New Zealand is a wilderness paradise of incredibly beautiful landscapes. From its turquoise waters and sandy beaches, fern-clad hillsides give way to lush forests, deep gorges, alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks. Outstanding scenery, a rich heritage and extensive outdoor activities combine to make New Zealand one of the world’s most exciting hiking destinations.   New Zealand is criss-crossed by tracks, of which nine have been designated Great Walks by the Department of Conservation. These are the country's premier hiking trails and each route takes about 3-5 days to walk. Internationally renowned, they give a good feel for the range of experiences available in the New Zealand backcountry. Meticulously waymarked and maintained, the Great Walks provide outstanding tramping opportunities for people of all levels of fitness and proficiency. In New Zealand, hiking is known as tramping.   This updated second edition includes:   Practical information for all budgets #150; Planning your trip and getting to New Zeal∧ getting to each trailhead; health and safety; environmentally-sensitive tramping Includes 50 trail maps #150; walking times, directions, places to stay and points of interest. These are not general-purpose maps but fully-edited maps drawn specifically for trail users. Flora and fauna Historical and cultural background. Plus #150; Auckland, Wellington and gateway towns #150; detailed guides and maps to Auckland, Wellington, National Park Village, Taumaranui, Nelson, Queenstown, Te Anau and Oban.