Kaikoura has some of the most amazing and spectacular scenery in the world and what better way to see it than a nice long walk! You’ll have no trouble finding a suitable track which shows off the raw beauty of this area for any age or fitness level. Although several of our tracks have closed due to the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake, there are still plenty to choose from. Its a great way to see our native wildlife and staggering scenery for FREE so why not? Here’s our pick of our top walks.

Hinau Walk: We thought we should start with a nice and short walk through the forest! This loop track which can be found to the left of the Mt Fyffe car park, takes you on a journey through native bush with a number of Hinau trees, Mahoe, Putaputaweta, Broadleaf, Tree Fushcia and Pigeonwood. The track also passes through a stand of majestic Kanuka. Listen carefully to your surroundings as the birdsong along the track makes it a great family walk suitable for most levels of fitness. You'll often find yourself being followed by fantails so keep your eyes and ears peeled!  This takes approximately 45 mins and is nice and easy so take the kids and breathe in that fresh air. Its very sheltered so don't forget to take a jumper as it can get quite chilly.

Fyffe Palmer Walk: This is a very underrated walk that is dog friendly and offers great views looking back on the peninsula! The start of the walk is steep and ascends through farmland but then takes you up through the magnificent regenerating forest of Fyffe-Palmer Scenic Reserve. We love taking our dog Toby as he pulls us up! He does collect a lot of sticks though.  This track is never busy and is a great place to get some peace and quiet. The native bird life is abundant and there are excellent views to be had looking back over Kaikoura before you enter the forest. There is even a small but picturesque waterfall at the half way point. Now, the secret to this walk is which direction you take it! You can take this loop  clockwise (easier) or anti clockwise (harder) which both take you around 1hr 15 mins. We wish we knew this before we went!

Mt Fyffe Hut/Summit Walk:

If you're feeling like a decent hike, this is the walk for you! This has become a right of passage for locals and travelers alike and is definitely worth the hard walk! From the Mt Fyffe car park, you follow the signs up a 4wd track which zig-zags steeply up Mt Fyffe. As you climb, you will start to see some breath-taking views of Kaikoura’s peninsula and farmland but also of the stunning Kaikoura ranges. If you start before 10am, you can enjoy lunch at the hut which is about an hour from the summit. If you've made it that far, you might as well climb to the peak! Allow 5 hours return to the hut  or 7-8 hours return to the summit. Don't worry about getting lost- the only way is up and its clearly marked and well maintained. If you fancy spending the night in the hut, you can reserve it through Doc( which you can book at the Kaikoura I-site). Just remember to always check the weather conditions and take plenty of water! If you're a keen biker, you can join those who bike the track or if you're lazy you can charter a helicopter to the top and walk down. Its upto you!

Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway: This is the most popular walk in Kaikoura and can commence from almost anywhere as the track follows the peninsula and quiet roads in the township. It is our absolute favorite as it is easy, beautiful and accessible! Unfortunately it is not dog friendly due to the bird population so leave your pooches at home! The only incline is when you reach the peninsula's point as you climb to the cliff faces. Don't worry- its just 5 minutes of uphill walking then its flat or downhill from there!  The views of the staggering coastline is unbelievable and you get to come close to our famous fur seals and various birds nested in our bird colony . We have on occasion even seen whales and dolphins from cliffs so definitely keep your eyes peeled. The track is well maintained with interpretation panels on the way. One of our favorite ways to spend the afternoon is to take a picnic along and enjoy this walk stopping at the gelato stall or the pier for a well deserved pint of cider on the way home.  The total loop takes around 4 hours for entire walk but there’s options to complete shorter sections. For a 2 hour loop, simply park at the seal colony, start it from there, climb down the stairs when you reach them and walk back. This is nice and short whilst still getting those beautiful views! Our guests love renting our e scooters for this as it offers another way to see our beautiful coastline!  Just remember there is no shade on this walk so apply plenty of sun screen. We have come back looking like crayfish too many times! Speaking of crayfish- you can grab some at the seafood BBQ on the walk! Kaikoura literally means 'eat crayfish' so.... you kind of have to.