Great WalkLake Waikaremoana Great Walk
Te Urewera, inland from Wairoa
A remote lakeshore Great Walk in Te Urewera, the Tūhoe homeland, with Panekire Bluff views and Korokoro Falls.
46 km one way3–4 days
New Zealand Walks & Trails
53 of Aotearoa's best-known journeys on foot and by bike: the multi-day DOC Great Walks, iconic day hikes, and the Great Rides of Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail. Filter by type or island, or see the routes on a map.
Distances, times and booking details come from the Department of Conservation and official trail operators. Conditions change, so always check the official page before you go. Looking for shorter walks close to town? See our regional parks guides.
Great Walk
Great WalkTongariro Northern Circuit
Tongariro National Park
A volcanic Great Walk past Red Crater, the Emerald Lakes and Tama Lakes, shortened to 35.5 km for 2026/27.
35.5 km (2026/27 route)3–4 days
Great WalkWhanganui Journey
Taumarunui or Whakahoro to Pipiriki
The Great Walk you paddle: a 3- or 5-day canoe trip down the Whanganui River past the Bridge to Nowhere.
88 or 145 km3 or 5 days
Great WalkAbel Tasman Coast Track
Abel Tasman National Park, near Motueka
Golden beaches, clear bays and coastal bush on a Great Walk that's open year-round, with water taxi and kayak options.
60 km one way3–5 days
Great WalkHeaphy Track
Kahurangi National Park, Golden Bay to Karamea
The longest walking Great Walk, from Golden Bay over the Gouland Downs to nīkau palms on the West Coast, and rideable by mountain bike in winter.
78.4 km one way4–6 days walking
Great WalkHump Ridge Track
Tuatapere, southern Fiordland
New Zealand's 11th Great Walk: a 3-day loop over sub-alpine tops and historic viaducts on the Te Waewae Bay coast, with comfortable lodges.
61.5 km loop3 days
Great WalkKepler Track
Te Anau, Fiordland National Park
A 60 km loop from Te Anau over the Luxmore alpine ridge to Lake Manapouri, with no transport hassles.
60 km loop3–4 days
Great WalkMilford Track
Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound
One of New Zealand's best-known Great Walks: 4 days through glacier-carved valleys, over McKinnon Pass to Milford Sound.
53.5 km one way4 days (3 nights)
Great WalkPaparoa Track
Blackball to Punakaiki
A Great Walk and memorial track over the Paparoa Range to the Pororari Gorge, open to hikers and mountain bikers.
55 km one way3 days walking, 2 riding
Great WalkRakiura Track
Oban, Stewart Island / Rakiura
A gentle 3-day island loop of beaches, podocarp forest and birdsong on Stewart Island, with a chance of seeing kiwi.
32 km loop3 days
Great WalkRouteburn Track
Glenorchy to The Divide (Milford Road)
Alpine meadows, tarns and huge mountain views across Harris Saddle between Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks.
33 km one way2–4 days
Day walkCape Reinga Lighthouse Walk
Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua
A short walk to the lighthouse at the top of New Zealand, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific, at a deeply sacred site.
800 m one way10 min one way
Day walkSpa Park to Huka Falls Walk
Taupō
An easy, family- and dog-friendly riverside walk from Taupō's hot stream at Spa Park to the roaring Huka Falls.
3 km one way1 hr 30 min one way
Day walkKarangahake Gorge Windows Walk
Karangahake Gorge, between Paeroa and Waihī
A short loop through old gold-mining tunnels with 'windows' over a dramatic river gorge. Great for kids.
2.5 km loop1 hr
Day walkMauao (Mount Maunganui)
Mount Maunganui, Tauranga
The sacred maunga at Mount Maunganui, currently fully closed after major slips. Check for reopening updates.
Currently closedCheck council updates
Day walkMautohe Cathedral Cove Walk
Hahei, Coromandel Peninsula
A coastal walk to the famous rock archway at Cathedral Cove, in the Te Whanganui-o-Hei marine reserve.
5 km return1 hr 30 min return
Day walkMount Manaia Track
Whangārei Heads
A steep climb on a sacred mountain to views of the dramatic Whangārei Harbour entrance and Bream Head.
4 km return2 hr return
Day walkPouākai Crossing
Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki
A long alpine day hike on Taranaki Maunga past lava cliffs, a 31 m waterfall and the famous Pouākai tarn reflection.
