21 of the best multi-day hikes in New Zealand — North & South Islands
New Zealand’s hut network make multi-day hiking accessible. These are some of my favourite trails.
New Zealand is a hut to hut hiking dream.
The whole country is criss-crossed with a spectacular track network, as well as the world’s most extensive hut network.
Add to that an incredible diversity of landscapes, from volcanic peaks to glaciers and coastal cliffs, and you have the ideal setting for hiking.
I spent months living in my campervan just so I could spend more time hopping between hiking trails. Even going on dozens of tramping trips, I’ve still barely made a dent in the epic number of hikes in New Zealand.
Still, I have a few favourite New Zealand hiking trails that stand out.
If you want adventure, these are some of the best overnight and multi-day hikes in both the North and South Islands.
Map of North and South Island hikes
🟣 National Parks
🔵 Hiking trails
There are 13 national parks in New Zealand, spread across both islands.
Tongariro National Park and Te Wahipounamu (which covers Mt Aspiring, Fiordland, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland National parks) are both UNESCO world heritage areas.
Which New Zealand island is better for hiking?
Dense, wet bush in the North Island
The Dart Glacier in the South Island
The South Island might have more epic alpine terrain, but the North Island has more variation. In the north you’ll find coastal walks and dense, old-growth forest, as well as hikes around volcanic cones.
In the South Island, you can find surprising hot springs, glaciers, high peaks, and some equally epic coastal hikes.
Epic multi-day hikes in the North Island
Te Paki Track (4 days)
Cape Brett (overnight)
Aotea Track (3 days)
The Pinnacles (overnight)
Lake Waikaremoana (4 days)
Tongariro Circuit (3 days)
Whirinaki Track, Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park (overnight)
Mount Holdsworth Jumbo Circuit, Tararua Forest Park (3 days)
Around the Mountain Circuit, Taranaki National Park (4 days)
Sunrise Hut, Ruahine Forest Park (overnight)
Multi-day hikes in the South Island
11. Queen Charlotte Track (3-4 days)
12. Abel Tasman Coast Track
13. Mount Owen (overnight)
14. Angelus Hut (overnight)
15. Liverpool Hut (1-2 nights)
16. Mount Brown (overnight)
17. Welcome Flat Hut (overnight)
18. Mueller Hut Route (overnight)
19. The Routeburn Track (3-4 days)
20. The Kepler Track (3-4 days)
21. The Hump Ridge Track (3 days)
Hiking (backpacking) in New Zealand
Photo by Liz Carlson
Photo by Liz Carlson
While some people refer to overnight hiking as backpacking or trekking, in New Zealand it’s most commonly known as ‘tramping’.
Tramping, trekking, backpacking and hiking all mean the same thing when referring to overnight hikes in New Zealand.
New Zealand has a strong outdoorsy culture, and many locals love to go tramping (or backpacking).
Most hiking trails are managed by the Department of Conservation, known locally as DOC. The DOC website is where you will find the most up to date information on New Zealand backpacking trails — they add alerts to the individual hiking pages if the routes are closed or damaged, for example.
Some other important resources:
The biggest danger while hiking in New Zealand is the weather, so always check MetService weather forecast before setting out, and let someone know your plans.
You can check the weather in New Zealand’s national parks on NIWA
Plan my walk is a great app for walks and trails around New Zealand
When you’re in New Zealand, DOC visitor centres are great places to get information, weather updates, and maps.
I highly recommend hiking with a personal locator beacon (PLB) with you. If anything happens, to you or another person, you’ll be able to get help. You can often rent these from DOC visitor centres if you don’t have your own.
When is the best time of year to go hiking in New Zealand?
The best time of year for hiking in New Zealand is from November to April. The summer and autumn months are the warmest and have the most daylight hours.
This makes hiking easier and more enjoyable. Plus, you’ll be able to access more alpine trails, which are inaccessible during winter.
What is the most famous hiking trail in New Zealand?
The Milford Track - Liz Carlson
The Milford Track - Great South
The Milford Track is likely the most famous hiking trail in New Zealand. It has been dubbed ‘the finest walk in the world’ and covers some of the country’s most spectacular terrain.
Given its popularity, it’s very hard to get bookings for the huts on the Milford Track, and bookings are essential for walking the trail.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the Milford Track, check out the Hollyford Track instead, or day walks along the Milford Road.
The Great Walks of New Zealand
The Great Walks are 10 of New Zealand’s best hikes, but they are different from other backpacking trips in terms of booking and planning.
