South Island NZ

Popular Walks

Parent Regions

Walks in South Island NZ

Easy
2.6 km return
1 hr

Lake Matheson Jetty

Lake Matheson, nestled in ancient Forests, is famous for its stunning mirror reflections of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman, which are the result of leaf matter leaching into the water and turning it a dark brown colour.

Medium
8 km return
3 hrs

Mihiwaka, Mt Kettle & Mt Cutten via Blueskin Road

A section of bush with a reservoir surrounded by three peaks.

Easy
5.4 km return
2 hrs

Milford Foreshore Walk & Lookout

From the freeparking on Deepwater Basin Road follow the trail past the airstrip to the ferry terminal make your way out onto the breakwater and then return via the lookout behind the small workers township & via the foreshore walk loop.

Hard
53.5 km one-way
4 days

Milford Track

4 day hike

Easy
400 m return
10 mins

Mirror Lakes Walk

A short board walk along the reflective Mirror Lakes in Fiordland National Park.

Easy
1 km return
30 mins

Moeraki Boulders Trail Loop

A short loop using the beach & forest trail to see the famous Moeraki Boulders.

Medium
4.7 km return
105 mins

Mount Iron Loop

Mount Iron is an impressive, glacier-carved, 240-metre rocky knoll. From its summit a great panorama unfolds: Lakes Wanaka and Hawea, Pisa Range, the Cardrona and Upper Clutha Basin and all the surrounding peaks of the Southern Alps; many of them in Mount Aspiring National Park in the west.

Medium
8.3 km return
2.5 hrs

Mount John

This track rises steadily up through exotic forest and then open tussock hill slopes to a viewing area with a 360° panorama of the surrounding mountains of the Southern Alps, various lakes and the Mackenzie Basin flats, before heading across the mountain below the Observatory and down the far side and back along the shoreline of Lake Tekapo.

Medium
3.4 km one-way
2 hrs

Mt Cargill, Buttars Peak, Mt Holmes & the Organ Pipes

A oneway track as the walk can be done as a through walk / point to point but if doing as return then tick the walk twice and it will be ~6.6kms. From the carpark ascend to the organ pipes formation which you can scale to reach the summit of Mt Holmes then continue to Buttars Peak which is best ascended from the saddle between it and Mt Cargill. Finally summit Mt Cargill to finish your walk if you are doing it return then congratulations you have reached half way although the vast majority of the uphill will be done.

Easy
2.3 km return
1 hr

Oamaru Lookout Point Walk

A short loop out on Cape Wanbrow with access down to the beach and old fortification buildings. Watchout for mountain bikes on the mountain bike trails at track junctions.