Hiking in New Zealand: the 9 Best Guided Hikes

1.Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 618 reviews · from $506Our pick

Fly from Franz Josef village to the glacier, then spend about 2 hours 15 minutes walking among ice caves, pinnacles, seracs, and crevasses with a trained guide. Gear is provided, groups are limited to 11, and guides such as Sarah, Maya, Angus, and Abby add clear safety advice, glaciology, and Maori stories.

“An amazing experience! Our guide Angus was fabulous balancing the science of the glacier (had a glaciology degree!) with the traditional Maori stories of how the glacier formed.”

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2.Heli Hike Fox Glacier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 563 reviews · from $477Top rated

Fly by helicopter onto Te Moeka o Tuawe, or Fox Glacier, then spend up to three hours walking among ice caves, arches, crevasses, and freshly cut steps with your guide. Fox Glacier Guiding supplies boots, socks, crampons, poles, and wet-weather gear. Guides such as Charlie, Serena, Henry, and Billy are known for careful safety work and engaging explanations.

“Amazing experience, you feel like you are on another planet. It does require a bit of balance to maneuver some of the stairs and patience for the photo ops if you are with a larger group - we were about 15 people.”

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3.Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 383 reviews · 8h 30m · from $66Best value

Cruise with Beachcomber Cruises from Picton to Ship Cove, then choose a 17-kilometer hike to Furneaux Lodge or a 12.7-kilometer walk from Furneaux Lodge to Punga Cove. Your English-speaking skipper shares local history and wildlife notes, with time for food and a drink at the lodges.

“Enjoyed our trip. Both the ferry, the walk, the shop partway along in an idyllic setting and Furneaux lodge at the end. Nice to get tea on board in our own mugs (they highly recommend bringing your own)”

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4.Franz Josef: 2.5 Hour Glacier Hike with Helicopter Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 322 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $475

Fly from Franz Josef over rainforest and rugged mountain country, land on the glacier, and spend 2.5 hours exploring ice caves, crevasses, and changing formations with a guide such as Ryan, Sarah, or Drew. Franz Josef Glacier Guides provide boots, crampons, warm gear, and the helicopter return. Expect a moderate, weather-dependent adventure.

“We had an amazing time! It was our first time in a heli and what an awesome place to ride the heli. Sarah was an amazing guide and could tell us a lot about the glacier. It's a bit pricey but definitely worth it!”

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5.Fox Glacier: Up to 3 Hours Hike with Helicopter Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 309 reviews · 4 hours · from $448

Fly onto Fox Glacier, fit crampons, and follow your guide through ice caves, arches, crevasses, and frozen rivers for up to three hours. Guides such as Billy, Kate, Keeley, and Jakey explain how the glacier changes. The tour includes boots, socks, jackets, overtrousers, poles, transport, and a return helicopter flight.

“I got engaged on the tour it was such a special place to visit and mark as a memory”

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6.Rotorua Hiking: Mt Tarawera Guided Volcanic Crater Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · from $121

Travel from Rotorua by 4WD to Mt Tarawera, then hike with a Kiwi guide along volcanic trails to the crater rim and, optionally, into the caldera. Expect Māori history, 360-degree views, loose scoria, steep sections, and a fun scree run. Guides have included Jesse, Hauri, Chucky, Deborah, Jack, Dan, and Daniel.

“The care taken that we were safe as well as leaning about the culture and history of the mountain. We loved our guide.”

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7.Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Helicopter Ride and Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 235 reviews · 3 hours · from $537

Fly from Mount Cook Airport to a remote part of Tasman Glacier, then spend up to two hours walking, crawling through ice features, and viewing blue caves with a guide such as Hunter, Anna, or Tori. Boots, crampons, wool socks, and waterproof gear are supplied.

“An awesome day out on Tasman Glacier. Anna was a great guide, extremely knowledgable. The helicopter rides were brilliant, very competent pilots with amazing views both ways. Pauley did a great job at putting the boots away at the end of the tour 😆 Highly recommend.”

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8.Mount Cook: 3 Hour Heli Hike to the Tasman Glacier

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 218 reviews · 3 hours · from $564

Fly from Mount Cook Airport over Tasman Glacier Lake, then spend two hours walking the ice beneath Aoraki and Mount Tasman. Your guide, such as Kerry, Scott, Jess, or Maddie, fits crampons, explains glacier features, and leads you safely across the changing terrain. The return flight passes Hochstetter Icefall.

“Great experience, so happy with our tour guide, Scott . He is very knowledgeable and passionate about his work! 100% recommended for this life time experience.”

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9.Abel Tasman National Park: Cruise, Kayak, & Hike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 9h 30m · from $417

Spend 9.5 hours exploring Abel Tasman by catamaran, sea kayak, and coastal track. Cruise from Kaiteriteri past Split Apple Rock, kayak near Adele Island with guides such as Carter, then hike to Anchorage. Nelson pickup, lunch, equipment, snacks, and small-group or private options are included.

“Our trip was AMAZING. Our guide was wonderful; knowledgable; informative; kind absolutely terrific. We saw baby seals; we swam; we learned so much about the vegetation; the sight was beautiful. Lunch was really good - very filling and the guide brought extra water to make sure we all stayed hydrated. I would recommend this trip to everyone.”

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