The incredibly beautiful landscape of New Zealand is something worth exploring when visiting the country. There is no better way to do this than by hiking some of its best trails. Hiking in New Zealand is an opportunity to witness the incredible mountain ranges, the dense forests, the impressive fjords, and the coastal areas of the country. To get the best out of hiking in New Zealand, here are the best hikes in the country to add to your bucket list.
10 Tongariro Alpine Crossing, North Island
Tongariro Alpine Crossing is often considered one of the best one-day walks in the world because of the scenery it offers. This track is located in the world-famous Tongariro National Park, and it takes hikers through a volcanic landscape where there are beautiful lava flows, steam vents, and turquoise/emerald lakes. This makes the trail a photographer’s paradise.
It takes about 8 hours to complete this trail, and hikers must be aware that the hike involves steep climbs and unpredictable weather. While keeping the difficulties in mind, also remember that the incredible views are worth all the difficulty.
- Distance: 11.8 miles
- Duration: Approximately 8 hours
9 Roys Peak Track, Otago Region, South Island
Roys Peak Track is a mountain trail near Wanaka that takes hikers on a steep climb through the Wanaka region to Roy’s peak. From this peak, one will have incredible views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountain ranges.
While this trail is short, it is extremely difficult as it features an elevation gain of nearly 1,300 meters. Such elevation gain means that hikers will be exposed to direct sunlight throughout the hike, which can take between 5 and 7 hours to complete.
- Distance: 10 miles out and back
- Duration: Between 5 and 7 hours
8 Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park, South Island
Routeburn Track is one of the numerous hikes in Fiordland National Park, considered among the best in the country. The trail is long and steep, and it goes through stunning mountain ranges, beautiful lakes, and enchanted forests. This just means hikers will enjoy amazing natural scenery throughout the hike.
Besides the incredible views of snow-capped mountains and lakes, hikers on this trail will enjoy watching and listening to the abundance of birds in the forest areas.
- Distance: 19.8 miles
- Duration of Hike: Approximately 3 days
7 Tarawera Trail, North Island
Tarawera Trail is a day hike that takes hikers through a bush path on Hot Water Beach. On the way, hikers will have views of the beautiful Lake Tarawera, Mount Tarawera, and the surrounding plants and trees. The trial is about 9 miles long, and it takes between 4 and 6 hours to complete.
The trail has some hot springs that hikers can stop and soak in, and the Hot Water Beach at the end of the trail is also a great place to enjoy a warm swim. Caution is required when getting into the Hot Water Beach, however, as some parts can be extremely hot.
In addition, there is the option to return using the service of a water taxi, so one does not have to hike the entire 9 miles back from Hot Water Beach.
- Distance: 9 miles
- Hiking duration: Approximately 5 hours
6 Coromandel Coastal Walkway, North Island
Hiking in New Zealand is not all about mountains and forests. The country also has some of the best coastal hikes in the world, one of which is the Coromandel Coastal Walkway. This coastal walkway stretches for 6 miles along the Coromandel Coastline, where one will be presented with impressive views of rocky cliffs, beautiful trees, and the spectacular blue color of the water.
Coromandel Coastline takes about 7 hours to complete, and it is quite short compared to other hikes in New Zealand. This makes it great for those who want to enjoy the natural scenery of New Zealand without having to spend days backpacking one trail. Being short, however, does not mean it is easy, as the trail has some steep and slippery sections. Besides hiking, biking is also allowed on the Coromandel Coastline trail.
- Distance: 12 miles round trip
- Duration: 7 hours out and back
5 Kepler Track, South Island
One of the best ways to explore the world-famous Fiordland National Park is by hiking it, and one of the best trails for hiking in the park is Kepler Track. This track is basically a loop that goes through the impressive mountain ranges, rivers, and waterfalls of Fiordland National Park. Hikers are required to be fit to take on this hike as it takes between 3 and 4 days to complete.
- Distance: 37.2 miles
- Hiking Duration: Approximately 4 days
4 Abel Tasman Coastal Track, South Island
A list of best hikes in New Zealand would not be complete without mention of Abel Tasman Coastal Track. This hike is one that takes hikers on a 31 miles journey along the stunning coastal and forest scenery of Abel Tasman National Park. During the hike, one will be opportune to walk through beautiful soft sand beaches and forests filled with beautiful and large trees.
It takes about between 3 and 5 days to complete this hike, and hikers should be prepared for steep sections of the trail, which can even be slippery. Some parts of the trail can also become dangerous when the tides are high, so hikers are required to check the tides from the Department of Conservation website while planning the hike.
In addition, Abel Tasman Coastal Path offers different hiking options, which means those with limited time can just do one part of the trail rather than dedicate days to completing the entire distance.
- Distance: 31 miles
- Duration: Approximately 5 days
3 Te Araroa Trail, South Island And North Island
In the Maori language, Te Araroa means “the long path,” and this is a perfect description of the trail. With a distance of 1,864 miles, one can, without a doubt, say that this is one of the world’s longest hiking trails. Such a trail is not for the faint at heart, but don’t let that scare you, as this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences worth having.
The Te Araroa Trail begins from Cape Reinga on the North Island and makes its way through impressive mountains, lakes, cities, beaches, and forests until it reaches Bluff on the South Island. It takes about four months to complete this trial, but it may take less or more time for some hikers. It is the ultimate challenge for hikers in New Zealand.
- Trail Distance: 1,864 miles
- Hiking Duration: Between 3 to 6 months
2 Rakiura Track, Stewart Island
The Rakiura track is one that takes visitors through some of the best parts of Stewart Island, where one will be met with beautiful beaches and dense forests. Besides the incredible scenery, Rakiura Track also comes with the added advantage of fewer crowds.
It takes about three days to complete this hike, although some extreme adventurers can complete it in two days. At Rakiura Track, hikers will come across plenty of native birds, old Maori settlements, and just endless views of the coast.
- Distance: 19.8 miles
- Hiking Duration: Approximately 3 days
1 The Milford Track, South Island
Milford Track is no doubt the finest walk in New Zealand. The takes hikers on a 4 to 5 days journey through the incredible natural scenery of Fiordland National Park to the picturesque Milford Sound. The trail goes through enchanting forests, crystal clear lakes, and stunning mountain ranges. At every turn on this hike, the sights are beautiful, and even more beautiful when hikers reach the world-famous Milford Sound, which is the highlight of the whole experience. The Milford Track is incredibly exciting, but hikers need to be fit to complete this hike as some part of the hiker requires extreme climbs and extreme descent.
- Distance: 33.5 miles
- Duration: Approximately 5 days