You can fill a whole trip with the outdoors without paying for much beyond transport. The Department of Conservation (DOC) manages a huge network of tracks, huts and campsites, and many of the best day walks cost nothing.
Great Walks and day hikes
- The ten Great Walks, such as the Milford, Routeburn and Abel Tasman, are the marquee multi-day tracks; huts must be booked, often months ahead in summer.
- Day walks like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Roys Peak reward you without an overnight commitment.
- DOC huts on Great Walks cost roughly NZ$25 to NZ$100 a night depending on the track and season.
Water and adventure
Sea kayaking in Abel Tasman and the Marlborough Sounds, surfing at Raglan, and white-water rafting near Rotorua are all popular. Queenstown is the home of commercial adventure: bungy from NZ$150 to NZ$250, jet boating, skydiving and canyon swings. Book the big-ticket activities ahead in peak season.
Skiing
The ski fields around Queenstown, Wanaka and Mount Ruapehu generally run June to early October, snow depending. You can hire gear on the mountain, and lift passes are a significant daily cost, so budget for them. Roads to the fields can need chains in winter.
DOC huts and camping
Beyond the Great Walks, DOC runs hundreds of backcountry huts and basic campsites, many cheap or free. A hut pass or individual tickets cover most of them. Standards range from bunks with a wood stove to a roof and not much else, so read the hut description before you go.
Safety and weather
- Mountain weather changes fast; carry warm layers, a rain jacket, food and a map even on day walks.
- Tell someone your plans and expected return, and log an intentions form for longer trips.
- Do not rely on phone signal in the backcountry; much of it has none.
Easy options for everyone
You do not have to be fit or experienced to enjoy the outdoors here. Short, well-formed walks lead to waterfalls, beaches and lookouts, often with car parking close by, and many take under an hour return. The DOC website grades walks by difficulty and time, so you can match one to your group, including families with young children.
Guided versus independent
- Independent day walks and many tracks are free and need only good footwear and the right clothing.
- Guided trips cost more but add local knowledge, gear and safety, which suits glacier walks, caving and rafting.
- For the Great Walks you can go independent and book huts, or pay for a guided package with lodges and meals.
Wildlife and the coast
The coast and the water are a big part of the outdoors here. You can watch seals, penguins and dolphins from the shore in many places, snorkel at marine reserves, and take boat trips to see whales off Kaikoura. Keep your distance from wildlife, never feed it, and check tide times before walking on rocky shores or to tidal islands.
Track conditions, hut bookings and ski-field openings change with the season and the weather, so check the DOC and MetService sites and any alerts before you set out.