New Zealand has thousands of kilometres of hiking trails but sitting above them all are the ten Great Walks that journey through the country’s most magnificent places and iconic locations.

Lake Waikaremoana track

Journey into the enchanted green world that surrounds beautiful Lake Waikaremoana. Venture through rainforest, wetlands and a magical ‘goblin forest’. The Lake Waikaremoana track has the largest area of native forest in the North Island. This region is the ancestral home of the Maori tribe Ngai Tuhoe – the ‘Children of the Mist’. Entirely within the boundaries of Te Urewera, the track mostly follows the shores of the great lake. Over three to four days, it leads you through pristine rainforest, regenerating shrubland areas of wetland, rush and herbfield and a magical ‘goblin forest’. You will also discover magnificent rivers, waterfalls and ghostly valleys of mist.

Whanganui Journey

Paddle down the Whanganui River for a memorable trip through a wildly beautiful national park. Explore the region on foot by walking on the Bridge to Nowhere track. Or complete one of New Zealand’s nine Great Walks by journeying on the river by canoe.  With a length of 290 kilometres, the mystical Whanganui River is one of the longest rivers in the country. This magnificent canoe or kayak adventure follows 145 kilometres as it ventures deep into the pristine forests of a vast national park. The journey has been named one of New Zealand’s 9 Great Walks, but this 5-day journey involves paddling down the river instead of hiking on land. Drifting with the river through steep-sided canyons, this journey takes you beyond the clutches of modern civilization. In its place, you’ll find peace and quiet as well as abundant birdlife and native forests that cling to the cliff faces along the river edge.

Tongariro Northern Circuit 

This amazing walk encircles Mount Ngauruhoe, an active volcano in Tongariro National Park. You’ll see craters, explosion pits, lava flows and more. Hiking around an active volcano would have to be one of life’s most memorable experiences. And if you decide to climb to the summit, the feeling of achievement is even more uplifting. The Tongariro Northern Circuit encircles the cone of Mount Ngauruhoe – the most perfectly-shaped volcanic cone within the Tongariro National Park. Although it’s resting at the moment, this mountain is New Zealand’s most active volcano with 61 eruptions since 1839. The first day of the circuit follows the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is probably New Zealand’s best-known day hike. So if you don’t have time to do the full circuit, you can opt to do a single day.