These 10 hikes are some of the most beautiful and popular in New Zealand. Bookings on these Great Walks are more tightly controlled than on other hikes, so you need to book months in advance.
These are the best hikes in New Zealand though, so it can be worth the extra effort. The current Great Walks are:
Milford Track
Rakiura Track
Abel Tasman Coast Track
Heaphy Track
Paparoa Track
Tongariro Northern Circuit
Whanganui Journey (kayaking or canoeing)
Lake Waikaremoana
See here for information on planning a New Zealand Great Walk.
Hiking huts in New Zealand
Instead of the ‘inn to inn hiking’ you might find in Europe, New Zealand has hut to hut hiking.
New Zealand has one of the best hut networks in the world. These range from basic shelters to 80-bunk lodges with flushing toilets and solar powered lights.
These huts make it easy to go on long hikes in New Zealand without a tent.
DOC manages most of the huts and campsites in New Zealand’s national parks and wilderness areas. Staying in huts is easy, convenient, and mostly cheap (around $15 a night).
If you plan on staying in a hut, check on DOC’s website to see whether you need to book in advance and how much it will cost - the price varies depending on the level of facilities.
Huts usually have bunk rooms, a water supply, benches for cooking, tables or a common area, and long drop toilets.
You usually need to take your own cooking supplies, candles or torches, and sleeping gear.
Some of the more popular huts, like the Mueller Hut, need to be booked in advance and you’re unlikely to get last minute bunk beds available.
For huts that aren’t booked online, you pay via a hut ticket system, where you can buy tickets and ‘spend’ them in each hut as you go.
Campsites
A lot of hiking trails in New Zealand have the option of camping.
DOC manages campsites around the country (which also make great places to stay if you’re on a budget or travelling in a campervan) and campgrounds are often dotted along popular hikes.
You’re also allowed to pitch a tent in most national parks, provided you are 500 metres away from any trails. This is difficult in New Zealand because of dense forests and uneven terrain, but it means you can often find great campsites in alpine areas.
I don’t recommend trying to camp while hiking in New Zealand if you’re only doing it to save money. The hut and campsite fees go toward protecting conservation land, so your fees are important.
However, pitching a tent can be awesome if you want to be up on a peak for a sunrise — like up Mount Fox to see Fox Glacier in the dawn light.
Here is the official DOC guidance on free camping.
North Island hikes
1. Te Paki Track - walk around the northern tip of New Zealand
// 48 kilometres one way
// 3-4 days
// Moderate (for a multi-day hike)
The Te Paki Coast Track was once a contender for becoming a Great Walk — the only reason it didn’t make the cut is because there are campgrounds only, no huts.
In every other aspect, this is one of the greatest walks in New Zealand.
It’s a four day walk around the very top of New Zealand’s North Island. You’ll cross deserted beaches and wind-swept coastline with pockets of coastal bush, and skirt around the famous Cape Reinga lighthouse.
You can choose to hike the whole track in three to four days, or just cover sections as day walks.
Spirits Bay campground, the start (or end) point, is a wonderful place to stay and a good base for exploring the area.
Note: Unfortunately the Te Paki track is currently closed as a result of weather events. Check the DOC page for up to date information about the track status.
2. Cape Brett Track - stay in a historic lighthouse keeper's hut
// 16.3 kilometres one way
// 8 hours
// Difficult
Cape Brett is one of the best overnight hikes in the North Island, but if you’re motivated you can also knock it off in a day.
I recommend staying the night in the hut, which is the old lighthouse keeper’s cabin, but you’ll have to book in advance as spots are limited and it’s a popular weekend hike.
I went on a Monday night and only shared with two other people though, so if you’re flexible you can make it work.
You can choose to catch a ferry out to Deep Water Cove, then walk to the hut, stay overnight (or turn around) and then hike back out to Oke Bay. Or vice versa — hike all the way out, then catch the ferry back from Deep Water Cove.
The Cape Brett hike follows a rocky peninsula out into the Bay of Islands, with spectacular views in all directions. It’s a rocky scramble in places, and you’re exposed to the Northland sun so it can be challenging.
One important thing to note is that there’s no potable water in the hut (although there is usually water for cooking). You’ll have to carry water with you, which means a heavy pack if you’re going overnight.
