New Zealand's Great Walks

The best-known NZ hiking trails are known as New Zealand’s Great Walks and they give visitors access to some of New Zealand’s most pristine corners.

Administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC), these trails lead through New Zealand’s national parks and UNESCO World Heritage areas and are maintained to a high standard. Many require advance bookings.

1. Abel Tasman Coast Track
Perhaps the most gentle of the Great Walks, this 51-kilometre coastal track introduces walkers to an intriguing blend of forest and sandy beaches. View map

2. Heaphy Track
This popular track passes through a range of landscapes in Kahurangi National Park, from tussock land to West Coast rainforest. View map

3. Kepler Track
Located in Fiordland National Park, this 60-kilometre track offers a varied landscape of forest, alpine areas and a glacial valleys, and can be walked in three to four days. View map

4. Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk
Discover the varied beauty of Te Urewera National Park on a three- to four-day walk through dense rainforest along the lake edge. View map

5. Milford Track
New Zealand’s most widely known walk, located in Fiordland National Park where forested valleys abound. View map

6. Rakiura Track
Located on Stewart Island, in New Zealand’s newest national park, this coastal track can be walked in three days. View map

7. Routeburn Track
This popular track links Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks, passing waterfalls, forest and lakes along the way. View map

8. Tongariro Northern Circuit
Passes through an unforgettable range of volcanic landscapes. View map

9. Whanganui Journey
Travelled by canoe rather than by foot, the Whanganui Journey is grouped with the Great Walks due to its significance as a national treasure. View map

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Buying tickets

Pre-purchase Great Walk tickets at Department of Conservation visitor centres, by phone, fax, email, post or online. www.doc.govt.nz

Before setting out

Plan properly before setting out on a walk.
Get advice on weather conditions – see www.metservice.co.nz for up-to-date forecasts.
Don’t walk alone, and register your plans at a DOC office.
Stick to the track to protect fragile plants – and yourself.
Wear a good pair of hiking boots that support your ankles.
Take warm, waterproof clothing – the weather can change quickly.
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration – water from streams must be purified by boiling for at least three minutes or by using chemical purifiers.
Wear sunscreen – the sun can be strong even if the weather is cold.
Take a first-aid kit containing something to soothe blisters.
Carry gear in a backpack that fits comfortably. Seek advice from the Department of Conservation or a reputable outdoor equipment retailer on clothing, food and emergency gear. www.doc.govt.nz or www.mountainsafety.org.nz

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Bookings
Bookings are required during peak season for Abel Tasman Coast Track, Heaphy, Milford, Routeburn and Kepler Tracks, and year-round for Lake Waikaremoana Track. Bookings open on 1 July each year. Book online at www.doc.govt.nz or email booking@doc.govt.nz

Facilities
During peak season, huts along the tracks offer cold water, toilets and heating fuel. Find out the latest information at the nearest Department of Conservation visitor centre before starting on your hike.

Fees
All walkers must purchase a Great Walk Pass or Great Walk tickets to use hut and campsite facilities. Maximum stay periods apply.

Seasons
Summer peak season is generally 1 October to 30 April. Off-peak season runs from 1 May to 30 September.