Exploring New Zealand’s beauty on foot while hiking is certainly an excellent idea. The country offers countless opportunities, the paths are always well maintained and signposted and there is no shortage of variety.
Hiking in New Zealand means choosing between green meadows, rugged mountain ranges, deep gorges and even paradisiacal beaches. This is the best way to experience the full splendor of the North and South Island. You not only have the choice between a wide variety of landscapes, but also whether you want to go on half-day hikes, day trips and day hikes or even multi-day hikes on one of the iconic Great Walks. The country’s infrastructure is prepared for every hiking option.
Short hikes
If you don’t have too much time or want to take things slowly when hiking in New Zealand, you don’t have to miss out on anything. New Zealand also has a lot to offer in terms of short hikes and walks. The route to Tawhai Falls, for example, not only leads to a spectacular waterfall but also to a Lord of the Rings filming location. The waterfall is also a short and easy walk away. Situated in the Tongario National Park, hikers are nevertheless treated to an impressive panorama.
Day hikes
If you have a little more time and stamina and want to be out and about for longer, you are spoiled for choice. New Zealand’s selection of hiking trails is almost endless, as is the scenery. If you want to spend a whole day hiking, for example, you can walk the Hooker Valley Track at the foot of New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki, Mt Cook. Cook gehen. The approximately 3-hour hike is a real classic and rightly one of the most popular in the country. The trail to Rob Roy Glacier, also on New Zealand’s South Island, is a little less frequented but still very beautiful.
Great Walks
Probably the best-known trails in New Zealand are the so-called Great Walks. These are long-distance hiking trails that are maintained by the Department of Conservation (DOC). With campsites and huts, the nine trails offer the perfect infrastructure for several days of backpacking. In some cases, overnight accommodation on the walks must be booked well in advance, so it is worth organizing early to ensure that hiking on New Zealand’s Great Walks is an unforgettable experience.
The choice and possibilities for hiking in New Zealand are almost endless. The DoC and, of course, popular travel and hiking guides, which categorize and clearly present the various trails, can provide orientation.
