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The best hiking region in the world is
NEW ZEALAND
Note: The World Cup of Rugby will be hosted in New Zealand in 2011.
New Zealand — all things considered — is the best hiking destination in the world. It’s also arguably the best holiday destination.
Nowhere else can you do so much varied "tramping", so easily, year round.
AT A GLANCE
NEW ZEALAND 
Note:  "tramping" is Kiwi for "hiking"
- hundreds of magnificent trails
- superb tourist infrastructure
- perhaps the best hostels in the world
- terrific hut system
- convenient public transport
- easily available trailhead shuttle service
- good management by the DOC (Department of Conservation)
- the nine (actually eight) "Great Walks" are very well marketed — but there are many equally good tramps not listed
- great hiking for all levels of ability
- best weather Jan-Mar
WHY WE LIKE THIS REGION
- if it were anywhere else in the world, less remote, tourists would overrun it
- travel in New Zealand is still relative inexpensive
- hike both North & South Islands, both wonderful, both utterly different
- tiny New Zealand has every climatic zone on Earth, even a small desert on the Tongariro Circuit
- challenging alpine hiking with no risk of altitude sickness (the glaciated peaks are low)
- superb volcano hiking and scrambling
- fantastic hot springs, hot rivers, and even hot beaches
- blissful coastal hiking
- unique Kiwi flora and fauna
- interesting new “private” hikes on “private” land
- special features
- Maori cultural and spiritual associations
- easy and inexpensive to get a quality hiking guide
- almost no dangerous wildlife (unless you get bitten by a rabid possum)
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CONSIDERATIONS
- sandflies on the west coast of the South Island are the worst biting insects we’ve ever encountered. (In fact, we were driven off the Heaphy Track after only 1-night.)
- over Christmas many of the famous trails are packed with Kiwis
- avoid the mountain trails July - August
- getting a reservation to hike the famed Milford Track is difficult. But there are a half dozen hikes nearby, just as good, that you can get on easily.
- Tongariro Crossing is a MUST HIKE, but it could be the busiest difficult walk anywhere
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BEST TREKKING GUIDEBOOKS
Lonely Planet is by far the most useful for researching from overseas. Once in New Zealand talk to locals to find more great hikes not included in LP.
BEST HIKES IN NEW ZEALAND
Our favourite is Tongariro Northern Circuit. But you won't be disappointed with any of these:
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