Our Favourite Hikes in New Zealand
New Zealand has some of THE BEST hikes around! We visited in December 2022 – January 2023 for almost three weeks, and although the weather didnt cooperate for the first week, we still managed to pack in a bunch of hikes during our stay. Below is a list of the hikes we completed and LOVED, and I will throw in the hikes we originally planned but cancelled due to the weather:
1. Pouakai Tarns Hike (Egmont National Park)
Starting off with our favourite hike during our visit – the Pouakai Tarns Hike. I will eventually write a full blog on the hike iteself, our experience, and how to camp at the top of this hike to get sunset views like this – but for now, heres the must-knows. There are a few ways to get to this viewpoint, but the route we took was a 12.2 km out-and-back trail that took us about 4 hours in total (avg is 4-6 hours), so about a 2 – 2:30 hour journey to the top. Its not a difficult route, and had a wooden boardwalk for almost the entire route. The specific route we took was the Pouakai Tarns via the Mangorei Track and Pouakai Hut route, which allowed us to leave directly from the parking lot. The views range from nested within a forest, to views of the ocean coast, and ofcourse, Mt Taranaki. We have never camped overnight at such a stunning location, and had sunset views the whole evening of Mt Taranaki.
This hike is extremely popular for the reflections of Mt Taranaki in the Pouaki Tarn, which is why we opted to stay overnight on this hike to try and get the best views possible whilst avoiding crowds. Although the tarn wasnt completely clear of wind, it was still an amazing sight to see regardless.
2. Roys Peak
Reading reviews online, this is an extremely popular hike, which was confirmed when we reached the top of Roys Peak at 5am and about 15 other people had already beaten us there. We chose to hike Roys Peak at sunrise for a few reasons – avoid the mass crowds and make the hike a little more special. It was really another experience to be hiking under the stars and feel the adrenaline when the sun starts to peak over the horizon in the early hours. It also creates for some insane views. This hike was just over 16km to the summit (the summit and the view point are two seperate locations), and took us about 5 hours total (not including our stops), however the average time can be anywhere between 5 hours – 8 hours. I will note that the hike itself is actually not super enjoyable. The view is the exact same the entire hike, it is a constant steep elevation, and you are staring at the summit on the way up which can be quite intimidating. But the view at the top really is something else and makes this hike as popular as it is!
3. Sealy Tarns Hike
At just over 5kms, this trail leads to some epic views over the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park however do NOT be fooled by the length of the trail. After the first section, the remainder of the hike is continuous stepping blocks to the Sealy Tarns viewpoint – I am talking over 2,000 stairs! However each step gets you closer to some amazing views. The further up you go, the more insane the views get and it really is a rewarding hike. At the top lies the Sealy Tarns which gives you a nice reflection of the snow-capped mountains the park has to offer. This hike took us around 2 – 2:30 hours (not including stops), there and back, and it can take anywhere between 2 – 4 hours on average.
4. Hooker Valley Track
Probably one of, if not THE, most popular day-walk in New Zealand is the Hooker Valley Track – and for good reason. This 11km out and back trail is relatively flat throughout (a few steps here and there but no crazy elevation) so people of varying levels of fitness and experience can participate and is great for families visiting the region. Usually the hike takes between 2-3 hours, however as it is quite a flat trail we decided to trail run through these views and it took us somewhere under 1:30 hours. The hike is BUSY, but the viewpoint at the end is around the lake so there is plenty of space to enjoy the view without a ton of people around you.
5. Tongariro Apline Crossing
This hike was the one I was the most excited for, but due to the weather, was cancelled. The weather can change drastically within this terrain so if you do decide to do this hike make sure you’re prepared (warm layers, water, food, etc)! It is just over 20kms and is a one way hike that can take anywhere between 6-9 hours. This is a popular hike and because it is one-way, you will need to organize transportation and plan it a bit. We stayed at a campsite that offered shuttle transportation (at a price), so that could be an option worth exploring. The planning would definitely pay off though, as you will be walking through volcanoes, craters, emerald lakes, and famous views.
6. The Pinnacles Track
Another hike that fell victim to the weather! The Coromandel Pennisula had a huge storm during our few days there so unfortunately we also had to cancel this hike. This one didnt require much planning, but as we were planning to stary overnight we did reserve a camp site (they also have a hut!). At just over 14km and almost 800m elevation (out and back). This spot is known for its amazing sunrise and sunsets and we wish we had the opportunity to do this hike!
