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The South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) of Aotearoa New Zealand is paradise for nature lovers, with incredible scenery and a fascinating array of unique wildlife. You’ll find towering snow-capped mountain peaks, pristine alpine lakes, rolling green farmland, dense cloud forest, sparkling sapphire seas and sweeping, golden beaches.
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in this spectacular destination is to embark on a self-drive road trip, with regular stops along the way to explore on foot. From easy strolls to more challenging multi-day adventures, these are some of our favourite South Island walks, so you can experience the beauty of the South Island up close:
Best short walk: Thunder Creek Falls, Mt Aspiring National Park (200 metres return, 10 minutes, easy)
The route from the West Coast to Wanaka follows an ancient pathway that was originally used by Māori people in search of pounamu (greenstone/jade). This spectacular journey takes numerous twists and turns as you travel from wild coastal scenery to sweeping alpine landscapes, and there are plenty of great spots where you can stop to stretch your legs along the way.
One of these is the 28-metre Thunder Creek Falls: it’s an easy, five-minute walk along a sealed track to reach the viewing platform.
Best one-day adventure: Hokitika Lakes & Waterways Cycle Journey, West Coast (32 kilometres, 2-3 hours, easy/moderate)
Start with an easy, scenic walk that follows the path of the Hokitika River through a sheer rocky gorge, passing through mature beech forest as you make your way along boardwalks and across an impressive swing bridge.
You’ll then be transferred to nearby Dorothy Falls to begin your mountain-bike adventure on a section of the West Coast Wilderness Trail. The Grade 2 trail, which runs alongside the historic Kaniere Water Race and Lake Kaniere, is 21 kilometres long and takes about two hours to complete (longer, if you stop for a refreshing dip along the way).
Best multi-day hike: Paparoa Track, West Coast (55 kilometres, 3 days, moderate)
The trail is one of New Zealand’s ten Great Walks, and can also be experienced as a multi-day mountain biking adventure. It starts at the tiny town of Blackball near Greymouth, traversing the breath-taking Paparoa range before returning to the coast at the iconic Punakaiki Pancake Rocks.
A guided hiking experience is a fantastic option, allowing you to soak up the incredible alpine and coastal scenery while someone else take care of the logistics.
Best short walk: Hooker Valley Track (10 kilometres return, 3 hours, easy)
From Mount Cook Village, it’s a short drive to the trailhead at White Horse Hill Campground, where you’ll follow a well-made track to the first scenic viewpoint overlooking Mueller Lake.
There are three swing bridges to cross as you continue the gentle ascent to reach Hooker Lake, where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the valley and New Zealand’s highest peak, before returning via the same route. Pro tip: this is serious alpine territory so you should ensure that you are well equipped for abrupt changes in weather, especially during the winter months.
Best one-day adventure: Tekapo Mount John Walkway, Tekapo (8.9-kilometre loop, three hours, challenging)
Mount John is located within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, and by night it is a magical spot for amateur astronomers and stargazers to observe stars, planets, and celestial phenomena. During the day, the peak provides panoramic views of the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, the surrounding Mackenzie Basin and the Southern Alps.
The walkway is a loop track that starts from Tekapo Springs: you’ll follow the shoreline at first, then climb through open grassland to connect with the Mt John Summit Track, which eventually will deliver you to the observatory and café. The loop concludes with a fairly steep descent back to the hot springs, where you can soak your tired muscles while soaking up more incredible views of the mountain scenery.
Best multi-day hike: Hollyford Wilderness Experience, Te Anau (39.5 kilometres, four days, moderate)
The remote and beautiful Fiordland region offers several memorable, multi-day hikes that you can experience as either an independent hike or a guided adventure. These include the Routeburn, Greenstone and Milford Tracks, as well as the Hollyford Track.
The Hollyford Wilderness Experience is a four-day guided adventure that lets you soak up the remote beauty of the Hollyford Valley while enjoying lodge-style accommodation, gourmet meals and expert guides. You’ll also be treated to a thrilling jet boat ride down the Hollyford River and across Lake McKerrow, and conclude your adventure with a scenic helicopter flight to iconic Milford Sound.
