A Department of Conservation track marker - an orange triangular plastic pointer attached to trees and poles.Track marker in Tararua Forest Park
In New Zealand, long distance walking or hiking for at least one overnight stay is known as tramping. There are a number of walkways in New Zealand, however most of these are relatively short and can be walked in a day or less. Many are also an easy walk, with well formed footpaths. However, some tracks require an overnight stay either because of the rugged country or the length of the track.
New Zealand has both public and private tramping tracks. Public tracks are managed by the Department of Conservation, Regional Councils or other authorities. They generally cross public land (including National Parks), or private land with negotiated public access. Access is free and in most cases unrestricted, although fees are payable for overnight stays in huts or camping.
Private tracks cross private land, with restricted fee-based access. Itineraries are generally fixed. Fees may cover things such as overnight accommodation, food and pack transportation.
Notable tramping tracks
Some of the tramping tracks have acquired names, with the most popular being called the Great Walks (GW).
Rakiura National Park is a nature reserve park located on Stewart Island / Rakiura, New Zealand. It is the newest national park of New Zealand and opened in 2002. The protected area covers about 85% of the island.
Abel Tasman National Park is a New Zealand national park located between Golden Bay / Mohua and Tasman Bay at the north end of the South Island. It is named after Abel Tasman, who in 1642 became the first European explorer to sight New Zealand and who anchored nearby in Golden Bay.
Waikanae is a town on the Kāpiti Coast, 60 kilometres north of the Wellington CBD. The name is a Māori word meaning "waters" (wai) "of the grey mullet".
The Milford Track is a hiking route in New Zealand, located amidst mountains and temperate rain forest in Fiordland National Park in the southwest of the South Island. The 53.5 km (33.2 mi) hike starts at Glade Wharf at the head of Lake Te Anau and finishes in Milford Sound at Sandfly Point, traversing rainforests, wetlands, and an alpine pass.
The Tararua Range, often referred to as the Tararua Ranges or Tararua, is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand.
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the country's third-longest river, and has special status owing to its importance to the region's Māori people. In March 2017 it became the world's second natural resource to be given its own legal identity, with the rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person. The Whanganui Treaty settlement brought the longest-running litigation in New Zealand history to an end.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park is a tramping track in New Zealand, and is among the most popular day hikes in the country. The Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage site which has the distinction of dual status, as it has been acknowledged for both its natural and cultural significance.
Te Araroa is New Zealand's long distance tramping route, stretching circa 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) along the length of the country's two main islands from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Officially opened in 2011, it is made up of a mixture of previously made tracks and walkways, new tracks, and link sections alongside roads. Tramping the full length of the trail generally takes three to six months.
The East Cape to Cape Egmont Traverse is a pilgrimage in New Zealand that holds historical and cultural significance. Two authors have documented their experiences in books: Raymond Salisbury's "Cape to Cape - 80 Day Traverse of the North Island" and A.H. Reed's "From East Cape to Cape Egmont On Foot at Eighty-six".
The New Zealand Great Walks are a set of popular tramping tracks developed and maintained by the Department of Conservation. They are New Zealand's premier tracks, through areas of some of the best scenery in the country, ranging from coastlines with beaches to dense rain forests and alpine terrain. The tracks are maintained to a high standard, making it easier for visitors to explore some of the most scenic parts of New Zealand's backcountry.
The Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of the New Zealand Great Walks, is a three- to four-day tramp in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. The hike includes the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a day's march that incorporates the Northern Circuit's most stunning scenery. The complete trail forms a 50-kilometre (31 mi) long loop trail that circumnavigates Mount Ngauruhoe. Approximately 7,000 trampers complete the walk each year. This compares to the approximately 25,000 who walk only the Tongariro Crossing section.
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a 60 kilometres (37 mi) long walking track within the Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand. It extends from Mārahau in the south to Wainui in the north, with many side tracks. It is one of two main tracks through the park, the other being the Abel Tasman Inland Track, which stretches for 38 km between Tinline Bay and Torrent Bay off the main coastal track. The coastal track is well sheltered, and with mild weather in all seasons, it is accessible and open throughout the year.
The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk is a 44-kilometre (27 mi) tramping track which follows the southern and western coast of Lake Waikaremoana in the North Island of New Zealand. Passing through several types of forest, and grassland, the track often provides views over the lake. It is classified as one of New Zealand's Great Walks, and is located in the former Te Urewera National Park.
Reikorangi is a rural locality on the Kāpiti Coast in New Zealand's North Island. It is inland, behind Waikanae in the Akatarawa Valley of the Tararua Ranges. The Ngatiawa River and Reikorangi Stream both meet the Waikanae River in Reikorangi. Reikorangi contains a church, a monastery, and formerly contained a school, which closed in 1970 due to the declining population of the small locality.
Tramping, known elsewhere as backpacking, rambling, hill walking or bushwalking, is a popular activity in New Zealand.
The Northern Crossing is a tramping track in New Zealand's Tararua Range. The track is approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) long and typically takes between three and five days to complete. The crossing is suitable only for experienced trampers.
The Escarpment Track is a 10-kilometre-long (6.2 mi) hiking track between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki in the Wellington region of New Zealand. It forms part of the 3,000-kilometre (1,900 mi) Te Araroa trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff. The track climbs to approximately 215 metres (705 ft) above sea level, along a narrow route formed along a steep coastal escarpment. It overlooks a section of State Highway 59 known as Centennial Highway, and the North–South Junction section of the Kapiti Line and the North Island Main Trunk railway line.
Hutt Water Collection Area is a reserve located in Upper Hutt in the Wellington Region at the southern end of New Zealand's North Island. It is administered by Wellington Regional Council and is located alongside the larger Kaitoke Regional Park.
The Copland Track is a tramping track in the south Westland area of New Zealand's South Island, well known for the naturally-occurring hot springs at Welcome Flat along its route. The main track is approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) long one-way from the trailhead at State Highway 6 to the track's inland end at the Douglas Rock Hut, and is usually completed in 2 to 4 days depending on whether the full distance is walked, with many opting to walk only as far as Welcome Flat. The track is the western portion of a longer path which historically connected the West Coast to Mount Cook Village via Copland Pass, however erosion and the retreat of the Hooker Glacier has led to the eastern side of this route becoming increasingly dangerous to traverse.
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