After a year in Australia, I summarised my three favourite day hikes in that wondrous country.
It seems only fair therefore to give New Zealand a similar treatment, particularly since hiking (or tramping, as it is known locally), is a major highlight of any visit to New Zealand.
All the hikes in this section are possible in a day for a reasonably fit person. If you’re not a regular hiker, I’d highly recommend giving my guide to preparing for a day hike post a read through, it’ll help you prepare properly for any trip you undertake.
Hiking is an amazingly fun sport with tremendous reward, but as with any outdoor activity, there is an element of risk – preparation is the key to success!
Worrying uncle role aside, let me now talk about five of my favourite day hikes in New Zealand (because three just isn’t going to be enough to cover it!)
The Best Day Hikes in New Zealand
1. Mount Cook
Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest mountain, towering above it’s spiny brethren in the southern alps. Climbing to the top of it is not the sort of thing one tackles as a day jaunt – this is serious mountain climbing country which has been tackled by world famous climbers such Edmund Hillary.
However, you can get some epically rewarding day hiking achieved around the base of this mountain, starting from the Mount Cook village.
One walk that stood out for me in this area was the walk to the lake at the foot of one of Mount Cook’s glaciers, a three – five hour return walk that crosses snow covered boulder fields and a number of glacially fed startlingly blue rivers. The walk isn’t particularly tough, other than being potentially slippy due to snow and ice, but the views are absolutely mind blowing, as Mount Cook looms over you, with snow coated mountains all around. Enthralling stuff.
2. Tongariro Alpine Crossing
No summation of day hikes in New Zealand would be complete without mention of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – the walk which most people just refer to as “the Crossing”. This is a 20km, 6-8 hour one way hike across the remains of Mount Tongariro, a volcano which, before it blew its top, was easily New Zealand’s highest mountain.
These days the mountain is a couple of thousand metres lower than Mount Cook, but the walk, across craters, around smoking volcano cones (this area is still very much active), and past lakes whose colours have to be seen to be believed, really is a must do.
Unfortunately, this is one day hike that is on the must do list of pretty much everyone who comes to New Zealand – so don’t expect to be hiking alone. On busy days upwards of 1000 people will be tackling the hike, so it can feel like more of a commute than a walk with nature.
You can avoid the crowds by visiting either earlier in the season (around October time) or much later on. Alternatively, try taking the Mount Ngauruhoe side route instead. This is a seriously challenging climb, and not for the faint hearted, requiring you to scale a gigantic pile of loose ash to the summit.
The views from here are breathtaking though, and you will be guaranteed to be sharing them with fewer people. Just don’t take too long – the hike is one way, and the buses at the end won’t wait forever.
3. Mount Taranaki
If I had to pick one hike in New Zealand that was my absolute favourite, the walk up Mount Taranaki would be it. Way out on the west coast of New Zealand’s north island, this incredible volcano rises vertically from sea level and flat, rolling fields, to an eye watering 2.5km in height.
This is actually a pretty dangerous walk, and nearly seventy people have lost their lives tackling this summit. For this reason, it is imperative that you check the weather conditions with the DOC office at the start of the track, and register your intentions with them in the booklet.
It may only be a 6-8 hour walk, but being right on the coast, the weather conditions here can change incredibly quickly.
We were lucky to have perfect conditions for our climb, with only a tiny bit of snow up in the crater itself. The views of the North island, right across to Mount Tongariro and Ruapehu, some 180km distant, have to be seen to be believed – when you’re not desperately trying to climb on to the ground that is. This is a walk which is not for vertigo sufferers.
If you get the chance, and the right weather conditions, I cannot recommend this hike enough.
4. Key Summit
Back on the south island again, the Key Summit track is a wonderful walk which shouldn’t take you more than a couple of hours. It follows the last part of the world famous multi-day Routeburn track in the Fiordland National Park, branching off to ascend the Key Summit.
The walk, although largely up, isn’t particularly strenuous, and is worth doing either on your way in to or out of Milford Sound. The reward, of views across the Fiordland National Park, is entirely worth it., with spikey mountain peaks, glacially carved valleys and rolling forests in all directions.
A small taste of what the Routeburn track may hold in store, if you have more time and the urge to tramp for multiple days.
5. Rob Roy Glacier Track
Last on my list of my five favourite walks in New Zealand is the Rob Roy glacier track in the Mount Aspiring National Park – a 50km drive from the town of Wanaka on the South Island.
This area is renowned across New Zealand for being home to a huge number of ski fields. When we visited though the snow hadn’t quite set in, so tramping around was still possible. Lots of ski fields mean lots of mountains, and the walk up to the Rob Roy glacier is an absolutely astounding walk.
Taking 3-4 hours, this is a moderately strenuous walk which works it’s way up through the tree line in the Mount Aspiring National Park, before bursting you out into a tundra filled valley, where a spectacular glacially coated rock face towers above you. This is a tremendously challenging place to take decent photographs given the scale on offer, but I assure you, if you do this walk, you will not be disappointed by the view.
Further reading for planning your New Zealand Day Hike
If you found this post helpful, you might like to check out my New Zealand guide section of the site, where I offer all kinds of advice, from must see attractions, through to practicalities such as buying a vehicle, finding a job and even finding free internet.
Finally, a fellow blogger wrote an excellent guide to your first time in New Zealand, which I found to be invaluable for my trip.
If you’d like some more resources to further plan your trip, then the following should help:
- This collection of New Zealand travel guides on Amazon.com (Amazon UK for EU readers)
- The Lonely Planet Guide to New Zealand on Amazon.com (UK / EU link)
- The Rough Guide to New Zealand on Amazon.com (UK / EU link)
Free options and other online resources
If you prefer your guides less physical and a bit more free, then the following are good resources:
- The Wikitravel guide to New Zealand
- New Zealand’s Department of Conservation website
- The official New Zealand tourism portal
And that is that for my five favourite day hikes in New Zealand. Looking for more inspiration? Check out fellow blogger Agata’s post on her experiences Trekking in New Zealand. And, if you’ve got a favourite hike in New Zealand, or somewhere else in the world? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Kirthi says
Hi thanks for the lovely post.
