South Island Great Walks Guide
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
A complete overview of New Zealand’s South Island most iconic hikes—how to choose, plan, pack, and enjoy them.
Exploring New Zealand’s Great Walks is one of the most remarkable ways to experience the diverse landscapes of the South Island. From golden beaches to rugged alpine passes, lush rainforest, dramatic river valleys, and remote coastal edges, each Great Walk offers its own flavour of adventure. This guide breaks down the major South Island Great Walks, including direction tips, hut insights, packing guides, suggested itineraries, and transport logistics to make planning as smooth as possible.
🏝️ Abel Tasman Coast Track
Overview
Known for its golden beaches, turquoise water, lush forest, tidal crossings and gentle gradients, the Abel Tasman Coast Track is the most accessible Great Walk in the South Island. It’s a favourite for first-time multi-day hikers, families, and anyone wanting a relaxed coastal experience. Trips can be customised with water taxis, meaning you can shorten or lengthen your hiking days easily.
Best direction and why
Unlike other Great Walks, direction does not matter.
Whether you walk Marahau → Wainui or Wainui → Marahau, the scenery is spectacular in both directions. The coast views, sweeping bays and sparkling water are on full display either way.
Side trips
Stop for breakfast or morning tea at Awaroa Lodge
Swim at every beach (truly!)
Short detours to secluded coves along the way
Length
60 km (approx.) depending on route variation and tidal crossings.
Suggested itinerary – 3 nights
Day 1: Shuttle to Wainui → hike to Awaroa Hut
Day 2: Awaroa Hut → Bark Bay Hut
Day 3: Bark Bay Hut → Anchorage Hut
Day 4: Anchorage Hut → Marahau (finish)
Note: You must plan around the Awaroa tidal crossing or pre-arrange a water taxi to bypass it.
Hut Guide
Whariwharangi Hut – cosy, historic homestead feel
Awaroa Hut – beachfront, stunning sunsets
Bark Bay Hut – estuary views, large communal space
Anchorage Hut – modern with some charging availability
Every night, attend the warden talk—these are essential for safety updates and tide information.
All huts have gas stoves, log burners, tank water, flush toilets, and solar lighting in communal areas (not bunk rooms). No charging except limited USB ports at Anchorage Hut—do not rely on them.
Food Guide
Breakfast ×3
Lunch for each day
Dinner ×3
Snacks for each day
Saltier snacks to balance the heat
Treats (beach walks pair perfectly with chocolate)
Gear Guide
Pack with liner and cover
Rain jacket
Trail shoes
Spare hut clothes + hut shoes
Sleeping bag + liner + inflatable pillow
Headlamp
Toiletries (including toilet paper)
Power bank (Anchorage offers limited charging only)
Pot or pan for cooking
Lightweight hiking clothes
Transport Logistics
Pre-arrange a shuttle from Nelson to Wainui
Pre-arrange water taxi pick-up/drop-off between various bays and Awaroa
Pre-arrange shuttle pickup from Marahau back to Nelson
💦 Heaphy Track
Overview
The Heaphy Track showcases wild West Coast beaches, tussock highlands, limestone formations, and nikau palm groves. It’s one of the most diverse Great Walks, transitioning gradually through multiple ecosystems over its long distance.
Best direction and why
Walk East → West
The most spectacular scenery is between Heaphy Hut and Kohaihai, making for a rewarding finish
The steady climb from Brown Hut to Perry Saddle is easier at the start
You walk towards the best views each day
Side Trips
Mount Perry
James Mackay Waterfall
Heaphy River Mouth and beach
Length
78.4 km
Suggested duration
3–4 nights (common itinerary is 4 days / 3 nights)
Hut Guide
Brown Hut – start point with vehicle access
Perry Saddle Hut – modern, great forest views
Gouland Downs Hut – limestone arches nearby
Saxon Hut – remote and quiet
James Mackay Hut – big views toward the coast
Heaphy Hut – beachfront with dramatic sunsets
Attend the warden talk nightly for track updates.
All huts have gas stoves, log burners, tank water, flush toilets, and solar lighting in communal areas (not bunk rooms).
