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
-
Fox River, New Zealand
Hike to the Fox River Caves
4.6 mi / 492.1 ft gainThere are a few different options while exploring this track. The first is making your way all the way to the entrance of the caves. The second is making your way to where the trail splits, one way heading up towards the cave, and the other abruptly ends at a big river crossing. The third is to m...Read more -
Benmore, New Zealand
Hike the Benmore Peninsula Track
The Benmore Peninsula track is approximately a 4km loop circuit and takes around 1.5 hours to complete. It is not a particularly physically demanding hike, but beautiful nonetheless. On a good weather day, the water on Lake Benmore will appear to be bright turquoise and you will be able to see Mo...Read more -
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Overnight Cruise the Milford Sound
5.0If you are ever visiting New Zealand's south island, I cannot implore you more to consider doing the overnight cruise of the Milford Sound via Real Journeys. For roughly $300, you board, in Queenstown, a custom designed Real Journeys tour bus that has seats slightly angled towards the windows as ...Read more -
Rotoroa, New Zealand
Backpack and Kayak to Blue Lake
5.031.1 mi / 1430.4 ft gainThis lake has the clearest visibility fresh water found anywhere in the world with visibility between the 70-80 meter range. And the Colours are beautiful! (We just ask that you do not swim in this lake or do your dish washing in it as it is a super fragile ecosystem, oh and the duck in the pictu...Read more -
Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Hike to Harwood Hole
5.01.9 miGetting to this hike is a bit of a drive. It is 11km off of HWY 60, just north of Motueka. The road is unsealed, and quite narrow at points. If there is another car coming the other direction, be prepared for a tight squeeze. The road climbs up Tanaka Hill, and the descends down towards Canaan Ca...Read more -
Gladstone, New Zealand
Hike the Breast Hill Track to Pakituhi Hut
3.05 mi / 1312.3 ft gainFrom the road to Pakituhi Hut the track is a steady climb rising 400 meters on a formed zig-zag track to a small saddle. You'll get increasingly better views of Lake Hawea as you climb up the switch-backs, and you might walk alongside some sheep that make the uphill slog look much easier than it ...Read more -
Ashburton Lakes, New Zealand
Hike to the Summit of Mt Sunday
4.02.2 mi / 328.1 ft gainFrom the car park follow an old road track / stream bed until it narrows into a scenic walking track. Cross the swing bridge and ascend the south side of the mountain to its picturesque summit. Alpine views abound in all directions. It's easy to see why it was selected as a LOTR set location.This...Read more -
Nelson Lakes National Park, New Zealand
Winter Overnight in Lake Angelus Hut
7.5 mi / 4000 ft gainThis is a popular and crowded route in summer months, but in winter you could have this 28 bunk hut with a stove all to yourself!Begin by climbing switchbacks to the summit of Mt Roberts and then following the crest of Robert Ridge. The route is exposed in a few places and an un-checked fall on s...Read more -
Glenorchy, New Zealand
Backpack the Magical Earnslaw Burn
8.7 mi / 1968.5 ft gainOnce you identify the parking area (Right turn off Glenorchy Paradise Road just before crossing the Earnslaw Burn, park a the bend in the road.) Cross the boggy meadow in a NW direction until you see the orange trail markers on trees.The trail below bush line is long, very rugged and covered with...Read more -
Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand
Hike to Muller Hut
6.2 mi / 5905.5 ft gainOne of the most spectacular hikes in New Zealand next to New Zealand's highest mountain - Mount Cook (aka Aoraki).5.2km one way, it is a tough ascent. The first part of the track ascends to Sealy tarns. This involves climbing zig zag stairs where you will be rewarded with a spectacular view over ...Read more -
Kaikoura Flat, New Zealand
Hike to the Summit of Mt. Fyffe
5.010.6 mi / 2952.8 ft gainFrom the car park follow the old road grade which eventually narrows into a hiking path. At about the halfway point you will pass the Mt. Fyffe hut, a popular overnight destination. Track continues ever upward in a north-easterly fashion until you arrive at the broad summit where views to east fa...Read more -
Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand
Mountain Bike the Heaphy Track
5.058 miThe following are recommended rides along this track.Browns Hut to Perry Saddle: 3-4 hrs, 17.5 km (10.8 miles)This ride is mostly a steady uphill through beech forest. The Aorere Shelter is about halfway, and there is also a short detour to check out Flanagan’s Corner, the highest point on the tr...Read more -
Bealey, New Zealand
Hike Lagoon Saddle
5 mi / 1200 ft gainRound trip about 5 hours including stops to enjoy the views and take pictures, it was a perfect day hike in the full sun compared to the rest of the park. The track starts out by heading uphill, and it doesn’t really stop until you get to the saddle. The first hour of the track is all through bee...Read more -
Karekare, New Zealand
Explore Karekare Falls
0.2 mi / 98.4 ft gainA stunning horsetail waterfall that is only a short, uphill walk from the Karekare beach carpark (roughly 100m from carpark to track) in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. The waterfall is approximately 30m tall, casting a spray of clear fresh water down upon a cool swimming hole. The flow is s...Read more -
Picton, New Zealand
Hike The Snout Track
5.07.5 mi / 423.2 ft gainThis great track is located just outside of downtown Picton, offering very easy accessibility and a great place to get a little hike. Heading east out of Picton, turn left on Sussex road, and follow the steep hill up to the crest, keep driving until you come to a gate, this is the car park for Th...Read more -
Evansdale, New Zealand
Backpack Silver Peaks Track
3.011.8 mi / 1400 ft gainThe trailhead is somewhat obscured on the side of the Mountain Track Rd - there is a sign that reads Silver Peaks Track. The rest of the trail is very well marked with orange posts and triangles.The trail starts with a gradual incline for 1.5 hours or so until you reach the top of a ridge line. F...Read more
