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400+ Epic Walks Await You in New Zealand

My passion is uncovering New Zealand’s hidden gems and sharing these fantastic walks with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Come on, get out and explore New Zealand walks

I’ve walked through lush native bush on a North Island walk and ancient forests on a South Island walk. I especially enjoy the coastlines and beautiful beaches on walks in Auckland.

See a glacier up close on our Franz Josef Glacier walk or dramatic snow-capped mountain ranges from the many Queenstown walks we have done.

We love Wanaka and it’s walking, you won’t get bored here. You can walk them for free, no guide is needed.

Walk Dunedin for the history and beautiful old buildings. We’ve covered North Island walks and South Island walks in New Zealand.

Join 1000's of fellow walkers and receive our FREE 39-page Auckland walking guide when you sign up.

Check out our latest walks just added by me and the team

Every time a new walk is added to the site it will appear here first. If you subscribe to my email you’ll also get notified there as well. Don’t worry we don’t add that many, it takes time to walk the walk and then write it all up. I like to aim for one email per week, but it could quite easily be less than that.

Coppermine Lookout Track Loop Walk

Coppermine Lookout Track Loop Walk

2.4 km • 1 hour 10 mins loop • Easy • Located at Mansion House Bay it’s a great walk to see the old Coppermine. ...
Walk details
Warren's Waterfall Track

Warren’s Waterfall Track

2.3 km • 45 mins loop • medium • Located at Port Fitzroy it’s a short walk to the start of Warren’s Waterfall Walk.
Walk details
Richmond Trail Walk

Richmond Trail

13 km one way • 4-5 hours • Medium • Walk or bike the Richmond Trail clockwise as it's mostly downhill. You'll need to be ...
Walk details
Pines Beach Walk and Church of the Good Shepherd

Pines Beach Walk and Church of the Good Shepherd

5.3 km • 1 hour • Easy & flat walking • The Pines Beach walk past the Church of the Good Shepherd offers stunning views ...
Walk details
Mt John via Lakeshore Walk Lake Tekapo

Mt John via Lakeshore Walk

8.5 km from Tekapo Hot Springs or 13 km from Tekapo town • 3 hours + 20mins if from town • Medium • It's a ...
Walk details
Mt John Summit Circle Track in Tekapo

Mt John Summit Circle Track

3 km • 1.5 hours • Medium • Starting at Tekapo Hot Springs it's up hill all the way to the top of Mt John. ...
Walk details

You can freely enjoy all my walks without the need for a guide or any entry fees

New Zealand has so many fantastic walking and hiking tracks that you can explore totally for free. From short walks, and day hikes to full on overnight stays in DOC huts.

My pick of the best 12 free walks in New Zealand for 2024

Here’s my quick guide to the 12 best walks worth doing in New Zealand, as rated by me.  I’ve included lots of high quality photos actually taken on the walk, walking times, length, track quality, highlights, hazards if any, and everything in between.

Abel Tasman Coast Track

15.7 kms • 5 hours 30 mins • Easy Walk • Abel Tasman National Park
No. 1

Blue Spring – Te Waihou Walkway

4.7 kms • 3 Hours return full walk or 15 mins from Leslie Rd • Very Easy • 5 km North of Putaruru.
No. 2

Long Bay Regional Park Coastal Walk

5.80 kms • 2.5 Hours • Medium • Auckland • North Island
No. 3

Mt Eden Volcano Walk

2 km • 1 Hour • Easy • Central Auckland • North Island
No. 4

Mt Maunganui Summit Walk

3.80 kms • 1 Hour 20 minutes no stopping • Hard • Bay of Plenty
No. 5

Roys Peak Track Walk

6.50 kms • 5 Hours • Medium • Wanaka • South Island
No. 6

Milford Sound Foreshore Walk

400 m • 30 minutes • Very easy • Milford Sound • South Island
No. 7

Franz Josef Glacier Walk

2.50 kms • 1.5 Hours • Easy • West Coast • South Island
No. 8

Blue Lake Walk in St Bathans

3 km • 1 Hour • Easy • Otago Region • South Island
No. 9

Blue Lake Walk

4.50 kms • 1 Hour 30 Minutes • Very Easy • Rotorua • North Island
No. 10

Wairere Falls Walk

5 kms • 3-5 Hours return • Medium • Waikato Region • North Island
No. 11

Queen Charlotte Track

2 days • 35 kms • 10 Hours 30 Mins • Medium Walk • Malborough Region • South Island
No. 12
Sandra on a walk on Great Barrier Island

Who am I and why did I build a website with free walking tracks in New Zealand?

I’m all about sharing my love for walking with everyone, in particular the free walking tracks around New Zealand. Seriously, there are 1000’s of free walks and I can’t get enough of exploring them.

Walking not only lets me soak up the stunning beauty of New Zealand’s great outdoors, but it also does wonders for my body and mind.

I’ve put together this directory of free walking and hiking trails around New Zealand for you to enjoy. Meet my awesome team of passionate walkers. We’re a bunch of walking enthusiasts who are totally hooked on the joy of hitting the trails in New Zealand. 

Lace up your walking boots and join me on my incredible walking journeys, I can’t wait to inspire you to fall in love with walking in New Zealand too!

Join 1000's of fellow walkers and receive our FREE 39-page Auckland walking guide when you sign up for our walks newsletter

It contains exciting new walks added to the website, we only send this out once a week at most. You can opt out at any time.