Invariably, mention of the country New Zealand tends to conjure up images of bright blue skies and warm, pleasant sunshine. However, between the two islands, temperatures can vary dramatically depending on the time of year. We take a look at walking New Zealand – from hot to cold, and back again.

Hot – Mud Baths in Rotorua

Temperature will not be the first thing you’ll notice when you arrive in Rotorua. You are likely to be too distracted by the potent smell of rotten eggs that fills the air due to the high sulphur concentration of the many hot, geothermal springs. However, it is this geothermal activity that makes Rotorua the ideal destination for some warmer New Zealand walking. As you explore the town you will come across boiling and bubbling mud pools, visible at first only thanks to the steam being emitted. Explore a bit further and you may well come across the Kuirau Park where you will find large crater lakes filled with warm water. And when you’ve finished exploring the town, take the opportunity to lie back and relax in a hot mud bath at any one of the thermal parks and spas

Cold – Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers

Located in a fantastic UNESCO world heritage area, the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy New Zealand, walking in the cold for a change. With plenty of opportunities to attach some crampons to your shoes, put on some waterproofs and follow a guide up the glaciers. You will see the ice in all its impressive magnitude as you stand atop it. As you navigate your way around the glaciers, your guide will keep you filled in on how their formation occurred and how they are likely to change over the coming years. It may be cold up on top of those glaciers but rest assured, it will be worth the climb once you get there!

Hot – Tongariro Park

Standing as it does, in a region where it is surrounded by volcanic peaks, there is no disputing that the Tongariro National Park can get rather hot and exciting. Including Mount Ngauruhoe, which was used as the setting for Mount Doom in the infamous Lord of the Rings trilogy, the peaks of the Tongariro Park may not erupt spitting lava on a daily basis, but the steam vents, the lava flows and the one or two active peaks keep the area exciting enough. And if you do decide to tackle one of the most mountainous national parks in New Zealand, walking the terrain is a sure-fire way to warm yourself up!

Cold – Milford Sound

Just as many would not to expect to look for ways to get cold whilst in New Zealand, walking in the rain is possibly not too high up on the list of to-do’s either, as you will soon get damp and chilled – unless, of course, you are talking about Milford Sound. A fjordland national park found in the South Island, Milford Sound is one of the few places that genuinely tends to look better in the rain. Just a few raindrops will result in temporary cascading waterfalls appearing from rock faces everywhere you look; some falling from great heights whilst some will never even hit the water below, evaporating as they fall. The wettest part of New Zealand, but also the only part that can look so beautiful in the rain, Milford Sound is at its best when the weather is wet and cold.

So if you’re in New Zealand, walking is the best way to see the scenery. It will take you all over the country; from hot to cold and back again.

Author Bio: Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, they now offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in more than 90 different countries. While in New Zealand walking with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you can see the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.

Category: Travel
Keywords: New Zealand walking