New Zealand walks

A short forest loop to discover the flora of the rainforest, along the Ship River.

A short walk to enjoy New Zealand's West coast, reaching a small lake just behind the dune.

This memorial short walk mostly goes through woodlands. It leads to a resurgence and gorge where a tragedy occurred when a footbridge collapsed.

A hike that brings you close to the Franz Glacier front. A varied hike with many footbridges, but not recommended for those suffering from vertigo.

A short walk through the forest and along a lake which, on a clear day, offers a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains, with a lovely reflection into the lake.

A short walk offering beautiful views of Milford Sound. A good complement to a boat or kayak trip in the Milford Sound.

This hike can be broken down into three/four parts, first along the torrent with three torrent crossings, a scramble up, then continuing on a slab before arriving at Black Lake, then another fine ascent between slab and scrambles to reach the saddle and a superb view. ⚠️ Please check the weather forecast as some parts can't be accessed when there is too much rain/ice.

A short walk to discover Mirror Lake, so called because it's so smooth and therefore offers superb reflections when there is no wind. Do not forget to take your camera out! 📸 ⚠️This is a really busy and popular spot, better to go early morning or afternoon.

A beautiful loop allowing to gain height and enjoy lovely views. You pass through a variety of environments, some quite arid, others greener, until you cross fords and skirt Arrow River.

Hike up to Rock Peak summit for a beautiful view of Queenstown and the surrounding area.

A very popular but physically demanding hike, but with the reward of an unobstructed view of the surrounding Lake Wanaka.

This walk takes you to a superb little dam lost in the middle of the New Zealand forest. Walk through a forest, skirting a stream and following ancient irrigation canal.

Access to a rather pleasant viewpoint with no technical difficulties to enjoy views of the Dunedin and Otago Peninsula.

This short walk offers superb views of the Otago Peninsula coastline.

A short walk that brings you to enjoy general views of Lyttelton Bay.

Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake, is nestled in a caldera, the remnant of a supervolcano explosion. Its outlet, the Waikato River, the longest in the country, flows through a narrow gorge only 15 m wide with an average flow of 340 m³/s, almost that of the Seine. These figures give an idea of the fury and turbulence of these beautiful turquoise waters as they plunge down a ten-metre waterfall.

Jack's Blowhole is an open cave on the coast which, invaded by the ocean, collapsed 200 m further on, forming a huge rectangular abyss 140 m long and 70 m wide. At high tide, and even more so in heavy weather, the sea water and air trapped in the narrowing cavity are expelled through this natural vent and projected in jets of water and spray with impressive roars. Nearby, a platform allows you to see the bottom of the karstic cave 55 m below.

On the South Island, among all the beauties of the SH 94 road, a stop at Chasm is a must, located about ten kilometres before its terminus at Milford Sound. This short hike begins in a rainforest filled with the sound of water and birdsong, which gradually gives way to a thunderous noise announcing the waterfalls and whirlpools of the Cleddau River as it carves its way through the bottom of a chasm. From above, in a misty atmosphere, the view of the turbulent river is breathtaking. After this lovely walk, an unforgettable cruise on Milford Sound is a must to discover the iconic sights of this remote corner of the world: Bowen Falls, Mitre Peak, Stirling Falls and the sea lions of Seal Rock.

The 13 km long Fox Glacier is unique in that it has an easily accessible terminal glacier tongue. It is exceptional at a latitude of 43°, corresponding to that of Marseille, to see a glacier at an altitude of only 400 m and 15 km from the sea. This phenomenon is due to the rainfall in this region, one of the highest in the world at around 5 m/year, resulting in heavy snowfall in the New Zealand Alps. However, today it is insufficient to stem the retreat of the glacier. These rains benefit the rainforest at its foot, where ferns, podocarps and other endemic species abound, overgrown with mosses and hanging vines reminiscent of the vegetation of the early ages.

A short but exotic hike leading to a beautiful waterfall, through tree ferns, feathery Nikau palms and Rata trees with creeping roots and exuberant red flowers, species endemic to New Zealand's rainforests.

This is a loop going through Big Hut located in Rock and Pillar Conservation area, with stunning views over Middelmarch area and the Rock and Pillar Ranges. The first part of the track (5km) is a very steep climb (1000m) leading you to the hut. The last part of the track is going on a 4WD track downhill. Possibility also to go back the same way, it will be a shorter hike (10-15 km depending on how far you go).

