Honest New Zealand hiking guides, trail notes and practical advice from Wyld Peak. Real NZ walks, useful planning, DOC basics, safety notes and the small details that actually matter once you leave the car park.

New Zealand Hiking Guides: Walks, Tracks & National Parks

Whatipu Caves Walk: An easy wander with a few rough edges

Whatipu Caves Walk: An easy wander with a few r...

Whatipu Caves is short, easy and a bit stranger than the distance suggests. Dark caves, huge open dunes, a few awkward trail sections and one very easy way to accidentally...

Whatipu Caves Walk: An easy wander with a few r...

Whatipu Caves is short, easy and a bit stranger than the distance suggests. Dark caves, huge open dunes, a few awkward trail sections and one very easy way to accidentally...

Maungatautari Northern Enclosure: The Free Walk With a Steep Start

Maungatautari Northern Enclosure: The Free Walk...

The Northern Enclosure looked like a quick 35-minute forest loop. Getting to it had other ideas. Here’s what we found on Maungatautari’s quieter, free side.

Maungatautari Northern Enclosure: The Free Walk...

The Northern Enclosure looked like a quick 35-minute forest loop. Getting to it had other ideas. Here’s what we found on Maungatautari’s quieter, free side.

Puketutu Island Walk: Easy, Flat and Not Worth Crossing Auckland For

Puketutu Island Walk: Easy, Flat and Not Worth ...

Puketutu Island is flat, quiet and very easy. Worth crossing Auckland for? We don’t think so. Here’s what the walk is actually like and when it does make sense.

Puketutu Island Walk: Easy, Flat and Not Worth ...

Puketutu Island is flat, quiet and very easy. Worth crossing Auckland for? We don’t think so. Here’s what the walk is actually like and when it does make sense.

New Zealand Track Grades & Orange Markers Explained

New Zealand Track Grades & Orange Markers Expla...

Walking Track. Tramping Track. Route. Orange triangle. It makes a lot more sense once you strip out the official wording. Here’s what it all means on the trail.

New Zealand Track Grades & Orange Markers Expla...

Walking Track. Tramping Track. Route. Orange triangle. It makes a lot more sense once you strip out the official wording. Here’s what it all means on the trail.

Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk: Waterfalls, an Old Tramline and Our Honest Take

Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk: Waterfalls, an Old Tra...

We expected an easy walk to an old dam. The bush, waterfalls, birdlife and tramline made Upper Nihotupu a much better couple of hours than that.

Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk: Waterfalls, an Old Tra...

We expected an easy walk to an old dam. The bush, waterfalls, birdlife and tramline made Upper Nihotupu a much better couple of hours than that.

Best Auckland Walks Without a Car: 8 That Actually Make Sense

Best Auckland Walks Without a Car: 8 That Actua...

Auckland has brilliant walks. Some are a pain without wheels. These eight are the ones where the bus, train or ferry actually fits the day.

Best Auckland Walks Without a Car: 8 That Actua...

Auckland has brilliant walks. Some are a pain without wheels. These eight are the ones where the bus, train or ferry actually fits the day.