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Rakiura - north west circuit
Next nearby hike: Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara walking tracks 2.1 mi · 3.3 kmExplore Southland →
Rakiura - north west circuit other trails nearby (tap a dot to open it)
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© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Full route · OpenStreetMap · Basemap: OpenFreeMap (OpenMapTiles, © OSM contributors).
7-day forecast
Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)Best time to hike
Best months: Sep–May · highs 11–17 °C (52–63 °F)
- J17°11°152
- F17°11°114
- M15°10°139
- A13°9°131
- M11°8°152
- J9°6°138
- J9°5°124
- A10°6°112
- S11°7°129
- O13°7°145
- N14°9°123
- D16°10°134
Average high °C · low °C · precipitation mm per month. Highlighted: best months.
How we pick months
Best months are those where the 1981–2010 average daily high is 10–27 °C (50–81 °F), the average overnight low is 0 °C (32 °F) or warmer, and average precipitation is 200 mm (7.9 in) or less. Values are long-term monthly averages for the ~1 km cell at the trail point on the map, from CHELSA V2.1 climatologies (Karger et al., CC0), not a forecast. Higher or more exposed parts of a route can be colder, wetter or snowier.
About this trail
Allow 9–11 days to walk the full 125 km circuit. This track is suitable for fit, well equipped and experienced trampers. Track times are an indication only and extra time should be allowed in adverse conditions.
OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Trail facts
- Length (signed)
- 125 km · 78 mi (OSM distance tag)
- Mapped length
- 133 km · 83 mi (OSM route, Waymarked Trails)
- Connects to
- Rakiura Track (at its start or end)
- Best months
- Sep–May
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- Southland
- Continent
- Oceania
- Route type
- Regional route
- Ref
- Rnwc
- Operator (OSM)
- Department of Conservation
- Route centre
- -46.8089, 167.9261
- Route start
- -46.8968, 168.1290
- OpenStreetMap
- relation 10642358
- Official info
- doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/so
How it’s scored
Hikers can rate difficulty from 1 to 10 (1 = flat, short, easy walk for anyone; 3 = gentle hills, a little effort; 5 = moderate climbs, some fitness needed; 7 = steep or long, solid fitness required; 10 = extremely strenuous or technical; long steep climbing; experienced hikers only). The community average is shown once at least 3 people have rated the trail; until then the official or computed score is used when we have one.
Nearest trails
distance from the trail startUlva Island/Te Wharawhara walking tracks
2.1 mi · 3.3 km
Rakiura Track
2.4 mi · 3.8 km · Southland
Freshwater Landing to Mason Bay
12 mi · 20 km · Rakiura National Park
Rakiura - southern circuit
14 mi · 23 km · Rakiura National Park
Foveaux Walkway
21 mi · 34 km
North West Circuit Stewart Island/Rakiura
22 mi · 36 km · Rakiura National Park
All trails in Southland → · All 1,167 trails in New Zealand →