New Zealand

Description

Mount Cook - by Chris New Zealand is paradise for hikers. Tramping, as hiking or walking is called here, is very popular and well organised. Most tramps are inside one of New Zealand’s 14 NPs and 19 National Forests.
From the northern tip to Stewart Island in the south, New Zealand stretches out for 1.600 km, and the country has a 10% larger area than Great Britain. Thanks to high rainfall, its elongated north-south position, geology, mountains and winds, the country offers an enormous variety in landscapes. You will find countless rivers and lakes filled with fish, lush rainforests, alpine ridges and active volcanoes. The coastline is seemingly endless and varied, and dotted with small beaches. In all these landscapes hiking trails have been laid out. Ideal if you are looking for wilderness and isolation.
Trails, or tracks as they are called locally, and so-called backcountry huts are mostly maintained by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Tramping is possible on all levels of difficulty. The DOC distinguishes 6 Track Categories:

  • Easy Access Tracks (very short)
  • Short Walks
  • Walking track (2429 km): day hikes
  • Great walks (380 km) and Easy tramping tracks (895 km): track is generally well formed, may be steep, rough or muddy
  • Tramping tracks (7803 km): track is mostly unformed with steep, rough or muddy sections
  • Routes (1458 km): challenging; Track is mostly unformed with steep, rough or muddy sections


A special category are the so-called 9 Great Walks. In fact there are only 8, because the Whanganui Journey is a paddling route. These Great Walks are very scenic, not too difficult, and consequently most popular. During high season – from mid December until late January – these are best avoided. The Great Walks are:

  • Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, 42 km, 4 days
  • Tongariro Northern Circuit, 50 km, 4 days
  • Whanganui Journey - paddle, 144 km, 5 days
  • Abel Tasman Coast Track, 51 km, 5 days
  • Heaphy Track, 78 km, 5 days
  • Routeburn Track, 32 km, 3 days
  • Milford Track, 54, 4 days
  • Kepler Track, 60 km, 4 days
  • Rakiura Track, Stewart Island, 36 km, 3 days


All tramps have huts and camp sites. You will need to bring your own food. Also bring your own stove for cooking, except on the Great Walks where the huts have a kitchen with stove. Most huts are basic and cheap, The better and popular ones may be staffed by a warden. There are three categories of huts:

  • 1000 huts in the NPs. Payment with tickets purchased in advance at for instance DOC visitor information centres. You can also buy a Backcountry Hut Pass, valid for one year, and a good deal if used for 10 nights or more.
  • There are a few Alpine Service Huts, high up in the mountains, which are a lot more expensive
  • Great Walk Huts: these have their own separate ticket system and require a special Great Walks Pass. In addition these Great Walks, because of their popularity, are bookable online (DOC) and consequently frequently booked-out during high season.

 
Summer holidays in New Zealand run from mid December until late January. In this period walking trails are very busy. The Great Walks will be fully booked if you haven’t booked early. If you can avoid the high season, from mid November and until mid April is also a good time for hiking, although you may encounter snow high up in the mountains. Weather is changeable at all times.

Map

North Island

South Island

Trails

Regions

Mountains

Books

Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Ypres: Passchendaele - the Fight for the Village
  • Passchendaele: the Fight for the Village in a series of “Battleground” guides from Pen & Sword Books, describing the events during the Third Battle of Ypres. The book covers the contribution of the New Zealand and Canadian troops, as well as presenting the German experience in the battle.The acclaimed “Battleground” series from the renowned... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • New Zealand Hema Handy Atlas SPIRAL-BOUND
  • Tour the land of the long white cloud with New Zealand`s clearest mapping.This small format atlas has more than 1500 motorhome parks, camping grounds, wastewater disposal sites and adventure activity locations marked. Additional city and national parks maps offer something for every kind of traveller, while a succinct trip planning section... Read more
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2018
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2022
  • Epic Hikes of Australia & New Zealand
  • Lace up your hiking boots for the next in Lonely Planet`s highly successful Epic Hikes series, this time exploring 50 of Australia and New Zealand`s most rewarding treks and trails. From the Routeburn Track in New Zealand`s South Island to the Cape to Cape walk in Western Australia`s Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, we cover a huge variety of... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • The Book Depository, United Kingdom
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
» Click to open
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2022
  • Lonely Planet Epic Hikes of Australia & New Zealand
  • Lace up your hiking boots for the next in Lonely Planet`s highly successful Epic Hikes series, this time exploring 50 of Australia and New Zealand`s most rewarding treks and trails. From the Routeburn Track in New Zealand`s South Island to the Cape to Cape walk in Western Australia`s Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, we cover a huge variety of... Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2022
  • Wandelgids Hikes of Australia and New Zealand | Lonely Planet
  • Lace up your hiking boots for the next in Lonely Planet`s highly successful Epic Hikes series, this time exploring 50 of Australia and New Zealand`s most rewarding treks and trails. From the Routeburn Track in New Zealand`s South Island to the Cape to Cape walk in Western Australia`s Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, we cover a huge variety of... Read more
» Click to close
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2021
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2022
  • Also available from:
  • De Zwerver, Netherlands
» Click to open
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
Bol.com
Netherlands
2014
  • Lonely Planet Tramping in New Zealand 7e Lonely Planet
  • Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet Hiking & Tramping in New Zealand is your passport to all the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Admire the dramatic peaks and valleys of Fiordland National Park, stroll past bays and beaches of the Abel... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
2014
  • Lonely Planet Tramping in New Zealand 7e Lonely Planet
  • Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet Hiking & Tramping in New Zealand is your passport to all the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Admire the dramatic peaks and valleys of Fiordland National Park, stroll past bays and beaches of the Abel... Read more
» Click to close
More books…

