Top Hiking Treks in New Zealand

Some of the finest hiking trails in the world are located on New Zealand’s South Island.

The travel experts at Dialaflight are well acquainted with the best destinations for trekking holidays and are eager to share their expertise about this exciting approach to foreign travel. Some of the finest hiking trails in the world are located on New Zealand’s South Island. While tourists who took flights to New Zealand once had to navigate the Kiwi wilderness largely on their own, now an increasing number of planned holidays in New Zealand have begun to incorporate hiking treks into their itineraries.

The Routeburn Track
This well-maintained hiking trail takes tourists through some of the best examples of New Zealand’s otherworldly natural beauty. Tourists usually begin the route near the northern edge of Lake Wakatipu. Along the way, tourists will hike through valleys rich with red beech tree forests and will ascend to the ridges surrounding the Harris Saddle. From these heights, there are wonderful panoramic views of South Island and the waters of the Pacific Ocean beyond.

Because the New Zealand Department of Conservation considers the Routeburn Track a “Great Walk,” it maintains several huts where tourists can stay overnight during their hike. Many people taking this trek make use of the huts, but others choose to do parts of the 20-mile trek as individual day hikes.

The Milford Track
Another Great Walk on South Island is the Milford Track. At 33 miles, it is substantially longer than the Routeburn Track and takes tourists along a route that begins at Lake Te Anau, which is South Island’s largest lake. While the Routeburn Track winds through relatively dry terrain with few ferns, much of the Milford Track consists of temperate rain forest terrain, which is much lusher. The nickname of the Milford Track is the “Finest Walk in the World.”

Once hikers reach the end of the track at Sandfly Point, they can choose to return to another point in New Zealand by sea kayak or by travelling on the ferry - this makes regular runs for Milford Track hikers during the walking season. Many choose the ferry option, since after several days of walking through the verdant wilderness, most tourists look forward to a quick return to their comfortable New Zealand hotels where they can relax and refresh themselves.

The Abel Tasman Coastal Track
A substantially different hiking adventure is to be experienced on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track located at the northern edge of South Island. Though 31 miles long, this track consists of terrain that ranges from easy to moderate. As its name suggests, this hiking trail follows the coastline, but there is far more to the landscape than just the sunlit beaches that New Zealand is famous for. Hikers also walk through the coastal forests where they will cross numerous small rivers, all of which have bridges for the convenience of visitors to the wilderness. Three days is an adequate time to walk this trail, however, many tourists allow five days so that they can fully appreciate the natural beauty that they see all around.

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