Walks Information

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When to walk in New Zealand:
Best time: Oct, Nov, Feb, March
OK but busy: Dec, Jan
Avoid: May-Sept [cold and wet, esp. South Island, impassable tracks]

n.b. The weather is unpredictable at any time so take rain gear whatever month you go.

New Zealand Tours
Tour operators offering tours to New Zealand can be found in our listings here: New Zealand Tours

General walking information:
The New Zealand Department of Conservation [DoC] can be found across the country, providing excellent information on all aspects of 'tramping', whether it's a one day hike or a week long great walk.
Guided walks are an option for many of the big tracks - including cooking and accommodation - if you want the company of an expert or prefer a bit of comfort along the way.
Advance booking:
Independent walkers need to book well in advance for Milford or Routeburn tracks from late Oct - late April as numbers are restricted to keep human impact to the minimum. Other walks might need it too, so contact Walks Booking Office

Huts: You can either rough it in tents, or sleep in more than 1,000 communal huts throughout New Zealand. These are usually about 4 hours walk apart and contain bunks, a water supply and sometimes cooking facilities. Some are free, others cost a small amount. To be sure, these need to be booked as well as the walk.

Most tracks can be walked year round, especially if you don't mind a chilly drizzle, but some high altitude tracks in the South Island get snowed under in winter [June-Sept].

Some information here is courtesy of

New Zealand Travel Guide

Fitness guide:
On a track of Moderate difficult you will need to be able to walk for six to nine hours, carrying your own gear over rough ground, climbing and descending for up to 18 km [11 miles] a day - tho' not usually this much.
Don't even ask about the 'Challenging' tracks, just get fit and practise serious walking!
Unpredictable weather, including snow, is possible throughout the year.

If you don't have the time or inclination to do a multi-day trek there are thousands of shorter, much easier walks in New Zealand's various national parks and conservation areas.

Equipment advice:
For great walks in New Zealand's South Island, no matter how warm it is when you set off, DoC says that regular jeans, T shirts and sweatshirts are unsuitable. Clothing in quick drying propylene is best.
You will need at least one set of clothes to walk in and another dry set to change into at night. Drying clothes in huts is not possible. Suggested items to carry, which you can usually hire or buy in your base town, are:

Boots: broken in and comfortable
Socks: wool/propylene, 2 pairs
Underpants: cotton/nylon
Shirt: wool/propylene
Undershirt/T shirt: wool/propylene
Trousers/long johns: wool/propylene
Jersey/Jacket: wool/fleece
Mittens/Glove: wool/propylene
Woollen hat/sunhat
Raincoat, windproof with hood
Extra socks, underwear, shirt

Pack clothes in a waterproof bag/bin liner.
Also take a good quality sleeping bag, a lighter, first aid kit, drinking bottle, a torch with spare batteries, all the other usual camping gear and light shoes for use in the huts.

More English speaking travel spots with great walks:

Canada Travel Guide | Ireland Travel Guide

Australia Travel Guide | South Africa Guide

UK Guide | USA Guide | Europe Walking Tours

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