the-hooker-valley-walk-which-is-one-of-the-best-day-walks-south-island-new-zealand

The 8 best day walks in the South Island New Zealand

Last updated on November 30th, 2025 at 05:10 am

Read on for the best day walks in the South Island – providing you with a bit of a mix of scenery and location. The walks range from 4-8 hours in length and can all be done comfortably in a day. For shorter walks (30 mins to 3 hours) check out my best short walks in the South Island, or consider the best multiday hikes in the South Island – a couple of them could be done as day walks too.

First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels, and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content – and at no extra cost to you. Cheers!

Plan for your trip

Insurance – Click here for travel cover with SafetyWing. Almost any nationality, its ok if you are already traveling, up to 64 years old. Or click here for cover with EKTA – any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling!

Accommodation – book a hotel with booking.com or Tripadvisor, or, a hostel with Hostelworld

Internet – get a highly rated yesim eSim before you go – click here for yours

Tours and Activities – book with Viator, Eatwith, or GetYourGuide. Recommended walking tours are:
1. In the Abel Tasman National Park, this boat and walking tour from Kaiteriteri
2. This Abel Tasman Heli-hike with optional kayaking in the park!!
3. On the Routeburn Track, this guided half day trek, or full day trek
4. On the Kepler track, this excellent full day Kepler Track Guided Heli-Hike

Buses, trains, ferries and Flights – 12Go is now my first option for this, but for flights you can also find a good deal through Kiwi.com

Car rental – compare prices and get the best deals with Rentalcars.com

Hiking – use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – know where you are on the trail!

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!!

Okay – lets get walking……..

1. Key Summit and Earland Falls

13 km, 7-8 hours return or a shorter combination

This starts at ‘The Divide’ on the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound.

Ok! You have options. Go just to Lake Howden (6.5 km, 3 hours return) or just to Key summit (7 km, 3 hours), or to Lake Howden and the Earland Falls (7.5km, 6 hours return). But combine them and you have a pretty cool day walk taking in some of the best, and more, of the Routeburn Track Great Walk!

Think alpine tops, mountain lakes, tussock colours and snow – in the distance unless its mid winter! It’s beautiful.

If you don’t have time to make it to this end of the Routeburn Track, you can also take a guided half day trek, or full day trek at the other end of this spectacular area!

Stay in Milford or Te Anau at..

Luxury – Milford Sound Lodge, or in Te Anau at Fiordl a nd Lodge, or, The Cinema Suites

Higher end – Dunluce Boutique B&B, or, Tukare Lookout,

Mid Range – Lakefront Lodge, or, Shakespeare House

Budget – Aden Motel, or, Anchorage Motel Apartments

Backpackers – Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers

key-summit-view-one-of-the-best-day-hikes-in-the-soouth-island — The beautiful Key Summit view – Credit.

2. Gertrude Saddle

7 km, 4-6 hours return

Also off the road to Milford Sound from Te Anau, this is definitely one for the experienced, and for good weather only if you want to go the whole way. There is a track only part of the way and it can be very steep, slippery and icy beyond that. However, the track takes you up through a valley to the head of the valley – and that in itself is lovely, especially when the alpine flowers are out (summer).

After the track ends, at about halfway, there are no real markers. But if you know what you are doing, you can keep going. First, cross the stream. From there it is steep up to Black Lake and the Gertrude Saddle itself. The portion up to the lake is rocky with big rock slabs that are dangerous when its wet or icy.

I’m including this walk because the track to the head of the valley, about halfway, is quite lovely so if you don’t go any further it doesn’t matter. Clearly it will take less time to do this.

If you want a taste of the hikes along with a guided trip to Milford Sound, this is a good option from Te Anau – you will learn lots as you go!

Stay in Milford or Te Anau at..

…any of the places listed in Walk 1 above.

gertrude-saddle-view-one-of-the-best-day-hikes-in-the-soouth-island — Gertrude Saddle view down into the valley. Credit.

3. Bealey Spur

12 km, 5 hours return

This one is in the Arthurs Pass area on the road from Christchurch to Hokitika. You basically walk up a spur through beech forest, and then out above the bush line into tussock. the views are quite fab! The hut is a good place for lunch and taking in the views!

