Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Other Tracks
Of course, there are a lot more walks in the South Island than just the Great ones! Try
these selections on for size:
Banks Peninsula Track
A 35km, two-day (medium) or four-day (easy) walk over the hills and along the coast of Banks
Peninsula.
Hollyford Track
A typically hair-brained scheme of the era, the settlement of Jamestown was always a long shot. Cue:
colourful characters and a dash of drama. A four- to five-day tramping track over 56km in Fiordland.
Kaikoura Coast Track
An easy three-day, 40km walk over private and public land along the spectacular coastline
43km south of Kaikoura.
Mueller Hut Route
Yes, it's a hardcore 1040m, eight-hour return climb on the Sealy Range near Aoraki/Mt Cook, but
this is a quintessential alpine experience: geological wonders, fascinating plant life and an amazing hut.
Pelorus Track
So scenic it starred in
The Hobbit,
the gorgeous Pelorus Valley - a boulder-lined gorge with deep green
pools - is followed for two days on this three-day, 28km tramp.
Queen Charlotte Track
A 71km, three- to five-day medium walk in the Marlborough Sounds, affording great water
views. Top-notch accommodation and water transport available.
Rees-Dart Track
A 70km, four- to five-day hard tramping track in Mt Aspiring National Park, through river valleys
and traversing an alpine pass.
St James Walkway
This tramping track passes through a significant conservation area, home to some 430 species of
flora from lowland grasses to mountain beech and alpine herbs. Five days over 66km around Lewis Pass.
Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track
An excellent three-day, 53km circuit beginning and ending at Bluecliffs Beach on Te
Waewae Bay, 20km from Tuatapere.
THE SOUTH ISLAND'S SIX 'GREAT WALKS'
WALK
DISTANCE
DURATION
DIFFICULTY
DESCRIPTION
Abel Tas-
man Coast
Track
NZ's most popular walk (or sea kayak);
beaches and bays in Abel Tasman Na-
tional Park
54km
3-5 days
Easy to medium
Heaphy
Track
Forests, beaches and karst (limestone)
landscapes in Kahurangi National Park
78km
4-6 days
Medium to hard
Kepler
Track
Lakes, rivers, gorges, glacial valleys and
beech forest in Fiordland National Park
60km
3-4 days
Easy to medium
Rainforest, crystal-clear streams and
630m-high Sutherland Falls in Fiordland
National Park
Milford
Track
53.5km
4 days
Easy
Rakiura
Track
Bird life (kiwi!), beaches and lush bush
on remote Stewart Island (Rakiura)
39km
3 days
Medium
Routeburn
Track
Eye-popping alpine scenery around Mt
Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks
32km
2-4 days
Medium
