National GeographicJul 11
10 "Great Walks" of New Zealand: Beaches, Forest, and Mountains By Foot
Whether you are looking for an hour-long hike or a multiday trek, these pristine trails will satisfy any level of adventure.
18 things in this story
- Paparoa RangeTrailIt was the first New Zealand land seen by a European – Abel Tasman in 1642.
- RouteburnTrailThe track can be done in either direction, starting on the Queenstown side of the Southern Alps, at the northern end of…
- Milford TrackTrailForested mountains, stunning waterfalls, high rainfall
- Sutherland FallsSightThe falls are located 13.5nm southwest of Chao Pass.
- Abel TasmanViewpointAbel Janszoon Tasman was a Dutch seafarer and explorer, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of…
- Te AnauNeighborhoodIn Māori, Te-Anau means the Place of the Swirling Waters.
- Whanganui National ParkSightEstablished in 1986, it covers an area of 742 km2 bordering the Whanganui River.
- Whanganui JourneyTrailRiver trek, canoe or kayak through national park
- Paparoa TrackTrailTraversed by hike or bike, offers panoramic views
- Routeburn TrackTrailThe track can be done in either direction, starting on the Queenstown side of the Southern Alps, at the northern end of…
- Rakiura TrackTrailLocated on Stewart Island, known for beaches and kiwis
- Heaphy TrackTrailLongest Great Walk, winds through tussocks and palm forests
- Abel Tasman Coast TrackTrailHugs dramatic coastline with boulder formations and beaches
- Kepler TrackTrailThe track passes through many landscapes of the Fiordland National Park such as rocky mountain ridges, tall mossy…
- Lake WaikaremoanaTrailFollows shoreline past remote beaches
- Tongariro Northern CircuitTrailThe Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of the New Zealand Great Walks, offers a three- to four-day tramp through Tongariro…
- Stewart IslandTrail
- HeaphyTrail