New Zealand has eight "Great Walks" and all require a pass which is available from DoC offices. They supply detailed maps and also make reservations for beds in the mountain huts and remote camp sites. There are literally hundreds of other walks maintained by the Department of Conservation that do not require a pass, but do require careful planning and common sense. They are equally rewarding and usually less crowded where you are likely to meet only 'real' kiwi trampers - young and old! We love the Great Outdoors and take advantage of it as often as we can. Visit www.mountainsafety.org for more info. For more ideas visit Great Excursions

These are some of my favourite walks:-

• Coastal Walk - The Abel Tasman National Park is our most beautiful, but unfortunately it is also our most popular - hence the famed coastal walking track can become quite crowded at times. It is named after the Dutchman Abel Tasman who first 'discovered' this land in 1642 and consequently named it New Zealand after his home province in The Netherlands (recently discovered evidence north of Auckland suggests there was a Portuguese colony here before then). It is actually a multi-day walk, however it is possible to take a water-taxi part way along and then either walk back or kayak along the crystal clear coastline.

• Tongariro Crossing - This is easily New Zealand's most spectacular (and popular) one-day walks. The track winds its way between the 3 majestic volcanic cones of Tongariro, Ruapehu and the steaming Ngauruhoe, via aptly named features such as the Red Crater, Blue Lake, Soda Springs and Emerald Lakes. The "walk" is 16 kilometres long - local transport can drop you at the start and pick you up 9 hours later at the other end.

• Queen Charlotte Track – This 4 day coastal walk in the Marlborough Sounds takes you in and out of coves and lush bush. Lodges and B+Bs are all along the track, where you can take advantage of their restaurants, accommodations and water taxis to transport your pack. This is a place where the passing traffic is likely to be a pod of orcas on their way south for their summer holiday, or dolphins leaping with joy. Noise here is not the sound of cars going past or the neighbours squabbling, but the sound of bellbirds and tuis singing and the smells are of fresh salt air mixed with the odour of the bush. This is New Zealand at her very best.

• Banks Peninsula – Another easy 4 day guided hike staying on farms and B+Bs. Personal gear is transported for you! Wonderful views of the rugged peninsula, Christchurch, Akaroa and the Pacific Ocean.

• Milford Track  - National Geographic declared this the "World's Greatest Walk". From the head of Lake Te Anau the track winds up the Clinton Valley, over MacKinnon Pass, where the whole world seems to be at your feet, then down the Arthur Valley to Milford Sound with stunning waterfalls and pristine mountain lakes along the way- 5 days

• Routeburn Track - This 3 day tramp has lured visitors for centuries. First were the Maori, in search of the treasures Greenstone (jade) and then the European settlers trying in vain to make a passable route to the wild West Coast. It begins high on the Milford Road into Fiordland National Park. You first tramp through lush beech forest to the alpine world of the Hollyford Face, cross the Harris Saddle to enter the Mount Aspiring National Park, then follow the Routeburn River down back into the forest experiencing a magic world of ferns, mosses, lichens and beech forests brimming with birds.

• Kepler Track – This is a mountainous 3-4 day tramp on a 67kms circular track in the uninhabited southwestern part of the South Island, departing from Te Anau. Highest point is 1270 metres, with views of Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri. Harder than Milford or Routeburn tracks, appropriate mountain clothing is required as the weather can be unpredictable even in summer. It begins at the southern end of Lake Te Anau and skirts the lakefront towards the west before climbing steadily to the Kepler Mountains on the other side of the lake. Don’t forget the insect repellent – the sand-flies can be ferocious!

• Hollyford Track - The Hollyford River Valley is internationally recognized as a place of outstanding natural value and is situated within the Fiordlands National Park. Step back in time and experience spectacular geology, intriguing ecology and fascinating history of human endeavor. The 5 day tramp takes you from the heart of the Southern Alps to its western boundary on the Tasman Sea. Unlike any other walk, the scenery is ever changing - snowcapped mountains, glaciers, rainforests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, reefs, sand dunes and surf.

• Heaphy Track - This is a 'real trampers'  4 - 6 day hike and is one of the Great Walks, taking from Collingwood to Karamea via the stunning Kahurangi National Park and along a beautiful coastal stretch.

• Great Barrier Island - There are several walks criss-crossing the island through pristine native bush and along deserted beaches. This is for the nature lovers amongst you - the attraction here is the isolation and perfect silence interrupted only by bird calls.

• Sealy Tarns Track - You can just go part way for a short walk, or for the fit it is possible to go all the way to the Muller Hut and back in one day - the best day-walk I've ever done! The walk offers a gargantuan vista of Mount Aoraki, the glaciers and the exotically coloured lakes below. This is New Zealand at its very best.

• Hooker Valley - This is one of the most popular short walks in the Mount Cook National Park. Start at the White Horse Hill camping and follow the Hooker River. There are massive views of Mt Sefton and the shrunken Mueller Glacier, past an Alpine Memorial and over two swing-bridges until the final destination of the terminal lake at the bottom of the Hooker Glacier. Here Mt Aoraki looms ahead with great walls of ice up on the left and buttresses of rock tower over the foaming river to the right. The walk takes approximately 2 hours one way.

• Hump Ridge - This is New Zealand's newest 3 day track which starts and ends at Tautapere in the deep south. Bookings are essential. The track takes you from the Bluecliffs Beach to subalpine levels, through podacarp forests rich in birdlife and along elevated boardwalks.

Guided walks are very popular, especially for those who don't want to take an overnight walk or have limited time. The guiding companies also have their own mountain lodges, providing better accommodation than the mountain huts, with hearty meals cooked by the guides themselves - now that is a great way to enjoy the Great Outdoors!

Environmental Care

• Camp carefully, leave no trace of your visit.
• If you must 'go toilet', then be sure to do it well away from any water source and to bury well any evidence
• Keep lakes and streams clean by not using soap or detergents
• Take extra care to extinguish well any embers when leaving a campfire - observe "fire bans"
• Protect our unique plants and animals - stay on the formed paths
• Respect our cultural heritage, especially when traversing sacred Maori lands

            We know New Zealand – we live here!