Best short walk: Forest Amble Sculpture Walk, Hanmer Springs (1.9-kilometre loop, 30 minutes, easy)
From its stunning alpine scenery to its rejuvenating mineral hot pools, the resort town of Hanmer Springs is an essential stop on the Wine Highway. You can hire a mountain bike and explore a wide variety of forest trails, experience high-speed thrills with a jet boat ride on the Waiau River or race your kids down the water slides at the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa.
Tucked away on the edge of town, Hanmer Forest Park is paradise for walking and cycling, leading through heritage exotic trees and pockets of native Mountain Beech. The sculpture walk is an easy but rewarding stroll, punctuated with incredible, larger-than-life wooden sculptures.
Best one-day adventure: Llama trekking in Kaikōura (1-hour to a half-day, easy)
It’s a straight shot across more than 8,000 kilometres of Pacific Ocean from the coast of Chile to the Seaward Kaikoura Ranges, but the landscapes are remarkably similar: a dramatic coastline lined with towering, snow-capped mountains. No wonder then that Kaikōura – a small, seaside town that is renowned as a world-class whale-watching destination – offers a unique twist on hiking that will have you feeling like you’ve been transported to an entirely different continent.
Your guided llama trek is a leisurely coastal walk along beaches and boardwalks to reach the Kaikōura Peninsula seal colony, and along the way you will learn about local history and your woolly trekking companions.
Best multi-day hike: Abel Tasman Coast Track (60 kilometres, 3-5 days, moderate)
Another of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Abel Tasman trail winds around a magical stretch of coastline, alternating between lush native bush and pristine, golden beaches. You can start at either the Marahau or Wainui Bay end of the trail, and choose to walk the entire length of the track or make use of the local water taxis if you only have time to experience a shorter section – just be sure to allow plenty of time for lazing on the endless selection of secluded beaches.
If you choose to combine your hike with a sea kayaking adventure, you may be lucky enough to spot seals, dolphins and little blue penguins playing in the clear water. Pro tip: the trail crosses estuaries and tidal inlets that can only be navigated at low tide, so be sure to check the local tide charts and plan your hike accordingly.
Best short walk: Lake Gunn, Te Anau (1.4-kilometre loop, 45 minutes, easy)
It’s hard to describe the journey from Te Anau to Milford Sound without lapsing into superlatives and cliches, but it is truly one of the most spectacular roads in New Zealand. Travelling through the remote heart of Fiordland, it travels through ancient beech forests and glacier-carved valleys, passing mirror-calm lakes and tumbling waterfalls.
Although you could complete the drive non-stop in around two hours, there are plenty of spots where you’ll want to stop along the way. The short, kid-friendly trail to Lake Gunn is one of these, looping through a tranquil forest of moss-clad trees to reach a small stony beach encircled by mountains.
Best one-day adventure: Franz Josef Heli-Hike (4 hours, moderate)
Franz Josef Glacier descends from the Southern Alps towards the sea: a twelve-kilometre river of ice that is one of the major landmarks of Westland Tai Poutini National Park. There are numerous short walks in the area that will get you close to the glacier’s terminal face, but to truly appreciate its immense size and beauty, a heli-hike is the way to go.
You’ll be kitted out with all the necessary gear, including crampons, helmet, trekking poles and waterproof boots, then whisked to the main ice fall via scenic helicopter flight. Expert guides will escort you on a thrilling adventure that navigates narrow crevasses, tall ice towers and eery ice caves.
Best multi-day hike: Queen Charlotte Track (73.5 kilometres, 3-5 days, moderate)
Yet another of the South Island’s Great Walks, the Queen Charlotte Track winds around the picturesque bays and coves of Endeavour Inlet before following the ridgeline that separates Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds. The trail from Ship Cove to Anakiwa is part of Te Araroa – the 3,000-kilometre hiking route which stretches the length of New Zealand – so you may encounter TA through-hikers celebrating their arrival at the spiritual mid-point of their expedition.
You can choose to experience Queen Charlotte trail on foot, by sea kayak or by mountain bike; as a day-walk or a multi-day adventure; as a guided or independent hike. Regardless of which option you settle on, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular coastal scenery, rich history and heritage, and a rich variety of native wildlife.
New Zealand’s South Island welcomes hikers of every ability with well-maintained trails and a diverse range of landscapes. Your personal travel manager can help you to design a Kiwi holiday that includes plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the unique natural beauty of this special part of the world.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
