New Zealand’s Great Walks – The Complete Guide

Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk

Considered a tramping track in New Zealand, this is a walk which follows the side of Lake Waikaremoana and takes walkers through a range of terrains – from forests to grassland, and over a lot of dirt track.

The best way to reach the start of the walk is to get the shuttle from the nearby town of Wairoa, as the full walk is a track rather than a circuit and so the finish is different from the start.

Though the walk is straightforward there are opportunities to detour and take in additional sights, including the Korokoro Falls about 20km into the walk.

Similarly, navigation is easy though the collection of steep climbs and the often rough terrain can make this more challenging for those with low fitness and less experience with the New Zealand climate.

As such, most walkers split this 44km hike into a couple of days and spend the night in accommodation at one of the surrounding campsite huts (which must be booked in advance).

Walkers should note that this hike is 44km one way and if you want to return to where you started, it will be an 88km round trip.

Tongariro North Circuit

This is a walk which, when done at one time of the year provides stunning glacial surroundings and alpine views, and when done at the other end of the year is an adventure filled with snow and ice.

If it’s a dramatic backdrop you are looking for then this is a walk which offers its own challenges and, despite being one of the easier tramping trails in New Zealand, boasts a rough terrain and plenty of obstacles.

The walk takes you through a World Heritage Area of natural and cultural significance in the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, and walkers should note that some of the volcanic vents are still active.

Most tend to complete this walk within 3-4 days given the conditions and the opportunity to enjoy such varied surroundings, though very experienced walkers can do this trail within a couple of days.

Whanganui Journey

The ultimate kayaking adventure, this Great Walk is actually done almost entirely from a vessel – namely a canoe or kayak – as it takes you through the Whanganui National Park and past remote hills and valleys.

If it’s a unique experience that you’re looking for then this Great Walk not only sweeps you off your feet (literally) but it offers endless chances to see natural surroundings that are virtually untouched by humans, encouraging you to navigate the segments of the river and enjoy a few on-foot detours along the way.

During this experience you will likely come across wildlife and plant life that are unfamiliar to you, with many even saying they’ve heard the call of the Brown Kiwi at night around the riverbed.

We recommend taking the time to really look around you and enjoy the setting of this river, with its million-year-old surrounding land offering insight into ancient New Zealand landscape.

Keep an eye out for the Bridge to Nowhere walk, which takes around 40 minutes one way and gives you a chance to leave your kayak behind and head down towards the Mangapurua Valley farm settlement.

Abel Tasman Coast Track

This is the most popular of all the New Zealand Great Walks for a reason – it’s accessible, enjoys mild weather and plenty of experiences and accommodation options to make the overall hike as comfortable as possible for walkers on all budgets.

As a coastal track, this is one of the best and most immersive ways to enjoy the New Zealand coastline, with some parts of the walk including tidal crossings which must be navigated around the tide times.

But that’s about as complex as this walk gets – with walkers of all ages able to enjoy small segments or the entire trail depending on the level of challenge that they are looking for.

If you’re looking for local New Zealand wildlife during your experience, this is a great walk for spotting fur seals, while the crystal clear waters of the Tonga Island Marine Reserve offer an uninterrupted insight into life under the sea.

Every corner of this walk takes you to a new viewpoint and offers a new level of beauty, with plenty of accommodation options and stopping points to ensure you can complete the entire walk in your own time.

The suspension bridge over the Falls River stretches 47m long and is one of the highlights of this walk – a memory to take home with you and cherish forever!

Heaphy Track

It’s said that every 20km of the Heaphy Track introduces a new landscape and type of terrain, creating a varied and exciting walk for those of all abilities.

The track ends at the West Coast, having taken walkers through forests and along the Heaphy River with its beeches and palms.

Usually completed in 4 or 5 days depending on ability and how keen you are to make the most of stops and viewpoints, the Heaphy Track offers a range of traditional New Zealand camping huts at the end of each small section.

Some of the walk takes place on boardwalks which rest atop flooding ground, and while the walk is signposted throughout it is worth understanding the route before you set out on your adventure.

This walk is notorious for spotting Kiwi and boasts an extensive human history including gold mining and Māori expeditions.

Routeburn Track

As the shortest of the New Zealand Great Walks, this route is often viewed as the most accessible and the one most doable for day or weekend hikers.