3. The Aotea Track - hike around the remote Great Barrier Island
// DOC’s Aotea Track Brochure
// 2-3 days
// Easy — the days are short if you take 3 days
The Aotea Track is a 2-3 day hike around Great Barrier Island.
Great Barrier Island is special for a number of reasons — it’s two thirds conservation land, free of invasive possums, and free of any large stores, including supermarkets.
The Aotea Track loops around the island and gives you the best views on the island.
The highlight is staying at Mount Heale hut, just below the peak of Mount Hobson, the highest mountain on Great Barrier Island.
Mount Heale Hut has spectacular views out across the Hauraki Gulf. The west facing balcony is perfect for sunsets.
I also loved walking through the regenerating kauri forests. Most of the oldest trees are gone, felled by an aggressive logging industry in the 1800s and early 1900s, but 150,000 kauri seedlings were planted between 1976-1987.
These younger trees have already reached an impressive size, and it’s pretty awesome to see their recovery.
While you’re on Great Barrier Island, make sure you visit Medlands Beach — it’s one of the prettiest beaches in the Auckland region.
4. The Pinnacles - climb to one of the most impressive peaks in the Coromandel Ranges
// 6 kilometres one way
// 3 hours to the summit
// Somewhat challenging — it’s all uphill
Hiking to the rocky summit of the Pinnacles gives you panoramic views of the Coromandel Peninsula.
From up on the summit, I can see all the way down to my mum’s farm close to Pauanui.
You could easily hike up to the Pinnacles and back in a day, but staying overnight in the hut means you get to take in the panoramic views at sunset and sunrise, if you get lucky with the weather.
Just note that this is a popular hike with an 80 bed hut — it might not be as tranquil an experience as you might like (that’s a lot of people sharing the same space, so it’s likely you’ll hear some snoring).
It’s popular with school trips so there’s a good chance it will be full of young teens when you go.
For more privacy, you can book a spot in the small campground below the hut.
5. Lake Waikaremoana Track - circle a lake in a sacred rainforest
// 46 kilometres
// 3-4 days
// Moderate
Lake Waikaremoana is located in the mystical Urewera Forest in the eastern part of the North Island.
The Lake Waikaremoana Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, and for good reason. With stunning lake views and time spent in an ancient forest, it’s a glorious escape from reality.
The highlight of the walk is waking up on the Panekire Bluffs. If you’re lucky, you’ll look out to a bowl full of cloud on the lake in the morning.
6. Tongariro Northern Circuit - hike through a UNESCO heritage area
Emerald lakes
Waihohonu Hut
// 45 kilometres
// 3-5 days
// Moderate
The Tongariro Northern Circuit is another of New Zealand’s Great Walks (they aren’t called Great Walks for nothing — they really are some of the best multi-day walks in New Zealand).
Tongariro National Park is a UNESCO heritage area, one of only two in New Zealand, thanks to its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage.
The Tongariro Circuit is the best way to see the park. This trail loops through incredible volcanic landscapes.
You’ll see the famed emerald pools that made the Tongariro Crossing so famous, pass through golden tussock with volcanos rearing up in the distance, and see New Zealand’s only desert.
Good to know | The Tongariro Crossing covers some of the key highlights of Tongariro National Park in a one day hike. If you don’t have time or the energy for hiking the whole Tongariro Circuit, opt for the Crossing instead.
It’s one of New Zealand’s best day hikes.
7. Whirinaki Track
The Whirinaki Track is a two-day hiking trail located in the Te Urewera region in the east of the North Island.
The highlight of the Whirinaki Track is the ancient podocarp rainforest, featuring massive trees like rimu, totara, and kahikatea.
The trail follows the stunning Whirinaki River, and you’ll see crystal-clear streams and a variety of birdlife.
This was some of the most impressive forest I’ve seen in New Zealand. It’s rare to come across trees of this size and age nowadays.
The Whirinaki Track is a loop track, and the full loop is approximately 36 kilometers long. You can walk the track in two or three days, depending on how quickly you want to complete the loop.
The track is well-formed and relatively easy to follow, making it suitable for a wide range of hikers.
The terrain is generally gentle, with only a few steeper sections, but the track does follow a creek for part of the way, so you might get wet feet.
8. Mount Holdsworth Jumbo Circuit Track
The Mount Holdsworth Jumbo Circuit Track is a hiking trail in the Tararua Forest Park near Wellington.
This circuit offers stunning views of the Tararua Ranges, beautiful alpine scenery, and the opportunity to hike to the summit of Mount Holdsworth and Mount Jumbo.
