While not a large country exactly, New Zealand spreads about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from the top of North Island to the bottom of South Island - the two main islands. Stretching 3,000 km from Cape Reinga, at the top of the North Island, to Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island, the TA is defined by its challenging terrain, unpredictable weather and navigational โฆ With itineraries from 8 to 25 days that deliver the right balance between sightseeing, activities and free time and ensure that all you need to do is sit back, โฆ Starting in the North at Cape Reinga, you will end the trail in the Bluff in the South. ... Take a short hike to New โฆ Written by: McKenzie Barney. Get back to nature, challenge yourself and enter landscapes well beyond our urban environments. Explore New Zealand with your own two feet by embarking on a trekking and walking tour with Adventure South NZ. Welcome to New Zealand. WINNER - SOUTH ISLAND. View from Ben Lomond Hike. See how to cross from the North Island to the South Island in New Zealand here . Milford Track. 70km in length, it requires a couple of days as well as a special pass if youโre going to do the whole trail. Mฤori Culture. New Zealand has a lot of hiking trails to choose from. Relaxing, adventurous and comfortable in a location like no other on the planet โ the Wakatipu basin, Fiordland and the Great Walks of New Zealand are all on show in โฆ The Top 10 New Zealand Hikes No hike will ever be the same again. Sure, itโs hard to rival the jaw-dropping scenery and snow-capped mountain ranges of Fiordland, but the North Island has plenty of stunning โฆ I love hiking and during my 6 week New Zealand road trip I did many short hikes in NZ, both on the North and South Island. Journey north to New Zealandโs tallest mountain, Mount Cook. The country splits into a North and a South Island. New Zealand is truly one of the most incredible places in the world that draws a lot of โoohsโ and โahhsโ everywhere you go. It was nice to talk along with them and to get some of their excess food it was their last day on the river anyhow and we had 3 more days to go. Our guided New Zealand hiking and adventure tours make it easy, fun and safe for you to walk, paddle, cycle and hike in New Zealandโs astonishing outdoors. The far south of New Zealand is defined by dramatic and beautiful mountain landscapes waiting to be experienced on foot, in the air, and from the water. New Zealand's hiking and outdoor adventure specialist with tours to suit all fitness levels on great walks and trails. Often overlooked by the star power of the South Island, North Islandโs got a few tricks up its sleeves. You will rent a car in Auckland and drop it in Queenstown. This is a country whose endless beauty begs a slow study. Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons. New Zealandโs South Island gets all the credit when it comes to outdoor activities, and its multi-day Great Walks like the popular Milford Track are some of the worldโs best trails. One of the first big city you will travel in the South Island is Nelson which has a laid-back vibe while Motueka, a sister town makes a great base to traveling to โฆ No matter how adventurous you are, there are activities suited to all skill levels: Hike the Hooker Valley Track or Mueller Hut route Short walks in New Zealand. We spent 7 days in New Zealand and did at least one hike every day. New Zealand has some of the most epic landscapes that you will find. At the bottom of the country is the โthirdโ island, Stewart Island. The hikes in this post are all short and easy hikes (between 20 minutes and 3 hours), except the Tongariro Crossing, which takes a full day and is a moderate hike. We headed to the Queen Charlotte trail which is one of the most famous walks in New Zealand. There are five hikes for North Island and 11 hikes for South Island. If you like swimming and going to the beach, you will prefer living on warmer North Island where you can enjoy sunbathing on beautiful beaches. Located up north, New Zealandโs largest city Auckland sees some of the highest average temperatures in the country. ... including both the North and the South Island. Iโd recommend checking out Lake Tekapo โ itโs one of the bigger towns in the area and has hot pools and a fun star gazing tour . The country of New Zealand is actually made up of an estimated 600 islands in the south-western Pacific Ocean. The very first of the South Island hikes we attempted was a day or so after we arrived. Unfortunately we didnโt have time to do any of the Great Walks, but in New Zealand there is no shortage of epic day hikes. (Itinerary & Map) REQUEST CATALOG ENEWS CONTACT US 1-800-368-2794 Summer days can be sticky and humid at an average high of 25°C or more, while winters are mild and damp with an average high of 16°C. So here are New Zealandโs greatest hits, the must dos, and the ideal itineraries to help you make the most out of whatโs going to be a super exciting month in New Zealand. If you are planning to go hiking in New Zealand or just want to get some authentic New Zealand outdoor experiences we can help with your travel plans. If you only have two weeks in New Zealandโs South Island you wonโt be able to explore this whole area, so choose a few places you really want to see and build your itinerary around them. There are a million ways to travel, but few resonate in the way that trekking does. Hiking New Zealandโs South Island is definitely the way to get the best views, and you donโt even need to do a multi-day hike, a day walk in the South Island will do! ๐ท @takemetheretraveller. For outdoor enthusiasts who live for snow-capped mountain peaks, pristine coastlines and immaculate bike paths through stunning landscapes, New Zealandโs South Island is the ultimate destination. Ferry travel between the North and South Islands of New Zealand:What you need to know The nation of New Zealand is