Great Walks

The Great Walks are the department's premier walking tracks, through areas of some of the best scenery in the country. The huts and tracks on the Great Walks are of a higher standard than other tramping tracks, and many of the Great Walks have booking systems to manage visitor pressure. Find out about booking online.

The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk (located in the south-west corner of the 212,673 hectare Te Urewera National Park) is a 46 kilometre 3 to 4 day tramping track which follows the shore of the lake for most of its length. It is one of a network of great walks managed by DOC throughout New Zealand.

Tongariro Northern Circuit  winding its way over Mt Tongariro and around Mt Ngauruhoe is the Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of the Great Walks of New Zealand.

This walk passes through unique and stunning landforms which include volcanic craters and glacial valleys.

The track between Tama Lakes and Waihohonu is being upgraded from November 2011 until late February 2012. Expect workmen and machinery, helicopters flying at times. The track remains open during this time.

Whanganui Journey. The Whanganui River winds its way from the mountains to the Tasman Sea through countless hills and valleys. Lowland forest surrounds the river in its middle and lower reaches - the heart of Whanganui National Park.

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is open. The track damage has been cleared but some short sections are steep and narrow. Further slips are likely to occur.

The Heaphy Track is open. Road access from Nelson to Takaka to Collingwood, Aorere Valley Road is now open.

The Heaphy Track, located in Kahurangi National Park at the north-west corner of the South Island, is the longest of the DOC Great Walks. For 78.4 kilometres the track crosses the park's range of landscapes, starting from the junction of the Brown and Aorere Rivers, over expansive tussock downs to the lush forests, nikau palms and roaring seas of the West Coast.

Crossing over New Zealand's southern alps, the Routeburn Track links Mount Aspiring with Fiordland National Park.

This 2-4 day, 32km track is one of New Zealand's most popular Great Walks and offers spectacular alpine views.

Be inspired by the scenery - from the beech fores of the valley floors, to glistening tarns and sub-alpine vegetation of Harris Saddle.

The Milford Track , also rightfully known as 'the finest walk in the world', sees people come from all over the globe to experience the grandeur of the mountains in the heart of Fiordland National Park.

Along your journey you can expect to:

•  feel awe-inspired by soaring mountains
•  watch waterfalls plunge to the valley floor
•  delight your senses in lush green rainforest.

The Kepler Track takes you from the shore of Lake Te Anau to spend a night high above the clouds at Luxmore Hut (1085m). Traverse the ridgelines of the Kepler Mountains, drop down to beautiful Lake Manapouri, before heading back through peaceful beech forest, walking right to your own front door

Just a 20 minute flight from Invercargill or an hour by ferry from Bluff, Stewart Island/Rakiura is home to New Zealand's most southerly and newest national park, Rakiura National Park, and the Rakiura Track.