The best hikes in New Zealand

Welcome to this post with the best hikes in New Zealand. New Zealand is a that holds a special place in my heart. You can do some amazing walks there, you never have to feel unsafe and it is relatively easy to travel around whether you are traveling together with a friend or solo.

I have visited New Zealand no fewer than five times in recent years and discovered countless beautiful walks that I share with you in this article. Whether you are looking for a short trip of an hour or a longer hike, you will find what you are looking for in this blog. I have divided the article into the best hikes on the North Island of New Zealand and the South Island of New Zealand. I hope you’ll enjoy reading this post with the best walks in New Zealand.

This article first appeared in 2015 and was last updated in 2023. My most recent trip to New Zealand ended a few months ago and in the six months I spent there, I gained a lot of new walking inspiration for you. 

The best hikes on the North Island of New Zealand

The North Island of New Zealand is very different than the South Island. Most travelers arrive in Auckland and start their New Zealand tour here. The first time I was in New Zealand, I spent the night in a hostel in the center of Auckland and here I read in the guestbook “please go south as quick as you can, it’s much more prettier than the north.” This has always stayed in my mind because although opinions may vary, you will definitely find the most beautiful nature on the South Island in New Zealand.

However the North Island has more than enough to offer, both in nature and walks. The North Island is mainly characterized by vast beaches, volcanism and endless forests. Here are my favorite hikes on the North Island of New Zealand.

Rangitoto Island Walk, Auckland

The first hike on my list of best hikes in New Zealand is one that cannot be missed as you will most likely travel in or out via Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city and the main gateway into the country. On Rangitoto Island there are plenty of short walks you can do however the Summit Loop was my very favorite. It covers most of the island and shows you impressive views of Hauraki Bay as well as the Auckland skyline in the distance.

For all you need to know about hiking on Rangitoto Island and the best hikes, visit my hiking on Rangitoto Island blog which also includes a short video.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro National Park

Mentioned as one of the top one-day hikes in the world and possibly the best day hikes in New Zealand, the Tongariro Crossing hike is definitely in my top three of walks in New Zealand. I hiked this trail as a part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit in 2011 and again in 2018, but then just as a regular day hike. When planning to do this trek, make sure to plan a couple of days around your stay: weather can close the area down for days and I have seen many disappointed people.

The Tongariro Crossing Alpine hike isn’t easy and should only be made with proper footwear and enough food and drinks for along the way. Also make sure to bring sufficient warm clothing because it can be quite chilly and there may be snow well into the season. The full trek is almost 20 kms and will take you all day. Highlights of the day are the views on Mt. Ngauruhoe, the view into Red Crater and ofcourse the Emerald Lakes. The trail is especially crowded on a sunny day, yet the one hike you cannot miss while hiking in New Zealand!
 
Read my complete blog about the Tongariro Crossing here!

The Arataki Nature Trail in the Waitakere Ranges

Another nice place to visit from Auckland are the Waitakere Ranges. This nature reserve is less than an hour’s drive west of downtown Auckland and is formed by a number of beautiful beaches and mountains covered with ancient forests.

The Arataki Nature Trail is only 1.6 kilometers long, but it takes an hour without effort. It leads you through a forest with the giant kauri trees, which sometimes take 800 years to mature. You can find the walk at the Arataki Visitors Center, from where you also have beautiful views of the surrounding area and even Auckland in the distance.

You can read more about this trail and my visit to the Waitakere Ranges in this blog.

Bream Head / Te Whara at Whangarei Heads

This walk is not easy and … I got lost and never found the right route. Is that possible in New Zealand? Yes, that’s possible! You can read all about it in this blog. Nonetheless, I think this walk is worth mentioning, because the only the start is very worthwhile the effort. You reach the trailhead from Whangarei and walk steeply uphill, until you reach an old WWII station, about an hour after you start hiking. You can choose to continue your walk, but you only have a view again after an hour because you largely walk through the forest. However, the views from the WWI station are more than beautiful.

Huka Falls Walkway, Taupo

The Huka Falls Walkway is a simple walk that you can take from the city of Taupo. The Huka Falls is New Zealand’s most visited natural attraction and instead of going here by car, the hike over there from town is a great alternative. From the center of Taupo it is approximately 5 kilometers one way, from the Spa Park about 3 kilometers. The falls are located in the Waikato River, one of the largest rivers in New Zealand. This is normally about 100 meters wide, but at Huka Falls it has to struggle through a gap of only 20 meters wide, resulting in Huka Falls.

At the Huka Falls you can also do the Lookout Walk. You can find more tips for things to do in Taupo in this blog.

From Cape Reinga you can take a beautiful walk to Twilight Beach, this is also the first stage of Te Araroa, the 3,000 kilometer walk through New Zealand. It’s about four hours one way and you have to cross a number of tidal rivers so it is wise not to do this walk at high tide.

