Top 10 New Zealand Walks

Choosing the Top 10 New Zealand walks is not an easy task. With so many fabulous walking tracks taking you through beautiful bush, stunning mountains, alongside rivers and beaches, over farmland...each has special features to enjoy. Some walks may take several days, while others can be enjoyed in as little as an hour.

I will suggest a mix of well known and loved walks, that are enjoyed by thousands each year.Nine of these walking tracks are known as the New Zealand Great Walks. Of these the Tongariro Crossing is probably the only day walk...and considered our best day walk. If time is limited you can walk part of several of the tracks below.

A walk in from either end of the Heaphy Track is easily accessible. The Abel Tasman National Park walk is also possible....perhaps walking one way and getting a water taxi back to save time.

North Island Tracks

Tongariro Crossing - This is a wonderful day walk in the Tongariro National Park. You need a reasonable level of fitness and need to be prepared for all weathers. The weather in the mountains can change quickly.

Lake Waikaremoana - This is a remote area with stunning lake views and bush.This is a relatively untouched part of the country...the walk would take 4-5 days....but it is also possible to do a day walk and organise transport back by water taxi.

Whanganui River - People tend to kayak or canoe this river which takes 4-5 days rather than walk it.

South Island Tracks

Abel Tasman National Park - Considered probably the easiest of the Great Walks this 4-5 day walk is beautiful. Not only do you have the bush, but you are alongside the crystal clear water with golden sandy bays around every corner. You need to book campsites as kayakers as well as walkers can fill the camps in the main season.Again water taxis can get you back to your starting point quickly.

Heaphy Track - Located at the top of the South Island the Heaphy Track is a popular 3-4 day walk.Most people will start in from Collingwood and finish at Karamea at the tip of the West Coast. You walk through a variety of lovely scenery with the Tasman Sea in view, and beautiful beech and nikau forests as well as tussockland.You can get transport back from the end of the track to Karamea. You need to book the cabins.

Milford Track - New Zealand's most famous walking track is a wonderful 4 day walk through forest,over alpine passes...past the Sutherland Falls the 5th highest in the world, through beech forests with clear trout filled rivers rushing by. You need a reasonable level of fitness and can do this walk as part of an organised group or as a freedom walker. You do need to book huts and the walk itself. You will also need to book the boat which takes you back from Sandfly Point.

Routeburn Track - The Routeburn Track is a popular alternative to doing the Milford Track with stunning scenery.With amazing variety in scenery you cross the Humboldt Moutains which like Milford Track are in the Fiordland National Park. Lakes, mountains, beech forest...this is an untouched part of New Zealand and a unique experience.

Greenstone Track - The Greenstone Track can be combined with the Caples track.... and also connects with the Routeburn Track. Considered one of the easier walks on its own it is a 3 day loop walk through tussock river valley. Another magnificent scenic walk.

Kepler Track - Another Fiordland treasure with the typical mix of beech forest, mountains, waterfalls and lakes...this track can be done in 3-4 days.You can either take a taxi back to Te Anau from Rainbow Reach or carry on and finish the circuit.

Rakiura Track - Stewart Island is as remote as you will get and the Rakiura Track is partly coastal, while inland you have boardwalks. Rimu forests and lush rainforest vegetation, sea, sand and amazing birdlife make this a very special 3 day circular walk.

You can get more detail of these and many more New Zealand walks at http://www.holidays-in-newzealand.com/new-zealand-walking-holidays.html