Articles ► Great Walks Information ►

Tracks

Great Walks Information

Track • 4 days. Easy/medium. One way.

The Milford Track is an alpine journey through Fiordland National Park, and New Zealand's most renowned walking track, visited by approximately 6 500 walkers during the Summer Season each year. Alm...

Heaphy Track

Track • 4 – 6 days. Easy. One way.

A classic crossing of the geologically and biologically diverse northwest corner of the South Island. The track is also open to mountain bikes May to September.

Kepler Track

Track • 3 – 4 days. Easy/medium. Loop track.

Popular loop track providing access to the mountains around Lake Te Anau.

Abel Tasman Coast Track

Track • 3 – 5 days. Easy. One way.

Easy, sunny coastal track with golden sands and excellent swimming. The busiest track in the country, following the length of the national park coastline.

Tongariro Northern Circuit

Track • 3 – 4 days. Easy/medium. Loop track.

This circuit on the Volcanic Plateau passes close to the summit of Tongariro in a spectacular, active volcanic landscape of crater lakes, lava flows, and hot springs. A side-trip leads to the summi...

Routeburn Track

Track • 2 – 4 days. Easy/medium. One way.

An internationally renowned and popular alpine crossing between Fiordland and Lake Wakatipu.

Lake Waikaremoana Track

Track • 3 – 4 days. Easy/medium. One way.

"The Lake Track." Busy track in summer with swimming and fishing along the lake-side.

Rakiura Track

Track • 3 days. Easy/medium. Loop track.

An historic walk through almost deserted, pure podocarp forest.

Heaphy Coastline

Track • 1 – 2 days. Easy. Return via same track.

An easy overnighter along the palm-fringed coastline of the Heaphy Track.

Scott's Beach

Track • 0 – 2 days. Easy. Return via same track.

Beautiful walk to a golden, palm-edged beach and camping area at the end of the Heaphy Track

Track grades

Easy: Unusually smooth, well-marked track, easy gradients. Up to about 4 hours per day.
Easy-medium: Typical lowland track. Generally easy walking and well marked. Ascents of up to 1000m. Some easy river crossings, unmarked travel along rivers.
Medium: Typical tops track. Experienced trampers only. Rough, muddy and poorly marked or unmarked. Ascents of up to 2000m. River crossings, open tops, passes. Up to about 8 hours per day.
Medium-hard: Navigation and snow skills (use of ice axe and crampons) required. Glaciers, exposure to falls.
Hard: Rough or non-existent tracks. Following ridges, bush spurs, and rivers. Steep ascents, arduous travel, hazardous conditions, snow and navigation skills essential.