The circuit is approximately 24 kilometers long, and usually takes 2 days.
The track varies from well-maintained paths through forests to steep, rocky sections.
Along the way, you’ll see beech forest, alpine meadows, rocky ridgelines, and stunning views of the Tararua Ranges. Highlights include the summit of Mount Holdsworth (1,474 meters) and Mount Jumbo (1,476 meters).
From the top of Mount Holdsworth you get to enjoy 360 degree views of the Wellington region.
Powell Hut is a popular hut and advanced booking and hut tickets are essential, especially on weekends and holidays when it books up quickly.
The track begins at the Mount Holdsworth car park, which is easily accessible from Masterton in the Wairarapa region. The route is a loop, so you'll return to the same starting point after completing the circuit.
The best time to hike the Mount Holdsworth Jumbo Circuit is during the summer and autumn months (late November to April), when the weather is more stable, and the trails are in better condition.
8. Around the Mountain Track
The Around the Mountain Circuit is a challenging multi-day hiking trail in Taranaki.
It encircles the iconic Mount Taranaki, an active stratovolcano and the region's centerpiece. This track offers a diverse range of landscapes, including lush forests, alpine tussocks, volcanic slopes, and stunning views of the mountain itself.
The complete loop is approximately 150 kilometres long and typically takes around 8 to 10 days to complete.
The most common starting point for the circuit is the North Egmont Visitor Center, situated on the slopes of Mount Taranaki. From there, the track takes you around the mountain in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.
10. Sunrise Hut
The Sunrise Hut is indeed located in the Ruahine Forest Park, in Hawke's Bay.
The track to reach the hut is approximately 12.7 kilometres one way, making it a great destination for an overnight trip. The hike to Sunrise Hut usually takes around 4 to 6 hours.
Some parts of the trail can be steep and challenging, especially as you approach the hut.
Sunrise Hut offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes, making it a fantastic spot to witness the sunrise and sunset.
The track is typically accessed from the Deadman's Track car park or the Makaroro River car park, both of which are entry points to the Ruahine Forest Park.
Hut reservations and hut tickets are required for an overnight stay at the Sunrise Hut.
South Island hikes
11. Queen Charlotte Track
// 73 kilometres
// 3-5 days
// Moderate
The Queen Charlotte Track is one of New Zealand’s most accessible multi-day hikes.
The way the track is laid out, you can spend each night in a lodge (camping is also an option, but hot showers and food are more enticing) and have your pack shipped to each stop by boat.
This means you can walk the 3-4 day track with just a day pack, relaxing each evening in waterfront accommodation.
I did this hike in 3 days, 2 nights.
I stayed in a Basecamp Single Room at Ponga Cove Resort on the first night, and Treetops Backpackers (book over the phone) on the second night.
It was great having a hot shower at the end of each day — a significant upgrade from the standard DOC hiking hut.
The hike itself follows a ridge of land between Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds. You’ll walk past quiet bays and over native-bush clad hills, with views of the Marlborough Sounds the reward for your efforts.
The Marlborough Sounds are a uniquely beautiful part of New Zealand, and the Queen Charlotte Track is the best way to explore the area.
12. Abel Tasman Coast Track
// 60 kilometres one way
// 3-5 days
// Easy — the track hugs the coast so it’s mostly flat
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. It’s a multi-day trek interspersed with campgrounds and huts, making it easy to walk as much or as little as you want in a day.
Highlights of the Abel Tasman track include the incredible golden beaches and calm waters which are perfect for swimming, especially after a hot day of hiking.
Most people start the walk in Marahau and end in Totaranui, from where you can catch a water taxi back to Marahau. If you walk right to the end of the track, the logistics are trickier, as you’ll be quite from from where you started.
You can also kayak sections of the track.
The further away from Marahau you can get, the better. You’ll reach more secluded and pristine beaches, while at the start of the track you’ll be sharing the track with plenty of others and the water isn’t as crystalline.
My favourite campsites along the track are Mutton Cove and Anapai Bay, close to the Golden Bay end — basically, the most remote ones.
Most people end their hike in Totaranui, so if you carry on past there you’ll be rewarded with emptier trails and campgrounds.
You can also walk sections of it as day walks, starting from either the Marahau end close to Nelson, or from the Golden Bay end.
Tip | Sadly, Abel Tasman is known to be poo city in certain areas.
