The Best Day Hikes in New Zealand

Finding some of the best day hikes in New Zealand doesn’t have to be difficult if you’re looking in the right places. The south island encompasses the Southern Alps and some of the most rugged and beautiful landscape Aotearoa has to offer. The south Island has hundreds of nature escapes, hikes and walks, with a lot of these hikes in Canterbury and Otago; perfect for any keen adventurer. But finding the best day hikes in New Zealand which mean you don’t need to pack a tent or 2 days of emergency food can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack.

I’ve put together this list of 6 of the best short walks in Canterbury and Otago; the longest being a 5 hour loop and the shortest is a 2 minute stroll from a car park. Each walk is on flat ground and can be done with children, just ensure you do your research before throwing the children in the car and taking them to the middle of no where. Weather can drastically change in both of these areas and you don’t want to get caught in the snow wearing a pair of denim shorts.

How to Find the Best Day Hikes in New Zealand

Trying to find a great walk which is both interesting and well suited for an average fitness level can be tough, but you have started in the right place! Travel blogs usually give a great and often relaistic view on any tourist trap whether its an inner city diner or camping in the great outdoors.

Usually my first port of call is to the Department of Conservation website. DOC look after and control a lot of publicly accessible land in New Zealand; killing pests, building walkways and huts for multiday hikes. DOCs website is one of the best sites to get a good grasp on what a lot of New Zealand hikes and tracks entail; from the type of gear you need to walking time and distance.

Instagram is also the place to go if you want to search for the opportunity for picture perfect scenery and new art for your walls. I wouldn’t have visited half of these places below if it wasn’t for the photographers and travellers of Instagram, only because I’m a very visual person and my relatively short attention span gets the better of me if all I see is grassy planes.

Hooker Valley Track, Mt Cook

Canterbury Region
Mt Cook
3hr / 10km Return

One of my all-time favourite hikes in New Zealand and one of the best walks in Canterbury, Hooker Valley Track has the most beautiful scenery I have ever laid my eyes on. But it also requires the most preparation and forward planning than compared to the other walks on this list. The weather in this area is known to drastically change, and there are limited sunshine hours during Winter and Autumn so you will want to be prepared for the worse.

Due to it’s extreme remote location there are no flushing toilets along the track, do yourself a favour and go toilet before starting your walk. The long drop toilets before the second swing bridge aren’t worth it even in an emergency.

The best way of getting to Hooker Valley Track is either from Twizel or Tekapo, and is a 45 minute drive from the start of state highway 80. It’s best to start the walk before lunch so you don’t run out of sunshine hours, and because the water is the bluest before the sun has hit it.

Check out my full write up about Hooker Valley Track here

Omarama Clay Cliffs, Omarama

Canterbury Region
Omarama
20 minute Return

More like an easy stroll than a decent walk or hike. Omarama Clay Cliffs transport you to a replica Mars landscape; made up of gravel, silt and…clay these rock formations were formed from glaciers and rivers millions of years ago. These million year old pillars sit on private land so a $5 payment per vehicle is required to access through the gate. Once you’re within the ‘compound’ of clay keep aware of your footing as the loose stones, and gravel could make for a painful walk back to your car, sturdy shoes are highly recommended.

The road out to Omarama Clay Cliffs is mainly unsealed and there are plenty of potholes you need to look out for, so be careful with that rental car…
Getting to the Clay Cliffs is relatively easy, travel north along state highway 8 from Omarama and turn left down Quailburn Rd, from here the cliffs are sign posted so just follow your nose, and don’t forget to pay the $5 charge at the gate as it is sitting on private land!

Planning a South Island getaway? Check out my 10 day itinerary for Queenstown to Twizel!

Bannockburn Sluicings, Bannockburn

Otago Region
Cromwell
1.5hr / 3.5km Loop

Bannockburn Sluicings is probably one of the more fun hikes in New Zealand. It’s an interesting place to bring the kids, dogs, or a romantic walk with your partner. Transport yourself to the wild west from when the Otago gold mining era thrived, and have fun finding tiny specs of gold among the tonnes of schist. Bannockburn Sluicings can either be done as a short stroll to fill in some time, or you can take on the whole loop. We only went as far as the above pictures as the sun was setting so it was getting cold!

For more information about Bannockburn Sluicings visit the Doc website here.

Related: Visiting Auckland? Check out 4 of the Best Waterfalls to Visit in Auckland this summer

The Wanaka Tree, Wanaka

Otago Region
Wanaka
2 Minute walk from the carpark on Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Rd

I wouldn’t really call this a hike…at all. It’s more a casual stroll from the carpark to the edge of the lake. But I can’t come on here and talk about Wanaka and not mention the famous tree. The famous tree in Wanaka and probably the most famous in New Zealand; 2^nd best to the tree which no longer stands on top of ‘One Tree Hill’ in Auckland. The Wanaka tree is famous purely because it stands alone in the water on the edge of Lake Wanaka. Some people think it’s beautiful, others don’t get the f***ing point. Regardless, it’s still a major tourist attraction, just search #thatwanakatree on Instagram and you’ll see.

Photographers come from far and wide to make a masterpiece of the Wanaka Tree, I however did not have the patience, energy or care to wait for a break of light in the clouds to even attempt at grabbing an Instagram worthy picture of a half submerged bundle of sticks.

Getting to that Wanaka is super easy, travel south from Wanaka town centre along the lake front and you will be able to spot it from the road. Simple enough; just put into Google Maps “Wanaka Tree: and it will take you straight there.

Blue Pools Track, Wanaka

Otago Region
Wanaka
1.5hr / 3km Return

Blue Pools Track, just outside Wanaka, is great for anyone who wants a little bit of adventure but wants to be back in town with enough time to get ready for a night out. This 1-hour return walk takes you to a bright blue pool of water and flowing river filled with brown and rainbow trout. Head down to the water and you will find plenty of quartz, fool’s gold and pounamu (just don’t pocket the pounamu). The Blue Pools track can be done in light footwear, but if you appreciate warm feet I would stick with thick socks!
For more information about Blue Pools Track in Wanaka, visit the Doc website here.

Click here for more info on the Blue Pools walking track

Kanuka Loop Track, Cromwell

Kanuka Loop Track can either be a day walk or an afternoon drive to watch the sunset. This was an unexpected discovery and a last-minute decision to fill an afternoon after spending the morning eating our weight in carbs.
Kanuka Loop is located in Bendigo, just outside of Cromwell. This was one of the many locations where men would dig their own mine shafts in search for gold. There are plenty of small stone buildings, some still fully intact while others are skeletons of passed lives. Walking around the landscape is free and easy, just watch out for the large mine shafts as a lot of them are not fenced, so keep young children on a tight leash.

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Each of these walks and hikes in New Zealand are great all year round. Just make sure you keep an eye on the weather reports and prepare and pack appropriately. The Department of Conservation have a list of all the walks and hikes you can do within New Zealand, from 20 minutes to multi day hikes. Check out their website here!