Best Day Hikes in the South Island
The South Island of New Zealand has to be one of the best places in the world for fantastic hiking spots. As lovers of the outdoors, our ultimate playground is the Southern Alps. At Mojo Campers, we thought we had better share some of our favourite trails for you to put in your van trip itinerary.
If you want to get out there and explore but don’t have the time or resources to do a multi-day hike, take a look at this list to find some wicked trails that give you all the good stuff in one day.
Waipohatu Waterfalls Track, Catlins
Situated in the middle of the Otago and Southland regions, the Catlins is a must-visit region for your South Island van trip. There are plenty of gorgeous spots to visit while there, including Nugget Point Lighthouse, Curio Bay, and a LOT of amazing waterfalls.
Waipohatu actually has two possible tracks for adventurers to choose between. There is one moderate track that takes around three hours, requiring an average level of fitness to complete. The other is a wheelchair-accessible forest walk that lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Moke Lake Loop Track, Otago
Just a 20-minute drive from Queenstown, the Moke Lake Loop Track takes you across grasslands, wetlands, hills, and all the way around Moke Lake in under 3 hours. It is a fairly easy walking track with some boardwalk sections and gentle gradients. Surrounded by mountains, the lake is protected from wind and often provides stunning mirror-like views - so it’s definitely worth a visit!
The lake also has a “secret” viewpoint and amazing stargazing at night, so if you fall in love with the area, you can always park your Mojo Sleepervan at its DOC campsite.
Ben Lomond, Otago
The Ben Lomond track is one of the most famous hiking trails on the South Island, for good reason. Starting at the Queenstown gondola, you have to either hike the Tiki Trail or take the gondola up to Bob’s Peak and THEN walk an additional 14 kilometres to the summit. Depending on your fitness, we recommend allowing at least seven hours.
It’s gruelling, challenging, and steep, but the views and the satisfaction of getting to the top make the whole hike 100% worth it. Make sure you plan this hike ahead of time to ensure you avoid bad weather.
Lake Marian Track, Fiordland
The hike to Lake Marian starts along the road to Milford Sound and takes around three hours to complete. It takes you across a suspension bridge, along a platform next to waterfalls, and climbing up through the stunning native bush.
Make sure you have good shoes and take extra care on wet days - the final stretch of the hike can be challenging and involves a lot of climbing over rocks. You will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the beautiful, turquoise Lake Marian, in a valley surrounded by waterfalls and mountain peaks.
Hooker Valley Track, Mount Cook National Park
Despite its location in the midst of the Southern Alps, the Hooker Valley Track is relatively flat and accessible for those who struggle on the hills. Plus, it provides breathtaking views everywhere you look - no wonder it’s one of the most popular tracks on the South Island.
While still a decent leg stretch at 10 kilometres long, the trail is very well-maintained, and it often goes over boardwalks and bridges. The track starts at the White Horse Hill Campsite, so when you finish the hike and are reluctant to say goodbye to the area’s majesty, you can stay for longer!
Omarama Clay Cliffs, Waitaki
The Blue Pools Track, West Coast
An incredible showcase of the South Island’s turquoise waters, the Blue Pools track sits between Wānaka and Franz Josef glacier. You only have to walk for 20 minutes from the car park through the deep green bush and cross two suspension bridges to reach the pools.
The mind-boggling colour of the water is caused by rock flour from glaciers, and yes, it does look that blue in person. If you’ve missed your coffee for the day, we recommend taking a dip in the icy cold waters!
One of the most unique hikes on this list, the Omarama Clay Cliffs hike takes you away from the mountains and through a valley of ancient clay cliffs formed by melting glaciers. It will only take you around 30 minutes to walk around the cliffs, making it a great stop on your way from Queenstown or Wānaka to Aoraki. There is an honesty box at the gate before the cliffs asking for a $5 admission fee, as the cliffs are on private land.