The Track

A Kiwi Favourite

We are open each Kiwi summer from October 1 to April 30

Banks Track is NZ’s original private walking track. It has become a Kiwi Favourite and one of the great NZ walks. We are a low impact eco-tourism venture that offers you a diversity of wildlife, scenery and experiences.

This unique experience follows farmland and forest, over an extinct volcano, along coasts and cliffs, through reserves and into your hosts backyards. It is 31 km of ever changing vistas, views and variety.

The accommodations reflect the personality of each nights hosts, offering rustic comfort, history, warmth and character.

Banks Track offers a self guided, self catered, self paced hike without the crowds. It provides the comforts of more expensive guided walks, such has hot showers and flush toilets, with the freedom to walk at your own pace.

Come and see why our Three Day Classic Walk rivals the DOC’s “Great Walks” as one of New Zealand’s best hikes.

You choose between our Three Day Classic Walk and our Two Day Hikers Option, with both following the same route but offering different experiences.

Getting to Banks Track

By private car

Akaroa is a scenic 85km drive from Christchurch. Travel along the Chch-Akaroa Highway, allowing 90 mins to get to the Banks Track pick up point.

Petrol and refreshments are available at Little River and Duvauchelle along the way. Also Little River Gallery and Barrys Bay Cheese factory are well worth a visit.

 By Public Transport from Christchurch to Akaroa and return

Regular bus services are provided by Akaroa Shuttle and French Connection bus companies. These services both depart Christchurch in the morning so please ensure you have checked their timetable prior to making your Banks Track or flight bookings.

If you require a ChCh / Airport pickup contact Trevor Brownlie directly at bigttours@outlook.com  Trevor has a tour van and can organise this for you.

All the bus/taxi services drop you off within 50m of the Banks Track pick up point at 80 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa.

Overview

Both our Three-day Classic Walk and our Two-day Hikers Option start and finish in Akaroa. They take you on the same 31 km circular route around the remote and beautiful south eastern bays of Banks Peninsula. They both utilise the same accommodation, staying overnight either at all three (the Three-day Classic Walk) or just at the first and last (the Two-day Hikers’s Option). They both allow you to choose the pace and style of your trek with total independence.

Landcrossings

Your Banks Track booking gives you access to areas that are not open to the public. You’ll traverse our “back yards”, through working farmland as well as small reserve areas, Hinewai Reserve, and a short section of back country road.

The Banks Track is 31 kms of hill country walking.

• Section 1 Onuku – Flea Bay. 11 kms, 5-7 hrs
• Section 2 Flea Bay – Stony Bay. 8 kms, 3-5 hrs
• Section 3 Stony Bay – Akaroa. 12 kms, 5-7 hrs

The Three-day Classic Walk covers one section per day. Grade classification – moderate.

The Two-day Hikers Option covers section one and two the first day and section three the next day. Grade classification – demanding.

What to know before you go

Click here to find answers to our frequently asked questions.

What to bring

What to bring checklist –  for a printable checklist of what to bring on your Banks Track Experience.