If you are an adventure lover, you must love hiking challenging trails. And what place is better than New Zealand? You can visit New Zealand’s most iconic and scenic hiking spots and walks by using an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) visa.
ETA is an electronic document that helps travellers visit New Zealand for both tourism and short business trips. However, to avail of an eTA for New Zealand, you have to be a citizen of a country that is permitted for New Zealand’s visa waiver program. In this blog, we will explore some of New Zealand’s stunning trekking and walking locations for different experience levels, alongside some tips to travel to New Zealand using an ETA visa.
How Does Travel Become Easy With an ETA?
Introduced in October 2019, the NZeTA has become a mandatory document for travellers coming from visa-waiver countries to enter New Zealand. Plus, there are several benefits of using an eTA visa while travelling in New Zealand.
Automatic Link to the Passport
Once approved, an NZeTA is linked with the passport automatically.
Faster Clearance at the Border
With an approved ETA, you experience hassle-free transit and faster clearance at the entry points.
Long Validity and No Requirement of Transit Visas
Once your ETA visa is approved by the government of New Zealand, it becomes active. Therefore, it remains valid for two years from the date of visitors. Plus, an eTA to New Zealand allows multiple entries and removes the requirement of transit visas for the travellers.
Locations for Casual Walkers
From fearless travellers to people looking for a gentle walk, New Zealand’s beautiful hiking spots cater to everyone’s needs. Moreover, the country is famous for its peaks, coastal tracks and sandy beaches alongside the mountain areas.
You can explore these locations if you are up for a casual walk that can be explored with minimal effort.
Mount Eden Summit
Mount Eden Summit in Auckland is a short hike of a 2.1km trail. Moreover, the walkways here lead to the summit and you can get to see some panoramic views of the city and Waitematā Harbour.
Cathedral Cove Walk
Moving upwards toward the north, you can visit the coastal views of Cathedral Cove. People walk along the coast and also have a kayaking experience to have a taste of thrill and adventure.
Hooker Valley Track
If you are up to a casual walk in the plain, the Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki is an easy 10km round trip walk with very mild elevation. The mindblowing turquoise of Lake Pukaki and the surrounding glaciers make this walk a worthy experience. Plus, a view of Mount Cook would be the perfect end of the walk.
The process of New Zealand eTA application is very easy, which can get you the eTA visa within 72 hours before you travel. Therefore, you can visit these amazing walks for some stunning views around the trails.
Treks for Adventurous Travellers
Well, you may want some challenges in your treks. How about trekking some mountain crossings and coast tracks?
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Among seasoned trekkers, Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a very popular destination to visit the volcanic landscape and panoramic views of Tongariro National Park. Moreover, the combination of volcanic scenic locations and Alpine scenery has made this location an unforgettable experience for hikers.
This is a one-way trek with 6 to 8 hours of elevated trekking experience. With a good level of fitness, you can easily achieve this trek.
Abel Tasman Coast Track
Ever imagined a dream like trekking through scenic coastal greenery and sandy seashore? The Abel Tasman Coastal Track offers you a memorable experience through the coastal track. A moderate walk of four days is enough to cover the entire trail.
Even if you have very little fitness, this walk is comfortable for you considering the multi-day duration. Therefore, you can walk and go kayaking sometimes, as the track is full of signposts and well-maintained. The DOC huts and campsites located near the coastline are helpful if you are looking for basic accommodation.
Ben Lomond Track
Located in Queenstown, the Ben Lamond mountain track is also an attractive place for trekkers because of its stunning 360-degree mountain view. Considering the elevation, this trek demands optimal fitness.Trekking Ben Lomond is easier from Queenstown as it has multiple trailheads from where you can start the trekking. Moreover, if you want to reduce the trek, the skyline gondola is an option which you can use to ascend to the upper parts of the mountain.
Challenging Treks for Experts
Until now, all the trekking destinations we have discussed require an easy to moderate skill level. Now here comes the most challenging ones, including multi-day, breathtaking locations.
Milford Track
The great walk of Milford Track takes up to four days and passes through Fiordland National Park. Here, you will start to follow the Clinton Pass on day 1 and move to the Mackinnon Pass base on day 2. Moreover, during day 3, you can see the awe-striking views from the Mackinnon Pass and move upwards towards Sutherland Falls.
Te Araroa Trail
Te Araroa is one of the most diverse long hiking trails in the World. The trail passes through mountain passes, plains, volcanoes and rural towns across a 3000-kilometre track. Plus, this track unveils the extraordinary beauty of Aotearoa New Zealand’s landscapes and local communities.
Kepler Track
This is a circular loop trail situated near Southland and is considered a challenging trekking route. Also popular for camping and bird watching, trekking in Kepler track offers an exciting alpine terrain. Plus, sudden change in weather also makes this trekking risky for new trekkers. However, you have to make bookings if you want to avail of huts or campsites.
Useful Tips to Consider Before Travelling New Zealand With an ETA
You can visit these scenic places for hiking by travelling to New Zealand using an eTA. If you are from a visa-waived country approved by the New Zealand government you can use this visa facility.
Best Time to Visit NZ for Hiking
The hiking season in New Zealand runs from October to April. Especially during the summer months of December, visitors visit New Zealand for hiking and camping.
Documents needed to apply for an NZeTA
You can deal with the process of the New Zealand eTA application easily if you have the necessary documents.
- Passport of the eligible Visa-waiver country.
- A debit or credit card to pay the eTA visa application fee.
- A valid email address.
- A photograph with your face in it.
The New Zealand eTA application process is entirely online. The application form can be accessed from New Zealand’s immigration department’s website.
Accommodation Options
There are various campsites, huts and lodges available nearby in the popular trekking spots. Carry all the valid documents with you to use the accommodation.
Passport Validity
The passport you are carrying should be valid for three months from the date of your departure from New Zealand.
Entry Points
Since NZeTA is a multiple-entry visa, you can stay in New Zealand for up to 90 days at once. Therefore, the eTA to New Zealand will help you enter the country through any international airport. However, you have to be prepared with all the necessary documents for a smoother transit.
Conclusion
Exploring New Zealand’s best scenic hiking spots and walks has now become easy as you can travel to New Zealand using the ETA visa authorized by the government. The process of New Zealand eTA application is conducted entirely online which you can use from the comfort of your home to travel to New Zealand’s best hiking spots.
So, which trail are you going to visit first? Just pack your bags, prepare your gear and set out for a remarkable journey.