Best Hiking on New Zealand’s South Island
Hiking New Zealand’s South Island
New Zealand is renowned for its bio-diverse wilderness and hiker-friendly infrastructure. With 13 national parks and thousands of protected areas and reserves that together make up over 30% of the nation’s land area, there are countless nature trails covering coastlines, river valleys, forests, farmlands, mountain ranges, and glaciers. The options are practically never ending!
While both islands are magical and unique destinations that offer a wide range of adventurous or relaxing activities, for hiking enthusiasts the South Island is hard to beat. Here are some of the best trails and regions that the South Island of New Zealand has to offer:
Abel Tasman National Park
Although it is the smallest national park in New Zealand at just under 90 square miles, it is a popular destination for hikers due to its stunning coastal track, dotted with glistening white-sand beaches and granite cliffs. Located on the South Island’s north shore it boasts several unique spots worth discovering and exploring, such as the Tonga Island Marine Reserve -- perfect for snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming. The famous Cleopatra’s Pool, a natural pool and water slide made from rock and covered in moss is another alluring reward along the way.
The coastal track, recognized as one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’ can be fully traversed in 3-5 days from either direction thanks to the well-organized marks and guiding signs. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for any furry seals while trekking near the ocean! You can start the journey in the coastal town of Marahau and then make your way towards a plethora of remote beaches and immaculate forests of Nikau palms and flax trees.
Arthurs Pass National Park
Located in the center of the Southern Alps of New Zealand, also called Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, the mountain range is referred to as the spine of the South Island, and Arthurs Pass was the first official national park of New Zealand. The park is the sanctuary for a vast variety of exotic fauna and flora including the Kiwi as well as the cheeky Kea parrot, plenty of unique natural beauty, and diverse recreational activities.
New Zealand’s diversity shines in the park which boasts deep river gorges and dense rainforest on the western side of the slopes and vast beech forest with expansive river valleys on the eastern half. Separating the two halves is an alpine wonderland with snow-capped peaks and ancient glaciers.
Choose between a variety of fantastic trails ranging from easy walks to lookout points for the Devil’s Bowl - a beautiful year-round waterfall - to more challenging treks to Avalanche Peak or Mount Aiken. For an overnight, off-the-beaten-path option the trail to Edwards Hut is a beautiful option that includes river crossings and gorgeous remote vistas.
Mount Aspiring National Park
Named after the magnificent Mount Aspiring, the tallest peak in New Zealand, this national park is a hiker’s paradise filled with mountains, glaciers, snowfields, apline lakes and wide river valleys. It is the home of Te Wāhipounamu, the largest and most intact natural ecosystem on the planet, making it aUNESCO World Heritage area. One incredible option for a quick hike is the short but worthwhile jaunt towards the Blue Pools which will take you through beech forest before ending at the icy glacier-fed waters.
The Rob Roy Glacier is another must-see highlight in the region. One of the most jaw-dropping attractions in the Wanaka Lake area, the glacier’s hiking trail is a fantastic option to explore Mount Aspiring National Park.
Enjoying the views along Roy’s Peak track.
Alternatively, follow the marked route towards the Roy’s Peak summit and you will be mesmerized at the view of Lake Wanaka and the one-of-a-kind Mount Aspiring. The impressive peak — also known as Tititea, kiwi word for Glistening Peak — is referred to as the “Matterhorn of the South”. This 3027m pyramid-like summit offers expansive views of glacier valleys that end at the Tasman Sea.
If peak treks with stunning views are your cup of tea, do not miss hiking up the 1133m high Isthmus Peak. The top will reward hikers with an overlook of not only Lake Wanaka, but of Lake Hāwea as well.
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
With a total of 19 peaks over 3,000 meters high, the region is home to the highest mountain ranges and largest glaciers in all of New Zealand (40% of its territory covered in glaciers!) It became a national park back in 1953, with nearby Arthurs Pass village servings as a quaint alpine base for outdoor adventures in the area.
There are many tracks available to explore the different valleys around the area. The popular Hooker Valley track is an easy 3 hour hike, earning its favored status with incredible views of the stark landscapes of ice and rock. Due to its popularity, it can be quite busy at times so try to embark at dawn and you’ll also be rewarded by seeing the first rays of sun as they hit the Southern Alps and Mount Cook.
Close by is the Mueller Hut track, which is another great option for mesmerizing panoramic views and landscapes. During summer it can be a challenging, yet doable excursion, for hikers. However, during winter, it is necessary to have experience in mountaineering due to the snow and ice-hiking.
Bonus: For those who enjoy being on two wheels, the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail – linking the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean - is an incredible route worth exploring. The 5-day excursion will take you from the base of Aoraki Mount Cook, along the stunning turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau, finally reaching the small town of Oamaru on New Zealand’s eastern coastline. If you’re not up for the full 5-day option, you can select certain sections for a one-day exploration that will leave you in awe of nature’s beauty.
Fiordland National Park
One of New Zealand’s most treasured destinations owing to its vast natural beauty and biodiversity, Fiordland is by far the largest national park at nearly 5000 square miles. It has also been recognized as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO for Te Wāhipounamu, which translates to “place of the greenstone”.
A fiord is a U-shaped valley carved by glaciers and then flooded by the sea. The 14 fiords that make up this remote southwest region of the South Island were 100,000 years in the making and are breathtaking in their grandeur. In Maori legend, the fiords were created by a giant stonemason named Tute Rakiwhanoa, who carved out the steep valleys with his adzes (a type of axe).
Filled with ancient rainforest, waterfalls galore, shimmering lakes and towering granite peaks, Fiordland is truly a natural paradise. Milford Sound, a day trip from Queenstown, is the most popular destination in Fiordland, and is described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’.
Experienced hikers shouldn’t miss the Gertude Saddle track, which perfectly compliments the Milford Sound experience. When the weather is good, the climb to Gertrude Saddle is considered one of the world's best short hikes. Though it is a short route, it is a very challenging hike with a scramble up to a high alpine pass with awe-inspiring views of Milford Sound and the surrounding peaks. Wet, icy or windy weather as well as avalanche danger can be serious concerns on Gertrude Saddle so proceed with caution.
Long-distance Treks in Fiordland
World renowned for its 10 ‘Great Walks’, these popular 3-6 day routes encapsulate everything that New Zealand has to offer and three of them can be found in Fiordland. Often, access to the hikes needs to be reserved many months in advance as numbers are limited and the trails are very popular.
Routeburn track - This 2-3 day route is the second most popular in New Zealand offering beech forest, waterfalls, pristine alpine lakes and soaring peaks.
Milford track - A 4-day awe-inspiring trek through lush temperate rainforest with views of stunning Milford Sound and the peaks that surround. Books up very far in advance.
Kepler Track - Filled with impressive peaks, native forest and waterfalls this 4-day apline trek takes you into the mountains to admire the beauty of Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri.
If reading about these awe-inspiring explorations in nature has inspired your outdoor-enthusiasm then be sure to check out our 10-Day New Zealand itinerary or self-guided adventure, each journey fully immersing you in the jaw-dropping nature and welcoming culture of this one-of-a-kind corner of the world. We’ll take you through the most alluring highlights and memorable experiences. Find out all the details by clicking below!