Top 10 hiking trails in New Zealand

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Tongariro Alpine Crossing

We begin our list on the North Island of New Zealand in the central rocky mountain ranges with this glorious hike up to the Blue Lake in the Tongariro National Park. The views are spectacular as the mountains vary from red to yellow and ochre rocks, and the Emerald Lake triad at the summit is simply mesmerising. This one is for the hikers that like a challenge but it is definitely worth the effort!

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

20km • Hard •

Routeburn Track to Lake Harris

Hopping onto the South Island, this hike follows the iconic Routeburn track to Lake Harris in Mount Aspiring National Park. In this Alpine landscape, the views are immaculate; be it on the mountains, the rivers, the snowy peaks and lakes, anywhere one looks seems straight out of a postcard. This is quite the memorable trail and there are many more wonderful hikes close by in the National Park that can be added to this one for a lovely and adventurous longer stay nestled in the mountains.

Routeburn Track to Lake Harris

27km • Hard •

Routeburn Track to Lake Harris

Not far from Queenstown and from our previous pick, the Gertrude Saddle Route in the Fiordland National Park is definitely a contender that ranks high on the natural beauty and impressive scenery scale. The summit greets walkers with the most epic views on the valley and lakes below and the snowy peaks in the distance. It’s a challenging adventure that will leave most of us breathless and in awe.

Gertrude Saddle Route

9km • Hard •

Mount Taranaki

Back on the North Island, Mount Taranaki, a dormant stratovolcano in the Egmont National Park, stands tall at 2, 518 m and is a sacred sight in Maori culture. This trail starts near the Plateau summit, advances all the way to the top of Mount Taranaki, and might well be one of the toughest day hikes in New Zealand. The ascent and the summit offer spectacular views on the surrounding area that are simply breathtaking.

Mount Taranaki

12km • Hard •

Hooker Lake

Meanwhile the South Island is home to Hooker Lake in the Aoroki / Mount Cook National Park, a beautiful lake that began to form in the 1970s because of the Hooker glacier retreating. The lake has kept extending since that date. The landscapes on the way are magnificent and varied, including glaciers, icebergs, a river, and several suspension bridges making it a wonderful hike that hikers will remember long after having left the rocky banks admiring the icy clear water and the imposing surrounding mountain ranges.

Hooker Lake

10km • Easy •

Yellow Point via Abel Tasman Coast Track

Travelling all the way to the north of the South Island, we suggest stopping by the Abel Tasman National Park for a section along the iconic and a little longer Abel Tasman Coast Track Great Walk in Tasman. This section follows the Marahau coast to Yellow Point and offers beautiful coastal and beach views all the way along as well as secret creeks that are well worth checking out for a dip before continuing on walking.

Yellow Point via Abel Tasman Coast Track

16km • Medium •

Rakaia Gorge Walkway

Getting closer to Christchurch, this is a wonderful trail to admire the rising majestic Mt Hutt Range and its snowy peaks in the distance, whilst following the turquoise blue water of the Rakaia Gorge. The walk is captivating, combining scenery with a good dose of exercise.

Rakaia Gorge Walkway

10km • Medium •

Lake Matheson Track

Moving onto the west side of South Island, this is a wonderful family trail around Lake Matheson in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park. The lake offers breathtaking reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman in its waters on sunny days. The trail meanders under the forest canopy leading to observation platforms with great viewpoints, making it the perfect adventure for a day outing.

Lake Matheson Track

4km • Easy •

Rainbow Mountain and Crater Lake Outlook Track

Travelling back again to the North Island, not far from Rotorua in the Waikato Region, Maunga Kākaramea also known as Rainbow Mountain Summit is an unmissable hike with a unique scenery. The route goes through wooded areas as well as offers a beautiful 360° panoramic view at the top of the many pyramidal mounts that rise all around.

Rainbow Mountain and Crater Lake Outlook Track

6km • Medium •

Pouakai Tarns via Mongarei Track

Last but not least, near New Plymouth, on the west side of the North Island, Mount Taranaki stands tall in Egmont National Park. The track is famous, and rightly so, for the amazing views on Mount Taranaki that are reflected in the Pouakai tarns, creating a beautiful mirror image in the water. There are many additional trails in the area to explore and bask a little longer in the beauty of Egmont National Park.

Pouakai Tarns via Mongarei Track

12km • Hard •