Great Walks 

If you want to truly absorb the splendour of the New Zealand outdoors, there is only one thing to do and that is to walk. The drama of the landscapes evolve step-by-step. You hear the sounds of nature. Wildlife, normally hidden, presents itself. There is nothing but you and that place that you’re in. That is the pleasure of walking and hiking.

New Zealand has thousands of kilometres of walks but sitting above all of them are the nine Great Walks. These are the ones that take you to the most magnificent places, to the farthest from civilization and include Abel Tasman Coast, Heaphy Track, Kepler Track, Lake Waikaremoana, Milford Track, Rakiura Track, Routeburn Track, Tongariro Northern Circuit, and Whanganui Journey.

Fiordland’s Milford Track is arguably the most famous. The 53 kilometre journey takes you to pristine lakes, sky-scraping mountain peaks, enormous valley views and the cascade of the tallest waterfall in New Zealand. The 82 km Heaphy Track gives you the contrasts of luxuriant rainforest, sub-alpine tussock, high, rugged mountains and end with lowland forest and palm-fringed surf beaches. And the Rakiura Track is simply in a world of its own; 36 kilometres that navigate Stewart Island in a habitat that has changed little for thousands of years.

There are many hiking tours that you can take, but do take one.