Your guide to hiking in New Zealand

I grew up in a family that loved being outdoors. It felt like we were always camping, fishing and hiking. I hated it. Not the camping part, but on every hike, I’d whinge the whole way up the track and swear I’d never do it again.

It wasn’t until my early 20s that something changed, and now, all I dream about is being outdoors. I often laugh at what sixteen-year-old me would say if she could see my life now!

Nowadays, I get a lot of messages from people saying they want to get into hiking but don’t know where to start. If that sounds like you, this is a simple, straight-to-the-point mini guide that covers what to expect when you’re here, what to pack, DOC information, safety tips, and 10 of the country's most popular hikes.

Disclaimer: This guide is intended for beginner and regular hikers only, not for alpine mountaineering or advanced off-season backcountry tramping.

When is the best time to go hiking in NZ?

The Great Walk season runs from late October to May. The days are longer, the weather is much better, and the DOC huts are regularly serviced by rangers.

Outside of Great Walk season, many of our walks are much more dangerous, and the hut facilities are reduced. For example, the huts on the Routeburn Track have their running water turned off. The weather is cold, and places with alpine conditions often freeze over.

Please do not attempt hikes like the Mueller Hut Route, the Taranaki Maunga Summit, or the Tongariro Crossing in the middle of winter unless you have mountaineering experience and are confident using crampons, an ice axe and avalanche kit.

Choosing the right track

Before you start hiking in New Zealand, it’s important to understand how to choose a trail that matches your skills, experience, and fitness levels. Many Kiwis call hiking “tramping”. If you see a sign that says “tramping track,” it means it’s a proper hike. You’ll need good shoes, decent fitness, and some preparation.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) manages most of our trails and sorts them into different types based on time, terrain, and difficulty. If you look at their website, you’ll find six different track types ranging from easy short walks, all the way to advanced mountaineering routes. I find the track system a bit confusing, so I use that as a guide and then look at distance and elevation gain.

Instead, here's a very quick overview of the trails you can find in NZ.

• Short walks: These are usually under an hour and are perfect for stretching your legs, a mid-road trip stop, or reaching a beautiful viewpoint. They’re typically well-marked and easy to follow. However, short doesn’t always mean easy!

• Day hikes: Longer trails up to 8(ish) hours. Some of these walks are easy loops through native bush, while others, like the Tongariro Crossing, are full-day adventures that will require some planning.

• Multi-day hikes: These are overnight trips where you’ll stay in DOC huts or campsites. You’ll need to book your accommodation in advance and carry all your food, gear and clothes.

• Great Walks: These are New Zealand’s most famous multi-day hikes. They're well-maintained, signposted, and incredibly beautiful. But reservations get snapped up faster than Taylor Swift tickets. I have a complete guide to booking the Great Walks coming in early May, and will let you know once it’s available (it's included in this guide)

Safety when you're out and about

Animals and wildlife

New Zealand is generally a very safe country, and we don’t have dangerous animals like those in America, Canada, or Australia. However, if you're travelling to alpine areas, keep an eye out for naughty kea, who are cute but ridiculously destructive.

The weather

The biggest risk to your safety in New Zealand is our weather. Hiking conditions are super unpredictable, even in the summer. It can get freezing, and hypothermia is a huge risk all year round. Pack lots of warm layers (Merino is the world's greatest investment), wear a good warm fleece/puffer, and ALWAYS take a rain jacket!!! Make sure you check the forecast once, twice and three times before you go out. I like to use MetService, NIWA and DOC.

Be prepared for sudden changes and have a Plan B. If the weather turns and you’re already on the trail, assess the risk and if it's unsafe, please turn back. Bailing is not failing; if the weather turns, it’s irresponsible to put yourself in danger. I know it’s disappointing to travel to New Zealand, only to find you can’t do one of your bucket-list hikes, but the mountains will always be there, and nothing on your bucket list is worth risking your life for.

