From a gentle garden stroll or forest walk, to a coastal hike in Abel Tasman National Park or a multi-day adventure on the Milford Track, in New Zealand the choice of walking experiences is vast.

Whether it’s photographing alpine flora frozen in ice on the Hollyford Track or learning first-hand about the food and medicine used by the ancient tribes of the Whirinaki rainforest, New Zealand can offer a natural experience like no other. It’s an experience that’s open to every visitor as there are great opportunities for getting back to nature within minutes of any New Zealand town or city and some trails even provide access for disabled visitors.

With more than thirty percent of the country preserved in the national park system – that’s more than eight million hectares – your clients will need to don a pair of hiking boots to explore the most pristine corners of New Zealand. They’ll be spoilt for choice with 12,000 kilometres of walking tracks and 1,000 huts for overnight stays. Outside the national parks, there are many opportunities for walking in regional parks and preserves, and along coastlines, lakes and rivers. From the top of the North to the bottom of the South Island and beyond, to offshore islands, there are trails ranging from fifteen-minute scenic walks to demanding multi-day hikes, ice or mountain climbs. Whatever their skill level, your clients will find the perfect way to walk New Zealand. And walking in some of the most unspoilt parts of the world is an unforgettable experience.

Your clients can arrange an excursion independently or they may prefer to join a guided tour and allow an expert to introduce them to New Zealand’s natural features. Many longer, multi-day walks also offer the option of going independently or with a guide. A guided walk is a good option for visitors less experienced in the outdoors and those wanting to get involved in a more intense trekking experience. Guided walks take the hassle out of organising suitable food, as well as transport to and from the track. They also offer the advantage of an experienced escort who will explain local features, history, culture and wildlife. Levels of service vary, with some operators offering transport of gear so participants won’t even have to carry a pack.

If they are going independently, advise your clients to take care in their planning and seek advice before setting out. Main tracks, such as Whirinaki in the north, and Abel Tasman, Queen Charlotte, Routeburn, Milford and Hollyford in the south, are equipped with comfortable accommodation. Less well-known walks may also have basic backcountry huts for overnight stays. Visitors should always seek advice before attempting an overnight walk. It is important to be well equipped with suitable clothing, appropriate food and emergency gear, and to confirm that the chosen walk is suitable for fitness levels. Food, water and warm clothing should always be carried – the weather can change quickly in this part of the world and even short walks are less enjoyable if you’re cold and hungry! Your clients can visit a Department of Conservation Visitor and Information Centre for assistance.

Whether your clients take an epic trek through mountainous terrain, or a scenic stroll through a forest or along a beach, walking in New Zealand is a wonderful way to experience the landscape close at hand.

New Zealand’s Great Walks

The most widely known hiking trails in New Zealand are known as the Great Walks. Administered and protected by the Department of Conservation, these trails are maintained to a high standard, with a higher standard of facilities than other trails, and can be relied upon to introduce your client to some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery. It is therefore no surprise that these are some of New Zealand’s most popular hikes and many require bookings.

Abel Tasman Coast Track, 3 – 5 days, 51 km (Abel Tasman National Park)
Perhaps the most gentle (and one of the most famous) of the Great Walks is the Abel Tasman Coast Track. This 51 km coastal track introduces the walker to an intriguing blend of forest and sandy beaches. Most people can walk this track in three to five days.

Heaphy Track, 4 – 6 days, 82 km (Kahurangi National Park)
This popular track passes through a range of landscapes in Kahurangi National Park, from tussock land to West Coast rainforest.

Kepler Track, 3 – 4 days, 60 km (Fiordland National Park)
Located in Fiordland National Park, this 60 km track offers an ever-changing landscape of beech forest, alpine regions and a glacial valley. Most people walk this track in three to four days.

Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, 3 – 4 days, 46 km (Te Urewera National Park)
Discover the varied beauty of Te Urewera National Park on a three- to four-day walk through dense rainforest along the lake edge.

Milford Track, 4 days, 53.5 km (Fiordland National Park)
Probably New Zealand’s most widely known walk, this unforgettable track is located in Fiordland National Park, where forested valleys and waterfalls abound. This is a four-day walk and is incredibly popular during the summer months.

Rakiura Track, 3 days, 36 km (Rakiura National Park)
Located on Stewart Island, in New Zealand’s newest national park, this coastal track can be walked in three days and is suitable to tramp all year round.

Routeburn Track, 3 days, 32 km (Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks)
This popular track links Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks, introducing walkers to waterfalls, forest and lakes along the way. The track is usually completed in three days.

Tongariro Northern Circuit, 3 – 4 days, 41 km (over Mt Tongariro and around Mt Ngauruhoe)
Passing through strange volcanic landscapes and glacial valleys in the Central North Island, this track is an unforgettable experience.

Whanganui Journey, 5 days, 145 km (Whanganui National Park)
Though it is traversed by canoe rather than by foot, the Whanganui Journey is grouped with the Great Walks due to its significance as a New Zealand national treasure.

Other Renowned Hiking Tracks

Banks Peninsula Walk Two- or four-day hike in Canterbury.

Hollyford Track 37 km, three-day hike in Fiordland.

Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track 53 km, three-day hike in Southland.

Kaikoura Coast Track 43 km three-day hike near Kaikoura in Canterbury.

Queen Charlotte Track 71 km, three- or four-day hike in Marlborough.

Tongariro Crossing 17 km, one-day hike in the Ruapehu region.