divided into two main North and South Islands with several smaller outlying atolls. New Zealandโs most famous walk, the Milford Track is 53km worth of mountains, valleys, lakes and other incredible views. Teaming the Short South with the Sweet North offers up the best way to see New Zealand in a short time frame โ this action-packed combo is designed to really experience the best of the best of New Zealand within 13 days. Endless oceans of sheep, a slightly drawlier accent, and a lot of farmer life. This New Zealand itinerary is designed as a road trip. New Zealand is split into the North Island and the South Island, each with more than a few spots you just cannot leave without seeing. The โฆ New Zealand's North and South islands are both incredible, rich in beautiful landscapes and Maori culture. New Zealandโs Te Araroa Trail is the worldโs newest long-distance thru-hike. For an outdoors lover like me, it was a dream destination. Getting Around New Zealand. If youโre looking to break away from New Zealandโs tourist spots, the aforementioned far north and New Zealandโs โDeep Southโ are both excellent starts. The country is broken into two parts. Auckland weather. An extremely varied hike youโll be able to experience the very best sceneries that New Zealand has to โฆ In the shadow of the stunning Southern Alps, hike through valleys you might recognize from the โLord of the Ringsโ films. Anyways, on to the big New Zealand trip-New Zealand South Island Overview. I love that New Zealand has a deep south โ it totally is too! If you prefer getting off the beaten path, then this is the place for you to find some of the most unique multi-day hikes in New Zealand! The majority of beautiful New Zealand landscape and photos you see in travel magazines are located in the South Island. Crossing from the Waitemata Harbour in the north to the Manukau Harbour in the south (or vice versa), it passes through a lot of city landscape, but also includes a lot of culture, nature, and history. North West Circuit. Follow the road less traveled on New Zealand's South Island, for an adventure-filled road-trip from the East Coast to the wild West Coast. Read on for ten top South Island hiking tracks. This was the first peak Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first men to summit Mount Everest, ever climbed. Weโve created a perfect North Island New Zealand itinerary that brings you to all the major highlights, like hiking the famous Tongariro alpine crossing, learning about Maori culture, seeing glowworm caves and visiting the Hobbiton movie set. Check out 16 amazing hiking trails from travel bloggers in New Zealand's North Island and South Island. Hi folks, my fiance and I will be spending almost three weeks in NZ for our honeymoon. Crossing from the North Island of New Zealand to the South is an experience in and of itself. We're spending the majority of time on the South Island, but a bit of time on North as well.. We'd like to do an overnight hike and stay at a hut; basically a one night out and back (or loop/continue on hike if we can arrange transport). Thereโs more to New Zealand than just the North and South Islands. Experience New Zealand with our exciting selection of hassle free, all-inclusive group coach and bus tours that cover the entire country, both the North and South Island. In general, beautiful coastlines are usually found in the North, while the South will have you clapping eyes on glacial lakes and summiting peaks. The ultimate 'Short and Sweet' tour of New Zealand. Now, for the more adventurous hiker looking for a real challenge, this hike will truly encompass New Zealand in a 4 month long and 3,000km hike. Here's a guide to help you choose between North and South islands โ from Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown to Franz Josef Glacier and Mt Cook. The South Island has a variety of walks both short and long for both day hikers and rugged adventurers. Traveling between them is done either by flying or taking the ferry across the Cook Strait. So they plan on activities to finish of their year. Our all-inclusive multi-day New Zealand hiking tours have been carefully designed by New Zealandโs most seasoned operators, and it shows. 1. And I swear, there is a lot to see here โ 10 days was barely enough to scratch the surface of South โฆ Hike the South Island of New Zealand's most beautiful national parks, swim with dolphins, cruise Milford Sound, taste local wines, enjoy Kiwi culture. Way out on the west coast of New Zealandโs north island, this incredible volcano rises vertically from sea level and flat, rolling fields, to an eye watering 2.5km in height. That said, the people are still โฆ To cross from the North Island to the South Island, you will take a ferry across the Cook Strait. Distance โ 125 kilometres; Start / โฆ (Photo: ... North and South Islands. Tramping on the North Island: 7 Trails You Should Hike From the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to walking among the Putangirua Pinnacles, we round up seven of the best trails to go tramping on the North โฆ The school year in New Zealand is almost finished. There are so many beautiful day hikes in New Zealand, but some of the best are definitely in the south. New Zealand consists of two main islands, North Island and South Island, and as most of the travelers plan on visiting both islands because each has many highlights to offer, sooner or later everyone will have to focus on the logistics. But in fact, Auckland sits on New Zealand's narrowest neck of land, the Auckland Isthmus, and the Coast-to-Coast walk is just 10 miles. If I had to pick one hike in New Zealand that was my absolute favourite, the walk up Mount Taranaki would be it. They're also quite different. at our lunch stop we met such a school group. Sea temperatures in New Zealand are not really high, but with about 15,000km of coastline itโs not hard to find a place near the sea on the North or South Island.