Must - do Hikes in New Zealand

North Island

Taranaki Region

Pouakai Tarns via Mangorei Track

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Distance: 12.4 km, duration 4-6 hours. A scenic alpine hike with mirror-like reflections of Mount Taranaki.

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Mount Taranaki Summit Track

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Distance 12.6 km, duration 8-10 hours return. A demanding but rewarding climb to the summit of one of New Zealand’s most iconic volcanoes.

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The Goblin Forest & Wilkies Pools Walk

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Distance: 2 km, duration: 45 minutes. A short walk through a moss-covered forest leading to natural rock pools that feel like a fairy tale.

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Coromandel & Waikato

Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (Pinnacles Walk)

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Distance: 12 km, duration: 6-8 hours. This challenging hike offers panoramic views of the stunning Coromandel Peninsula.

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Blue Spring (Te Waihou Walkway)

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Distance: 10 km, duration: 3 hours return. A gentle riverside walk leading to the famous Blue Spring, renowned for its crystal-clear, turquoise waters.

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Wairere Falls Track

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Distance: 5 km, duration: 3 hours. A scenic climb through native bush to Waikato’s tallest waterfall.

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Tongariro & Central North Island

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

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Distance: 20.2 km, duration: 7-9 hours one way. New Zealand’s most famous day hike, passing emerald lakes, volcanic craters, and steaming vents.

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Taranaki Falls Track

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Distance: 6 km loop, duration: 2 hours. A short walk leading to a stunning waterfall cascading over an ancient lava flow.

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Mount Holdsworth Track

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Distance: 24 km loop, duration: 1-3 days. A challenging backcountry hike with alpine ridges and hut stays in the Tararua Ranges.

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Ohakune Old Coach Road

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Distance: 15 km, duration: 4-5 hours. A historic and scenic trail through native bush, viaducts, and remnants of an old railway near Tongariro National Park.

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Bay of Plenty & Hawke’s Bay & East Coast

Mount Maunganui Summit Track

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Distance: 6.4 km loop, duration: 2 hours. A steep but short climb to the top of "The Mount," offering panoramic views of Tauranga and the coast.

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Cape Kidnappers Walk

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Distance: 19 km, duration: 5-6 hours. A coastal walk leading to a gannet colony and dramatic cliffs along Hawke’s Bay.

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Bell Rock Track

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Distance: 4 km, duration: 2-3 hours return. A short but rewarding hike to a unique rock formation with panoramic views over Hawke’s Bay.

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Te Mata Peak Track

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Distance: 5 km, duration: 2 hours. A scenic summit walk with breathtaking views of the rolling hills and coastline of Hawke’s Bay.

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Northland & West Coast & Bay of Islands

The Whara Track

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Distance: 7.5 km return, duration: 5-6 hours. A rugged coastal hike leading to stunning views over the Bay of Islands.

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Cape Brett Walkways

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Distance: 33 km return, duration: 8 hours. A challenging ridge walk to the historic lighthouse, offering incredible ocean views.

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Duke's Nose Track

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Distance 3 km, duration 2-3 hrs return. A short but steep climb in Whangaroa Harbour, leading to a spectacular panoramic view over the turquoise waters, forested hills, and winding inlets. A rock scramble near the top adds a fun challenge to this Northland must-do.

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Putangirua Pinnacles Walk

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Distance: 7 km, duration: 2-4 hours. A unique badlands landscape, famous for its towering rock formations seen in The Lord of the Rings.

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Karioi Summit Track

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Distance: 6 km, duration: 5 hours return. A steep and technical hike up an extinct volcano near Raglan, with panoramic views of the Tasman Sea.

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Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway

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Distance: 9 km, duration: 3-4 hours. A stunning coastal walk with white sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, and ocean views.

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Rangitoto Summit Track

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Distance: 7 km, duration: 2-3 hours return. A hike up Auckland’s most iconic volcanic island, featuring lava fields, native forest, and 360° views over the Hauraki Gulf.

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South Island

Fiordland & Queenstown Regio

Gertrude Saddle Route

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Distance: 7 km, duration: 4-6 hours. A challenging alpine hike with jaw-dropping views over Milford Sound.

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Key Summit Trail

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Distance: 7 km, duration: 3 hours. A short but rewarding side trip from the Routeburn Track.

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Ben Lomond Track

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Distance: 14 km, duration: 6-8 hours. A steep climb from Queenstown offering breathtaking 360° views.

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Lake Marian Track

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Distance: 3 km, duration: 3 hours. A stunning alpine lake hike in Fiordland National Park.

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Isthmus Peak Track

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Distance: 16 km, duration: 5-7 hours. A less crowded alternative to Roy’s Peak, with equally epic views.

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Earnslaw Burn Track

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Distance: 26 km, duration: 8-12 hours return or overnight. A remote hike near Glenorchy leading to a massive glacier, waterfalls, and an alpine valley featured in The Hobbit films.

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Wanaka & Mount Aspiring National Park

Roys Peak Track

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Distance: 16 km, duration: 5-7 hours. The iconic Instagram-famous view over Lake Wanaka.

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Rob Roy Glacier Track

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Distance: 10 km, duration: 3-4 hours. A scenic hike to a hanging glacier that captivates hikers.

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Liverpool Hut

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Distance: 20km, duration: 8-10 hours. A steep but incredible backcountry hut hike with epic views.

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Brewster Hut Track

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Distance: 10 km, duration: 6 hours. A tough alpine climb with breathtaking views over glaciers and mountains.

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Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

Hooker Valley track

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Distance: 10 km, duration: 3 hours. One of NZ’s best day hikes, leading to a glacial lake with Mount Cook in the background.

