southern Great Walk, the Rakiura Track is on the third biggest island, Stewart Island. Lunch by the Hooker Glacier lake is the perfect place to enjoy a hot beverage and take it all in. This otherworldly landscape is food for the imagination and soul alike. GET YOUR FREE BROCHURE THAT REVEALS EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR ALL-INCLUSIVE TOURS! Wherever you look whilst walking the Tongariro, the views are astounding. The track covers 80% of the island in 3 days, making it the perfect way to explore this untouched beauty. Eager to explore the real New Zealand with our expert local guides? Great Walks tracks are well formed and easy to follow. Exceptional sights in the Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park keep the effort-to-reward factor sky-high. Our guided New Zealand hiking and adventure tours make it easy, fun and safe for you to walk, paddle, cycle and hike in New Zealand’s astonishing outdoors. The brilliant walks on the South Island are all included in our World Heritage Walking Tour, our Kiwi Classic Hiking Tour, our Masterpiece Adventure Tour, and our Pure South Tour alongside some once-in-a-lifetime adventure activities, comfortable accommodation and the best local restaurants. 1800 459 511 You don’t even have to do the whole journey by foot, as taking a water taxi and kayaking are also good ways to revel in coastal scenery. The Routeburn Track. Exploring New Zealand's World Heritage Sites, New Zealand Cuisine | Food in New Zealand. 1-877-796-0416 A local’s guide to walking & hiking trails in Waikato, NZ Meander alongside the Waikato River or get the pulse racing climbing to an inspirational mountain top view. | Privacy Policy, The top 10 lesser known walks of New Zealand. North vs South: Which Island of New Zealand Should I Visit? One of the more easily accessible New Zealand Great Walks, the Abel Tasman Coast Track takes you through stretching golden sand beaches and native bush. In 1926, the valley was opened up to tourism by the one and only Davey Gunn. Made famous by the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Tongariro National Park’s history goes back to before J.R.R Tolkien was born! We call this the Hollyford magic. New Zealand is the most diverse walking destination in the world. These are some of the locals’ favourite tracks. Our trip in the Hollyford is punctuated by enchanting waterfalls and crystal clear pools, while the omnipresent Darran mountain range gazes down on us from above. Why Do I Need New Zealand Travel Insurance? Looking for the best walks in New Zealand? When you're in the heart of the valley, there's really something about the place which slows you down and helps you breathe. New Zealand is a once-in-a-lifetime destination, yet after a visit there's a high chance you will seriously consider relocating. Australia vs New Zealand | Which is Best? After our walk we’re due a little luxury; one of the real treats of staying at Martins Bay Lodge is a hot shower, comfortable bed and being looked after by our wonderful hosts… who says you need to rough it in the outdoors! See more about our New Zealand Trails trips here or for more information on our trips order our free brochure! Walk or hike any of these tracks freely in the South Island. 100’s of tracks you can walk for free, no guide needed. Specifically for 50+ travellers who want do enjoy walks of 2 - 4 hours on a 2 to 3 week holiday in New Zealand. Check out 16 amazing hiking trails from travel bloggers in New Zealand's North Island and South Island. Why Join a Guided New Zealand Hiking Tour? New Zealand walks and trails offer the opportunity to appreciate and absorb the flavour of your surroundings. So, why not try … Come and explore the walking tracks in the South Island, from short walks to full day walks, from public walking tracks to private guided walking tours. In New Zealand, long distance walking or hiking for at least one overnight stay is known as tramping. Complete with map, elevation profile and photos. Milford Track, Watch out for the omnipresent red craters! Many are also an easy walk, with well formed footpaths. Gunn loved what he referred to as ‘The land of doing without’ and there are few other places that are as serene as the Hollyford valley. +64 3 595 2080