New Zealand
One of our favorite places on the planet, New Zealand's beaches, mountains, fjords and plains will leave you speechless any time of year. The Southern Alps are home to some incredible hiking and trekking (or tramping, as the locals say). On the north island, find world class surf in Raglan, volcanic trekking on Tongariro, and emerald water in Coromandel.
Top Spots in and near New Zealand
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Tairua, New Zealand
Surf at Tairua Beach
4.0Tairua Beach offers a few pristine miles of turquoise waves and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the east coast of the North Island without the crowds. It's ideal for swimming, surfing, and body surfing. The waves are mellow enough for beginners and it's a perfect spot to surf at sunrise or sunse...Read more -
Castle Hill, New Zealand
Hike Mt. Cheeseman
9.9 mi / 4265.1 ft gainFollow the Hogsback Track until you reach the clearing just after the Waterfall Creek crossing. Hike through the clearing towards the toe of Mt Cheeseman's east ridge.Work your way up the ridge by linking a network of tussock slopes, ledges, scree slopes snow patches and crumbly rock. Eventually ...Read more -
Hunters Hills, New Zealand
Rappel the Kaumira Canyon
3.7 mi / 984.3 ft gainThe Kaumira Canyon is a deep, narrow gorge in the mid-Canterbury plains. Although not covering a very large distance, the array of technical features will take a while to navigate. We had a large party of nine people, and it took us nearly four hours to complete the canyon. There are two rappels,...Read more -
Craigieburn Forest Park, New Zealand
Hike to Hamilton Peak's Summit
7.5 mi / 3280.8 ft gainPark at the Craggyburn Valley Trailhead for a longer, more scenic hike, or continue driving to the Ski Field Parking at the road's end.The trail follows the true right bank of Craggieburn Valley as it climbs through a thick and scenic beech forest. After an hour it reaches the bush edge just shor...Read more -
Rowallan, New Zealand
Backpack the Hump Ridge Track
37.3 mi / 3280.8 ft gainThis loop track is intended to be walked over 3 days (2 nights) and is just over 60km long with nearly 1,000 meters elevation gain. For those of you uber fit people with an appetite for a more intense adventure, it's also possible to tackle the whole thing in a single day, but be prepared for a c...Read more -
Craigieburn Forest Park, New Zealand
Ride the Craigieburn Mountain Bike Trails
24.9 mi / 3937 ft gainBeing a cloudy and gray day in Christchurch, we decided to pack the bikes up and drive the 100kms on SH73 up to the Craigieburn Forest Park. There are several entrances to the tracks. You can either park up in the Castle Hill Village and enter the Hogs Back Track from there, or park in the Broken...Read more -
Wairoa Valley, New Zealand
Hike to the Ben Nevis Summit in New Zealand
7.5 mi / 2624.7 ft gainFirst thing first, you definitely need a 4WD to reach the car park. The gravel road starts at the beginning of the Pig valley rd. Follow the Wairoa Gorge rd, you'll find a first DOC sign about the Ben Nevis at the crossroad between Wairoa Gorge rd, Bull Creek rd and Old Mill rd. Bull Creek road w...Read more -
Wanaka, New Zealand
Hike or Bike the Glendhu Bay Track
9.3 miThis walk can also be started from the waterfront in Wanaka, which is only a few km from the track start above. From the car park, follow the track along the lake north. It is quite well marked and follows the coastline offering stunning views of the mountains on both sides of the lake. Dependin...Read more -
Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand
Rock Climb at Unwin Crag
5.0Getting to the Unwin Crag can be more of an adventure than the rock climb itself. You can park at the Unwin Lodge or at the car park at the bottom of the crag. From the lodge you walk towards the Mount Cook Village and you can easily see the 2 small rock faces just above the bush on the left hand...Read more -
Kaimanawa Forest Park, New Zealand
Hike Mt. Urchin Track
4.3 mi / 1870.1 ft gainIt is recommended to do this hike on a clear day if you would like to have good views from Urchin Trig. We did it on a cloudy and misty day and although the hike was still awesome, the top was shrouded in a heavy layer of mist. We could not continue along the ridge or get any views of the surroun...Read more -
Lake Coleridge, New Zealand
Hike Peak Hill
5.04 mi / 2066.9 ft gainRising about 600 meters from the Canterbury Plains, Peak Hill offers everything New Zealand is famous for: a steep climb to get your heart pumping, views of a gorgeous lake (Coleridge), ever-changing weather, views of the Alps, and views of wide, braided rivers. It is well worth sticking with the...Read more -
Otira, New Zealand
Stay at Carroll Hut
1.6 mi / 2296.6 ft gainThis hike begins at a hidden parking lot just North/East of Kelly's Creek, about 2km north of Otira, drive carefully through to the car park and trailhead, a gravel lot with a latrine, near the creek. Once ready, begin the hike, to the west. In the first 5 minutes you'll cross a small tributar...Read more -
Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
Climb to the Top of Eldrig Peak
The track to the Eldrig Peak tops begins from a small parking area on the Borland Road a few kilometers above Borland Lodge. The Borland Road is normally open in summer but it is best to call the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre to confirm - 03 249 7924. The road is dirt and gravel but a tw...Read more -
Fox River, New Zealand
Hike to the Ballroom Overhang
6.2 miThe first part of the walk is the same as the Fox river caves. You'll find a great description in this adventure: Hike to the Fox River Caves.As you don't go in the caves, our journey begins at the big river crossing. Of course, you'll need to be careful and use your own judgement when you cross ...Read more -
Picton, New Zealand
Mountain Bike Punga Cove to Anakiwa
27.7 mi / 1476.4 ft gainThe easiest way to get to Punga Cove to start this ride is parking in Picton and getting a water taxi for you and your bike out to Punga Cove. From there you will be able to pick up the track and start riding. At the end of the trip, after you reach Anakiwa, there is a water taxi there that can g...Read more -
Kinloch, New Zealand
Day Hike the Routeburn North Branch
To access the Routeburn North Branch, you start out from the Routeburn Shelter and head along the Routeburn Track towards Routeburn Flats Hut (6.5km). At the hut, cross the wide but shallow North Branch to pick up the poled route on the other side that leads through the last of the Routeburn flat...Read more