Food Guide
Breakfast ×3
Lunch for each day
Dinner ×3
Snacks for each day
Treats (you’ll want them on those long days)
Gear Guide
Pack with liner and cover
Cushioned trail shoes (hard underfoot due to MTB grade surface)
Sleeping bag + liner + pillow
Spare hut clothes + hut shoes
Toiletries (including toilet paper)
Headlamp
Pot or pan for cooking
Power bank
Rain jacket
Warm layers
Transport Logistics
Because each end is 500 km apart, planning is key:
Fly into Nelson → shuttle to Brown Hut → shuttle from Kohaihai back to Nelson
Drive to Karamea → fly to Brown Hut → shuttle back
Vehicle relocation (cost-effective for groups of four or more)
⛰️ Paparoa Track
Overview
The Paparoa Track is NZ’s newest Great Walk, designed for both hikers and mountain bikers. It features dramatic escarpment views, deep rainforest, glaciated valleys and beautifully built huts.
Best direction and why
Walk East → West (Blackball → Punakaiki)
Best views are westward
Logistically easiest (secure parking at Punakaiki)
Side Trips
Garden Gully Hut
Length
55 km
Suggested Itinerary – 2 nights
Day 1: Shuttle from Punakaiki → Smoke-Ho → Moonlight Tops Hut
Day 2: Moonlight Tops → Pororari Hut
Day 3: Pororari Hut → Punakaiki
Hut Guide
Ces Clarke Hut - historic, single communal space for sleeping and cooking, some charging facilities
Moonlight Tops Hut - modern and spacious, sunset views, limited charging facilities
Pororari Hut - mondern and spacious (replica of Moonlight Tops Hut), sunset views, limited charging facilities
Attend the warden talk nightly for track updates.
All huts have gas stoves, coal burners, tank water, long drops, and solar lighting in communal areas (not bunk rooms). No charging except limited USB ports—do not rely on them.
Food Guide
Breakfast ×2
Lunch for each day
Dinner ×2
Snacks daily
Treats
Gear Guide
Pack liner + cover
Rain jacket
Trail shoes or boots
Spare hut clothes + hut shoes
Sleeping bag + liner + pillow
Toiletries + toilet paper
Power bank
Pot or pan for cooking
Headlamp
Hiking clothes
Transport Logistics
Secure parking at Punakaiki Beach Camp
Their shuttle runs to Smoke-Ho
Vehicles can be left at Smoke-Ho (risk of break-ins)
Vehicle relocation also available (can be most cost effective with groups of 4 or more)
🥾 Kepler Track
Overview
A true alpine circuit featuring lakes, ridgelines, beech forest, waterfalls, and wide open tops. This is one of the most rewarding and accessible alpine Great Walks.
Best direction and why
Clockwise, starting at:
Rainbow Reach (easier start)
or
Control Gates (closest to Te Anau)
Why clockwise?
First day stays in bush, saving the big climb for Day 3
You finish on the best section—the Luxmore tops
Easy exit options after Luxmore via water taxi or shuttle
Side Trips
Shallow Bay to Shallow Bay Hut
Mt Luxmore
Luxmore Caves at Luxmore Hut
Length
60 km circuit
Suggested Duration – 3 nights
Moturau Hut
Iris Burn Hut
Luxmore Hut
Hut Guide
All huts have heating, solar lighting in communal areas, gas stoves and tank water, flush toilets.
Food Guide
Breakfast ×3
Lunch daily
Dinner ×3
Snacks daily
Treats
Gear Guide
Pack liner + cover
Rain jacket + rain pants
Trail shoes or boots + gaiters
Spare hut clothes + hut shoes
Sleeping bag + liner + pillow
Toiletries + toilet paper
Power bank
Pot or pan fro cooking
Headlamp
Hiking clothes
Transport Logistics
Short shuttle from Te Anau
Optional water taxi from Brod Bay
Secure parking available in Te Anau
⛰️ Routeburn Track
Overview
One of NZ’s most iconic Great Walks, the Routeburn Track connects Mt Aspiring National Park with Fiordland National Park. Expect turquoise lakes, waterfalls, panoramic peaks and world-class hut facilities.
