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Queenstown, New Zealand.  YES!

The Adventure Capital of the World, a gorgeous location on Lake Wakatipu opposite the saw-toothed Remarkable range.

If you’ve never been to New Zealand, start planning. Now. It’s our #1 hiking destination on Earth.

Queenstown is an international resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand’s South Island. …

According to the 2006 census, the usually resident population of the Queenstown urban area … is 10,416 …

… a centre for adventure tourism. Skiing, jet boating, whitewater rafting, bungy jumping, mountain biking, tramping and fly fishing are all strong promotional themes. …

Queenstown is the departure point for a large number of day trips to the similarly famous Milford Sound …

More interesting photos tagged Queenstown.

If you find it too much of a tourist trap, move away up the lake to Te Anau (pop. about 2000). It’s got everything you need to stage for an epic Kiwi hike.

Our favourite hike hikes out of Queenstown and Te Anau are:

• Milford Track
• Routeburn Track
• Kepler Track

These are the three on the list of Great Walks. (Kiwis avoid them because they’re crowded with international tourists. Locals can take you on hikes just as good, but unknown to foreigners.)

More “best hikes” in New Zealand and Australiasia.

Best months for these alpine tramps are December – March.

Start with our New Zealand information page.

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OK. What world class hiking towns did we miss?

Honourable mentions will be posted tomorrow.

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Currently planning my adventures for summer 2023, I’m looking at bikepacking Italy and Norway. Faroe Islands and Iceland … if I last that long. Perhaps 2-3 months.

Along the way I’ll be doing the BEST HIKES, of course.

On a private Facebook page a bikepacker asked ChatGPT to define bikepacking. Nailed it.

Here’s my bike for the adventure – the Checkpoint ALR 4.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Ready for bad weather.

BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I’m in Bermuda for about 5 weeks Jan/Feb 2023.

It’s an ideal time of the year for hiking with highs averaging about 70°F (20C). Very little humidity.

Best of all, the beaches are near deserted in the winter. I had this one to myself. Launched the drone.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

 Hiking out of the small town of Göreme is one of our top 10 day hikes in the world.

Why?

Every traveller dreams of getting to  the the “fairy chimney” rock formations of Cappadocia. Göreme makes an ideal base. 

• weird and wonderful geology
• walk out of your Göreme accommodation directly to a trail … or take a taxi to the Rose Valley Panoramic viewpoint (15 minute drive uphill from town). There is a small entry fee.
• most of these trails will be crowded with walkers
• see all of the main attractions in one day: Rose Valley Panoramic viewpoint > Rose Valley > Çavuşin > Love Valley > Uchisar Castle > Pigeon Valley > Göreme

World → Asia → Turkey → Göreme

For details click over to our Göreme, Cappadocia information page.

Chris hikes the Unita mountains in Utah most summers.

Over the years, he’s put together loops to make logistics easier.

In 2017 they did 80 miles as a circuit.

Check his detailed trip report for specifics on where they camped.

related – Uinta Highline Trail – documentary

Do YOU know these terms and abbreviations?

• Blaze
• Bonk
• Camel Up
• Cold Soak
• FKT
• HYOH
• Type 2 Fun

Click through to see them defined:

47 Hiking Terms Every New Backpacker Should Know

Contents

New Zealand

#1 best hiking region in the world is

There’s no debate.

The Land of the Long White Cloud Aotearoa is by far the single best hiking destination on Earth.

North Island? South Island? Both are great. And both much different.

The most compelling evidence that New Zealand has EVERYTHING a hiker could want is with photos:

New Zealand is insanely great for hikers. It’s safe. It’s clean. Trails are not crowded. It’s terrific for kids.

There’s no risk of altitude sickness as the glaciated peaks are at low elevation.

Best months are mid-November through mid-April for most treks.

More information on our New Zealand information page.

Our favourite tramp in New Zealand is the volcanic Tongariro Circuit. You’ll feel like you’ve entered Mordor in Lord of the Rings.

See our Tongariro Circuit Information page.

Start planning your New Zealand hiking vacation right now.

San Carlos de Bariloche, normally called Bariloche, is a major tourism centre with skiing, trekking and mountaineering facilities.

The city is very popular with Brazilian, European and Israeli tourists.

And with ME.

The BEST HIKE there is the Nahuel Huapi Traverse. Challenging, for sure.

Here’s a terrific, comprehensive overview of how to get to Bariloche. And what to do when you get there:

Bariloche: The Best Hikes and Trekking Routes

Airbnb host in in Morioka, Iwate, Quinlan explains that it’s better to section hike parts of the NEW 1,000km Michinoku Coastal Trail as much of it is placed alongside roadways.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Official website.

It does look tempting.

The Overland Track in Tasmania is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Overland Track

The best & most famous walk in Australia.

AT A GLANCE

• surreal, unique Tasmanian vistas
• pretty lakes, tarns and waterfalls
• exiting by ferry it’s minimum 62km (38.5mi) carrying a pack plus many possible sidetrips without a pack.
  • Elevation Gain: 4,793 ft / 1,461 m
    Elevation Loss: -5,160 ft / 1,573 m
• 8000-9000 walkers / year in the past
  • 60 walkers start / day 2018 in high season
  • Oct 1 – May 31 Overland Track Pass reservations online
• access by public transportation
• easy-moderate hiking IF the weather cooperates
• add challenging sidetrip peak scrambles if the weather is good
• Nov – early May best months
• possible to hike year round (snow travel during the winter)
• 7-nights recommended. Start Ronny Creek. Finish Cynthia Bay.

Read more on our Overland Information page.