Great Walks in New Zealand and Other Popular Tracks
While the Milford Track is definitely one of, if not the most famous of New Zealand’s walks, there are a number of other equally impressive tracks to choose from. This page will give you a brief introduction to these walks and some history behind them. If you require more information go to our links page where we list other sites you might be interested in.
The track follows a major fault zone which throws together both metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. During the Ice Ages, the last of which ended some 10,000 years ago, huge glaciers carved out the rock. The Hollyford Glacier was so large it curved around the southern end of the Darran Mountains and flowed 50km north to Martins Bay.It over-topped the main divide at Key Summit and two lobes flowed to the south – one to Lake Wakatipu via the Greenstone valley and the other to Lake Te Anau via the Eglington Valley.
When the glaciers retreated they left the distinctive U-shape main valleys, smaller hanging valleys, cirque basins and residual glaciers like Donne Glacier on the eastern face of Mt. Tutoko. Beech is the dominant forest tree, with red beech around the start of the Routeburn Valley on sunny sites.
Mountain beech occurs at higher altitudes within the Routeburn Valley. Silver beech competes best on the wetter Hollyford faces along with broadleaf and fuschia. A feature of beech forest is the abundance of ferns, mosses, lichens and perching plants. The track passes through several avalanche paths colonized by ribbonwood; one of New Zealand’s few deciduous trees. Above the bushline between Lake Mackenzie and the Routeburn Falls are snow tussock grasslands, and herb fields with mountain buttercups, daisies, and ourisias. Bog communities; with sundews, bladderworts, orchids, daisies and bog pine occur around tarns on Key Summit. Riflemen, bellbirds, robins, yellow crowned parakeets, yellowheads, tomtits, fantails and wood pigeons are common bush birds.
Towards evening, native bats and moreporks (small owls) may be seen and heard. Blue ducks and paradise ducks also live in the valley.
In the sub-alpine zone look out for rock wrens, New Zealand falcons and the mischievous mountain parrot, the kea. Introduced animals include white tail deer in the lower Routeburn Valley, red deer throughout the forested areas and chamois about the mountaintops. Possums, rats, and stoats are destructive pests, and, unfortunately, are widespread.
Rakaihautu, legendary leader of the Maori canoe Uruao, is said to have named the Great Lakes while exploring the interior of the South Island. During a period of wet weather his party found a large and beautiful lake, which they named Te Ana Au, meaning cave of rain, and just south of it another lake which Rakaihautu named Roto Ua, the lake where rain is constant.
Today we know Roto Ua as Manapouri, a corruption of Manawa Popre (lake of the sorrowing heart), the original name of North Mavora Lake. People seeking food from the forests, lakes and rivers of the area followed these early explorers.
Evidence of seasonal Maori occupation has been found around the bays of both lakes and in the valleys which provide a link to the Fiordland coast. Assisted by Maori guides, European explorers Charles Nairn and William Stephen found the lakes in 1852. Richard Henry, Fiordland’s first ranger, lived at the southern end of Lake Te Anau for many years and often explored the Kepler Mountains. The range was named by surveyor James Mckerrow after the famous 17th Century German astronomer Johannes Kepler. Early tracks up into Mt Luxmore were cut by run holder Jack Beer to provide summer grazing for his sheep. The Kepler track was built with funding from the New Zealand Tourist and Publicity Department and opened in February 1988 in time for New Zealand national park centennial celebrations.
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Trip Reviews
Where do I start?! New Zealand had been number one on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, and it didn’t disappoint. Don’t wait another moment, if New Zealand is the dream, find a way! The ‘Manuka’ trip was beyond any expectations I could have dreamed of! Yes it was physical, but our amazing guides Claire and Jess kept me going and the accomplishment and the views were always worth it. I have memories that will last a lifetime, best money I have EVER spent. Trust me, don’t wait! Go!
June Vidrine, Active Adventures New Zealand ‘Manuka’ trip, March 2017
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walkinggeartips.com
New Zealand s most famous walk, the Milford Track has been thrilling hikers for more than 150 years. The alpine and fiord scenery is as perfect as ever.
Regardless of the track or hut conditions, you always need to take appropriate, sturdy footwear, layers of warm, waterproof clothing and plentiful energy-dense food and water – even if you’re not planning on an overnight trip. New Zealand’s weather conditions can change instantly and you must always be prepared for the worst.