Best direction and why
Walk The Divide → Routeburn Shelter
Best views from Lake Howden upward
Climb from Lake Mackenzie leads to the reward of the Hollyford views
You hike opposite to most hikers
Finish gently through beech forest to the shelter
Side Trips
Key Summit
Lake Mackenzie campsite + Split Rock
Conical Hill
Routeburn Nature Walk
Length
33.1 km
Suggested Duration – 2 nights
Divide → Lake Mackenzie Hut
Lake Mackenzie Hut → Routeburn Falls Hut
Routeburn Falls Hut → Routeburn Shelter
Hut Guide
All Routeburn huts are modern with flush toilets, gas stovetops, solar lighting and heating.
Food Guide
Breakfast ×2
Lunch daily
Dinner ×2
Snacks
Treats
Gear Guide
Pack liner + cover
Rain jacket + pants
Trail shoes or boots
Spare hut clothes + hut shoes
Sleeping bag + liner + pillow
Toiletries + toilet paper
Power bank
Pot or pan for cooking
Headlamp
Transport Logistics
One-way track → shuttle required
Best base: Queenstown
⛰️ Milford Track
Overview
The Milford Track is world-famous for a reason: dramatic valleys, crystal-clear rivers, towering waterfalls and the unforgettable Mackinnon Pass. It is only walked in one direction and in three nights. No flexibility—this is the most structured Great Walk.
Side Trips
Glow-worm grotto near Clinton Hut
Lake Mintaro
Sutherland Falls (not to be missed)
Length
53.5 km
Daily Distances
Glade Wharf → Clinton Hut: 5 km
Clinton → Mintaro: 17.5 km
Mintaro → Dumpling: 13 km
Dumpling → Sandfly Point: 18 km
Hut Guide
Clinton Hut
Mintaro Hut (new in 2021)
Dumpling Hut
All have gas stoves, flush toilets, solar lighting and communal heating. Limited USB charging in Mintaro Hut - do not rely on it.
Food Guide
Breakfast ×3
Lunch daily
Dinner ×3
Snacks daily
Treats
Gear Guide
Pack liner + cover
Rain jacket + pants
Trail shoes or boots + gaiters
Sleeping bag + liner + pillow
Spare hut clothes + hut shoes
Toiletries
Power bank
Pot or pan for cooking
Headlamp
Transport Logistics
Pre-booked with your hut tickets:
Boat from Te Anau Downs → Glade Wharf
Boat from Sandfly Point → Milford Sound
Additional:
Bus Milford Sound → Te Anau Downs / Te Anau
Shuttle Te Anau → Te Anau Downs
🏝️ Rakiura Track
Overview
A gentle Great Walk on Stewart Island with a more rustic feel. Huts are simpler than mainland Great Walks and the track is beautifully remote, lush and full of native birds—including kiwi.
Best direction and why
Walk Clockwise (North Arm → Port William → Lee Bay)
The forested vehicle track into North Arm is the least scenic—best to get it done first
Ending along the coast, beach and boardwalks is a perfect finale
Side Trips
Ulva Island – a world-class bird sanctuary
Length
32.1 km
Suggested Duration – 2 nights + optional extras
Day 1: Fly to Oban → hike to North Arm
Day 2: North Arm → Port William
Day 3: Port William → Lee Bay
Add Day 4–5 for Ulva Island and return flights/ferry
Hut Guide
Port William Hut – two bunk rooms, huge communal area, beach access
North Arm Hut – single bunk room, bush setting
Neither hut has gas, solar lighting or flush toilets.
Food Guide
Breakfast ×2
Lunch daily
Dinner ×2
Snacks daily
Treats
Gear Guide
Cooker + gas (purchase in Oban)
Pack liner + cover
Rain jacket
Trail shoes or boots + gaiters
Sleeping bag + liner + pillow
Spare hut clothes + hut shoes
Toiletries + toilet paper
Power bank
Headlamp
Transport Logistics
Flights from Invercargill → Oban (weather dependent)
Ferry from Bluff → Oban (rough seas common)
Water taxis available for hut access
Airline staff transport to either end of track
Gas cartridges available in Oban
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