• New Zealand
  • Hiking
  • New Zealand

    Looking for the best hiking in New Zealand? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around New Zealand. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

    Top Hiking Spots in and near New Zealand

    • Taupo, New Zealand

      Hike to Huka Falls

      5.0
      3.7 mi
      This hike begins in the Spa Thermal Park and there is one clear path to follow. After a couple minutes there is a bridge that crosses over a small section of the lake. This section of the lake is formed by several hot pools and is a great place to swim for a bit. From here the trail continues ...
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    • Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

      Catch the Sunrise at Kea Point

      4.0
      Wake before the sun rises and make the short half hour hike from the White Horse Hill Campground to Kea Point. This easy to follow trail leads to a beautiful overlook with views of Mt. Cook and the surrounding Southern Alps. You won't be disappointed as you watch the sun rise behind Mt. Cook and ...
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    • Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

      Hike to Gertrude Saddle

      4.8
      4.3 mi / 2624.7 ft gain
      The trail begins at the signposted car park along Milford Road just before the Homer Tunnel, about 98km from Te Anau. Follow the marked track through the valley and left, steeply uphill. About halfway up you will cross the Gertrude Stream below a large, steep waterfall.Upon reaching Black Lake, c...
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    • Bealey, New Zealand

      Hike Lagoon Saddle

      5 mi / 1200 ft gain
      Round trip about 5 hours including stops to enjoy the views and take pictures, it was a perfect day hike in the full sun compared to the rest of the park. The track starts out by heading uphill, and it doesn’t really stop until you get to the saddle. The first hour of the track is all through bee...
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    • Dunedin, New Zealand

      Hike to Tunnel Beach

      5.0
      2 mi
      Dunedin is a small city on the Southeastern coast of the south island of New Zealand. The coastlines are stunning, and spending an afternoon exploring one of the beaches is never a bad idea. Tunnel Beach, just south of the city, is one of my favorites because of the natural tunnel that one of the...
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    • Westland National Park, New Zealand

      Hike to Franz Josef Glacier

      4.0
      From the carpark take a quick walk through a green, forested area before making your way into the valley. Here you will get your first view of the glacier. At this point the trail gets a bit rocky but is still very doable. The trail continues mostly flat for the next 35 minutes. You will pass ...
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    • Evansdale, New Zealand

      Backpack Silver Peaks Track

      3.0
      11.8 mi / 1400 ft gain
      The trailhead is somewhat obscured on the side of the Mountain Track Rd - there is a sign that reads Silver Peaks Track. The rest of the trail is very well marked with orange posts and triangles.The trail starts with a gradual incline for 1.5 hours or so until you reach the top of a ridge line. F...
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    • Greenstone, New Zealand

      Hike to Lake Rere

      The track begins from the Greenstone carpark. After walking for around 5 minutes, you will chose which direction you would like to complete the loop. For our hike we chose to go left over the swing bridge that crosses the river. After crossing the river you continue through open farm paddocks....
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    • Tauranga, New Zealand

      Hike to the top of Mount Maunganui

      4.5
      2.4 mi / 757.9 ft gain
      Mount Maunganui sits right on the water in the Bay of Plenty. Half the island rests on the open ocean, where the other half rises out of the bay. Driving in to the town, it's impossible not to see this massive piece of land jutting above the flat town and ocean around it.Once you have found parki...
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    • Arthur's Pass, New Zealand

      Backpack to the Waimak Falls Hut

      13 mi / 2000 ft gain
      Begin this two night (one night option) tramping trip from the Bealey Bridge over the Waimakariri River – approximately 8 kilometers south of Arthur’s Pass. If river levels are low and you prefer cutting through the river valley itself – crossing the Waimak at need – begin at Klondyke Corner. A s...
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    • Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

      Climb to Homer Saddle, Fjordland NP

      1.6 mi / 1574.8 ft gain
      This route is not marked, riddled with loose rock, and requires climbing on narrow exposed ledges. There are often snow patches on the saddle and an unchecked fall will almost certainly result in a fatality. However, for experienced and well prepared parties this can be one of the most rewarding ...
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    • Springfield, New Zealand

      Hike Foggy Peak and Castle Hill Peak

      5.0
      8.1 mi / 3280.8 ft gain
      Park in the gravel roadside parking area at the highpoint of Porters Pass. Follow the faint use path up the lower scree slopes of Foggy Peak northward towards the summit. Upon reaching the summit of Foggy Peak the alpine traverse to Castle Hill Peak becomes obvious. The hike between the two peaks...
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    • Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

      Hike the Abel Tasman Coast Track

      4.5
      While the full track can take multiple days to complete, this adventure describes a section that can be completed in a long day hike.Leaving from Marahau, take a water taxi north to Bark Bay. Here, you'll begin hiking south back to Marahau, a trip of around 25km. The trail winds down the coast, ...
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    • Kokatahi, New Zealand

      Hike to the Mt. Brown Hut and Mt. Brown Summit

      5 mi / 3937 ft gain
      This trail is unique in that it is community run, solely by volunteers.  The track starts at a signposted car park just short of an hour east of Hokitika. From here the fairly short, but steep track climbs just over 1000m through native bush following a marked and well trodden trail. About half a...
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    • Milford Sound, New Zealand

      Explore Milford Sound

      4.7
      1.2 mi / 1 ft gain
      Milford Sound can be explored by land or sea. Short hiking trails departing from the main parking lot are numerous and well signed, walk along the Foreshore Trail or up into the hills for expansive views.Going on a cruise is an exciting way to get up close and personal with Milford's scenery and ...
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    • Springfield, New Zealand

      Hike the Trig M Trail

      4.0
      2.1 mi / 1509.2 ft gain
      The hiking trail first ascends a hillside to about 1,500 meters. It then follows the crest of a ridge in a southwest direction until you reach the "trig", a marker used in geographical survey. The maintained track ends here but hikers wanting more can continue traveling cross country to Rabbit Hi...
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