Walking and hiking in New Zealand, for the trade.
Eleven Great Walks, valley walks and guided options.
How do groups book walking and hiking in New Zealand?
DOC runs 11 Great Walks as at the 2026/27 season, with huts and campsites booked in advance through one system. Milford, Routeburn, Kepler and Abel Tasman sell fastest. Guided and day-walk options give groups an easier way in.
Last updated: 9 October 2026
Why this theme sells.
Walking is the clearest way to put a group inside the landscape, and New Zealand has a well-organised network of tracks. The difficulty is not finding a walk; it is securing space on the popular ones.
Not every client wants a multi-day tramp, so the strongest programmes pair one anchor walk with shorter valley and lookout walks.
Places and experiences to know.
The Great Walks
DOC lists 11 Great Walks for the 2026/27 season (1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027): the Milford, Routeburn, Kepler, Abel Tasman Coast, Heaphy, Tongariro Northern Circuit, Rakiura, Paparoa and Lake Waikaremoana tracks, the Whanganui Journey, and the Hump Ridge Track, which is booked through its own trust.
Milford Track
About 53.5 km over four days, one way from the head of Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound. In the high season it can be walked in one direction only, and camping is not permitted. Guided multi-day options run alongside the independent walk.
Destination guideRouteburn Track
About 32 km over two to four days, between the Routeburn Shelter near Queenstown and The Divide near Te Anau. It can be walked independently or with a guide.
Destination guideKepler Track
A 60 km loop of three to four days from Te Anau. Its Great Walk season runs from late October to the end of April.
Destination guideHooker Valley Track
About 10 km return and roughly three hours, in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. It is the most accessible big-view walk in the Alps, but check DOC for current track status.
Destination guideTongariro Alpine Crossing
A 19.4 km one-way day walk across a volcanic landscape. It is a serious alpine outing, so it suits fit groups in the warmer months.
Destination guideWhen it works.
Most Great Walks run from late October to the end of April, so summer is the peak and autumn is often quieter. Winter brings snow and avalanche risk to the alpine tracks, so winter walking is a specialist guided product.
See the full seasonal calendar for lead times and school holidays.
What to check first.
- Great Walk huts and campsites are booked through one DOC system, and bookings for each season open in May. Milford, Routeburn, Kepler and Abel Tasman fill fastest; DOC reported around 95% hut occupancy on Milford and Abel Tasman in the last peak season.
- DOC uses a virtual queue for high-demand openings, so plan a group before the window opens and confirm availability at quotation.
- Guided multi-day walks sell months ahead. Where a client wants a Great Walk, ask for the dates early.
Related services and programmes.
Services: Great Walks & guided walking · Guides & driver-guides · Group tours & GIT.
Sample programmes: Guided Milford Track and Aoraki. See also all itineraries and fixed departures.
What agents ask about this theme.
How many Great Walks are there?
DOC lists 11 for the 2026/27 season, which runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The Hump Ridge Track is one of them and is booked through its own trust, not DOC’s system.
How far ahead should Great Walk huts be booked?
Bookings for each season open in May, and the Milford, Routeburn, Kepler and Abel Tasman walks sell fastest. Plan groups before the window opens and confirm availability at quotation.
Can groups do the Milford Track?
Yes, as an independent walk booked through DOC or as a guided multi-day product. It is about 53.5 km over four days, one way, and in the high season it can be walked in one direction only.
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