Can anyone suggest a 1-2 day hike on the South Island with some amazing tree ferns? We're looking for the best, biggest, most stunning, Jurassic-type tree fern hike.
We will be in NZ for a couple weeks around Christmas. We are already planning on a 2-night hike in Mt Aspiring National Park. We will not be going anywhere in the Southland region.
Thanks!
melrayne
1
ianw6705
If you Google <i>tree ferns fiordland</i> you get some good results, including Kepler Track, and links to day hikes in the national park.
2
otari
The North Island is actually a bit better for tree ferns, but if you're just on the South Island then you'll definitely be looking at the West Coast and Fiordland. Low elevation tracks will have more tree ferns than higher tracks, so look for walks which stay on valley floors.
The thickest I've seen them was on the Dusky Track, just outside of Dusky Sound. But unless you want to hire a float plane, this is way too remote for a 1-2 day hike.
The first day of the Hollyford Track, near Milford Sound, has fantastic tree ferns and lowland forest, as well as some great views of the Darran Mountains. You could do an "out and back" hike to Lake Alabaster Hut, which would be 5-7 hours each way.
Further up the coast, one of my favourite walks is from Highway 6 to Munro Beach, north of Haast at Lake Moeraki. The rainforest here is so thick that you can easily become lost amongst the ferns and podocarp forest by taking only a few steps off the trail. It's about 1.5 hours to the beach and back, and there is a seasonal colony of Crested Penguins at the beach as well.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner