Welcome to this post about the 9 best hikes in New Zealand.
Having been on hundreds of tracks in New Zealand, it’s hard enough to come up with a top 9, let along rank them. So I’ve popped them in order from North to South.
No faffing about here, let’s get into it.
THE 9 BEST HIKES IN NEW ZEALAND
This is purely subjective and will chnage on a day to day basis depending on how I feel. This is what I was feeling on the day I wrote this. It’ll change as I do more!
1. MOUNT TARAWERA
The Quick Details:
- Length: ~3km
- Elevation Gain: ~300 metres
- Loop track
- 1 day
Why I Love It: I’m not normally a fan of a guided hike, but you have to be with a guided group to have hike Mount Tarawera and wow, it was awesome. It’s hard to even consider it a hike given it’s distance, but there’s not a dull moment and you’ll get to plummet down into the crater which is an adrenaline rush.
Book the Mount Tarawea adventure here, but check to see if the company has any deals here.
2. TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING
The Quick Details:
- Length: ~20km
- Elevation Gain: ~1200 metres
- Point to point
- 1 day
Why I Love It:
I really love Tongariro National Park, many of the trails are quite different for one another. But as popular as it is, you can’t go past the Tongariro Alpine Crossing which is a point to point hike, but has lots of variety along the way to. The iconic view of the lakes really does live up to it’s hype, and if I could do this trail once a week…I wouldn’t be complaining.
There are crowds, but you can avoid them if need be…it’s just the transport which is a bit of a drama now. And keep an eye on the weather leading up to when you want to do this trail.
3. JUMBO-HOLDSWORTH LOOP
The Quick Details:
- Length: ~24km
- Elevation Gain: ~1500 metres
- Loop Track
- 1 to 3 dats
Why I Love It:
As I work through this list, it’s clear that I like trails that contain variety, and ideally some good views. The Tararua Ranges are brutal, with lots of rain throughout the year…but you can do the Jumbo-Holdsworth year round, which does mean it’s super great after snowfall…though I’d personally rather go on a nice summers day.
The track has everything, you’ll walk along the river, you have a steady ascent which takes you above the treeline, and a nice descent on the technical side.
4. PAEKAKARIKI ESCARPMENT TRACK
The Quick Details:
- Length: ~9.8km
- Elevation Gain: ~420 metres
- Point to point
- 1 day
Why I Love It:
The Paekakariki Escarpment Track might be the most surprising track on the list, and I might be a bit biased as I’m from Waikanae that’s only 15 minutes up the road…but this track is awesome. It’s a point to point track, but you can get to both ends (and from point to point) by public transport which is stellar.
The track is well built, with plenty of birdlife on the way…you’ll also get amazing views over the sea and Kapiti Island, along with the two crazy swingbridges.
5. QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK
The Quick Details:
- Length: ~73km
- Elevation Gain: ~2500 metres
- Point to Point
- 2 to 4 days
Why I Love It: The Queen Charlotte Track isn’t of Great Walk status, but it’s almost an unofficial one. I love how easy it is to access the track from Picton, and you get to the start by boat…so good.
The accommodation options are varied, and the bush is stunning. And provided you’ve got blue skies, the colour is really amazing. It’s simply an awesome hike.
6. FRENCH RIDGE TRACK
The Quick Details:
- Length: ~34km return
- Elevation Gain: ~1500 metres
- Out and back
- 1 to 3 days
Why I Love It:
I’ll be honest, hiking out from Aspiring Hut back to the carpark is pretty brutal after such an epic adventure…but the climbs on most of the hikes in Mount Aspiring National Park more than make up for it.
The climb to French Ridge Hut is brutal, you’ll be hauling yourself up branches from time to time. It’s relentless but I find joy in it (don’t forget you’ll need to descend the same way). Then emerging from the treeline is epic with great views where everything reveals itself more and more.
If you’re staying at the hut, you can explore all around the hut too. Just watch out the kea don’t take your stuff!
7. EARNSLAW BURN TRACK
The Quick Details:
- Length: 26km
- Elevation Gain: ~1200 metres
- Out and back
- 1 to 2 days
Why I Love It: Anytime someone offers for me to join them on the Earnslaw Burn Track, I won’t hesitate to say yes. It’s become popular as an Instagram location thanks to being able to get up close to the glacier at the end of the hike.
But, people underestimate how hard this South Island hike is. It’s 13km each way, but the first 8km through the forest is slow going…but it’s the kind of terrain I like. Then you leave the forest and it’s faster going, but if it’s wet you’ll be surprised how long it still takes you.
This hike really is one of the best hikes in New Zealand.
8. ROUTEBURN TRACK
The Quick Details:
- Length: ~33km
- Elevation Gain: ~1300 metres
- Point to point
- 1 to 4 days
Why I Love It: In the 33km the Routeburn Track has so much variety from beech forest, lakes, alpine terrain, waterfalls, views galore, and there’s plenty. There’s also a host of side trips you can do such as Conical Hill, Valley of the Trolls, the North Branch and a whole lot more. It’s also possible to do this in 1 to 3 days.
The only annoying part is the transport to/from the Routeburn if you’re going from point to point, but it’s well worth it…and yes it’s better than the Milford Track.
9. GERTRUDE SADDLE
The Quick Details:
- Length: ~8.7km
- Elevation Gain: 650 metres
- Out and back
- 1 to 2 days
Why I Love It: I’ve only done this trail once so far, but if someone says they’re heading to Milford Sound, I always recommend hiking Gertrude Saddle (pending weather).
It’s a true alpine hike that you must respect the weather on…it’s deadly if there’s any rain given you’re essentially going up a big rock slab towards the top. That’s part of the fun however.
The majority of these hikes are ‘famous hikes in New Zealand’ to various degrees. But if you do these 9 hikes while you’re in New Zealand, you’ll be off to an epic hike.
If you’ve got any questions about hiking in New Zealand, let me know in the comments below or email jub@churnewzealand.com.
And if you’re feeling spicy, let me know your top 9 best hikes in New Zealand below.
p.s. If you’re after all of the hikes I’ve documented on Chur New Zealand, the map below let’s you scroll around the country.
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.