The Great Walks: which one is right for you?

The term "Great Walks" is a Department of Conservation designation — New Zealand's nine finest long-distance trails, maintained to a higher standard than the rest of the backcountry network, with huts that have cooking facilities and rangers on site, and booking systems that manage the number of walkers on the track at any one time.

They range from two to five days. They cross terrain that includes fiords, volcanic plateaus, beech forest, glacial valleys, and coastal bays. Some are among the most famous walking tracks in the world. Others are known mainly to experienced trampers who seek out the less-crowded alternatives.

If walking is part of why you're coming to New Zealand — and for most guests, it is — the question isn't whether to include a Great Walk, but which one, and how to build it into the journey in a way that doesn't turn it into an endurance test.

The Milford Track — the iconic choice

Four days, 53 kilometres, from the head of Lake Te Anau through the Clinton and Arthur valleys to Milford Sound. Often called "the finest walk in the world" — a description that's been in circulation since 1908 and that the Milford Track has done its best to deserve ever since.

What it involves: Full four-day commitment, walking 10-16 kilometres per day over mixed terrain, sleeping in huts on the track each night. The guided walk option provides better accommodation and meals. The independent walk uses the Department of Conservation huts, which are basic but functional.

Who it's right for: Guests who are comfortable walkers and want the definitive New Zealand experience. The scenery — the Mackinnon Pass crossing on day three, the Sutherland Falls at day three's end, the final approach to Milford Sound — is extraordinary. The sense of achievement at the end of it is real.

Who might think twice: Guests who prefer their accommodation comfortable, who have significant fitness limitations, or who are time-constrained. The track must be walked in one direction and can't be shortened once started.

The Routeburn Track — the alpine alternative

Three days, 32 kilometres, connecting Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks through an alpine landscape that is, in our view, the most visually extraordinary of all the Great Walks. The Routeburn is often less crowded than the Milford Track and more varied in its terrain.

What it involves: Three days of alpine walking, including two nights at high altitude. The Harris Saddle section on day two is exposed and can be cold, even in summer. The guided walk option is particularly good here — the Harris Saddle Lodge, exclusively for guided walkers, is one of the finest overnight facilities in the New Zealand backcountry.

Who it's right for: Guests who want alpine scenery rather than fiord scenery. The views from the Routeburn are broader and more expansive than the Milford — you're above the treeline for longer, looking out over mountain ranges rather than up at valley walls. Also right for guests doing the South Island circuit (Queenstown — Routeburn — Fiordland — West Coast).

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing — one day, no commitment

Not technically a Great Walk (it's a day walk, not a multi-day track), but the most walked trail in New Zealand and one we include here because it comes up in almost every conversation about walking. 19 kilometres across the volcanic terrain of the Tongariro National Park, passing the emerald lakes, Red Crater, and the slopes of Mt Ngāuruhoe (Tolkien's Mount Doom).

What it involves: A full day — around 7-8 hours. One-way, so you need transport at both ends. The summit section is exposed and can be cold and windy even in summer. Not for guests with limited fitness.

Who it's right for: Guests doing the central plateau (Huka Lodge, Taupō) section of a North Island journey who want a significant day in the landscape. This is the kind of day that changes the quality of everything that comes after it.

For guests who want the scenery without the full walk

Most of the Great Walks pass through terrain that's also accessible by shorter day walks from the same base. The Milford Track valley head can be reached on a day walk from Milford Sound. The first section of the Routeburn, as far as Routeburn Flats, is a half-day from the Glenorchy end.

We design these into itineraries regularly for guests who want the landscape without the multi-day commitment. The views are not significantly compromised. The experience is different — you're moving through the edge of the wilderness rather than through its interior — but for many guests, that's exactly right.

If you're thinking about walking as part of your journey, tell us what kind of walker you are and how much of your days you want to spend on your feet. We'll find the right fit.