Note: You can do this as an easy overnight walk (which I did, what seems forever ago)! There is a basic hut available on the spur. Its a great start to the day – in good weather!

Stay in Hokitika at..

Mid Range – a firm favorite is the Beachfront Hotel – book an ocean view room! Note – the bar has a view in case you miss out!

Budget – the Hokitika Pioneer Hotel

Backpackers – the Hokitika Holiday Park

For good value for a group – there is the The Black Bach on Bealey. Its highly rated and good value!

abel-tasman-national-park-day-walk — Always beautiful views on the Abel Tasman!

4. Abel Tasman Day Walk

Varied up to 14 km, 4-8 hours

This walk is in the northern Neslon area of the South Island. Although this is technically one of the Great Walks, there are a lot of options for day walks on the Abel Tasman so I have added it in case you only have time for that!

For the best walks you need to take a water taxi to and from your walk. These can be arranged from Marehau near the entrance to the park. A couple of good options are:

Option 1 – Bark Bay to Anchorage 14km 4 hours including Cleopatras pools (2-way taxi)

This is a popular day walk for a reason – its easy and stunning! Take the water taxi to Bark Bay and walk back to Anchorage Bay. You cross the Falls River Swing Bridge and can visit Cleopatras pools for swimming and natural rock sliding on the way. Anchorage is a beautiful Bay to while away some more swimming and beach time before you get picked up to go back to Marehau.

Option 2 – Bark Bay to Marehau 25 km 7.5 hours including Cleopatras pools (1 way taxi)

If you are fit and willing take the water taxi to Bark Bay then walk back to Marahau which takes 6-7 hours. However you will most likely want to take the side trip to Cleopatras Pools – a lovely river swimming pool and natural rock slide. That will add 20-30mins walking. Then, of course, you need swim time. There are other side trips (eg Watering Cove or Apple Tree Bay), on the way back from Anchorage Bay to Marehau – if you have the energy.

Note: If you got the water taxi from Marehau then this way you don’t need to get it out again!

A brilliant day out to get the best of it all is this boat and walking tour from Kaiteriteri! You can choose from three walking options. Another option is this Full-Day Abel Tasman National Park Hiking Tour with Cruise. Or even cooler – this Abel Tasman Heli-hike with optional kayaking in the park!!

Stay in Nelson before or after your hike at..

Higher end – The Nelson Loft.

Mid range – Ah House City B&B, or, 204 The Sands.

Budget – Arcadia Motel, or, Chelsea Park Motor Lodge.

Backpackers – Tasman Bay Backpackers

5. Ben Lomond Summit

14 km, 6-8 hours return

This track is a very popular day walk from Queenstown. Start at the Tiki Trail, next to the base station of the Skyline Gondola at the top of Brecon Street. Start off walking through the forest and then out above the bush line into the alpine tussock country to your first goal – the Ben Lomond Saddle. It is a great walk just to here and if that is enough for you, this is a great place for lunch!

After this you go onto private land (please be respectful so it remains open) and it gets rougher going. There are drop offs on the way up to the actual summit so take care and don’t go if its icy or very windy. there are great views over the lake from the top!

Stay in Queenstown before or after your hike at..

Higher end – The Spire Hotel, or, Stoneridge Estate

Mid range – The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, or Sudima Queenstown Five Mile

Budget – Manata Lodge, or, Quest Queenstown, or Ramada Suites by Wyndham

Backpackers, try the Tahuna Pod Hostel, or, Adventure Q2 Hostel, or Haka House Queenstown Lakefront

ben-lomond-summit-day-walk-south-island-nz — Great view from Ben Lomond Summit. Credit.

6. Rob Roy Track

Note: A great alternative is the Isthmus Peak Track about 30 mins out of Wanaka.

10 km, 4 hours return

This track starts from the Raspberry Creek carpark on the Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Road. Its 30 km of gravel to get here and the last 10km are pretty rough and can get washed out so check with Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre before you go.

From the carpark walk a short distance to a swing bridge across the river. Then weave up through a gorge into the beech forest and up until you clear the bush line. When you are in the tussock area keep going to the head of the valley where you will get lovely views of the Rob Roy Glacier itself. (You track doesn’t take you to the glacier.)