From the Cape Reinga lighthouse, take the trail down to the left. You now descend to Te Werahi Beach. Down at the cliffs you sometimes have to wait a while for the water to recede before you can get across the rocks with dry feet. Once on the beach it is wonderful! At the end of the beach you must cross Te Werahi Stream (the orange triangle indicates the best spot for wading) and from here you climb quite a bit up to Herangi Hill. The landscape here looks almost volcanic, which is very special and unlike I’ve seen anywhere else.

From here you can have two options: you can go on to Cape Maria van Diemen or to Twilight Beach. Or return to Cape Reinga of course. You can make the walk as long as you want, but if you walk all the way to Twilight Beach and back it will take you a full day.

One of the most spectacular short walks you can take on New Zealand’s North Island is the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway on the Mangawhai coast. This great hike of 8 kilometers (return) takes you along a high coastal path along the steep cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, with beautiful views of Great Barrier Island along the way.

This walk starts on the beach of Mangawhai Beach, south of the harbour. From here follow the steeply ascending path to a viewpoint, which you will arrive after about 20 minutes. You can go all the way to the end and return via the beach, but if there is high tide you can only walk back via the same route. The tide table for Mangawhai Heads can be found on the NIWA website.

The Puhoi Track is an easy walk just outside the tiny vilage of Puhoi just north of Auckland, where you will experience the lush vegetation of the North Island. Here you will encounter countless beautiful birds and a massive kauri tree. You have beautiful views of Puhoi after your climb and along the way you are continuously surrounded by all shades of green you can imagine. The distance is 5 kilometers for a one-way trip, count on approximately 3 hours of walking return from Puhoi.

The most beautiful hikes on the South Island of New Zealand

Although the North Island is beautiful, most travelers will find the things they came for on the South Island of New Zealand. Here you will find the fjords, glaciers, Southern Alps and more. There are numerous national parks on the South Island, each with its own character. Some walks are easy, others challenging and more difficult to reach. Below you will find an extensive overview of my favorite walks on the South Island of New Zealand.
 

Te Waikoropupu Springs

The shortest one in my list (less than an hour) but too good not to mention! I only heard about Te Waikoropupu (Pupu) Springs from a local while visiting Takaka and she told me I couldn’t leave without admiring the clear water of these springs, which is said the be the clearest water in the world. Even though I was short on time as I planned on doing the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, I was happy that I dedicated some time to this unique piece of nature! The Pupu Springs are located about 6 kms west of Takaka near Abel Tasman National Park. Another great walk in the area is the Wainui Falls walk. 

The entire Abel Tasman Coast Track will take you about three to four days, but to get a good impression of the special Abel Tasman National Park I can recommend the Marahau – Anchorage walk. This is the first part of the multi-day hike and takes about 4-5 hours, depending on how many stops you make along the way. You can choose to be dropped off in Anchorage by water taxi and then walk back to the parking lot in Marahau or vice versa.

Along the way you will pass beautiful golden beaches and bays where the ocean water is bright green. Birds chatter loudly and everywhere the vegetation is lush and impressive. A must-do walk on the South Island in my opinion.

My full blog of the Abel Tasman Coast Track can be found here.

Lake Daniell hike, Lewis Pass

The Lake Daniell hike was suggested to me by Kiwi Paul, who lives in The Netherlands just like me. To reach the hike, take the Lewis Pass Highway on New Zealand’s Southern Island, the start of the trail is located 5 kms east of Springs Junction. It’s a relatively easy 8.4 km one way hike through dense woods to the picturesque Lake Daniell, surrounded by green mountains.

Although I heard it can get pretty crowded in the high season, I almost didn’t see anyone on the trail. As I came driving from Nelson Lakes National Park that morning, I didn’t have time to do the return the same day so I camped at the Manson Nicholls Memorial Hut. It turned out I was the only one there which made the experience even more unfortgettable. The mountains, the sandflies and the silence of nature. The Lake Daniell hike definitely qualifies as one of the better short overnight hikes or an amazing day hike that can also be done with children as an easy New Zealand hike.

You can read my complete blog about the Lake Daniell hike here.

Paddy’s Track and Pinchgut Track, Nelson Lakes National Park

One of the most special short hikes that you can make in New Zealand is the Paddy’s Track in combination with the Pinchgut Track. This combination walk takes you to the top of Mount Roberts in Nelson Lakes National Park. This national park is visited relatively little and it may just be that you have the trail to yourself here. I advise you to go over Paddy’s Track and back via the Pinchgut Track, which is a lot steeper. Unless of course you would like to climb extra steeply.

It’s extra nice to add an overnight stay in the Bushline Hut or even to walk to Angelus Hut for an overnight stay.

Hooker Valley Track, Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

If you only get to do one hike in Mount Cook / Aoraki National Park, make sure it’s the Hooker Valley Walk! Hooker Valley is simply stunning and you feel like walking inside a postcard all the time. I’ve done this hike three times and it has gotten a little crowded as it has been praised as one of the best hikes in New Zealand by many, yet if you get out early in the morning or late in the afternoon, you may be able to beat the crowds.

The Hooker Valley Track departs from the White Horse Hill campground and will take you about 2.5 – 3 hours return, depending on the time you spend making photos. The track is quite easy and leads you through the gorgeous Hooker Valley to the same name lake and glacier. At the lakefront you will find a large picknick table and stunning views of Mount Cook and Hooker Glacier.

