The NZ Great Walks: which one to do, booking dates and costs

The Great Walks are New Zealand’s premier multi-day tracks: well-formed, well-signposted, with serviced huts and some of the best scenery in the country. They are also the most competitive bookings in New Zealand travel. Pick the right one, book on the right day, and the hard part is done.

This guide compares all 11, sets out what they cost in the 2026/27 season, and explains how booking actually works. Every figure comes from DOC or the operator. Prices are per person per night in NZD, as at November 2026.

Quick answer

• Want mountains and have 3 days? The Routeburn (32 km) or Kepler (60 km).
• Want beaches and an easier walk? The Abel Tasman Coast Track (60 km), with water taxis to shorten it.
• Want the famous one? The Milford Track (53.5 km, exactly 4 days, one direction only), and book the day bookings open.
• Want to avoid the rush? DOC itself points people to the Heaphy, Lake Waikaremoana and the Whanganui river journey, which often have space.
• Book in May. For 2026/27, bookings opened between 12 and 21 May 2026.

The Great Walks at a glance

Distances and durations are from DOC’s comparison page.

Current alerts worth knowing (as at November 2026):

• Tongariro Northern Circuit: DOC says the Whakapapa Village to Mangatepopo Hut section is closed after the 2025 Tongariro fire and will not be available for the 2026/27 season, cutting the distance to 35.5 km. DOC’s page also says Oturere Hut is being replaced. Check its alerts before you book.
• Hump Ridge Track: the trust says the Percy Burn and Edwin Burn viaducts are closed, with alternative routes in place.

Easiest to hardest

This is our ranking for a fit first-timer, based on DOC’s descriptions. Weather can make any of them hard.

1. Rakiura Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track: coastal and forest walking, no alpine passes. The Abel Tasman has one big catch: you can only cross Awaroa Inlet within about 1 hour 30 minutes before to 2 hours after low tide, in daylight (DOC). Our Abel Tasman guide covers tides and water taxis.
2. Lake Waikaremoana and Heaphy: longer and more remote. Waikaremoana climbs to views from Panekire Bluff, and the Heaphy is the longest walk at 78.4 km, crossing open tussock downs to the West Coast.
3. Paparoa: a newer track with an alpine section on the Moonlight Tops.
4. Routeburn, Kepler, Milford and Tongariro Northern Circuit: alpine passes where snow, wind and whiteout can arrive any month. Our Routeburn Track guide is the place to start if you are tempted by Fiordland. The Tongariro circuit shares ground with the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
5. The Whanganui: not a walk at all, it is a canoe trip down the river. DOC says to think carefully about whether you have the canoeing skills and experience. DOC notes that many businesses run guided paddling trips.

Booking how-to

DOC opens a full year of bookings at once, track by track. For stays from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, bookings opened at 9:30 am on these dates:

The Hump Ridge Track is booked through its own trust and can be booked up to two years ahead.

How to give yourself the best chance (DOC’s own tips):

1. Create a DOC booking account early and test your login before opening day. Forgotten passwords are one of the main reasons people miss out.
2. Read the track page first. Some have rules, like the Milford’s fixed direction, and the Abel Tasman’s two-night limit per hut in peak season.
3. Practise a booking before opening day, then empty your cart.
4. Join the virtual queue around 15 minutes before opening.
5. Have a plan B. Campsites often have space when huts are full.

DOC says Milford Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track huts reached about 95% occupancy last peak season, with the Kepler at 91%. Missed out? Check back for cancellations, or try the walks DOC says often have space.

Insider tip: booking opens in New Zealand time. If you are overseas, convert 9:30 am NZST to your time zone in advance, because it may be the middle of your night.

Hut and campsite fees

Peak-season hut fees for 2026/27, per person per night (DOC). Children (under 18) pay about half the adult rate, and New Zealand rates need proof of eligibility.

Paparoa’s other huts are cheaper: Ces Clark $76 and Pororari $92 for international adults in peak season. Campsites cost much less, for example $42 for international adults on the Routeburn and $31 on the Abel Tasman.

A sample budget: two nights in Routeburn huts for an international adult is $264, before transport, food and gear. The Hump Ridge Track’s Freedom Walk starts at $495 per person for its 3-day package.

Outside peak season, fees drop sharply on most tracks and some do not need bookings at all, but facilities are reduced and the alpine tracks become serious winter trips.

Transport

Most Great Walks are one-way, so you need to get back to your car or town:

• Boats: the Milford Track starts with a 1 hour 15 minute boat from Te Anau Downs and ends with a boat from Sandfly Point (DOC). Lake Waikaremoana uses water taxis, and the Abel Tasman has water taxis at the main beaches.
• Shuttles: DOC says the Routeburn ends are 325 km apart by road, and shuttles and car relocations run between them.
• Flights or ferry: Stewart Island is a 20 minute flight from Invercargill or a 1 hour ferry from Bluff (DOC).

Book transport straight after your huts, and do not pick a pick-up time that means walking in the dark.

Guided options

Guided walks swap bunks and dehydrated dinners for private lodges, hot showers and cooked meals. As at November 2026, Ultimate Hikes’ guided Milford Track starts at $2,925 per adult and its guided Routeburn at $1,979 per adult, both in shared rooms. The Hump Ridge Track’s guided walk starts at $2,395.

Whichever option you choose, get travel insurance that covers tramping and rescue. Our travel insurance guide explains what to look for. Carry a personal locator beacon on any Great Walk, check the forecast every morning, and turn back if a river is in flood.