New Zealands Best Scenic Hikes: South Island

This list of the best scenic hikes in New Zealand will leave you in awe of the natural beauty of the south island; Discover incredible views from Ben Lomond, lush green hikes near Te Anau or snowy trails on a Mt Cook day hike. The South Island has some of the best places to visit in New Zealand.

This South Island itinerary features hikes for all fitness levels, ages and attention spans. From glacier walks to rough terrain and everything in between. Complete your New Zealand travel guide with some of these incredible scenic hikes that will leave you wondering why you didn’t make the journey sooner.

Best Time to Visit the South Island

Choosing the best time to visit the south island all depends on what you want to experience and enjoy; if you’re a keen snowboarder or want to experience a winter wonderland then of course you will visit between June to August. However if you love the beach and want the heat then a Christmas break is the answer.

I personally enjoy visiting the south island during the shoulder seasons, when the mornings are crisp but the afternoons are warm and the mountains are capped with snow.

• Summer (Dec–Feb): Warmest temperatures; ideal for hiking and beaches, but peak season means higher prices for accommodation and larger crowds.
• Autumn (Mar–May): Mild temperatures and settled weather make this a great time for photography, hiking, and exploring wineries with fewer tourists.
• Winter (Jun–Aug): Best for snow sports, with Queenstown in full swing. It is cold, and higher altitudes may experience heavy snow.
• Spring (Sep–Nov): Changing weather, but nature is at its best. Less crowded than summer, perfect for sightseeing and hiking much like autumn.

How to Find the Best Scenic 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! This list of some of the best scenic hikes in New Zealand will get your south island itinerary off to a roaring start. Whether you enjoy leisurely strolls or really want to challenge yourself, the south island has it all!

If you’re anything like me and want to see the views and beauty of the walk before you get there, then google image search or chuck the location into Instagram and see what other people have been posting about the area. Instagram is a handy tool for photography tips and locations if you consider yourself an amateur photographer.

For more details information on any of these walks, check out the Department of Conservation website. DOC look after and control a lot of publicly accessible land in New Zealand and give updates on any track closures or hazards which might be present.

Hooker Valley Track, Mt Cook

Location: Mt Cook
Distance: 3hr / 10km Return
Fitness Level: Easy

Hooker Valley Track is one of the best scenic hikes in New Zealand, this Mt Cook day hike is favoured for being a family-friendly hiking track in the south island with dramatic views, icy landscapes and rocky terrain. Hooker Valley track is designed to avoid any avalanche risk, winding its way through the wide foothills and ending at the crisp blue Hooker Lake. With an elevation gain of only 124 meters the Hooker Valley Track is the perfect south island hike fit for families and those with a moderate level of fitness.

The best part about this Mt Cook day hike is that you don’t need any prior hiking experience; a comfortable level of fitness, suitable hiking shoes and a backpack with the essentials is all you need to complete Hooker Valley Track. However, I do recommend reading my guide to hiking Hooker Valley Track before you take off on your adventure.

Hooker Valley Track Bridge Closure

Unfortunately, the last section of Hooker Valley Track after the Sefton View Lookout is closed. The bridge is currently under repair and is expected to be completed and reopened by Autumn 2026. Check out the Department of Conservation website for updated information on the Hooker Valley Track bridge closure.

Omarama Clay Cliffs, Omarama

Location: Omarama
Distance: 20 minute Return
Fitness: Easy (Unstable ground)

A south island itinerary isn’t complete with showing you an ‘out of this world’ landscape. Omarama Clay Cliffs transports you to a replica Mars landscape; made up of gravel, silt and plenty of clay, these rock formations were formed from glaciers and rivers cutting through the landscape over millions of years. These natural forming clay pillars create an amazing backdrop for a photography hike or just a quick surprise pit stop during your South Island itinerary.

A $5 payment is required per vehicle visiting the Omarama Clay Cliffs as they sit on private land. The track to get to the clay cliffs is primarily loose stones and gravel so sturdy footwear is recommended, although this is an easy walk I don’t recommend it for anyone who needs some sort of assistance due to the loose ground.

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!

Bannockburn Sluicings, Bannockburn

Location: Cromwell
Distance: 1.5hr / 3.5km Loop
Fitness Level: Easy

Bannockburn Sluicing’s is one of the best places to visit in New Zealand for being rich in gold mining history, and for being one of the more fun hikes in New Zealand which doesn’t require a lot of effort. It’s an interesting place to bring the kids, dogs, or a romantic walk with your partner where you can transport yourself to the American wild west from when the Otago gold mining era thrived. Spend time exploring the rocky hills and old gold mining machinery, even try your luck at finding specs of gold among the stones!

Bannockburn Sluicing’s can either be done as a short stroll to fill in some time, or you can take on the whole loop for a decent walk. 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.

The Wanaka Tree, Wanaka

Location: Wanaka
Distance: 2 Minute walk from the carpark on Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Rd
Fitness Level: Super easy

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 present Wanaka in a New Zealand travel guide without making some mention of the famous Wanaka 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

Location: Wanaka
Distance: 1.5hr / 3km Return
Fitness Level: Easy

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.

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.

Kepler Track to Rainbow Reach, Te Anau

Location: Te Anau
Distance: 9.5km return/ 5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

The Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park is one of Te Anau’s best hiking trails and one of the best scenic hikes I have ever experienced. The forest floor was covered in a thick mat of moss, native trees towering above only letting sprinkles of sun flow into the forest. We hiked from the Kepler Track carpark to Rainbow Reach hut which took us around 4.5 hours, but if you’re a bit of a Harry Hard-out when it comes to hiking you can challenge yourself to the full 60km loop, staying at DOC huts along the way.

The track was relatively flat to Rainbow Reach so as much as our legs hurt when we got back to our accommodation, it wasn’t an overall challenging hike.

Te Anau is one of the best places to visit in New Zealand due to being the gateway to Fiordland National Park, explore more scenic hikes or travel along to Milford Sound for rushing waterfalls and native wildlife.

Franz Josef Glacier Hike

Location: Franz Josef
Distance: Dependent on glacier/weather
Difficulty: Hard

The most impressive hike I have ever done, and not because of strength or distance, is the Franz Josef Glacier Hike. Book yourself in for a night or two in the small west coast town of Franz Josef and experience a hike of a lifetime that you must add to your south island itinerary. A helicopter takes you to the top of Franz Josef Glacier where you are then guide across the ice shelf, through caves and mini icy waterfalls. The Franz Josef Glacier has receding so much due to global warming that you can only reach it by air; you use to be able to see and touch it from the road side!

Due to the amount of safety gear needed it is imperative that you have a good level of fitness where you are comfortable walking in cleets/unstable ground, can follow instructions and don’t mind ducking and diving between ice shelves. The glacier moves so frequently that each guided tour takes a different route each week, so as much as I’d love to tell you what you can expect – I really can’t!

Other Great Scenic Hikes in New Zealand

As much as I wish I could, I am unable to experience all of the best places to visit in New Zealand, and I am certainly unable to explore all the best scenic hikes in the south island. But the following list of incredible hikes are worth adding to your south island itinerary, just make sure you do your research on the difficulty levels before you choose to embark on any of them!

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!

• Ben Lomond track
• Roys Peak
• Rob Roy Glacier Track
• Routeburn Track
• Sealy Tarns