Navigation on the trail

Navigation is important on any trail, especially longer day/multi-day hikes and tracks that run through bush/more isolated areas. AllTrails is fine if you do short day walks under 1.5 hours. Otherwise, you’ll need to download NZ Topo, bring a satellite phone or PLB (most people use a Garmin InReach Mini), and carry a backup map just in case. Before you leave, tell someone where you're going and always stick to the marked track.

Where to stay when you're hiking in NZ

This will depend on whether you're doing a day hike or a multi-day hike

Day hikes

If you’re only planning day hikes, you’ll need to book accommodation in a town or a campsite close to the trailhead.

Multi-day hikes

If you’re planning a multiday hike, you’ll stay overnight in a DOC hut or campsite. These range from basic shelters to huts with gas stoves, toilets and running water.

You’ll need to book your huts in advance, especially if you’re travelling in the summer, around public holidays or would like to do one of the Great Walks. DOC have an online booking system that’s super easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere in the world, so I recommend reserving your bunk as soon as you’ve confirmed your travel plans.

Hut/campsite reservations open in May before the Great Walk season (i.e. May 2025 for the 2025/2026 season), so make sure you’re well prepared and know your dates in advance!

What to pack

What you bring depends on where you’re going, the season, and how far the hike is.  A good rule of thumb is to remember that New Zealand’s weather changes so fast, and no matter what time of year you’re visiting, you’ll always want to prepare for sudden changes.

Multi-day hikes like New Zealand’s Great Walks require much more planning and preparation. You’ll need to bring your cooking equipment, sleeping gear, extra clothes, and reserve your hut/campsite in advance.

For now, here's an example of the list I give my friends and family when we go on a day hike under 8 hours.

Gear and extras

• Day pack (Tempest 20). This would ideally have a waterproof liner or rain cover

• Lunch, plenty of snacks and 3L water

• Some type of navigation (AllTrails is fine for short, well-maintained walks, but download NZTopo if you’re going on longer hikes)

• Fully charged phone and power bank

• Any medication you take

• Gaiters (optional)

• Sunscreen and bug spray

• A first-aid kit

• Head torch

• Camera and tripod

• If you’re going into the backcountry, I recommend taking a PLB too

Wear on the day

• T-shirt/tank or long-sleeved lightweight merino top (depending on the weather)

• Quick-drying shorts, leggings or hiking pants (depending on the weather)

• A fleece and/or a puffer jacket (either pack it or wear it - either way, you’ll be pleased to have it)

Pack in your bag

• Merino thermals + one extra (I always take icebreakers 200 & 260 weight thermals)

• Rain jacket, even if it’s sunny

• Decent hiking boots and socks

• Cap/hat or beanie/buff (depending on the weather)

• Sunglasses

• Swimming gear, if you fancy a post-hike swim

Top 10 walks in NZ

There are so many popular walks in New Zealand that it’s hard to choose just 10!

My complete Hikers Guide to the North Island will include my favourite walks across the North Island, a more detailed overview of each trail, tips on planning your trip, which season to travel in, and all the information you need to have the best experience.

For now, here’s a mix of day walks and multi-day hikes that are worth putting on your bucket list:

North Island

• Tongariro Alpine Crossing

• Pouakai Tarns via Mangorei Road Track

• Kauaeranga Kauri Trail/Pinnacles Walk

• Cathedral Cove Track

South Island

• Hooker Valley Track (closed for repairs until mid 2026)

• Roys Peak

• Milford Track

• Routeburn Track

• Abel Tasman Coast Track

• Key Summit

Final thoughts

I hope this helped you feel a bit more confident about getting into hiking. You really don’t need fancy gear or heaps of experience to get outdoors. You just need a good attitude, a bit of planning, and a willingness to give it a go. The most important thing is to be prepared and make sure that if things get dangerous, you turn back. Start small, build up slowly, and don’t worry if your first few hikes feel hard.

Let me know if you do any of the hikes above. I’d love to hear about your adventures!