Hiking in New Zealand

New Zealand is a hikers (or trampers as they are known here) paradise. The diversity and natural beauty is hard to match, from golden beaches and dramatic oceans to glaciers and forests there is something for everyone here. New Zealand has 14 national parks, each with unique flora, fauna and scenery that allow you to explore New Zealand's natural, cultural and historic heritage. Every Flying Kiwi trip gives you the opportunity to enjoy hikes everyday ranging from a 10 min stroll to an overnight hike. Walks are unguided but your knowledgeable guide will give you and your fellow hikers all the info you need for any of the treks. If you don't fancy them you will always find plenty of other activities to try or just relax and enjoy the scenery. A few of the more popular walks mentioned below can get busy, so its best to let us know in advance if you are keen.

Tramping is arguably the best way to see and enjoy New Zealand's natural wonders with 1000s of KMs of tracks to choose from. Before undertaking any walks it's always advised that you take time to ensure you understand the conditions and let others know of your intended route. The Department of Conservation (referred to as DOC - www.doc.govt.nz ) do an excellent job of looking after and maintaining most aspects of major walks and are an excellent starting point for any questions relating to tramping.

Each day there are hike options from a short stroll through the bush to a gorgeous waterfall to a multi day hike on the Routeburn Track.  All walks are optional so if you are not feeling up to it there is no pressure, relax by the bus, play cards, catch some sun, read a book or grab a coffee while the others enjoy the bush.

Some of the more famous walks you will get the chance to experience are:

SOUTH ISLAND

Aoraki/Mount Cook - Hooker Valley Track.  A four hour return walk from the village.  One of the most popular walks in the park, it leads up the Hooker Valley towards Aoraki/Mount Cook. The track passes close to the Alpine Memorial, which is a great viewpoint. Continue on to Hooker River and cross twice on swing bridges before reaching Stocking Stream Shelter. Continue beside the river to its source to reach the Hooker Glacier terminal lake.

Kepler Track (Manapouri End).   The complete track is 4 - 5 days.  We walk a small section from Lake Manapouri.  A gentle stroll through beech forest from Rainbow Reach. After crossing the swing bridge the track follows the meandering Forest Burn an old part of the Upper Waiau River crossing a wetland to Shallow Bay - great place for a swim.

Routeburn Track - the track traverses 32 kilometres of Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks, part of Te Wāhipounamu - South West New Zealand World Heritage Area .  Swing bridges, grassy flats, steep climbs are all part of the adventure.  For the botanist sub-alpine herbs and cushion plants are a feature of the vegetation. These areas are very fragile so please keep to the track. FromConical Hill there is a superb view of the Hollyford Valley through to Lake McKerrow, Martins Bay and the Tasman Sea.  This needs to be pre booked and we will ask you about this at the time of booking.  We will pre book the track huts and provide you with the food for the trek.  You only need carry sleeping bags, food and clothes. Find our more about the Routeburn Track Hike .

 Kepler Track (Te Anau end) - If not walking the Routeburn track you have the option of an overnight hike from Te Anau to the Luxmore Hut.  Starting from our camp site and takes 5 - 6.5 hours.  The track follows the lakeshore through mountain and red beech.  From the bushline there are panoramic views of the Te Anau Basin, Takitimu Mountains, and the Snowdon and Earl Mountains. At Luxmore Hut there is an option of a trip to the nearby Luxmore Cave.

 Abel Tasman Track - there is a full day here to either do a return hike along the track or a walk and water taxi combination.  Some of the French names left by d'Urville and his crew Adele, Simonet and Torrent add character to parts of this trek and there is also a causeway crossing the estuary. On the far side the track passes through open country to Tinline Bay .The track rounds Guilbert Point to Apple Tree Bay then passes through beech forest with large kanuka trees. After Yellow Point it turns inland, winding in and out of several little gullies before emerging in open country overlooking Torrent Bay and the coast and islands to the north. Descend to Anchorage Bay for lunch and return walk or continue on to Bark Bay.

NORTH ISLAND

Tongariro Crossing - Considered by many to be the finest one day walk in the World, it takes in stunning scenery over a distance of around 17km.  A full day hike the track passes over varied and spectacular volcanic terrain. In the presence of active volcanoes you can experience some of Tongariro National Park's special gifts. A cold mountain spring, lava flows, an active crater, steam vents, emerald-coloured lakes and magnificent views combine to make this an enjoyable and memorable trip.  From a poled route across South Crater you follow a ridge leading up Red Crater from where you can get views of Mt Tongariro. You can smell the sulphur, evidence that Red Crater is still active.  From the summit of Red Crater (1886 metres), the highest point, the track descends down to three water filled explosion craters called the Emerald Lakes. Their brilliant greenish colour is caused by minerals which have leached from the adjoining thermal area.

Kauri Coast - we have time for several short walks in this area.  The most famous being the short walk to the largest tree in New Zealand.  Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) is New Zealand's largest known living kauri tree.  The track takes you under the cooling shade of the forest canopy to the majestic Tane Mahuta. Not far into your leisurely amble, a sweeping corner of the track suddenly brings you face to face with the ‘Lord of the Forest'. When you catch your first breath-taking view of this magnificent tree, you feel compelled to pause for a while. You can almost feel Tane Mahuta's strength and ancient presence, and its overwhelming size makes visitors look like dwarfs.  It is thought this tree was discovered and identified in the 1920's when contracted surveyors surveyed the present road State Highway 12 through the forest.  In 1928 Nicholas Yakas and other Bushmen, which were building the road, also identified the big tree Tane Mahuta.  According to Maori mythology Tane is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku the earth mother.  Tane was the child that tore his parent's parental embrace and once done set about clothing his mother in the forest we have here today.  All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tane's children.

WHEN TO GO
 Most tracks are comfortably walked from October to May though the winter months do get cold and its certainly not an advisable time to attempt any of the Alpine tracks.

WHAT TO PACK
It's important to ensure you are equipped with all the appropriate food and equipment on any of the major hikes in New Zealand. Weather is subject to great fluctuation and it's always advisable to be prepared. The following are some general recommendations:

Clothing appropriate to the season. It's always good to ensure you have enough warm clothes for your trip. Its useful to bear in mind that more layers means more warmth so it's not necessarily about big, bulky items. Suggestions would include a pile/fleece jacket, waterproof jacket, lightweight fleece top/woolen jersey, couple of t-shirts, polypropylene top, waterproof seamed-sealed pants, shorts (can actually be better when raining), underwear, polypropylene bottoms, woollen socks, hat, gloves and a lightweight towel. Finally, a good pair of hiking boots can be a lifesaver, you may be crossing rivers and will often be traversing slippery surfaces so good boots are a great investment.

hiking in new zealand