Hiking and walking in New Zealand is definitely one of the must-do in your life as it’s one of the best ways to see the country’s outstanding natural beauty and experience the vast wilderness areas. You don’t have to be extremely fit to do this; they have various walking options available to suit all levels of fitness and experience. Just make sure you pick the right one. So here’re New Zealand’s 9 Great Walks showcasing some of their most well known locations and diverse landscapes.

#1 Rakiura Track, Southland

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Discover peace, birdsong and scenery that have barely changed in thousands of years. It’s a world of its own.

Level: Easy

36km

3 days

Highlights: Beautiful wilderness beaches, birdsong and Brown Kiwis, fascinating Maori history.

#2 Abel Tasman Coast Track, Nelson

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From beach to beach, this track links a myriad of crescents-shapedcoves of glittering golden sand, washed by the crystal clear waters of Tasman Bay while encountering remarkable rock formations as well as cheeky wildlife amidst beautiful Abel Tasman National Park.

Level: Easy to Intermediate

51km

3-5 days

Highlights: White sand beaches, crystal clear bays, cheeky wildlife.

#3 Milford Track, Fiordland

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This track is New Zealand’s most famous walk that has been thrilling hikers for more than 150 years. With perfect alpine and fiord scenery, we know why people keep coming back for more.

Level: Easy to Intermediate

53.5km

4 days

Highlights: New Zealand’s tallest waterfall, spectacular valleys and rivers, glacier-carved fiord

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#4 Heaphy Track, West Coast

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This trail delivers the strongest contrasts with every section is vastly different from the previous one. It’s an ancient Maori trail crosses over tussock downs to lush forest, through Nikau palms and onward to the roaring seas of the West Coast. 

Level: Easy to Intermediate

78.4km

4-6 days

Highlights: Unique and diverse landscapes, fascinating plants and forest, greenstone hunting heritage.

#5 Routeburn Track, Fiordland

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Looking for a magnificent alpine adventure? This is the place for you to be. With tracks linking Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, you’ll catch a sight of soaring mountain peaks, huge valleys, waterfalls and jewel-like lakes.

Level: Intermediate

32km

3 days

Highlights: Soaring Mountain peaks, beautiful Lake Harris, moss-draped forest.

#6 Tongariro Northern Circuit, Ruapehu

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An adventurous walk circling Mount Ngauruhoe, an active volcano in Tongariro National Park. It’s fun when you see craters, explosion pits and lava flows.

Level: Intermediate

41km

3-4 days

Highlights: Active volcanoes, emerald lakes, wildflowers and waterfalls.

#7 Lake Waikaremoana Walk, Eastland

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A mystical green world, also known as ‘goblin forest’, surrounding the beautiful Lake Waikaremoana.

Level: Intermediate

46km

3-4 days

Highlights: Prehistoric rainforest, perfect sunset, birdsongs and history.

#8 Kepler Track, Fiordland

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Unlike most multi-day walks, this track was custom-made and planned to show walkers all the best features of Fiordland. It was built to make walking easier, most streams are bridged, boardwalks cover boggy areas and steep sections have steps.

Level: Intermediate

60km

3-4 days

Highlights: Tussock high country, glacier-carved valleys, cascading waterfalls.

#9 Whanganui Journey, Whanganui

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Here, they let the water do the walking. It will definitely be a memorable kayak or canoe adventure that flows through a wildly beautiful national park.

Level: Mostly canoeing or kayaking skills required

145km

5 days

Highlights: Native forest and beautiful birdsong, ancient Maori heritage, wild river journey.

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Editor JQ Lee talks and writes for a living. That's because she loves sharing interesting things to the world. With a Degree in Communication and Media Management, this petite Gen-Y will not stop chasing her passion in writing and broadcasting. She dreams to host a travel show and be a radio announcer someday, hopefully soon. Stalk this wacky fair Asian girl at www.jqtalks.com, Instagram and Twitter (@jqleejq)