New Zealand

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Walks in North Island NZ

Medium
300 m return
30 mins

Paritutu Rock Summit

A short walk/scramble to the top of Paritutu Rock rewards you with premium coastal views perfect for watching the sunset. Located minutes from downtown New Plymouth.

Easy
3.2 km return
1 hr

Pohaturoa Summit & Lookouts

This walk is in The Redwoods or Whakarewarewa Forest and takes you to the summit of Pohaturoa which is marked by Trig B26Q. It takes you to Lower Whaka and Upper Whaka Lookouts, Trig Lookout and Waipa Lookout. The Whaka Lookouts give views of Rotorua, Lake Rotorua, Whakarewarewa Thermal Area which includes Pohutu Geyser which is said to be the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, Mt Ngongotaha, Mokoia Island and more while the Trig and Waipa Lookouts look south. A bubbling mud pool is also passed on the way up.

Watch out for mountain bikes, horses and dogs as they can share some paths with you. There are a lot of different paths as there are many exclusively mountain bike tracks so try not to stray onto them.

Hard
7.5 km one-way
6 hrs

Te Whara Track, Bream Bay North

Forms Part of the TA thrust Hike 7.5km one way hike Intermediate level takes around 5-6 has to walk great views from the top, can see both sides of the bay . Will need to be dropped off and picked up or have a car at both start and finish.

Hard
19.4 km one-way
7 hrs

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

This is a wonderfully atmospheric walk through an active volcanic area. It is considered as being one of the best day walks in the world. Highlights include, soda springs which is a waterfall, views of Mt. Ngauruhoe which was used in the lord of the rings films as Mount Doom, south crater, red crater (1868) which is the highest point on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing if done with no diversions, emerald lakes, blue lake and Mt. Tongariro.

Medium
10 km return
3 hrs

Urupukapuka

Urupukapuka is an island criss-crossed with walks. The article covers the main ones.

Walks in South Island NZ

Medium
60 km one-way
4 days

Abel Tasman Coastal Track

Discover Cleopatra's Pool – natural rock pool with a moss-lined waterslide.
Admire the beautiful inlet to Falls River as you walk across a 47 m suspension bridge.
Keep an eye out for fur seals/kekeno.
Crystal-clear waters of Tonga Island Marine Reserve.

The track is well marked and signposted, but some sections may be steep and rough and the track could be muddy.

There is one compulsory tidal crossing – check the tide tables for when it's safe to cross.

Part of the Abel Tasman NP. Easy but challenging walk on well maintained coastal track. Day walks are possible as drop off and pick up by water taxi is available. Combining with sea kayaking amongst the seal colony is a special experience. Many coves, beaches, even a few crossings on hanging bridges. Stunning scenery and lots of birds and wildlife.

Hard
13.4 km return
8 hrs

Ben Lomond

A physically challenging ascent to the summit of the most iconic mountain in the Queenstown area.

Medium
5 km return
2 hrs

Castle Hill

Castle Hill Basin lies between the Torlesse and Craigieburn mountain ranges and is characterised by its distinctive limestone rock formations. These limestone rock formations are the water eroded remnants of limestone formed during the Oligocene age 30-40 million years ago when much of present day New Zealand was covered by the sea.
The area is of special cultural, spiritual and historical significance to Ngai Tahu who named it Kura Tawhiti (treasure from afar). Hidden amongst the limestone outcrops of Castle Hill are traces of 500-year old charcoal drawings traditionally said to have been left by the Waitaha, the first people to travel through this area.

Easy
5.9 km return
105 mins

Cowans Hill

The track passes the Church of the Good Shepherd and Dog Statue, along the shoreline, before heading along the edge of an exotic forest to open hillside tussock country and small tarns where wetland birds stop to feed, before heading back down to the Tekapo River through a plantation.

Medium
6.6 km return
2.5 hrs

Fox Glacier Valley Walk

The Fox Glacier Valley Walk follows the south bank of the Fox River through ancient podocarp rainforest. The track heads gently up the valley crossing ancient glacial moraine surfaces, with the forest reflecting the various ages of the glacier moraines which it has colonised and gets you within 4km of the glacier face.