19 km one way7.5–9.5 hr
Day walkRangitoto Summit Track
Rangitoto Island, Hauraki Gulf
Climb Auckland's youngest volcano over black lava fields and the world's largest pōhutukawa forest to city and gulf views.
7 km return2 hr return
Day walkTāne Mahuta Walk
Waipoua Forest, Kauri Coast
A 5-minute accessible walk to Tāne Mahuta, New Zealand's largest known living kauri tree.
166 m one way5 min one way
Day walkTongariro Alpine Crossing
Tongariro National Park
One of New Zealand's best-known day hikes, across Red Crater to the vivid Emerald Lakes and Blue Lake.
20.2 km one way7–8 hr
Day walkAvalanche Peak
Arthur's Pass village
A brutally steep, poled route to an 1,833 m summit above Arthur's Pass with grand Southern Alps views. For experienced trampers.
2.5 km one way3–4 hr to summit
Day walkBen Lomond Track
Queenstown
A big full-day climb from Queenstown to a 1,748 m summit with views over Lake Whakatipu and the Remarkables.
11–14 km return6–8 hr return
Day walkBlue Pools Track
Makarora, Haast Highway
An easy beech-forest walk to swing bridges above crystal-clear, snow-fed blue pools on the Haast Highway.
3.2 km return1 hr 30 min return
Day walkHooker Valley Track
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Three swing bridges, glacial lakes and icebergs on the way to Hooker Lake at the foot of Aoraki / Mount Cook.
10 km return3 hr return
Day walkIsthmus Peak Track
Between Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea
A steep summit hike with views of both Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, a quieter alternative to Roys Peak.
16 km return5–7 hr return
Day walkKaikōura Peninsula Walkway
Kaikōura
Clifftop walking past fur seals, seabird colonies, tidal platforms and historic pā and whaling sites.
200 m – 11.7 km5 min – 3 hr
Day walkKey Summit Track
The Divide, Milford Road
A family-friendly half-day climb from the Milford Road to alpine tarns and views over the Darran Mountains.
6.8 km return3 hr return
Day walkLake Matheson Walk
Fox Glacier / Weheka
A rainforest loop around the lake famous for its mirror reflections of Aoraki / Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.
4.4 km loop1 hr 30 min
Day walkRob Roy Glacier Track
Matukituki Valley, near Wānaka
An easy route up a beech-forest gorge to views of the Rob Roy Glacier, waterfalls and cliffs in Mount Aspiring National Park.
10 km return3–4 hr return
Day walkRoys Peak Track
Wānaka
A steep, hugely popular climb above Lake Wānaka to the famous ridge photo viewpoint and summit.
16 km return5–6 hr return
Great RideHauraki Rail Trail
Thames, Paeroa, Waihī, Te Aroha & Matamata
A flat, family-friendly rail trail through gold towns and the Karangahake Gorge to Matamata, home of Hobbiton.
About 160 km3–5 days
Great RideHawke's Bay Trails
Napier & Hastings
A 177 km network of flat trails linking wineries, Napier's art deco waterfront, wetlands and the coast to Cape Kidnappers.
177 km network1 hr to several days
Great RideMotu Trails
Ōpōtiki, Eastern Bay of Plenty
Three rides in one: an easy coastal dunes trail, the historic Motu Road and the classic Pākihi singletrack.
91 km loop2–3 days
Great RideMountains to Sea
Mt Ruapehu to Whanganui
From Mt Ruapehu through two national parks and past the Bridge to Nowhere to the Tasman Sea at Whanganui.
231 km incl. jet boat4–6 days
Great RideRemutaka Cycle Trail
Petone to Wairarapa and the south coast
From Petone up the Hutt Valley, over the historic Remutaka Incline and around the wild south coast past seal colonies.
About 120 km2–3 days
Great RideTimber Trail
Pureora to Ongarue, Pureora Forest Park
A remote forest ride on old logging tramlines with eight suspension bridges, giant podocarps and the Ongarue Spiral.
85 km2 days
Great RideTwin Coast Cycle Trail
Ōpua (Bay of Islands) to Hōreke (Hokianga)
New Zealand's only coast-to-coast cycle trail, an easy ride across Northland with a vintage train link.
About 85–90 km1–3 days
Great RideWaikato River Trails
Karapiro to Atiamuri
A ride past the Waikato's hydro lakes and dams, with the towering Arapuni Suspension Bridge and riverside reserves.