In most places in New Zealand, you can drink water straight from the streams, but you should definitely avoid doing this on the Abel Tasman track because of the likelihood of faecal contamination.
Also, it goes without saying that if nature calls, you should use one of the many toilets along the track.
13. Mount Owen Track
Heading up to the highest peak in Kahurangi National Park makes for an epic overnight hike.
I hiked in to the Granity Hut on the first day and headed up the peak first thing in the morning, before hiking out to the carpark again afterward.
Take care on the rocks leading up to the summit. There are some deep crevasses and if it’s cold enough, frost can make them slippery.
Fun fact | The unusual rock formations at Mount Owen served as a film location for Lord of the Rings. They were used for scenes of Dimrill Dale and Moria in the first LOTR trilogy.
14. Roberts Ridge to Angelus Hut
// 12.2 km one way
// 6 hours
Angelus Hut might be my favourite hut in the South Island. It’s an absolutely stunning spot next in the high reaches of Nelson Lakes National Park.
The hut sits right next to an alpine tarn, surrounded by a ring of tussocked peaks.
The track in to the hut follows the Pinchgut track (which is a great day walk near Nelson) past the lovely little Bushline Hut, and carries on to Roberts Ridge.
On a clear day, the views from Roberts Ridge are absolutely spectacular. Rocky slopes fall away on both sides and you can see across the lakes and beech forests that Nelson Lakes National Park is famous for.
You’ll need to book the hut in advance, as it’s a popular destination. If you miss out on a bunk there is a campsite near the tarn, and you can also wild camp in the area around the hut.
You can hike in and out the same way, or head back to the carpark via Speargrass Hut, which makes for a nice lunch stop.
One important thing to note for this hike is that you need to take care with the weather. If there is snow, ice, or low visibility, the hike can be dangerous.
15. Liverpool Hut
// 15 kilometres one way
// 6 hours 30 minutes from Raspberry Flat
The West Matukituki Valley, in Mount Aspiring National Park near Wanaka, is one of my favourite places to hike in the South Island.
This is where you can find the Rob Roy Glacier day walk, as well as the hike up to Cascade Saddle.
There are two spectacular alpine huts to hike to from the Raspberry Flat Carpark — French Ridge Hut and Liverpool Hut.
Both are stunning red huts located above the treeline, reached by tough tracks which are a steep scramble through dense beech forest.
I love them both, but Liverpool Hut might just pip French Ridge on the scenic front, thanks to its view across the valley to Mount Aspiring — you can’t see the peak from French Ridge.
You can hike in and out to Liverpool hut in two days. The climb up to the ridge is a scramble in places, but hauling yourself up rocks and tree roots is part of the fun.
Make sure you book your spot in the hut, it’s only 12 spaces and getting more popular.
If you want to visit French Ridge hut as well, you can spend a night in Aspiring Hut, which is a cosy hut halfway back to the carpark.
16. Mount Brown Hut
// 10 kilometres out and back
// 2.5-3 hours up, 2 hours down
The tiny orange Mount Brown hut is an icon among the New Zealand hiking community. You’ll see it on DOC posters everywhere.
The hut sits high up above Lake Kaniere. The trail head is a 30-minute drive from Hokitika on the West Coast of the South Island.
From its vantage point high up above Lake Kaniere, Mount Brown hut has stunning views of the surrounding mountains and coastline.
That is, if you’re lucky to get clear weather — as this hike is on the West Coast, there’s a good chance you’ll get clouds.
I only saw a lot of cloud, but it was beautiful nonetheless and the hut itself is a cute spot to shelter from the elements.
The hike up is steep in places and it can be easy to lose track of the markers. The trail is managed by volunteers (not DOC) so it’s not as clearly signposted as other walks.
There are only 4 bunks in the hut, so it’s a good idea to take a tent up with you as well if you plan on staying the night — there are a couple of good flat areas near the hut where you can set up camp.
17. Welcome Flat Hut via the Copland Track
// 18 kilometres one way
// 7 hours
// Moderate
The Copland Track to Welcome Flat Hut is a seven-hour walk through spectacular West Coast scenery.
The track climbs gently through a river valley, with views of the water, beech forest, and surrounding mountains. While it’s not a difficult hike, it is long, so go prepared for a solid day of walking.
It’s worth it once you reach the hut, though.
The natural hot pools are a treasure, and one of the most spectacular places I’ve seen in New Zealand’s backcountry. They are as good as any hot pools you can visit.
You can soak in them then jump in the glacial river, for some awesome hot and cold immersion.
