The Top Multi-Day Hiking Tours of New Zealand
New Zealand is arguably one of the best countries for hiking in the world, so if you want to make the most of the glorious scenery, it’s best to hit the trails! Combine a walking holiday in New Zealand with expert guides and the chance to meet like-minded people by joining one of the New Zealand hiking tours. There is a great selection of multi-day hiking tours to choose from, from six-day excursions of the South Island to hiking tours around both islands! We go through some of our favourite options in this guide to the best New Zealand hiking tours and hiking holidays.
For more generic adventure tours, see The Best 20+ Days Tours of New Zealand. Plus, find out more about exploring by bus in Travel by Bus in New Zealand: The Ultimate Guide.
5 Tips for Taking a Hiking Tour in New Zealand
- Allow a day or two before and after your tour for your travel time to New Zealand, as well as to get over the jet lag and explore your arrival city
- Pack light! Not only do you not want to be the person that everyone has to make room for but you’ll especially want to keep your pack as light as possible for the overnight hiking portions of your tour if applicable – see our New Zealand Packing List
- Use websites like TourRadar to compare hiking tour companies and make use of their standard cancellation policies should your travel plans change
- Be sure to budget for the meals that are not included in your hiking tour – see How Much Does a Trip to New Zealand Cost?
- See if your chosen tour company has a Facebook Group. That way, you can connect with fellow hikers before the tour begins.
Exodus Travels – Trekking in New Zealand
Explore both New Zealand islands with a small group on the Trekking in New Zealand tour. This 19-day hiking tour with Exodus Travels starts in Auckland and ends in Christchurch, taking you to hiking highlights like the Tongariro National Park, Milford Sound and the Fox Glacier. All activities listed in the action-packed itinerary are included in the tour, such as a heli-hike in Mt Aspiring National Park, a short flight between Wellington and Nelson, and a water taxi cruise in the Abel Tasman National Park. All meals and accommodation are also included in the rate.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 19 days
Age Range: 16+ years old
Maximum Group Size: 11
Accommodation: Hotels, lodges, cabins and huts/camping
Meals: 16 breakfasts, 17 lunches and seven dinners
Destinations
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Whirinaki Forest Park
- Tongariro
- Wellington
- Abel Tasman
- Murchison
- Paparoa National Park
- Fox Glacier
- Wanaka
- Queenstown
- Te Anau
- Mt Cook
- Christchurch
Find out more about this tour by comparing Exodus Travels on Tourradar. Plus, check out more tours with a small group count in The Best Small-Group Tours in New Zealand.
Active Adventures – Ultimate South Island Adventure
Offering hiking tours of various durations across the North Island and South Island, Active Adventures’ most popular choice is the Ultimate South Island Adventure tour. This tour can be catered to what you prefer with a choice of multiple day hikes and multi-day hikes. You’ll explore hotspots of the South Island that very few visitors get to experience, with gorgeous hikes in the Fiordland National Park, Franz Josef, Queenstown and more.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 14 days
Age Range: 16+-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 14
Accommodation: Hotels, lodges, inns and huts
Meals: All breakfasts, lunches and dinners (except for on the “free day” in the itinerary)
Destinations
Find out more about this tour by comparing Active Adventures on Tourradar.
Explore! – Walking in New Zealand
Hit the road with Explore! to discover some of the highlights of hiking in New Zealand. There are more stops on the map on the South Island than on the North Island, giving you the option to hike the Tongariro Crossing between October and June. Some non-walking activities are included in the tour, such as a Milford Sound cruise, entry to Waimangu Valley geothermal park, a cruise to a bird sanctuary island in the Marlborough Sounds and more! The tour also includes all of your nights in hotel accommodation, as well as most breakfasts.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 19 days
Age Range: 16+-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 15
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: 18 breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner
Destinations
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Tongariro
- Wellington
- Picton
- Abel Tasman
- Punakaiki
- Wanaka
- Queenstown
- Te Anau
- Twizel
- Mt Cook
- Akaroa
- Christchurch
Find out more about this tour by comparing Explore! on Tourradar.
World Expeditions – Best of Southern Alps Trek
If you only have one week to hike in New Zealand, then consider this multi-day hiking tour with World Expeditions. Starting in Christchurch and ending in Queenstown, the Best of Southern Alps Trek includes one overnight hike and a few other day hikes in the Southern Alps. See the highest mountain in New Zealand in Mt Cook National Park and enjoy views of the Mt Aspiring National Park from a mountain summit. Accommodation is included in the form of a hut, and hotel/motel on a twin-share basis. You’ll also get all meals, water and snacks, a heli-hike or jet boat depending on the weather and access to hiking equipment if requested.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 7 days
Age Range: 16+-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 14
Accommodation: Hotels, motels and a hut
Meals: Five breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners
Destinations
Find out more about this tour by comparing World Expeditions on Tourradar. Plus, see how the tour compares to other 7-day tours in The 10 Best 7-Day Tours of New Zealand.
Hiking New Zealand – Ultimate New Zealand
As the name suggests, Hiking New Zealand are the experts when it comes to multi-day hiking tours of New Zealand. Their 24-day tour zig-zags through both the North Island and the South Island, starting in Auckland and ending in Queenstown. Get off the beaten track discovering hidden gems like Lake Waikaremoana and Arthur’s Pass for an overnight hike, as well as hikes that are likely on the bucket list like the Tongariro Crossing (season depending) and the Abel Tasman Great Walk. Tours include all of the accommodation, including camping huts, as well as almost all meals.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 24 days
Age Range: 14-65-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 11
Accommodation: Huts, cabins, camping and lodges
Meals: 19 breakfasts, 21 lunches and 16 dinners
Destinations
- Auckland
- Whirinaki Forest Park
- Lake Waikaremoana
- Tongariro
- Wellington
- Abel Tasman
- Murchison
- Paparoa National Park
- Hokitika
- Arthur’s Pass
- Mt Cook
- Lake Hawera (Wanaka)
- Mt Aspiring National Park
- Milford Sound
- Queenstown
Check out more 3 to 4-week tours of New Zealand in The Best 20+ Days (3-4 Weeks) Tours of New Zealand.
More About Multi-Day Hiking Tours of New Zealand
That’s it for our list of the best hiking tours of New Zealand! For more advice to help prepare for your New Zealand hiking holiday, check out the following guides:
- 10 Must-Know Hiking Tips for New Zealand
- 12 Awesome Alternatives to the New Zealand Great Walks
- Multi-Day Backpacking Trips in New Zealand: A Complete Guide
Finally, pick out your must-do hikes from The Top 50 Hikes in New Zealand.
Author
Robin C.
This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before calling New Zealand home. He has now spent over a decade in the New Zealand tourism industry, clocking in more than 600 activities across the country. He is passionate about sharing those experiences and advice on NZ Pocket Guide and its YouTube channel. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides.