With the borders closed, there’s no better time to tick off a few of those trails you’ve always dreamt of conquering—and at least some of the more popular ones will likely be less crowded. Verve brings you seven of the best destinations to spend a day strolling in the majestic backcountry of Aotearoa.
Hooker Valley Track
The half-day hike along the Hooker Valley Track and back is another iconic Aotearoa stroll for good reason—it’s like trekking through a watercolour painting, with our mightiest peak, Aoraki, looming from its terminus. There is such a majestic presence to this tucked away corner of Canterbury. The drive alone into Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, part of the Te Waipounamu Unesco World Heritage Area, which snakes alongside Lake Pukaki with Aoraki rarely out of sight, is worthy of its own film score, and by the time you reach the foot of the mountain you’ll almost want to applaud. It’s mind-boggling that such an incredible natural feature—considered tapu by Ngāi Tahu, and the most important ancestor—be so accessible, reached via a meandering stroll that navigates swingbridges and boardwalks and a bush clad valley kissed by the occasional glacier and waterfall. Mini icebergs are often bobbing in Hooker Lake at Aoraki’s base. Allow three hours to complete this 10km return trek, and when you’re done, grab a beer and burger from the Old Mountaineers Café back in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village, which affords further splendid views of the mountain.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. Sure, it’s the go-to pick for New Zealand day walking, but don’t let overfamiliarity detract from its devastating beauty. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is not only Aotearoa’s finest daylong tramp, but among the greatest anywhere on the planet. So, if you haven’t done this already, firstly, why the hell not? Secondly, do it this summer! Part of the longer Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of New Zealand’s 10 Great Walks, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing stretches for 19km and takes 6-8 hours to complete. Gracing Aotearoa’s oldest national park—also a dual Unesco World Heritage Site—the otherworldly walk winds past the commanding peaks of Tongariro, Ruapehu, and the bruised, brooding Ngāuruhoe which was immortalised as Middle-earth’s “Mount Doom” in the Lord of the Rings movies. Other trail highlights include the fizzing Soda Springs, the rusted South Crater and the mesmerising Emerald Lakes whose iridescent turquoise waters contrast spectacularly against the metallic, volcanic landscape.
The Pinnacles Walk
One of North Island’s greatest day walks, you’ll need to set aside eight hours to complete the 12km track that makes its way to this iconic Coromandel formation and back. Rising above the Kauaeranga Valley, the Pinnacles is a cluster of toothy summits that reach nearly 2,500ft with mesmerising views of the surrounding ranges. The trail is tough going—and slippery—in places, following old logging routes as it winds over waterways and through forests littered with fascinating historical remnants such as abandoned rail equipment. Up top, you can see across the Hauraki Gulf and over to the Bay of Plenty. There’s a DoC hut around one hour from the summit that allows guests to stay overnight to witness spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway
A wonderful day trip from Queenstown for families and those who prefer a gentler amble. The Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway affords life-affirming alpine scenery from an easy, low-level loop trail that unfurls for around three kilometres, incorporating a boardwalk and past wetlands that brim with birdlife like the black swan, grey duck and South Island pied oystercatcher. Skirting the Glenorchy Lagoon and Rees River in the shadow of some spectacular snow-capped peaks, including Mount Earnslaw, there are several opportunities to capture a photo of the ridgelines mirrored in the waters. Ample seating and picnic areas en route allow visitors to drink in the scenery. Later, have real drink at the lovely GYC, a historic bar café and bar in Glenorchy village. Allow a couple of hours for the walk.
The Pinnacles Walk
One of North Island’s greatest day walks, you’ll need to set aside eight hours to complete the 12km track that makes its way to this iconic Coromandel formation and back. Rising above the Kauaeranga Valley, the Pinnacles is a cluster of toothy summits that reach nearly 2,500ft with mesmerising views of the surrounding ranges. The trail is tough going—and slippery—in places, following old logging routes as it winds over waterways and through forests littered with fascinating historical remnants such as abandoned rail equipment. Up top, you can see across the Hauraki Gulf and over to the Bay of Plenty. There’s a DoC hut around one hour from the summit that allows guests to stay overnight to witness spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Rob Roy Track
Another walk that’s worth doing for the stupendously scenic drive to get there, this time via Mātukituki Valley. The Rob Roy Track climbs to its eponymous glacier that curls down from the ceiling of Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park—it’s a South Island hidden gem and a particular favourite of this writer. After crossing a swingbridge over the Mātukituki River, the route navigates native bush whose whispers are broken by the sound birdcall (kea here are rife) and waterfalls which tumble from cliffs revealed through sporadic breaks in the canopy. Once the forest breaks for good at the treeline, the glacier appears almost from nowhere beyond the scrub, the dense greenery giving way to an imposing, jagged silver ridgeline strangled by a tongue of blue and white ice. Take a picnic and sit, snack and stare in wonder—you might also hear the cacophony of cracking and crashing ice in the distance. Allow three to four hours to complete the 10km return trail, which is relatively steep in places and requires a decent level of fitness.
Tiritiri Matangi
Technically not a single day walk but a series of interconnected tracks that you spend a day walking—it’s staggering how few Aucklanders have visited this avian haven that’s literally on our doorstep. Among the most valuable of the Hauraki Gulf’s many island jewels, Tiritiri Matangi is a pest-free open sanctuary home to some of the world’s rarest and most endangered birds as well as our iconic tuatara—a reptile that predates many a dinosaur. Ready your camera to capture the likes of tūī, takahē, and red-crowned parakeet and highly recommended is a night in the DoC bunkhouse (book ahead) for a very good chance of spotting kiwi come nightfall. Critters aside, the island boasts a bounty of stunning, sheltered beaches where you can cool off with a dip in the ocean, as well as a 1,000-year-old pōhutukawa known as the Old Man of Tiritiri Matangi, and the nation’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse.