Kea hang around the pools and the hut, which is spacious and beautiful. You’ll need to book a spot in advance.
18. The Mueller Hut Track
// 5.2 kilometres one way
// 4 hours
The Mueller Hut is a stunning destination in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
Located at 1800 metres, the hut has incredible views of Aoraki/Mount Cook, the highest peak in New Zealand. You can also admire sheer rock faces, cliffs of ice, and the spires of the Southern Alps falling away into the distance.
The Mueller hut is very popular, so you’ll need to book a bunk well in advance if you want to stay overnight.
If the hut is fully booked, you can still make this a great (but long) day hike. There are some awesome budget accommodation options in Mount Cook Village, including the YHA hostel and the White Horse Hill DOC campground.
19. The Routeburn Track
// 33 kilometres
// 2-4 days
// Moderate (some climbs but a very well-maintained trail)
The Routeburn Track is one of the most accessible Great Walks of New Zealand.
It’s only 30 kilometres long, which means you can hike the trail in 2-3 days (or 4 days if you want to spread out the walking and enjoy the scenery).
The trail connects Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, so it’s a chance to see some of the most stunning wilderness areas of New Zealand.
The Routeburn is a one way hike starting (or ending) near Glenorchy and finishing up on the road to Milford Sound.
The Routeburn Shelter trailhead is located just outside of Glenorchy, which makes a great place to start or end your hiking trip.
You can also walk part of the Routeburn as a day hike from here — if you’re fit, you can make it up to Harris Saddle and back in a day.
It’s worth sticking around Glenorchy for a night or two to explore other hikes and things to do.
20. Kepler Track
// 3-4 days
// 60 kilometres
The Kepler Track is a Great Walk and one of the premier multi-day hikes in the South Island.
Starting near Te Anau, the trail runs through alpine peaks in Fiordland National Park before dipping back down to lakes and beech forest.
It’s nice and easy to organise, as the trail head is within walking distance of Te Anau (or a short drive) and the loop track means you don’t have to organise transport to and from the start/end points.
I hiked the Kepler in mid-October, just before the Great Walk season began.
That made it significantly cheaper, and I didn’t have to worry about fighting for a booking in the huts, but I did have poor weather across the alpine tops, and the views from the ridge are the highlight of the track.
21. The Hump Ridge Track
Photo by Liz Carlson
Photo by Liz Carlson
// 3 days
// 61 kilometres
The Hump Ridge Track is set to be New Zealand’s next Great Walk.
The three day loop walk covers epic terrain at the very bottom of the South Island. The track covers beach, forest and mountains.
One of the highlights of the Hump Ridge is a boardwalk which loops around limestone tors in the alpine tops. From up here, you get epic views of Fiordland, the Southern Ocean, and Stewart Island.
My favourite part of the Hump Ridge walk was swimming with Hector’s dolphins in a bay near Port Craig, on the coast.
There are a few different ways to experience the Hump Ridge Track:
A “Freedom Walk” where you hike the track and stay in shared bunk rooms at the Okaka and Port Craig Lodges
A Prime Package which offers more luxurious accommodations (you can opt for private rooms and hot showers)
A guided walk
What to pack for a multi-day hike in New Zealand
New Zealand weather is changeable, so you’ll need to pack layers, preferably in materials that are warm and quick to dry.
I recommend wearing proper hiking boots — I walked the Abel Tasman track in sneakers and lost two toenails.
Boots will be more comfortable, and keep your feet drier if it rains.
My multi-day hike gear list:
A sleeping bag (I use a RAB sleeping bag and it’s warm enough for most nights in New Zealand)
Two pairs of yoga pants/leggings
1 pair of merino track pants for wearing around the hut (although you won’t need these for summer hiking at lower elevations)
A Mons Royale puffer jacket for alpine or winter hikes
A Patagonia fleece for all seasons
3 pairs of woollen socks
2 long sleeved merino t-shirts
MSR stove
A titanium Snow Peak cup (600mls means it’s big enough for my morning coffee and evening meals)
Opinel pocket knife
You typically won’t need a water filter, as you can drink from most streams in New Zealand mountains. Huts generally have a boil water notice, but I rarely boil my drinking water and I’ve never had an issue.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope you found some inspiration for your next overnight hike in the North or South Island.
Before you go, you might like to check out my recommendations for day hikes around Auckland — you can walk through some spectacular landscapes within an hour of the city.