With a bit of luck there will be icebergs in the water that calved off the mouth of the glacier. Along the way you can make a small detour to the Alpine Tarns, a one minute stroll from the main track. Make sure to also check my detailed blog about the Hooker Valley Track here. Other great walks in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park include the Kea Point Track, the Tasman Valley Walk and the Mueller Hut hike, where the cover photo of this blog was taken.

Key Summit hike, Fiordland National Park

If you don’t fancy doing the whole Routeburn Track which is actually ranked as one of the top multi-day hikes in the world, the Key Summit hike is a great alternative. Located in Fiordland National Park, the Key Summit hike is a 1.5 hour one way walk from The Divide, a car park along the Milford Road. From the summit you have amazing views on the Humboldt and Darran Mountains, as well as to the alpine Lake Marian across the valley.

The trail is relatively easy and will mostly take you through a beech forrest until you reach the tree line. Once on Key Summit you can do an interpretive loop, mostly along boardwalks and alpine ground. If your aim is to take good photos, make sure to do this hike in the morning as this will get you the best photos and the sunshine in your back rather than ahead of you, which happened to me on my last visit.
 
Also make sure to check out my best hikes in Fiordland National Park hiking guide

Lake Alta, Queenstown

A lesser known hike in New Zealand is Lake Alta, located about a 30 minute drive from Queenstown. High up in the mountains in The Remarkables Conservation area. Although described by DOC as an advanced tramping track, I found it rather easy. The way up to the trailhead is a fair drive and the last bit is on a gravel road so make sure you car is insured to drive on unpaved roads. Lake Alta (High Lake) is about a 45 minute walk up from the carpark. At the upper section of the trail you will find some interpretive signs about the area. Once at the lake the trail ends but you can easily climb up to the surrounding ridges for the best views over the picturesque Lake Alta.

Lake Matheson, Fox Glacier

The most memorable short walk I did back in 2011 was to the one to Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier. Back in 2002 I was promised awesome reflection views of Mount Cook in this lake, but unfortunately the weather was poor and I didn’t see a thing. When I was back in 2011 the weather wasn’t much better but on my last morning at Fox Glacier, the sun was shining at 06.00 am and I knew it was time to head to the lake. As the clouds were already setting in by the time I got to the trailhead, I almost ran to Reflection Pond, the spot where you can see the reflection if the weather allows it. I had a few minutes only to enjoy it before the wind picked up and the clouds covered the view.

On my most recent trip in 2023 I again saw this beautiful place super early in the morning. If you want to see it, your changes are best as early as possible!  

Rob Roy Glacier hike, Mount Aspiring National Park

One of the places I only really got to explore by foot most recently was Wanaka. Somehow I never spent much time there on earlier trips which is a real shame as the area is stunning. I planned lots of hiking in the area, yet I injured my toe and had to limit my hiking time. There are many great walks near Wanaka, yet my favorite one definitely was the Rob Roy Glacier Track in Mount Aspiring National Park.

The drive out there is stunning but not for the faint hearted as you will have to do some river crossings and your car may not be able to do that. Instead, you can also take a shuttle from Wanaka. The Rob Roy Glacier hike will first lead you through a wide and scenic valley, before entering a narrow valley. From here the trail is just up and up and up, but once at the end of the trail, you will be right below the Rob Roy Glacier, a truly scenic spot.

Angelus Hut Hike, Nelson Lakes National Park

One of the best multi-day hikes in New Zealand that is not in fact a Great Walk, is definitely the hike to Angelus Hut in Nelson Lakes National Park. Located on the shores of Lake Angelus, this hut is one of the most beautifully located mountain huts in New Zealand. The hike to the hut isn’t for unexperienced hikers and requires quite a bit of stamina, but once at the hut you will be rewarded with amazing views and an incredible silence. Angelus Hut is quite popular and must be booked well in advance.

You can find all you need to know about the Angelus Hut Trail here.

Greenstone & Caples Track

If you’re looking for an unknown multi-day hike that’s a great alternative to The Routeburn Track, then make sure to check out the Greenstone Caples Track. This four day hike will lead you through the Greenstone Valley and Caples Valley and is as stunning as the Routeburn, yet receives way less visitors. You can read my complete blog about this trail here.

This is my list with the best hikes in New Zealand. As I mentioned earlier, I will keep on adding more and more hikes, including the best overnight hikes as well as lesser known hikes that I got to explore over the past couple of months. For now, I hope you enjoyed this list and let me know if you have any suggestions or add-ons for me.
 
Before you go make sure to also check out my travel guide to New Zealand and order your copy of Lonely Planet and Lonely Planet New Zealand here!
 
Note that this post contains affiliate links. If you order something through these links I may earn a small commission at no extra fee to you!

You may also like

• Hiking the Routeburn Track in New Zealand
• Lake Daniell hike : an easy overnight tramp near Lewis Pass
• Abel Tasman Coast Track – all you want to know!
• Doing the Rangitoto Island walk in New Zealand