Maps

Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Coromandel Pocket Map
  • Coromandel region in a series of maps covering various districts of New Zealand, with each title combining a detailed road map with street plans of local towns, all with road and street indexes. The maps are published in two formats: handy Pocket Maps or Pathfinders with, as the publishers put it “Larger print so you don’t squint”.The road... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ5124 Plans in the Bay of Islands
  • Plans included in this chart:Approaches to Opua 1:15,000Kerikeri Inlet and Te Puna Inlet 1:25,000Opua Wharf 1:6,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ2325 Plans in Lake Taupo (Taupomoana)
  • Plans included:Western Bay 1:40,000Waihi Bay 1:20,000Motuoapa Bay 1:10,000Boat Harbour Kawakawa Point 1:5,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of scales... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ2862 Plans in the Auckland Islands
  • Plans included:Smith Harbour to South Cape 1:50,000Enderby Island to Smith Harbour 1:50,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of scales - from overall... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ864 Apolima Strait
  • Plan included:Savai`i Island Matautu Bay 1:50,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of scales - from overall route planning to detailed harbour... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Napier, Hastings and Hawke`s Bay Pathfinder
  • Napier - Hastings region in a series of maps covering various districts of New Zealand, with each title combining a detailed road map with street plans of local towns, all with road and street indexes. The maps are published in two formats: handy Pocket Maps or Pathfinders with, as the publishers put it “Larger print so you don’t squint”.The... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ232 Lake Taupo (Taupomoana)
  • Plans included:Tapuaeharuru Bay 1:20,000Waikato River Entrance 1:5,000Horomatangi Reef 1:30,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of scales - from... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ614 Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere
  • Plans included:Port Motueka 1:20,000Mapua 1:20,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of scales - from overall route planning to detailed harbour... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ6912 Plans in Stewart Island / Rakiura
  • Plans included:Port Pegasus / Pikihatiti 1:40,000Easy Harbour 1:40,000Port Adventure and Lords River / Tutaekawetoweto 1:40,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ955 Plans of the Cook Islands - Southern Sheet
  • Plans included: Takutea 1:75,000Atiu 1:75,000Mangaia 1:75,000Manuae 1:75,000Palmerston 1:75,000Mitiaro 1:75,000Mauke 1:75,000Aitutaki 1:60,000Arutanga Anchorage 1:15,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Palmerston North Pathfinder
  • Palmerston North region in a series of maps covering various districts of New Zealand, with each title combining a detailed road map with street plans of local towns, all with road and street indexes. The maps are published in two formats: handy Pocket Maps or Pathfinders with, as the publishers put it “Larger print so you don’t squint”.The... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ542 Motiti Island to Pehitairi Point
  • Plans included:Ohiwa Harbour Entrance 1:25,000Whakatane River Entrance 1:7,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of scales - from overall route planning... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ681 Approaches to Bluff and Riverton / Aparima
  • Plan included:Riverton / Aparima 1:40,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of scales - from overall route planning to detailed harbour charts.Notices to... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • NZ7654 Chalky and Preservation Inlets
  • Plans included:South Port 1:25,000North Port 1:25,000Nautical charts for New Zealand, created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), are printed on demand at Stanfords after your order is placed and processed. They provide a detailed coverage of the coastline with a varied range of scales - from overall route planning to detailed harbour... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Auckland Kiwimaps City & District Pathfinder Map
  • Auckland and environs in a series of maps covering various districts of New Zealand, with each title combining a detailed road map with street plans of local towns, all with road and street indexes. The maps are published in two formats: handy Pocket Maps or Pathfinders with, as the publishers put it “Larger print so you don’t squint”.The road... Read more
More maps…

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