As we roll into a new year and start plotting fresh adventures, there’s one thing that’s very clear. Kiwis are walking more, further, and with serious enthusiasm too! Outdoor app AllTrails has just dropped its 2025 Year on the Trails list, revealing where New Zealanders spent their time exploring last year, and the numbers are pretty impressive.
According to the data, our love for the great outdoors has gone into overdrive, with more kilometres logged, more time spent on track and a strong preference for walks that suit the whole crew.
The big takeaways from our year on the trails in 2025:
New Zealand hikers clocked over 3 million kilometres on trails in 2025. That’s nearly three times the distance recorded in 2024 and roughly the equivalent of driving to the Moon and back more than 35 times!
Globally, Kiwis now rank third in the world for time spent on the trail per AllTrails member, behind the US and Canada, and just ahead of Australia.
The most used search filters in New Zealand last year were dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and pram-friendly, proving that adventures are increasingly a family affair.
To help inspire your own 2026 hit list, AllTrails has also rounded up the country’s highest-rated and most-loved trails. If you’re looking for somewhere new to explore, these are the walks that other Kiwis rated five stars:
Highest Rated Trails in New Zealand for 2025:
1. Mount Sunday Track (Canterbury)
2. Rob Roy Glacier Track (Otago)
3. Routeburn Track to Lake Harris and Harris Saddle Shelter (Otago)
4. Ben Lomond Track via Skyline Gondola (Otago)
5. Mueller Hut Route (Canterbury)
6. Urupukapuka Island Walk (Northland)
7. Mahinepua Peninsula Track (Northland)
8. Marokopa Falls Walk (Waikato)
9. Key Summit and View of Lake Marian via Routeburn Track (Southland)
10. Tama Lakes Track via Taranaki Falls (Manawatū-Whanganui)
Whether you’re chasing alpine views, coastal paths or something the kids and dog can handle, this list makes a pretty strong case for getting outside a bit more in 2026. Lace up, download a map and join the millions of kilometres already walked. It’s pretty magical out there!