New Zealand is one of the best places to visit if you love the great outdoors. They feature numerous New Zealand walks where trekkers ...
New Zealand is one of the best places to visit if you love the great outdoors. They feature numerous New Zealand walks where trekkers can explore all the wonderfully natural and pristine sites that only the country has to offer.
Now, the walks can be divided between the North and the South Island, each one offering a unique experience to the eager traveler. Here are just some of the New Zealand walks you can try out and what to look forward to in them.
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| Photo by Tyler Lastovich from Pexels |
Milford Track
The most popular walk in New Zealand, it isn’t surprising that you need a booking before getting into this track. The whole walk takes around 4 days and 3 nights to complete and may be taken with a guided or independent tour. Through the walk, you’ll be passing several majestic sites including Sutherland Falls – the tallest waterfall in NZ plus Lake Te Anau which is the second biggest lake in the country. There’s also the Milford Sound which features sheer cliffs and the Nicholas Cirque composed of majestic glacial mountains.
Tongariro Nortern Circuit
Unlike the Milford Track, this one is located in the North Island and is getting very popular – especially if you’re a fan of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy! One of the nine New Zealand walks, Tongariro became a setting for the LOTR movies, featuring a combination of geysers, grassland, lava formations and emerald mineral lakes. The steep land formations make for a difficult but pleasing walk and usually take a maximum of 4 days to complete.
Kepler Track
This South Island track is best used by first-timers. It also takes four days to complete but unlike other tracks, Kepler is well-maintained. There are bridges and stairs designed to make the tramping process easier. Trekkers will find that the Kepler Track has lots to offer from deep gorges to steep and stony mountains. You’ll enjoy the view of forests and lakes where campsites are strategically located to make the most out of the outdoor adventure.
Routeburn Track
This particular track is perfect for bird enthusiasts as there are several breeds residing in the route. It takes about 3 days to complete the route, along the way you’ll be passing through forests, waterfalls, rivers, and mountains. There are lots of high places along the trek, providing walkers with an unobstructed and panoramic view of the land for miles. From here, you’d also be able to view the Dart River Valley which was used as “Isengard” during the LOTR movies.
Heaphy Track
The track is a little longer than most, usually taking 5 days to complete. It is located at the South Island and through this tramp; you’ll be able to pass through the sandy Tasman Sea, right before going through lush forestry of trees, beeches, flowers and herbs. At the peak point of the walk, you’ll be going as high as 915m and from here, can admire the view from all sides.
Abel Tasman Coast Track
The great thing about this track is that it doesn’t require heavy experience and is well-regulated. There are several track options you can follow and if you feel like it, you can also combine walks with a kayaking experience. The entire adventure can take as long as 5 days but with very few steep hills to pass on. The view is a combination of lush greeneries, bays and the Falls River.
Rakiura Track
This track is pretty short, at most necessitating three days of walking. Note that this track gets a lot of rain, which is why the path is lined with gravel. Most people refer to it as an “end of earth” experience due to the dense forestry and mudflats. There are very people residing in this island and although trekked by thousands every year, the track is too far away from the main city, making resources difficult. Tramping in the Rakiura Track requires advanced scheduling since there are only two huts and zero cooking materials. (Posted by Dave Calpito)
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