New Zealand’s Hump Ridge Track makes AllTrail list of 25 walks to do in 2025

Hump Ridge Track in Southland, New Zealand. Photo / Pink Penguin Studio

New Zealand is a mecca for those who love to hike but only one trail has made the list of the world’s 25 best walks to explore in 2025.

This year AllTrails reviewed the 450,000 trails listed on its online platform and selected just 25 they recommended people explore this year.

The company, which boasts the largest collection of digital trail guides in the world, looked beyond popularity and featured places that are “truly special”, said AllTrails chief executive Ron Schneidermann.

From challenging treks in beautiful destinations to historic urban walks and new routes, the list offers a healthy dose of inspiration for travellers who love to amble.

Fortunately, Kiwis won’t have to travel too far to knock one of the walks off their list. Aotearoa made the list thanks to Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, a three-day loop track that runs around the rugged coastline and over sub-alpine mountains in southern Fiordland.

Hump Ridge Track became the 11th Great Walk in 2024.

The track became New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk on October 25, 2024 and is a one-hour drive from Invercargill and two hours from Queenstown.

At 60km long, the hike is classed as intermediate/advanced and involves walking between six to eight hours each day. Bookings are essential.

Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track is the only walk from the Pacific region to make the 2025 list. Of the 25 featured walks, almost half (12) are in the US and six can be found in Europe (Italy, France, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and Spain, specifically). Walks from Mexico, England, Japan, Costa Rica and Africa are also featured.

AllTrail’s 25 Trails to Explore in 2025

● Peace Trail, Segment 28: Contrin Refuge - Fedaia Pass (Trento, Italy)

● Cerro Pelón (State of Mexico, Mexico)

● Boston’s Freedom Trail (Massachusetts, United States of America)

● Alice-Toxaway and Edith Lake Loop (Idaho, USA)

● Hump Ridge Track (Southland, New Zealand)

● Slaughter Pen: All American, Seed Tick, Medusa, and Tatamagouche (Arkansas, USA)

● Nachi Falls - Kumano Nachi Taisha - Daimonzaka (Nachikatsuura, Japan)

● Smarts Mountain via Appalachian and Ranger Trail (New Hampshire, USA)

● Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval - Pas du Boret - Le Bout du Monde (Haute-Savoie, France)

● Firefly Trail (South Carolina, USA)

● Lost Mine Trail (Texas, USA)

● Hoh River Trail to Mineral Creek Falls (Washington, US)

● Coast to Coast Walk Segment 1: St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge (Cumbria, England)

● Medicine Root and Castle Trail Loop (South Dakota, US)

● Katy Trail (Missouri, US)

● Las Médulas - Pico de los Gallegos (Léon, Spain)

● Blind Ash Bay Trail (Minnesota, US)

● Path of the Planets: Tignousa - Hotel Weisshorn (Saint Luc, Switzerland)

● Amsterdam City Walk (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

● Chilkoot Pass Trail (Alaska, US)

● Seven Cascades Short Loop (Plaines Wilhems, Mauritius)

● Methuselah Trail (California, US)

● Four Lakes Trail (British Columbia, Canada)

● Camino de Costa Rica Segment 5: Tres Equis - Pacayitas (Cartago, Costa Rica)

● Reinebringen (Nordland, Norway)