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Mueller Hut Route

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Distance: 10.4 km, duration: 6-8 hours. A tough but rewarding climb with breathtaking alpine scenery.

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Sealy Tarns Viewpoint

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Distance: 5.8 km, duration: 3-4 hours. The "stairway to heaven" – featuring 2,200+ steps with stunning views.

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West Coast & Arthur’s Pass National Park

Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk

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Distance: 5.4 km, duration: 1.5 hours. A short hike to get close to the iconic glacier.

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Fox Glacier South Side Walkway

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Distance: 6.4 km, duration: 2 hours. A fantastic alternative to Franz Josef Glacier.

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Avalanche Peak Track

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Distance: 10 km, duration: 6-8 hours. A difficult climb in Arthur’s Pass, renowned as one of NZ’s best summit hikes.

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Bealey Spur Track

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Distance: 11.5 km, duration: 4-5 hours. A scenic hike with mountain and valley views, less intense but equally rewarding.

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Nelson Lakes & Kahurangi National Park

Angelus Hut

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Distance: 24 km, duration: 2 days. A challenging but stunning ridge hike to a high-altitude lake.

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Mount Arthur Summit

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Distance: 8 km, duration: 3-4 hours. A rewarding climb in Kahurangi National Park.

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Abel Tasman & Marlborough Sounds

Wainui Falls

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Distance: 3.4 km, duration: 1.5 hours. A short rainforest walk leading to a beautiful waterfall.

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Queen Charlotte Track

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Distance: 72 km, duration: 3-5 days. A stunning mix of coastline and forest in the Marlborough Sounds.

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Unique & Off-the-Beaten-Path Hikes

Lake Gunn Nature Walk

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Distance: 1.4 km, duration: 45 minutes. A short but peaceful walk in Fiordland.

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Sawcut Gorge/Isolated Hill Route

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Distance: 10 km, duration: 4-5 hours. A hidden limestone gorge adventure near Kaikoura.

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Ten Great Walks in New Zealand

These are New Zealand’s premier multi-day hikes, managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). The Great Walks season typically runs from October to April. This is the best time for hiking, as the weather is more favorable. For most of these hikes bookings are required. You can do that on DOC website.

North Island Great Walks

Tongariro Northern Circuit

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Distance: 43 km, duration 3-4 days. A volcanic landscape with emerald lakes, steaming vents, and part of the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Bookings required for huts and campsites.

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Lake Waikaremoana Track

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Distance: 46 km, duration: 3-4 days. A remote rainforest hike through Te Urewera, with stunning lake views and waterfalls. Bookings required for huts and campsites.

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Whanganui Journey

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Distance: 145 km, duration: 3-5 days. Not a hike, but a canoe or kayak journey down the Whanganui River. Bookings required for huts and campsites.

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South Island Great Walks

Milford Track

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Distance: 53.5 km, duration: 4 days. The most famous Great Walk, featuring waterfalls, fjords, and stunning valleys in Fiordland. Bookings required. Huts only; no camping allowed.

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Routeburn Track

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Distance: 33 km, duration: 2-3 days. An alpine adventure linking Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Park, with incredible mountain views. Bookings required for huts and campsites.

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Kepler Track

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Distance: 60 km, duration: 3-4 days. A loop track with ridgeline views, beech forests, and waterfalls in Fiordland. Bookings required for huts and campsites.

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Abel Tasman Coast track

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Distance: 60 km, duration: 3-5 days. Golden beaches, turquoise waters, and coastal forests, with the option to kayak sections. Bookings required for huts and campsites.

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Heaphy track

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Distance: 78.4 km, duration: 4-6 days. A diverse hike through rainforests, alpine plateaus, and wild beaches on the West Coast. Bookings required for huts and campsites.

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Paparoa Track

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Distance: 55 km, duration: 2-3 days. The newest Great Walk, winding through limestone cliffs, rainforests, and alpine landscapes. Bookings required for huts and campsites.

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Stewart Island Great Walk

Rakiura Track

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Distance: 32 km, duration: 3 days. A remote coastal and forest walk on Stewart Island, with a good chance of seeing kiwi birds in the wild. Bookings required for huts and campsites, but usually less crowded than other Great Walks.

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Choosing the Best Great Walk

Best for first-time hikers: Abel Tasman, Kepler, Routeburn

Best for dramatic landscapes: Milford, Routeburn, Tongariro

Best for off-the-beaten-path adventure: Heaphy, Rakiura, Paparoa

Best for combining hiking and water activities: Whanganui (canoeing), Abel Tasman (kayaking and hiking)

Important Notes

Milford Track

Sells out months in advance (often within hours of bookings opening).

Routeburn & Kepler Tracks

Also book up quickly, especially in peak season.

Abel Tasman & Heaphy Track

Have more availability but still require advance booking.

Paparoa Track

Is one of the newest Great Walks and can be in high demand.

*Outside the Great Walks season (May–October), huts are first-come, first-served, but weather and track conditions can be extreme.

Hiking Safety & Conservation Disclaimer

New Zealand’s trails offer incredible landscapes, but safety should always come first. Weather conditions can change rapidly, especially in alpine areas, so always check the forecast, carry the right gear, and let someone know your plans. Some hikes require advanced skills and experience - know your limits and be prepared.

New Zealand is also home to unique and fragile ecosystems, so help protect nature by sticking to marked trails, carrying out all rubbish, and respecting wildlife. Many hiking areas are within conservation land managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), so always follow their guidelines to preserve these landscapes for future generations.

Enjoy the adventure responsibly! :)