Banks Track is one of the lesser-known multi day hikes in New Zealand. It isn’t one of the Great Walks but I can now confirm, it is most definitely great! It starts and ends in Akaroa (just outside of Christchurch) and is a loop track that passes through totally private farmland and along the coast. A group of farrmers (who own the land that the hike runs through) work together to provide accomodation and transport. They pick you up in Akaroa and take you to the hike starting point, and then they take your bags and optional chilli bin between the huts each day so you can hike with just a daypack. There isn’t food provided but there are cooking facilities at each hut and at the last one even has a well-equipped farm store to buy local goodies.

We did the hike in November which isn’t prime weather season on the South Island but we got super lucky and only had a couple of hours of rain (albeit torrential) on the last day. The hike isn’t too tough, 31km spread over 3 days, with a bit of up and down involved and it passes through the most amazing scenery, from native bush to sweeping coastal views. The huts are all very cute and comfy with everything you need to rest and recover each day, and all in very scenic spots. The huts don’t sleep more than 16 so you’ll never find yourself doing this hike with large numbers of people, they weren’t full when we did it so we had a room to ourselves each night.

I did the hike with my dad, it was a total surprise to him, he thought he was doing it by himself til I knocked on his hotel room door in Christchurch and gave him the fright of his life. We had an epic 3 days of hiking and enjoying the best of NZ nature, we saw dolphins in the harbour, seals along the hike, and penguins at one of the huts. I can’t recommend this hike highly enough! I also got to catch up with mum and some HK and Swiss friends in Nelson on my way down to Christchurch which was a lovely bonus!