Travel guide to the best day walks in the South Island of New Zealand: trail information; how to get there; what you’ll see and walking tips.If you’re travelling to New Zealand and want to explore New Zealand’s the South Island’s best day walks without spending the preparation and gear required for overnight tracks, then this guide is for you.
Kia Ora, we’re MoaTrek, and we’ve been running small group tours all over New Zealand since 1971. Our travellers always tell us how much they love getting out and walking in all the places we visit, like Abel Tasman, Mt Cook, Queenstown, Franz Josef Glacier and the West Coast.
So here are our favourite day walks in the South Island, including everything you need to know like walking distances, times, elevations, how to get there & things to you’ll see along the way.
Abel Tasman National Park Day Walk
The stunning Abel Tasman National Park at the top of the South Island is an essential destination for any visitor to New Zealand, it captures the very best of what New Zealand has to offer: expansive golden beaches; pretty native bush and abundant native birdlife and wildlife.
The national park is also home to the popular Abel Tasman Coastal Track – one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. Whilst the full 60km/ (37 miles) track takes 3 to 5 days to walk, there are shorter sections of the track which make great day walks.
See: Full-Day Abel Tasman National Park Hiking Tour with Cruise
Our favourite Abel Tasman day walk – Awaroa to Medlands Beach
This 4–5-hour walk is perfect for those who have little walking experience and want to experience everything the Abel Tasman has to offer in a short space of time.
Awaroa is only accessible by boat, meaning you get to cruise through the Tonga Island Marine Reserve and enjoy the spectacular views (and hopefully some sea life!) as you begin your journey.
Once on land, follow the signs to join the track and soak in the lovely native bush and birdsong which will eventually lead you out onto the golden sands of Onetahuti Bay.
You will walk the length of Onetahuti Bay, so you need to be mindful of tides. This section of the track is only accessible four hours either side of high tide, otherwise you will be wading through water. Check tide times before you set out and ensure your water taxi bookings allow for this timeframe.
Soon after leaving Onetahuti, you’ll reach Tonga Quarry where you can opt to end your journey. Alternatively, if you’re continuing on to Medlands Beach, you’ll head into the bush again before reaching the picturesque Bark Bay swing bridge and Medlands Beach, where you should have enough time for a paddle in the azure waters of the bay before your water taxi arrives.
Mount Cook National Park Day Walks
Kea Point and the Hooker Valley
Located within the spectacular Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, the Kea Point Track is a pleasant walk with incredible views of thve surrounding peaks and the Mueller Glacier moraine wall.
The gently climbing trail winds through subalpine grassland and some spectacular rock formations before arriving at a viewing area affording incredibly close vistas of the Southern Alps towering above the Mueller Glacier Lake.
For a longer walk, the nearby Hooker Valley Track is also well worth a visit, and you can combine it with the Kea Point for an amazing day of walking in Mt Cook.
See: Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike
The Hooker Valley Track is one of the best day walks in Aoraki/Mount Cook (for good reason), this track takes you over three swing bridges into the stunning Hooker Valley with views across Hooker Lake straight up to Aoraki/Mount Cook – New Zealand’s tallest mountain.
With a total combined walking time of 5-6 hours return, these two walks can both be completed within the same day. The shelters, tables and toilets at the start/end point of White Horse Campground makes it a perfect lunch spot in between your walks.
Routeburn Track Day Walks from Queenstown
Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Flats or Routeburn Falls
Spend a day walking the popular Routeburn Track with this enjoyable return walk starting at Routeburn Shelter.
Located just over an hour from Queenstown within Mount Aspiring National Park, this pleasant 5-to-8-hour day walk (depending how far you want to go) promises abundant native New Zealand bush, stunning swing bridges, pretty waterfalls and lots of mountain views.
The beauty of this day walk is you can do as much or as little as you like. Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Flats is a popular option totalling 15km/9.3mi return.
For more of a challenge and the best views, you can continue on to Routeburn Falls which will add another 5km/3mi to your return trip.
Franz Josef Glacier Day Walk
The short, spectacular walk up the Franz Josef Glacier Valley is a must do experience for anyone visiting the South Island’s West Coast.
The well-marked, gently uphill track will lead you from the Franz Josef Valley carpark, through lush rainforest with glimpses of the mountain tops, waterfalls and the upper glacier. From the view point you can see the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier in the distance.
Below the viewpoint the Waiho River winds its way towards the coast. The river has cut off access up the valley, so it is not possible to go further on foot. As the glacier retreats this is a good location to see the landscape left behind by the ice and understand the natural forces at work.
In recent years, safety concerns around the ever-changing glacier and its surrounding landscape have meant access to the glacier itself is significantly restricted. To access the glacier directly you will need to book a Heli-hike with one of the operators in Franz Josef village.
Ben Lomond Track, Queenstown
The Ben Lomond Track in Queenstown is a popular yet challenging day walk that starts from the Queenstown Skyline Gondola.
The well-formed but exposed track leads walkers 1400m / 4600ft above Queenstown for the spectacular, panoramic lake and mountain views that Queenstown is known for.
This sub-alpine walk will take you a full day and requires a good level of fitness and preparation – all of which will be rewarded with the stunning photos you’ll get at the summit.
