Trekking in New Zealand

Trekking in New Zealand is more often known as tramping – multi-day hiking trips in the backcountry. The concept of trekking as seen in places like the Himalayas doesn't totally apply to New Zealand, though there are several well-established multi-day treks, a few of which can be experienced as a guided trip, but the majority are self-guided, staying in backcountry huts, or camping in tents overnight. The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) manages almost all of the treks in New Zealand, maintaining the tracks themselves and all associated facilities such as backcountry huts, bridges and other structures, as well as controlling access. The most popular and famous treks in New Zealand are the Great Walks – a collection of multi-day hikes on both the South and North Island. Access to these trails is strictly regulated during peak season, with limited spaces in each of the huts which need to be booked in advance. Trekkers are still allowed to use the tracks without hut bookings, but are limited to staying in designated campsites, and in some of the Great Walks, such as the world-famous Milford Track, camping is not permitted at all along the track itself. The closest match to trekking as experienced overseas are probably the “Guided Walks” – companies running fully-guided hikes along some of the Great Walks (Milford and Routeburn Tracks), and other Department of Conservation and private tracks (Hollyford, Hump Ridge and Banks Peninsula Tracks). These companies have their own private huts, with much better facilities – proper beds, hot showers, and cooked 3-course meals – though of course you have to pay for the privilege of these home comforts – currently over $1800 for the 4-day Milford Track. The advantage is of course that you need only carry essentials with you in a day-pack, so they are a lot less daunting than a self-guided trek.

For more information on these treks, follow the resource links below

Trekking Resources

• New Zealand’s Great Walks
• Other popular New Zealand tramps
• Milford Track Guided Walk
• Routeburn Track Guided Walk
• Hollyford Track Guided Walk
• Hump Ridge Track Guided Walk

So, for keen trekkers, there are all kinds of opportunities for trekking in New Zealand – be it on a fully-guided trek, or “slumming it” by carrying your own back and staying in the DOC huts or in tents. The length of the treks available varies from just overnight, or up to 7 nights on the challenging Dusky Track. However, many of the treks are close to one another, such as those in Fiordland, and people often string together several to make a much longer hiking trip. The thing to remember though, is unlike treks elsewhere, when in the National Parks, there are no hostels, refuges, tea-houses or shops along the way, so you have to carry all you need for the duration of the trek.