see also:

• bushwalking in Australia
• alpine high altitude hikes
• photography and camping main index page

• a major pest on the South Island for hikers are the swarming midges / sand flies
  • but at least there are no snakes
• all summits over 2800m in NZ are in the Southern Alps at latitudes 43-45degS which is further south than Hobart in Australia (42.9degS) and Queenstown NZ is at 45degS
  • tallest is Aoraki / Mount Cook at 3724m
  • there are over 100 others with elevations higher than 2400m on the South Island see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountains_of_New_Zealand_by_height
• the tallest in the northeast of the South Island outside of the Southern Alps lying at 41degS is Tapuae-o-Uenuku at 2,885 metres
• for comparison, on the North Island, Mount Ruapehu is the largest active volcano in New Zealand, the tallest peak on the North Island, and its highest peak is 2,797m and lies at 39degS, the two other tallest on the North Island are Mount Taranaki (2,518 metres (8,261 ft) ) on the west coast and Mount Ngauruhoe (2,291 metres (7,516 ft) ) all being volcanic.

• the Southern Alps non-technical hikes can reach elevations of around 1800m
• Mueller Hut Route (Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park)Summit/Hut
  • Elevation: 1,800 meters (5,905 ft) above sea level.
  • Trail Stats: 5.2 km one way from White Horse Hill Campground; climbs past Sealy Tarns' 2,200+ steps with an elevation gain of over 1,000 meters.
  • Terrain: Extremely steep, unformed rocky alpine terrain and scree requiring basic scrambling
• Ben Lomond Track (Queenstown / Wakatipu Basin)Summit
  • Elevation: 1,748 meters (5,735 ft) at the peak (Saddle sits at 1,326 meters).
  • Trail Stats: 11 to 14 km return depending on starting from town or the Skyline Gondola base; total elevation gain of roughly 1,400 meters if walking from Queenstown.
  • Terrain: Steep zigzag tracks through pine forests giving way to exposed tussock and alpine ridge lines
• Gertrude Saddle Route (Fiordland National Park)Summit
  • Elevation: 1,410 meters (4,625 ft) at the saddle.Trail
  • Stats: 6.8 km return; steep climb gaining roughly 600 meters of elevation from the highway floor in the upper Hollyford Valley.
  • Terrain: Bolder fields, smooth rock slabs with fixed steel cables for assistance, and severe exposure.
• Avalanche Peak Route (Arthur’s Pass National Park)Summit
  • Elevation: 1,833 meters (6,013 ft).Trail
  • Stats: 5 km return; very steep climb gaining 1,100 meters of elevation.
  • Terrain: Roots and beech forest transitioning rapidly into a brutal, loose, and steep gravel/rock ridge line

• Abel Tasman Coastal Track
  • easy coastal walk 51km over 3-5 days

• Heaphy Track:
  • 82km mod/easy 4-5 day remote, rugged track but subject to high rainfall and potential floods
  • annual rainfall on western coast is around 5,000mm
  • base activities in Nelson
  • starts 35km from Collingwood
  • ends 16km from Karamea in the west
  • optional fly back to car

• average maximum temperatures summer 20deg C, winter 8deg C
• it is around 4-5 degC cooler than Christchurch
• annual rainfall: Glenorchy 1200mm; Routeburn 5000mm; Fiordland 7000mm!
• weather most settled Dec-March;
• track may be impassable in winter due to snow while 32 avalanche areas cross the track and these are most problematic in Spring and late Winter
• Routeburn Track:
  • 33km moderate 2-3 days remote track (but well served by public transport at both ends) through beech forest
  • much was destroyed by floods and huge landslips in Jan 1994 although path has been repaired
  • The Divide to the 28 bunk Lake Mackenzie hut:
    • 12.5km 4-5hrs starting at 532m with early climb to Key Summit junction at 815m (opt. 20min summit climb to 919m)
  • Lake Mackenzie hut to Routeburn Falls hut:
    • 11.5km 4-6hrs is the most spectacular section but has some exposed parts which can be treacherous in high winds
    • climb above treeline after a series of steep switchbacks climbing 300m
    • no camping near hut nor in the Harris Basin
  • Routeburn Falls hut to Routeburn Shelter:
    • 9km over 3-4hrs starting with steep descent of 270m
• Milford Track:
  • 53.5km easy 4 day remote track with the exciting walk over Mackinnon Pass
  • Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut
    • 5km 1-1.5hrs
  • Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut
    • 16.5km over 5-6hrs but the section is prone to avalanches
  • Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut
    • 14km over 5.5-6.5hrs
    • toughest section, steep 400m ascent of Mackinnon Pass and long punishing descent into Arthur Valley
    • views over a 800m vertical drop to the north-west
    • option rest at Mackinnon Pass Shelter
    • optional extra 1.5-2hr round side trip to Sutherland Falls is worth it
  • Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point
    • 18km 5.5-6.5hr long gentle descent
    • must ensure you watch the time and get to the rendezvous at Sandfly Point (2.30pm and 3.15pm) for the 20min ferry to Milford Sound!
• Kepler Track:
  • 67km 3-4 day moderate strenuous track requiring fitness to complete the whole circuit
  • purpose built walk developed in 1988
  • best done in early Nov to late April as weather can be problematic
  • starts and finishes at Lake Te Anau Control Gates at southern end of the lake 4km from Te Anau which is a pleasant 45min stroll around the lake
  • Te Anau to Luxmore Hut
    • long, tough ascent 19km 6-7hrs
  • Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut
    • best section if weather is good
    • 18.5km 5-6hrs
  • Iris Burn Hut to Moturau Hut
    • more gentle 17.5km 5-6hrs
  • Moturau Hut back to Te Anau
    • 22km 5.5-6.5hrs delightful, gentle walk through thick forest with several early exit points to catch a shuttle bus

• Rakiura Track
  • 36km mod-difficult 2-3 day walk best walked slowly