Multi-day Hikes: Great Walks & Classics

Aotearoa (New Zealand) is a hiker's paradise, offering a diverse range of multi-day tramping experiences. From the world-renowned Great Walks to hidden gems in the backcountry, there's a trail for every adventurer. Whether you're a seasoned tramper or planning your first overnight hike, this page will help you discover the best multi-day hikes in Aotearoa.

Why hike in aotearoa?

What makes hiking in Aotearoa so special compared to hiking overseas? It's the unique combination of pristine wilderness, diverse landscapes, and well-maintained tracks. From lush rainforests and snow-capped mountains to stunning coastlines and geothermal areas, Aotearoa offers an unparalleled variety of hiking environments. The Department of Conservation (DOC) manages an extensive network of tracks and huts, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for trampers. Plus, the native flora and fauna, including iconic species like the kiwi and the kauri tree, add a special touch to any hike.

Great walk or hidden gem?

Choosing between a Great Walk and a less well-known multi-day hike depends on your priorities. Great Walks offer well-marked trails, maintained huts or campsites, and stunning scenery, but they can be crowded and require booking well in advance. Less well-known hikes provide a more secluded and challenging experience, with fewer facilities and greater self-reliance required. Consider your experience level, desired level of solitude, and the type of landscape you want to explore when making your decision.

Fiordland Trio: Milford / Kepler / Routeburn

Milford Track — “the once-in-a-lifetime”

Vibe: Waterfalls for days, emerald valleys, Mackinnon Pass drama.
Quick facts: 53.5 km • 4 days • One-way (Glade Wharf → Sandfly Point) • Huts only (bookings essential) • Best Nov–Apr • Moderate

Why go: It’s the Greatest of the Great Walks for many. The scenery feels prehistoric, and the huts sit in postcard locations.

How to plan (simple):

  • Boat to Glade Wharf, boat from Sandfly Point.
  • Huts must be booked in sequence (no camping).
  • Build in a post-hike night in Milford Sound or Te Anau.

Itinerary idea:

  • Day 1: Glade Wharf → Clinton Hut (easy forest warm-up)
  • Day 2: Clinton → Mintaro Hut (valley narrows, cliffs close in)
  • Day 3: Mintaro → Dumpling Hut via Mackinnon Pass + Sutherland Falls side trip
  • Day 4: Dumpling → Sandfly Point, boat to Milford

Pro tips: Pack a lightweight umbrella—it’s Fiordland; rain is part of the magic. Treat the sandflies like taxes: inevitable; plan for them (repellent, long sleeves).

Kepler Track — “the alpine loop with swagger”

Vibe: Big ridgeline walking, swing bridges, beech forest, and a cool cave.
Quick facts: 60 km loop • 3–4 days • Start/finish at Kepler Control Gates (Te Anau) • Huts + campsites (book) • Best Nov–Apr • Moderate–Challenging (alpine exposure)

Why go: You earn jaw-dropping ridge views without gnarly navigation. Logistics are easy—it’s a loop from Te Anau.

Itinerary idea (classic 3-day):

  • Day 1: Control Gates → Luxmore Hut (steady climb, sunset on the helipad)
  • Day 2: Luxmore → Iris Burn (alpine ridge traverse = wow)
  • Day 3: Iris Burn → Control Gates via Moturau Hut (lakeside lunch, flat cruise out)

Pro tips: If the forecast turns, you can bail via the Forest Burn/Iris Burn valleys—nice safety net. Pop into Luxmore Cave with a headlamp.

Routeburn Track — “short, sharp, spectacular”

Routeburn Track — “short, sharp, spectacular”

Vibe: Hanging valleys, waterfalls, alpine tarns, and the famed Harris Saddle.
Quick facts: 32 km • 2–3 days • One-way (Glenorchy side ↔ Te Anau/Milford side) • Huts + campsites (book) • Best Nov–Apr • Moderate

Why go: Every kilometre’s a highlight reel. Great for time-poor hikers who still want alpine drama.

Itinerary idea (3-day):

  • Day 1: Routeburn Shelter → Routeburn Falls Hut
  • Day 2: Falls → Lake Mackenzie Hut via Harris Saddle & Conical Hill (optional)
  • Day 3: Mackenzie → The Divide (add Key Summit if legs allow)

Logistics: Book a shuttle or key swap—trailheads are far apart by road.

Abel Tasman Coast Track — Tasman

Vibe: Golden beaches, turquoise water, easy gradients, swim stops.
Quick facts: 60 km • 3–5 days • One-way (Wainui ↔ Marahau; many mix-and-match) • Huts + campsites (book) • Year-round • Easy–Moderate

Why go: It’s the holiday Great Walk—walk, boat, swim, repeat. Family-friendly, tailor-made distances.

How to plan:

  • Use water taxis for custom sections and bag transfers.
  • Check tide times for estuary crossings (Awaroa is the big one).
  • Stay in Marahau or Kaiteriteri before/after.

Itinerary idea (4-day cruiser):

  • Day 1: Marahau → Anchorage
  • Day 2: Anchorage → Bark Bay
  • Day 3: Bark Bay → Awaroa (tide window!)
  • Day 4: Awaroa → Wainui (or water taxi out from Totaranui)

Pro tips: Trail runners + sandals is the winning combo. Book a water taxi back to a hot shower and a beach-side feed.

Rakiura Track — Stewart Island

Vibe: Birdsong, podocarp forest, empty beaches, and real chances to spot kiwi at night.
Quick facts: 32 km loop-ish • 3 days • From Oban (easy logistics) • Huts + campsites (book) • Year-round • Easy–Moderate (can be muddy)

Why go: Slower pace, soulful vibe, wildlife galore. It feels like old-school NZ tramping—without the crowds.

