Full guideMilford Track
Four days, 53 km and one big day over Mackinnon Pass. What it asks of your legs, and what the rain does.
- Distance53 km
- Time4 days
- Highest1,154 m
- DifficultyModerate
Explore › New Zealand
Destination guide
New Zealand Through Treks.
Iconic hikes. Wild places. Real preparation. Tap the map to explore each trekking region and find route knowledge for your best adventure.
- 11Great Walks
- 8trekking regions
- 3,724 mAoraki / Mount Cook
- Alpine to coastalone small country
Regions
Pick a trekking region
Tap a region on the map, or choose one from the list, to see what it is like to walk, when to go and which routes it holds.
All New Zealand routes by region15 routes across 8 regions. Open to browse the full list.TapClick to openclose▾
Every route on the map, in one list. Routes with a Peaksted guide link straight to it.
Northland / Auckland
Coastal trails, island hikes and subtropical forests. Bay of Islands to Auckland. Best months: Spring to autumn (about Oct to Apr).
Routes for this region are on the way.
Central North Island
Volcanic landscapes, alpine lakes and forest tracks. Tongariro and Taranaki. Best months: Late spring to autumn.
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing6–8 hours · ~19 km · Red Crater ~1,886 m
- Tongariro Northern Circuit3–4 days · ~43 km loop
Nelson / Tasman
National parks, coastal tracks and remote wilderness. Abel Tasman and Kahurangi. Best months: Spring to autumn.
- Abel Tasman Coast Track3–5 days · ~60 km coastal
- Heaphy Track4–6 days · ~78 km
Marlborough
Coastal ridges, bays and vineyard trails. Marlborough Sounds. Best months: Spring to autumn.
- Queen Charlotte Track3–5 days · ~70 km
West Coast
Wild coastlines, rainforests and glacier valleys. Paparoa and the coast. Best months: Summer and autumn.
- Paparoa TrackAbout 3 days · ~55 km
- Copland TrackAbout 7 hours to Welcome Flat · 18 km one way · hot pools at Welcome Flat Hut
Canterbury / Aoraki
Iconic alpine treks and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Aoraki / Mount Cook. Best months: Late spring to autumn.
- Hooker Valley TrackAbout 3 hours · 10 km return to a glacier lake
- Mueller Hut RouteAbout 7 hours return, or overnight · 5.2 km one way · alpine route to the hut
- Sefton Bivouac RouteAbout 4 hours up · Unmarked alpine route · route-finding and fall risk
Otago / Wānaka / Queenstown
Alpine lakes, high country trails and world-class treks. Mount Aspiring and Queenstown. Best months: Late spring to autumn (about Dec to Apr).
- Brewster Track6–8 hours return · 5 km return to Brewster Hut
- Rob Roy Glacier TrackAbout 3–4 hours · ~10 km return
Fiordland / Southland
Dramatic fiords, glaciers and multi-day wilderness tracks. Te Anau and Milford. Best months: Late spring to autumn (about Nov to Apr).
- Kepler Track3–4 days · 60 km loop · 1,472 m high
- Routeburn Track2–3 days · 33 km · 1,255 m high
- Milford TrackAbout 4 days · 53 km · Mackinnon Pass ~1,150 m
Find yours
Three questions, three routes
Tell us your time, the kind of walk you want and how hard you want it. We will suggest the closest matches.
1How many days have you got?
2What kind of walk?
3How hard do you want it?
START HERE
New Zealand Great Walks: which walk, how hard, how to train
There is a lot on this page. Pick the line that sounds like you and follow it. Every step links to the next one.
Start broad, then narrow down. Three steps and you will know which walk to book.
- How hard are the Great Walks?
Every walk ranked from easiest to hardest, with photos, so you can see where they sit.
Guide · 8 min - Milford vs Routeburn vs Kepler
The three Fiordland classics side by side, and what to do if the Milford is full.
Guide · 5 min
Good. Now make sure your legs are ready for the dates you got.
- How fit do you need to be?
Strong legs, a steady engine and durability, with a sample week.
Guide · 6 min - How hard is the Milford Track?
The numbers, day three over Mackinnon Pass, and a plan for 12, 8 or 4 weeks.
Guide · 6 min - The ten-week training guide
The full plan, a sample week and what to do in the rain.
Guide · 10 min
Find your starting point, then pick how much help you want.
