What are the Great Walks of New Zealand

 The Great Walks of New Zealand are a series of backcountry tracks which have been singled out for their scenic, cultural or historic significance. They are aimed at the novice or international tramper and feature a higher standard of track, huts and facilities. All the current Great Walks are in National Parks...the Humpridge Track due to open as a GW track in 2022 is in Fiordland NP. 

On the Kepler Track in March of 2021

The Great Walks came into being in 1987 when the Department of Conservation took over control of the Crown owned backcountry areas of New Zealand. Previously the Department of Internal Affairs and the New Zealand Forestry Service (NZFS) were tasked with this job. One of the tasks given to the new department was the aim of encouraging more people into wild areas and the Great Walks were a part of that strategy.

The Tongariro Northern Circuit crosses volcanic fields 

The view from Panikere Bluffs on the Waikaremoana Track

There are currently 10 Great Walks with three in the North Island, six in the South Island and one on Rakuira/Stewart Island. There is an additional track slatted to become a Great Walk in 2022 this is the Humpridge Track near Invercargill. Other tracks have been mentioned as possible additions but these are currently the only tracks with that designation. 

The Humpridge Track has superb views of Te Waewae Bay

Many of the tracks existed prior to DOC..the most venerable is the iconic Milford Track which was built in the late1880's and was long considered the premium track in this country. It was described in a 1908 newspaper article as the 'finest walk in the world" and the moniker has stuck to this day. The Heaphy Track was an old gold miners track from the 1890's and the new Paparoa Track also has mining history from the turn of the 20th Century. 

Sutherland Falls was an early draw on the Milford Track

Nikau Palm groves on the Heaphy Track

Many of the other Great Walk tracks date from the 1920-1960's and were upgraded and improved in the 1980's to bring them up to standard. Some are much younger e.g. the Kepler Track (1987), Rakuira Track (1992) and Paparoa Track (2020). All three of these Great Walks are extensions of existing tracks with new sections built to link them together with new huts, bridges and other facilities to support visitors. 

New Zealand's latest Great Walk...the Paparoa Track 

Typical forest track along the Rakuria Track...

One of the Great Walks is actually a Great Journey...the Whanganui River Journey is a multiday canoe trip down the Whanganui River in the Central North Island. Starting near National Park in the Central Plateau you travel down river to near the city of Whanganui over 140 km's distant. 

The Whanganui River Journey is down the Whanganui River

The Abel Tasman Coastal Track is primarily a walking experience but it is also possible to kayak along the coast adjacent to the track. Abel Tasman NP features access to beautiful sandy beaches and fine swimming in the summer months...it is my favorite Great Walk track with six visits so far.

Kayaking along the Abel Tasman NP coastline

All of the other Great Walks are walking tracks of 3-6 days duration.