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Best hiking destinations in Oceania

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Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
8.7
The Overland Track in Tasmania runs about 65 kilometres from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. Hikers walk through alpine moorland and beech forest. Most people take six days and stay in simple huts each night. Wombats and pademelons often appear beside the trail at dusk and dawn.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Tour the convict ruins at Port Arthur Historic Site
  • ⛰️ Explore Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park trails
  • 🏖️ Hike to Wineglass Bay and marvel at its white sand
Mount Cook National Park
New Zealand’s alpine wonderland
8.8
The Hooker Valley Track leads to a glacial lake beneath Aoraki Mount Cook at 3,724 metres. Three swing bridges cross the milky Hooker River. Small icebergs float on the lake at the end of the trail. The walk is flat and takes about three hours return.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Kayak on Tasman Lake near the majestic Tasman Glacier
  • 🚁 Take a scenic helicopter ride above Mount Cook
  • 🥾 Hike the stunning Hooker Valley Track for glacier views
Wanaka
Alpine Adventure, Lakeside Serenity
8.6
The Roys Peak track zigzags up a steep hillside above Lake Wanaka. The summit stands at 1,578 metres and the walk takes about six hours return. Hikers stop at a viewpoint on a grassy ridge for photos of the view. The lake and Mount Aspiring lie ahead of you.
Highlights:
  • 🧗‍♂️ Climb the world's highest waterfall via ferrata at Wildwire
  • 🌳 Snap photos of the iconic Wanaka Tree by the lake
  • 🥾 Hike Roys Peak for breathtaking lake and mountain views
Tongariro National Park
Volcanic landscapes and epic hikes
8.1
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a day walk of about 19 kilometres over volcanic terrain. Hikers pass the Red Crater and the bright Emerald Lakes. Mount Ngauruhoe played Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings films. Steam rises from vents along the trail near the crater.
Highlights:
  • 💧 Relax by the vibrant Emerald Lakes along the trail
  • ⛰️ Climb to Red Crater for stunning panoramic views
  • 🥾 Hike the iconic Tongariro Alpine Crossing and witness volcanic craters
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
8.7
The Kepler Track is a loop of about 60 kilometres in Fiordland National Park. Hikers climb above the treeline for wide views over Lake Te Anau. A side trip visits the limestone caves near Luxmore Hut. Most people walk it in three or four days.
Highlights:
  • 🪶 Scenic fly over dramatic fjords and hidden alpine lakes
  • 🥾 Hike the world-famous Milford Track through lush rainforest
  • 🛥️ Cruise through majestic Milford Sound and spot playful dolphins
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
8.5
The Ben Lomond track rises from Queenstown to a summit at 1,748 metres. The trail climbs through pine forest and open alpine tops. Hikers look down on Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. The full walk takes about eight hours return from town and gains over 1,400 metres.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw
  • ⚡ Zipline through the pine trees at Bob's Peak
  • 🚡 Ride the Skyline Gondola for panoramic views
North Island
Geothermal Wonders and Māori Culture
8.6
The Pouakai Crossing on the North Island passes a small tarn that mirrors Mount Taranaki. The trail runs about 19 kilometres through wild volcanic country in Egmont National Park. Hikers walk over boardwalks and open ridges. The cone of the mountain is often wrapped in cloud and snow in winter.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Walk along Auckland’s Sky Tower observation deck
  • 🧙‍♂️ Visit Hobbiton and stroll through the Shire movie set
  • 🔥 Explore the geothermal wonders of Rotorua’s hot springs and geysers
Franz Josef
Gateway to the Majestic Glaciers
8.2
The Roberts Point Track climbs to a lookout above Franz Josef Glacier. Hikers cross swing bridges over streams in the rainforest. The path is rough and steep and takes about five hours return. The glacier spills down from the Southern Alps almost to the rainforest floor.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Soak in the relaxing Glacier Hot Pools
  • 🚁 Take a scenic helicopter flight over the glacier
  • 🥾 Hike the Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk
Papua New Guinea
Last paradise of South Pacific
5.7
The Kokoda Track crosses the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea for about 96 kilometres. Soldiers fought here in World War II in 1942. Hikers walk up muddy ridges and through dense jungle. Local guides and porters lead groups through small villages on the way.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Trek the historic Kokoda Track through dense rainforest
  • 🎭 Meet the colorful tribes at the Mount Hagen Festival
  • 🤿 Dive among WWII wrecks in Rabaul’s volcanic waters
Lake Tekapo
The Glacial Gem of the South Island
8.6
The Mount John track climbs to a summit at 1,031 metres above Lake Tekapo. A path circles the lake first before turning uphill through open tussock. The lake glows bright turquoise in the sun because of glacial rock flour. Stars fill the sky above the summit at night.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax and soak in the Tekapo Springs hot pools
  • 🌌 Stargaze in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve
  • ⛪ Visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd
Milford Sound
Breathtaking fiord of towering peaks
The Milford Track ends at Sandfly Point on the edge of Milford Sound. Hikers walk about 53 kilometres over four days across Mackinnon Pass in the mountains. Sutherland Falls drops 580 metres near the trail. Mitre Peak rises above the fiord and appears in countless photos.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike part of the renowned Milford Track for epic views
  • 🛶 Kayak alongside seals and dolphins in tranquil fjord waters
  • ⛴️ Cruise Milford Sound to see towering cliffs and waterfalls
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