103 km2–4 days
Great RideWhakarewarewa Forest Loop
Rotorua Redwoods
An easy sightseeing loop through Rotorua's Redwoods, with lake views, geothermal sights and great trail hubs.
About 33 km loop3–5 hr
Great RideAlps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
Aoraki / Mt Cook or Tekapo to Oamaru
From Aoraki / Mt Cook past turquoise hydro lakes and limestone formations all the way to the Pacific at Oamaru.
About 320 km5–7 days
Great RideAround the Mountains Cycle Trail
Walter Peak to Kingston, near Queenstown
Cruise the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak, then ride the remote Von Valley and Mavora Lakes through Southland to Kingston.
About 186 km4–5 days
Great RideClutha Gold Trail
Roxburgh Dam to Lake Waihola
An easy, almost flat riverside ride along the Clutha through gold-rush Lawrence to tidal Lake Waihola.
135 km2–4 days
Great RideCoppermine Trail
Nelson city
An alpine mountain bike loop from Nelson up New Zealand's first railway to Coppermine Saddle, with a 10 km downhill.
40–43 km loop4–6 hr
Great RideLake Dunstan Trail
Cromwell to Clyde
Boardwalks bolted to cliffs, a high suspension bridge and a floating café through the Cromwell Gorge.
41 km one wayFull day
Great RideOtago Central Rail Trail
Clyde to Middlemarch, Central Otago
New Zealand's original rail trail: an easy, multi-day ride through gold-rush towns, tunnels and viaducts.
152 km one way3–5 days
Great RideQueen Charlotte Track
Ship Cove to Anakiwa, Marlborough Sounds
Ridge-top riding and bay-side stays across the Marlborough Sounds, with water taxis and luggage transfers from Picton.
73.5 km2–3 days
Great RideQueenstown Trail
Queenstown, Arrowtown & Gibbston
A network of lakeside and countryside trails linking Queenstown, Arrowtown, Lake Hayes and the Gibbston wineries.
110+ km networkDay rides or multi-day
Great RideRoxburgh Gorge Trail
Alexandra to Roxburgh Dam
A dramatic gorge ride linked by a jet boat history tour through Central Otago's gold-rush country.
21 km ride + 13 km boat5–6 hr
Great RideSt James Cycle Trail
St James Conservation Area, near Hanmer Springs
A remote high-country ride through a former 78,000-hectare station, with lakes, wild horses, huts and hot springs.
About 59 km1–2 days
Great RideTasman's Great Taste Trail
Nelson, Motueka & Kaiteriteri
An easy loop of coast, orchards, vineyards and craft beer, from Nelson to Kaiteriteri and inland through Spooners Tunnel.
About 188 kmMulti-day or day rides
Great RideThe Old Ghost Road
Lyell to Seddonville, Buller
An epic, advanced backcountry ride on a revived gold miners' road over the Lyell Range, with huts in stunning spots.
About 85 km2–4 days
Great RideWest Coast Wilderness Trail
Greymouth to Ross via Hokitika
An easy ride through rainforest, lakes and gold-rush history from Greymouth to Ross, with Southern Alps views.
About 136 km4 days
Map of New Zealand walks and trails
21 of the 53 routes above, drawn from OpenStreetMap and checked against each route's official distance. Select a line to open its guide.
- Great Walk
- Day walk
- Great Ride
Not on the map yet, because we couldn't verify a location: Tongariro Northern Circuit, Whanganui Journey, Hump Ridge Track, Cape Reinga Lighthouse Walk, Spa Park to Huka Falls Walk, Karangahake Gorge Windows Walk, Mauao (Mount Maunganui), Mautohe Cathedral Cove Walk, Rangitoto Summit Track, Tāne Mahuta Walk, Avalanche Peak, Ben Lomond Track, Hooker Valley Track, Isthmus Peak Track, Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway, Key Summit Track, Lake Matheson Walk, Rob Roy Glacier Track, Roys Peak Track, Hauraki Rail Trail, Hawke's Bay Trails, Motu Trails, Mountains to Sea, Remutaka Cycle Trail, Waikato River Trails, Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, Coppermine Trail, Lake Dunstan Trail, Queenstown Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail, Tasman's Great Taste Trail, The Old Ghost Road.
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0).