Stay in Wanaka at..

Luxury – Minaret Station Alpine Lodge, or for an apartment Lakeview Luxury Vista

Higher end – Lakeside Apartments or West Meadows of Wanaka

Mid range – Minaret Ridge Retreat or Wanaka Springs or Clearbrook Motel & Serviced Apartments

Budget – Archway Motels or Fairway Motel

Backpackers – Adventure Wanaka Hostel or Haka House Wanaka

rob-roy-glacier-day-walk-south-island-nz — Rob Roy Glacier walk. Credit

7. Luxmore Hut

27 km, 8-10 hours return (unless you take a ‘copter!)

This walk is part of the Kepler Track Great Walk and shows you some of the most stunning views on that walk. Start at the carpark and walk 2.8km (1-1.5 hours) along the lake to Brod Bay. There are some lovely swimming spots on the way and at this bay. You can also camp here.

Then head up through the forest under some cool limestone cliffs until you get to the bush-line and into the alpine fields until you reach the Luxmore Hut after about 3 hours. The views across the mountains, lake and valley are fantastic!

Its a long day and a tough one, but you can opt to book the hut for a night and walk from there to the Luxmore Summit before returning to Brod Bay where you can get a water taxi back.

Even better, if your pockets can handle it, take a helicopter (heli option 1 and heli option 2) to the hut and walk to Luxmore Summit before heading back to Brod Bay (5-6 hours) – or just take in the views and head back (8 km, 2.5-3 hours). If you can do this, I highly recommend it!

Note: you can walk back to Te Anau from Brod Bay but its an extra 8km, 2-2.5 hours walking.

If you want to make the day spectacular – still hiking, you can take this full day Kepler Track Guided Heli-Hike – also found on Viator but a little more pricey!

Stay in Te Anau at..

…any of the places listed in Walk 1 above

luxmore-hut-on-the-kepler-track-one-of-new-zealands-great-walks — Luxmore Hut on the Kepler Track – Credit NZ Dept of Conservation.

8. Farewell Spit area walks

8-10 km, 5-6 hours and / or 12-13km, 4 hours

I absolutely love these walks – a change from mountain tops to very wild and woolly coastline. (The nearby Abel Tasman is much more placid.)

You have a few options – again!

Option 1 – from Triangle Flat to Wharariki Beach and back via the road

8-10 km, 5-6 hours

Start at the Triangle Flat carpark, walking through farmland with views all the way to the lighthouse. Then walk on down a 4wd track to the with great views of the rugged coastline to Cape Farewell. There are steep drop offs and its usually pretty windy so take care. Finally walk down for about 20 mins, with views of Wharariki Beach, through farmland to the Wharariki road end

I highly recommend you take the extra couple of kms on the in and out track from there to Wharariki Beach and spend some time exploring the river dunes, the caves and the offshore Archway Islands rock formations at the beach (its a big favorite of mine). Then walk back down the road (about 1.5 hour unless you get a lift) to your car – or you could go back the way you came but that would take longer!

Option 2 – from Pillar Point Lighthouse car park to Wharariki Beach and back via the road

This is the same as Option 1, but cuts off about 2 hours of walking through farmland from Triangle Flat to the lighthouse and makes it much quicker on the way back down the road to your car (about 40 mins). Start at the Pillar Point Lighthouse carpark.

Option 3 – Fossil Point and the Farewell Spit Track

12-13km, 4 hours

Do both these walks as a combination – or just one or the other.

If you just go to Fossil Point, it is a 2km, 30 min walk each way from the carpark. The Farewell Spit walk is 12km, 3-4 hour walk and can easily be combined by returning via the Fossil Point walk.

Walk along the sands of the Inner Beach to a marked track crossing the spit to the wilder exposed Ocean Beach. (Go through the kissing gate to the inner beach from the carpark.) Return back down Ocean Beach to Fossil Point. There are usually seals here to watch and of course, you will find fossils in the mudstone rocks. When you are done, head back along the Fossil Point Track to the carpark.

Note that there is a shorter version, where you can cross to the Ocean Beach much earlier on a 4wd track – but you miss a lot of the spit.