Am traveling to NZ in the month of June (2nd week).. I really don’t know why I had always been a big fan of tongariro crossing it’s more like a dream for me to complete it.
I’ll be on my honeymoon still I would want one day dedicated to hike which I’ve never experienced before., So yeah we are amateurs. But it’s fine for me to give one day as hike so that we remember the day thinking oh yes that was the day we did a hike. Could you help me out in deciding.. which would be your personal favorite between Tongariro or Mr Cook. Or for the winter climate in June which one would you suggest. This is the first time I would be visiting NZ and possibly be the only time. Your inputs will really help me in finalising my itinerary as I have added another day near Taupo so that I can do tongariro hike. Please advise 🙂 Thankyou in advance.
Laurence Norah says
HI Kirthi 🙂
Thanks for commenting! I’m happy to help. My preference would be the Tongariro Crossing, it’s a really incredible hike and the scenery is stunning. Mount Cook is also nice, but you don’t get to climb the mountain, so whilst it is a nice hike, there is less sense of accomplishment 😉
Have a wonderful trip!
Laurence
Kirthi says
OMG !! Such an immediate response.. am just so glad. My heart wanted to hear the tongariro ?. am super duper happy. Thanks a lot Laurance you sorted out things for me. It really means a lot to have a reply from a first hand experienced person. Am so relieved now. Would you be willing to help with my itinerary, as in the itinerary is made I want a fine tuning for south island, plus I have a spare day I wasn’t able to decide where do I put it to.
Looking for your positive response 🙂
Laurence Norah says
Hi Kirthi! My pleasure. My suggestion would be to check out my one month itinerary to get some ideas for what I would do. You are welcome to share your itinerary of course, and I will do my best to help if I can, but it’s really hard to offer specific suggestions as everyone has different interests.
You can see my one month itinerary here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/a-month-in-new-zealandmy-perfect/
Kirthi says
Thanks for being so nice and extending your help Laurence, really appreciate it.
Need your help in freezing my itinerary. Starting from June 7th for 17 days covering both island.
D1 – Arrival Auckland by 12pm rest at leisure
D2 – drive from Auckland to Taupo (en route waitomo cave )
D3 – Taupo1-Tongariro guided tour full day (pick-up provided)
D4 – Taupo2- Sky dive & huka falls jet
D5 – drive from Taupo to Rotorua (En route Wai-o-tapu)
D6 – Rotorua-explore
D7 – drive from Rotorua to Coromandel
D8 – coromodel-cathedral cove & hot beacb
D9 – Coromandel to Auckland then Auckland to Queenstown
D10 – Queenstown to fox glacier
D11 – fox glacier
D12 – fox glacier to Queenstown
D13 – Queenstown – Milford cruise
D14 – Queenstown – Navis bungy jump & rafting, evening onsen hot pools
D15 – Queenstown to Auckland
D16 – Auckland to return.
1. Pls help me sort out south island, as Queenstown and fox glacier would be of too much driving. On south island I wanted to do fox glacier, wanaka, Queenstown. Or if possible tranzapline train then to fox glacier then Queenstown.
2. I also have another day in hand, which would personally be your choice of place you would want to extend a day at.
Please help me out of this.
3. Any place you would recommend to sacrifice (being winters) for a little relaxed holiday so that I could spend that day at the other place making most of it.
Thank you in advance.
Kirthi
Laurence Norah says
Hey Kirthi,
As I mentioned in my e-mail, this is a good looking itinerary 🙂 My best suggestion is to check out all the New Zealand content on the site and get an idea of what you might enjoy the most so you know what you want to do. For example, the Wanaka region is wonderful, and you might enjoy a hike to the Rob Roy Glacier, which is a popular day hike (also achievable from Queenstown). But really it’s up to you and what you want to do 🙂
Anonymous says
Great pictures check out walkinggeartips for walking gear
southpacifictravellers says
Thank you for sharing this. We are truly blessed with amazing walks in New Zealand!
Ross says
Good list. I have done about half of them but my favorite out of all of them was Abel Tasman. I thought that place was great and the best out of all that I did.
Laurence Norah says
Awesome to hear Maddie, delighted you had a great time, and thanks for letting us know. Apologies it took me a while to reply!
Maddie says
Just wanted to say thanks for this great post! We’ve ended up doing all of the hikes apart from Taranaki and they’ve been great. You hear so much about the Great Walks but I was struggling to find good info about shorter day hikes.
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Jenny – thanks for leaving a comment!
Jenny says
I’ve taken notes! Thank you!
I booked it around the Otago Peninsula yesterday and did a few gorgeous (and easy) walks. It was lovely and if anyone finds themselves with time to kill while they’re in Dunedin, I’d highly recommend checking it out.
Laurence says
They are all totally worth doing! As for being in shape – certainly for the Taranaki climb. The others aren’t too bad, although you’ll enjoy the views better if you’re in good condition 😉
Mica Ivealis says
Adding these hikes to my list when I go visit next year. They all sound amazing. Must get into shape first!
Laurence says
The Key Summit hike really was brilliant, and it’s really short compared to the reward 🙂 Tongariro is a great hike, but if I had to choose, I’d do Taranaki instead (even if it is a killer walk!)
Amanda Williams says
The Key Summit looks amazing!!
I’m bummed that I still haven’t done the Tongariro crossing yet. But it’s still on my “to do” list for NZ!