Great Walks

New Zealand’s eleven Great Walks are its premier multi-day tracks, with well-kept paths and huts run by the Department of Conservation. Some are easy enough for first-timers; all are unforgettable.

Where to go

• Milford Track Four days through Fiordland rainforest and over Mackinnon Pass.
• Routeburn Track Two to four days of alpine views between Glenorchy and Fiordland.
• Abel Tasman Coast Track Golden beaches and easy walking, with water taxis to shorten it.
• Tongariro Northern Circuit Volcanic landscapes around Mt Ngauruhoe; includes the Alpine Crossing.
• Whanganui Journey The “walk” you do by canoe.
• Rakiura Track A three-day loop on Stewart Island with good odds of seeing kiwi.
• Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track The newest Great Walk (2024): a three-day loop on the south coast of Fiordland.

Good to know

Hut and campsite bookings open months ahead and the popular tracks sell out; book on the DOC website as soon as dates are released. The main season runs roughly late October to April. Weather in the mountains can change within hours, so carry warm and waterproof layers.