There’s a reason they call New Zealand “the real Middle Earth.” The forests seem to be alive with fairies and elves peeking at you from behind silver ferns, ethereal ghouls lurk in dark caves, and the mountaintops are home to floating castles.
You could probably walk for months on end and still have land left to cover. I spent a month on the road in the South Island and got to experience some really top-notch hikes. Below are some of the best if you’ve got a day to spare. Please note that even though I classify them as day hikes, a few are still quite strenuous and you’ll need to have some level of fitness. Start early and be prepared!
1. Mount Robert Circuit – Nelson Lakes National Park
9km loop, 5hr return
I actually spent one night in the Bushline Hut at the top of the mountain, but this is totally doable in a day! This is a well-formed, easy to follow track with views of Lake Rotoiti as you scale your way up one side of the mountain. A short stroll through a beech forest is a welcome respite from the New Zealand sun, before it quickly opens up to a ridge top walk. What made this hike so spectacular for me was that it was the night of the 2016 supermoon. Nothing humbles you like watching a giant red orb glide its way up from behind shadowy mountains.
2. Isthmus Peak Track – Otago
16km loop, 5-6 hr return
The Isthmus Peak track is the less Instagrammed cousin of Roy’s Peak, the famous Wanaka track that you’ve been seeing all over your social feed. We drove past the dozens of cars parked at the start of Roy’s Peak, and continued on to Isthmus where we had practically the whole trail to ourselves. The track zig-zags through farmland, ascending quickly till you are eye level with some truly spectacular rock formations straight out of Lord of the Rings. There are great photo opportunities along the way, and it just gets better as you reach the ridgeline. It’s windy at the top, but you’ll quickly forget the cold once you see the views of Lake Hāwea to one side and Lake Wanaka on the other.
3. Ben Lomond – Queenstown
> 20km (including summit), 6-8 hr return
I’ll be honest, this track nearly killed me. It was the last day of our road trip, we had been living off of pasta and canned tuna, and boxed wine and not getting nearly enough sleep. Regardless, this was the big hike in Queenstown that we had heard so much about. The track is partially shared with a mountain biking trail, so watch out for flyaways! Wear plenty of sunscreen, and on a clear day you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Queenstown and the Remarkables mountain ranges. You definitely can’t get views like this from the town gondola.
4. Rob Roy Glacier Track – Mount Aspiring National Park
10 km, 2-3 hr return
Despite being one of the easier tracks on the list, this hike is the full package. A mainly flat walk leads you through pastures dotted with sheep and accented by snow-capped alpine ridges, waterfalls running down sheer cliffs, and glaciers. We actually had to cross 7 fords by foot as our car wasn’t high enough to drive over, which added to the adventure!
5. Hooker Valley Track – Mount Cook National Park
13 km, 2-4 hr return
You can’t go to New Zealand and not see the tallest mountain the country. Luckily this well-paved track offers views of Mount Cook and so much more. Literally every turn will give a photographer heart palpitations. Picturesque icebergs, snow-capped mountains, glacial-fed rivers rushing under swing bridges, milky white lakes…it’s quintessentially New Zealand and a must on anyone’s list.