- Take the free readiness check
About three minutes. Shows which of seven areas to work on first.
Free · 3 min - Read the ten-week guide
The plan, block by block, so you know what you are building towards.
Guide · 10 min - Choose your support
Trek Ready (8 weeks, self-guided), a personalised plan, or 1:1 coaching. Personalised plan · 1:1 coaching
Quick answers
Which New Zealand Great Walk should I do first?
If you want the classic, the Milford Track. If you are short on time, the Routeburn. For something easier underfoot, the Abel Tasman or Rakiura. Our ranking shows all of them from easiest to hardest.
How fit do you need to be for the Great Walks?
Comfortable walking four to seven hours on varied ground, climbing steadily, coming down with control and doing it again the next morning. It is durability more than athletic fitness, and it is very trainable.
When is the Great Walks season?
Most Great Walks run from late October or November to the end of April, with slight differences between tracks. The Kepler starts on 27 October and the Milford and Routeburn on 1 November in 2026. Check DOC for each walk.
Do you need to book the Great Walks?
Yes. In season, huts and campsites are booked through the Department of Conservation, and popular dates sell out months ahead.
How long should I train?
Eight to twelve weeks is a good window if you walk occasionally, and more if you are starting from scratch. The ten-week guide has the plan.
Guide series
Prepare for the New Zealand Great Walks, one question at a time
Three short guides that build on each other. Each answers one question and links to the others instead of repeating them. Read them in order, or jump to what you need.
5 guides · about 35 minutes
Start with part 1
1Part 1 · How hard · 8 minHow Hard Are the Great Walks?Which is easiest, which is hardest, and which should I pick?Read guide →
2Part 2 · How fit · 6 minHow Fit Do You Need to Be?What do I train, and where do I start?Read guide →
3Part 3 · How to train · 10 minHow to Train for the Great WalksWhat do I actually do each week?Read guide →- 4Part 4 · The Milford · 6 minHow Hard Is the Milford Track?What does day three really ask, and how do I train for it?Read guide →
- 5Part 5 · Fiordland compared · 5 minMilford vs Routeburn vs KeplerWhich Fiordland walk, and what if the Milford is full?Read guide →
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WHY NEW ZEALAND IS SPECIAL
New Zealand compresses remarkable trekking variety into a small country: glacial valleys, exposed alpine passes, deep forest, ridgelines and established hut systems. Multi-day routes can combine long climbs, technical weather decisions and sustained time on foot.
Milford TrackThe valley floor, a long way below the pass 
CanterburyAlpine light on the Southern Alps 
Kepler TrackSnow on the alpine tops above Fiordland 
Above the lakeRidge walking with the water far below 
Routeburn countryLake and peaks at the end of the day 
TongariroA volcanic cone rising from open ground 
Abel TasmanGolden sand and clear water on the coast track 
West CoastGlacier ice, close enough to feel 
Brewster HutA small red hut on a very big ridge 
Marlborough SoundsGreen water, bays and ridge-top walking
Featured treks
The full Peaksted guides
The Great Walks and the Tongariro Crossing covered end to end: the route, the weather, and exactly how to train.
- Full guide
Full guideRouteburn Track
About 33 km over two or three days, with one big day above the bushline.
- Distance33 km
- Time2–3 days
- Highest1,255 m
- DifficultyModerate
Full guideKepler Track
A 60 km Fiordland loop through alpine ridgelines, beech forest and lakes.
- Distance60 km
- Time3–4 days
- Highest1,472 m
- DifficultyModerate
Full guideTongariro Alpine Crossing
A 19.4 km volcanic day walk past the Emerald Lakes, and the 43 km Northern Circuit Great Walk around it.
- Distance19.4 km
- Time6–8 hours
- Highest1,886 m
- DifficultyStrenuous
The trekking season runs from late spring through autumn. Summer (Dec–Feb) offers the best conditions, while shoulder seasons bring fewer crowds and stunning scenery.
Great Walks huts require bookings in advance. Weather can change quickly — come prepared for all conditions.
Trek Ready Programme
Structured training for strength, endurance and mountain confidence.
Explore the programme →
Check Your Readiness
Get a clear picture of your current fitness and hiking readiness.
Take the readiness check →
Learn Through Guides
Expert guides, gear advice and route knowledge.
Read the guides →
Altitude isn’t the only challenge here. Long days, changeable weather, and varied terrain require a specific kind of fitness.
