New Zealand Great Walks
Experience our New Zealand Great Walks. Explore, experience and enjoy Lord of the Rings spectacular scenery throughout backcountry New Zealand. See spectacular views of the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Abel Tasman Coastal Track, Dart Rees Track, Kepler Track, Heaphy Track and Stewart Island tracks.
Our New Zealand backcountry environment offers New Zealanders and every tourist visitor something for every age and fitness level with a range from backpacking trips, adventure touring through to mountaineering trips. Backcountry New Zealand hikes is committed to responsible travel and environmental sustainability.
Come and see spectacular views of the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Kepler Track and Stewart island tracks.
NZ Great Walks
Great Walks are the Department’s premier walking tracks, through areas of some of the best scenery in the country. The huts and tracks on the Great Walks are of a higher standard than other tramping tracks, and many of the Great Walks have booking systems to manage visitor pressure.
Abel Tasman Coastal Track
The Abel Tasman Coastal Track is a 51 kilometre, easy to moderate walking track that passes through a picturesque landscape of coastal forests and golden sandy beaches. All streams are bridged and most people can walk it in 3 – 5 days with plenty of time to explore.
Heaphy Track
Heaphy Track crosses a range of landscapes in Kahurangi National Park, from the junction of the Brown and Aorere Rivers, over expansive tussock downs to the lush forests and roaring sea of the West Coast.
Kepler Track
Kepler Track, a 60 kilometre, moderate walking track that takes three to four days to complete. It traverses lake edges, beech forest, alpine mountain tops and a U-shaped glacial valley.
Lake Waikaremoana
Lake Waikaremoana – a Magnificent forested scenery and plenty of opportunity for swimming and fishing are features of the walk.
Milford Track
Milford track is described as “the finest walk in the world”, the track extends for 54 kilometres from the northern end of Lake Te Anau to Sandfly Point near Milford Sound. It is renowned for its glacially carved valleys, alpine flowers and waterfalls.
Routeburn Track
The Routeburn Track is a 32 kilometre, two to three day, a moderate tramping track which links Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks via the Harris Saddle (1,277 metres). Features of the track include waterfalls, forested valleys, rich birdlife, lakes and spectacular mountain scenery.
Rakiura Track Stewart Island
Tongariro Crossing (1-day Alpine walk)
The Tongariro Northern Circuit ( Crossing)winds its way over Mt Tongariro and around Mt Ngauruhoe. This walk passes through unique and stunning landforms which include volcanic craters and glacial valleys.
Whanganui Journey
The Whanganui River winds its way from the mountains to the Tasman Sea through countless hills and valleys. Lowland forest surrounds the river in its middle and lower reaches – the heart of Whanganui National Park.