However, the majority of the walk is an incline with a steeper return to sea level at the end of the walk – making it challenging for those with lower levels of fitness.

One of the best things about this route is the variety of side treks it offers for those looking to expand their experience and take in alternative viewpoints – though if you’re going to explore these then make sure you have a map as many of these small side routes are not signposted.

The Routeburn Track was named one of the top eleven trails in the world by National Geographic in 2005, and an annual mountain run occurs on the track around April each year.

If it’s wildlife and natural experiences you are looking for, this route is rife with exotic birds and offers some of the best views over mountain ranges and valleys in New Zealand.

The Routeburn river is another highlight, famed for its crystal clear waters and the Routeburn Falls.

Milford Track

The Milford Track is the most famous of the Great Walks in New Zealand, and as such can only be walked in one direction due to the number of people who arrive to complete the walk every year.

The three camping huts available throughout the walk must be booked in advance due to popularity, and you might find that a guided walk is a better way for you to really make the most of this experience if you are not a confident navigator.

The landscape of the Milford Track takes in everything from rainforests to wetlands and alpine passes, providing a multitude of riverside stops and stunning viewpoints.

It is also steeped with human history and is said to be a route used by the Māori before being introduced to the world by European explorers.

A maximum of 90 walkers can start the trail on any single day during Great Walks season, and they must complete the route in no more than 4 days total – however outside of Great Walks season, the track is largely unregulated.

Look out specifically for the Mackinnon pass which boasts glacier encrusted mountains, and the tallest waterfall in New Zealand – the Sutherland Falls.

Paparoa Track

The Paparoa Track was the tenth Great Walk to be added to the official list in New Zealand and was only formally opened in 2020.

A track which is designed both for walkers and mountain bikers, it includes an extra segment which celebrates and commemorates the miners who lost their lives in the 2010 disaster, by guiding walkers to the site of the mine.

As a complete route, the Paparoa Track is packed full of stunning scenery and breath taking views, as you move over alpine tops and through rainforest landscapes.

This is a walk where the sunsets are just as good as the daylight views, and the three separate camping huts each offer a unique experience to enhance your overall adventure.

There are some sections of the track which are particularly difficult to navigate and traverse, with loose rocks making the going tough for those with limited experience.

Look out for remnants of the area’s gold mining history, and keep your eyes peeled for some of the wildlife which is being protected within the Paparoa National Park.

Kepler Track

As a circular track, this is one of the most accessible walks for those who are travelling around New Zealand – especially since it offers such a diverse landscape and spectacular array of surroundings.

The rocky mountain edges present some challenges to less able hikers, though the tall forests and lake shores offer plenty of viewpoints for those unable to traverse the steeper passes.

When compared with other tracks in New Zealand, the Kepler Track is one of the best kept and most well maintained and is home to an annual Kepler Challenge run which sees runners complete the entire route in less than a day.

Some of the highlights of this route include the Iris Burn Fall and the Luxmore caves, which offer plenty of history and natural wonder, and make for some memorable picture moments.

Just after the Luxmore caves the track rises up to the Luxmore summit with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.

There are three huts and two campsites in total along the course of the track, offering plenty of overnight options to hikers.

Rakiura Track

As the only Great Walk on New Zealand’s Stewart Island, this 32km trail is a circular route which takes in coastline, bays, mudflats, hills, and offers a rare chance to see Kiwi’s in the wild for wildlife lovers.

The track is well maintained and though bits of it cross sand and mud as well as boardwalks and rough tracks, it is widely accessible to most walkers looking for a challenge.

As you continue along the track you will come across some stunning views over crystal clear waters, as well as several historical artefacts and relics which offer some insight into the human history as well as the natural history of the island.

The swing bridge over the Maori Beach is popular with walkers of all ages and the surrounding native forests are visually stunning as well as interesting to wander around.

Stewart Island itself is home to the Rakiura National Park as well as multiple day walks and adventures, so there are plenty of smaller routes for those who don’t want to complete the full 32km.

Interestingly, walkers who research the track in advance will find that it in fact appears on Google Street View and has done since 2015 – making it easy to capture and visualise from home.

The above walks all make it onto the Great Walks list because they are well maintained, offer a huge variety of views and experiences to walkers, and because they take in some of the best culture and nature that New Zealand has to offer.

Have you completed any of  New Zealand’s Great Walks yet? Let us know your favourites!