Itinerary idea:

  • Day 1: Oban → Port William Hut
  • Day 2: Port William → North Arm Hut
  • Day 3: North Arm → Oban

Pro tips: Bring gaiters—mud is part of the fun. Night walk from Oban toward Acker’s Point or around Horseshoe Bay for kiwi sightings (red light only).

Heaphy Track — Nelson/West Coast

Vibe: A greatest-hits road trip on foot: tussock tops, lush beech, nikau palm beaches, big swing bridges.
Quick facts: 78.4 km • 4–6 days • One-way (Golden Bay ↔ West Coast) • Huts + campsites (book) • Year-round (river sections can flood) • Moderate

Why go: Variety. Every day feels different, and finishing along the West Coast with surf and nikau palms is unforgettable.

How to plan:

  • Sort a car relocation or shuttle (ends are far apart).
  • West-to-east has a tougher start; east-to-west saves those Coast views for dessert.

Itinerary idea (5-day):

  • Day 1: Brown Hut → Perry Saddle
  • Day 2: Perry → Gouland Downs (limestone arches detour)
  • Day 3: Gouland → Saxon or James Mackay
  • Day 4: James Mackay → Heaphy Hut (sea vibes)
  • Day 5: Heaphy → Kohaihai

Pro tips: Sandflies at the coast huts demand respect. Carry a spare pair of dry socks—little luxury, big morale.

Whanganui Journey (canoe) — Whanganui National Park

Vibe: Misty gorges, ancient forest, marae-like river camps, and the slow rhythm of paddling.
Quick facts: 145 km (5 days, Taumarunui → Pipiriki) or 88 km (3 days, Whakahoro → Pipiriki) • Canoe/kayak • Campsites + a few huts (book) • Best Oct–Apr • Easy-Moderate (river grade I–II, weather/flows matter)

Why go: A Great Walk without walking. It’s meditative, cultural, and wildly scenic.

How to plan:

  • Book canoe hire + shuttles with an operator (they brief you on hazards, supply barrels).
  • Build in a stop at Tieke Kāinga (respect tikanga; it’s a living marae/hut).
  • Check river flows before launch.

Itinerary idea (3-day classic):

  • Day 1: Whakahoro → John Coull
  • Day 2: John Coull → Tieke Kāinga (visit Bridge to Nowhere via Mangapurua Landing)
  • Day 3: Tieke → Pipiriki, shuttle out

Pro tips: Dry bags inside barrels = belt-and-braces. Gloves save hands on long days.

Paparoa Track — West Coast (hike or MTB)

Vibe: Rainforest, karst, and open tops with Tasman Sea views; a purpose-built Great Walk for feet and wheels.
Quick facts: ~55 km main track (+ Pike29 Memorial side track when open) • 2–3 days tramping / 1–2 days MTB • Huts (book) • Year-round (watch West Coast weather) • Tramp: Moderate; MTB: Advanced

Why go: Fresh, flowing benched trail with big scenery and a meaningful Pike29 story.

How to plan:

  • One-way between Blackball/Smoke-ho and Punakaiki/Pororari.
  • MTB permitted most of the year; riders should check seasonal restrictions and be comfortable with exposure and long climbs/descents.
  • Hike/ride in the same direction as your shuttle plan—both ends are remote.

Itinerary idea (2-night hike):

  • Night 1: Ces Clark Hut
  • Night 2: Moonlight Tops or Pororari Hut
  • Exit to Punakaiki

Pro tips: West Coast weather swings—pack for wet even on “fine” days. Riders: strong brakes, spare pads, and a real rain shell.

Te Araroa Sections — Regional Samplers

Te Araroa Sections — Regional Samplers

Vibe: Pick your flavour of the 3,000-km end-to-end trail without committing months.

Top picks:

Queen Charlotte Track (Marlborough Sounds)

Quick facts: 72 km • 3–5 days • Hike or MTB (alternating days) • Private land sections require a track pass • Bag transfers + water taxis available • Easy–Moderate

Why go: Endless bays and ridgelines, café stops en route, and your pack can be shipped ahead. It’s luxury tramping.

Itinerary idea (4-day): Ship Cove → Furneaux → Punga Cove → Portage → Anakiwa.

Pro tips: Book bag transfers and water taxis; bring cash/card for lodge snacks and a cheeky beer.

Hakatere / Rakaia–Rangitata Alternatives (Canterbury)

Open tussock country, river terraces, and big-sky views with easy logistics—great 1–3 day tasters.

Pureora Timber Trail (King Country — MTB)

85 km of historic bush, suspension bridges, and smooth grades. 2 days riding with lodge shuttles and bag drops—superb intro to bike packing vibes.

Tips for your first tramp

Planning your first multi-day tramp in NZ? Here are some must-know tips:

  • Book in advance: Great Walks require bookings months in advance, especially during peak season.
  • Check the weather: New Zealand weather can change rapidly, so be prepared for all conditions.
  • Pack appropriately: Layers, waterproof gear, sturdy boots, and a first-aid kit are essential.
  • Leave no trace: Pack out all rubbish and minimize your impact on the environment.
  • Tell someone your plans: Inform a friend or family member of your route and expected return date.

Find your adventure

This page is aimed at a mix of hikers, from first-timers looking for introductory multi-day tramps to experienced trampers seeking inspiration for their next adventure. We aim to provide information and resources for all levels of experience, ensuring everyone can find the perfect hike for their abilities and interests.