Walks are one of the best ways to explore New Zealand’s great outdoors and see some amazing scenery. There are a vast number of walks to choose from, for all levels of fitness and varying durations. No matter where you are you will be able to experience some of New Zealand’s best scenery in just a few hours. Here are our TOP 10 favourite one day walks in New Zealand – from North to South. And they are all not far from some of our Holiday Parks.
Cape Brett Walkway
The Coromandel Coastal Walkway leads through farmland, coastal forests and to some beautiful beaches. It also offers great coastal views. This track takes about 3-4 hours to complete one way (there are regular shuttles that can pick you up) and 7 hours return. Find out more about the Coromandel Coastal Walkway and mountain biking track.
Stay at: Shelly Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park or Coromandel TOP 10 Holiday Park are the closest TOP 10 Holiday Parks to this track and can organise shuttles for you.
Blue Lake Track
The Blue Lake Track is a loop track that leads around Blue Lake/Tikitapu through forests and past a secluded beach. The track takes about 1.5- 2 hours to complete and ends at the Blue Lake beaches, where you can go for a swim after your walk or enjoy a nice summer picnic. Find out more about the Blue Lake Track.
Stay at: Blue Lake TOP 10 Holiday Park is just a few minutes away from the track.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the most popular walks in Tongariro National Park which is New Zealand’s first National Park and a World Heritage Site. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 19.4km journey across a spectacular volcanic landscape. It takes about 6 - 8 hours to complete one way - make sure you book a shuttle to bring you to the start or back to your car. Due to its popularity, this track gets busy during summer (and hot days! ). Find out more about the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Stay at: Ohakune TOP 10 Holiday Park or Lake Taupo TOP 10 Holiday Park which are both about 1 hour drive to the starting point of the track. Save 30 mins of drive when you stay at Motutere Bay (Lake Taupō) TOP 10 Holiday Park.
Mount Taranaki Summit Track
The Mount Taranaki Summit Track is one of New Zealand’s toughest day walks and takes 8-10 hours to return from the North Visitor Centre. On this challenging climb, you will be rising above the clouds to the 2518 m summit of this dormant volcano, which offers spectacular views. Find out more about the Mount Taranaki Summit Track.
Stay at: New Plymouth TOP 10 Holiday Park is an approximately 30min drive to the start of the track.
Waikakaho/Cullen Creek Walkway
The Waikakaho/Cullen Creek Walkway is a 5-hour one-way track and follows an old gold mining trail that leads past the old gold mining township Cullensville (signs mark the sites of the long-gone old buildings). This track will require a reasonable level of fitness, and you may arrange for transport to pick you up from either end. This track is also open for mountain biking. Find out more about the Waikakaho/Cullen Creek Walkway.
Mt Thomas Track
After about 1 hour drive from Christchurch, you will arrive at Mount Thomas Forest Conservation Area. There are various walks you can choose from at Mt Thomas and in the area (Mt Oxford and Mt Grey are nearby too). If you want to go up to the Summit, you will be rewarded with great views over the Canterbury plains and will be able to see the coast and Bank's Peninsula on a clear day. The track is about 4 - 6 hours return. Find out more about the Mt Thomas Forest Conservation Area.
Stay at: Christchurch Spencer Beach TOP 10 is about 1-hour drive to Mt Thomas. If you go there on a Sunday, you can stop off at Oxford Farmers' Market on the way.
Charming Creek Walkway
This track has it all - scenery, history, rail tracks, tunnels, and a waterfall- and you can walk it, run it, or mountain bike it. You can start the track from either end, and it takes about 6 hours to return. If you only want to walk part of the track, we recommend you start at the southern end in Ngakawau and walk to the Mangatini Falls. Find out more about the Charming Creek Walkway.
Stay at: Carters Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is a 30min drive to Ngakawau where you can start the track from the southern end.
Hooker Valley Track
Hooker Valley Track is one of the most popular tracks in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and offers some great views of New Zealand’s highest mountain Mt Cook (3,724 metres). The track takes 3 hours return and leads up Hooker Valley, past the Alpine Memorial, across multiple swing bridges and ends at the glacier lake. Find out more about the Hooker Valley Track.
Stay at: Omarama TOP 10 Holiday Park is a 50min drive to the start of the track.
Rob Roy Track
The Rob Roy Track is a 3-4 hours return track and leads you into Mount Aspiring National Park. You will enter an area of amazing mountain scenery, glaciers, waterfalls, river valleys and alpine lakes. The track leads through a beech forest and also climbs through a small gorge along the Rob Roy Stream. Find out more about the Rob Roy Track.
Stay at: Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park or Queenstown TOP 10 Holiday Park
Routeburn Track: Key Summit Track
The Key Summit Track is a wonderful and easy walk which takes about 3 hours return. It follows the last part of the world famous multi-day Routeburn track in the Fiordland National Park, branching off to ascend the Key Summit. This track offers spectacular views of Fiordland National Park and is a must-do walk on the way to Milford Sound (especially on a day with good weather). Find out more about the Routeburn Track and the Key Summit Track.
Stay at: The start of the track is about a 1 hr 15min drive from Te Anau TOP 10 Holiday Park