Reviewing walks from around New Zealand with stories, photos, videos, and helpful information you need to get walking and exploring!
Where: Atiwhakatu Hut, Tararua Forest Park, Wellington Distance & Time: Two hours, 7.5km Take: Food, stuff for an overnighter, water, sunscreen Amenities on route: Bathroom at the start of the walk and 30 minutes in. Hut has mattresses and water Cost of the walk: $5 per person for a bunk in the hut If you like …
I first went to Morere Hot Springs when I was a kid. In the decades since I last visited, it has changed from childhood memories but it still has great hot pools, incredible bush, and is a wee slice of paradise in the middle of nowhere!
Want a waterfall you can wade out to, a meandering river, a bush walk, and then another waterfall you can admire from a quiet lookout? Have I got the place for you! The Tangoio Walkway which encompasses Te Ana Falls, which you can swim at, and Tangoio Falls which you can view from a lockout, in Hawke's Bay is the place to be.
800 steps up. Sounds like a lot but it goes surprisingly quick and the view at the top is absolutely worth it. The East Cape Lighthouse walk also has quite possibly one of the most picturesque drives to get to it, following the road around the coast and I almost guarantee you'll start to imagine yourself owning a bach (holiday home) here as the beaches are glorious and it's so easy to find a wee spot away from the other 10 people that happen to be on the beach at the same time as you!
White Pine Bush is home to Kahikatea, and not just any Kahikatea, but an 800 year old one! Thinking about the things has endured to still be here in our lifetime is pretty impressive.
A hut where you are guaranteed to have the whole place to yourself? Where you have to cross a river numerous times to get there? Where you don't have to carry crockery or cooking equipment, leaving room for a bottle of wine in your bag? Sign me up!
This is by far the most popular walk in the New Zealand. Every international visitor seems to know about it and want to do it. I'd first done it 10 years ago and was keen to see it during good weather as the last time I'd done it the weather was shocking and we saw pretty much nothing. I also wanted to see if it lived up to it's moniker as the best day walk in New Zealand, as this is the walk that many international visitors to New Zealand do in their limited time that they have here, due to the relative ease of access, the interesting terrain, and that it only takes a day!