A circular track combining the stunning views of Sandfly Bay beach, farmland roads and Sandymount coastline and cliffs on the beautiful Otago Peninsula in Dunedin. This track was done as a trail run that's why we added an extra at the end to get to 10Km. ⚠️Part of Sandfly Bay is closed from the 1st of November until the 28th of February, for more information, see the Department of Conservation website here.

This walk is part of a 3-day 61km loop through the natural beauty of Fiordland National Park. The first 10 km offers amazing views of the coastline, Te Waewae Bay, native forests, and views of the Southern Alps. The combination is spectacular. You will walk a long time along the beach and cross swing bridges over streams. This is only a third of the walk, moderate with gradual elevation gain, but hikers can carry on the full loop track and stay overnight in the different huts along the way. To add a little bit of fun, sing the song My Humps from the Black Eyed Peas along the track.

This really short walk is quite busy so it is better to visit early in the morning or the evening to avoid the crowd. It is worth the visit and take a good camera if it is not a windy day as its name actually refers to what you see.

This is a beautiful walk at the tip of the stunning peninsula in Dunedin to reach Harbour Cone Summit. This short yet challenging hike will give you stunning views as you ascend to one of the region's most beautiful viewpoints of Dunedin's coasts. From the summit, you will have a 360-degree panorama, combining the waters of the harbor and the beach, creating a perfect overview of the top of the peninsula. While the walk to Harbour Cone Summit is relatively short, there are steep climbs at times, particularly during the final stretch. Be prepared to navigate rugged terrain and rocks as you approach the summit. There are several options for that hike, a loop trail or retracing your steps back along the same path. This hike shows the last option.

An easy walk brings you down to the beach via a nice little tunnel.

A return walk to reach Nugget Point, a beautiful viewpoint that can be really windy. You can spot some seals below.

This short walk will bring you to a small waterfall, Purakaunui Falls, through the rainforest.

A short walk through the forest to reach a succession of small waterfalls, Mclean Falls, before a larger one.

Short walk through the cool forest to a small waterfall, Koropuku Falls.

A short hike to discover a Fossil Forest and a living forest.

A short walk to the southernmost point of New Zealand's South Island.

Hike up to admire Bluff surroundings, then follow the coastline back to Stirling Point. Pass through some remnants of World War II defences.

A short walk to the Blue Pool. A fairly deep spot in the river, which takes on a lovely shade of blue.

One of the most beautiful hikes in New Zealand, but not the easiest... A hike that starts at the bottom of a valley, passes through the bush on a very steep ascent, and ends up in an alpine landscape at the level of a glacier...

An easy walk that takes you around a pretty lake, and then overlooking it on the way up to the viewpoint via steps.

A hike allows you to reach a summit between lakes Wanaka and Hawea, with a view of both from the top.

This two-in-one hike takes you to the summit of Rocky Peak, with views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding area, and the Diamond Lake loop.

A walk to discover the start of the Tasman River at the end of the lake of the same name.

A short walk offering beautiful views and a passage via a not-quite-blue lake...

A beautiful hike allows you to gain a lot of height in a short space of time, to appreciate the surrounding landscapes, glacier, lake, valley...

A short and busy hike with a wide view of the Huddleston Glacier and Mount Cook. Don't arrive too late to find a place easily.

A hike on a good path with no difficulties other than three suspension bridges to cross. The reward is a view of Mueller Lake, Hooker Lake and the glacier with Mount Cook in the background. The route is very busy, especially in the middle of the day.

An easy route with beautiful views of Lake Tekapo and the mountains in the background.

A short hike along a part of Lake Tekapo lakeshore, starting at the little chapel, then turning away from the lake to gain a little height by climbing Cowans Hill, which offers a little viewpoint.

This hike will take you along Lake Tekapo, where you'll enjoy its beautiful colors against the backdrop of the mountains. Then you'll climb to the top of Mount John, famous for its stargazing observatory.

This day hike is part of a beautiful two-days trek going through the beautiful landscapes of the Pelorus and Marlborough Sounds where coastline farmlands and forests await. On the way, enjoy fantastic views of the sounds, breaks along the beach, and opportunities to spot New Zealand's native trees, birds, and pet eels. ⚠️While the track is generally easy to navigate, hikers should come prepared to cross a stream and cross fallen branches along the way.

A short walk to visit the Pancake Rocks, which is best done at high tide if the sea is rough, but is also nice at low tide.

Turquoise and more turquoise, the waters of Hokitika River are truly turquoise blue.

An easy walk to see the Franz Joseph Glacier from two locations.