Banks Track
Maps
Information
Banks Track
NZ's Original Private Walking Track
Experience NZ's outdoors without the crowds.
Choose between the Banks Track Classic Three Day Walk and the Banks Track Two Day Hikers Option.
Stay in two separate penguin colonies.
Enjoy hot showers and flush toilets.
Private Room Option, Sleeping Bag Hire and Pack Cartage Options are available.
Walk from the summit to the sea with views across the extinct Akaroa volcano, around Banks Peninsula's rugged landscape and across the Pacific Ocean. Walk through forest and farmland, along coasts and cliff faces, and amongst the flora and fauna of "our backyard".
Join us on Banks Peninsula's "Wildside" to see and feel the rural NZ environment.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Banks TrackCommercial organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Akaroa |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
Track open from October to April each year.
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Hiking Tours
Reviews
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4.5/5
Well organised with well equipped quirky accomodation enroute.
Lots of beautiful scenery, wildlife but a lot of ups and downs for the knees!
KS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(134,104,111)" /><path d="m 150 724 Q 247 53 -424 150 Q 247 247 150 -424 Q 53 247 724 150 Q 53 53 150 724 z" fill="rgb(144,84,248)" /><path d="m 150 310 Q 100 200 -10 150 Q 100 100 150 -10 Q 200 100 310 150 Q 200 200 150 310 z" fill="rgb(111,171,7)" /><path d="m 150 332 Q 298 2 -32 150 Q 298 298 150 -32 Q 2 298 332 150 Q 2 2 150 332 z" fill="rgb(121,151,144)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Great first introduction to the beautiful scenery that New Zealand has to offer.
Amazing views and serene atmosphere.
ED![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(218,59,218)" /><path d="m 150 744 Q 59 241 -444 150 Q 59 59 150 -444 Q 241 59 744 150 Q 241 241 150 744 z" fill="rgb(101,251,163)" /><path d="m 150 543 Q 68 232 -243 150 Q 68 68 150 -243 Q 232 68 543 150 Q 232 232 150 543 z" fill="rgb(154,4,92)" /><path d="m 150 184 Q 269 31 116 150 Q 269 269 150 116 Q 31 269 184 150 Q 31 31 150 184 z" fill="rgb(37,196,37)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Do the four day tramp because night #3 is magical.
Bathtub under the stars, giant swing, gorgeous garden.....incredible. The walk itself is also amazing in its beauty and variety. Bush, river, ocean side cliffs, pasture land you get it all. My #1 favourite walk in the country. Do not miss the penguin viewing at night in New Zealand. And buy the dinner on night #1 - delish!
J![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(255,11,119)" /><path d="m 150 671 Q 163 137 -371 150 Q 163 163 150 -371 Q 137 163 671 150 Q 137 137 150 671 z" fill="rgb(92,184,125)" /><path d="m 150 487 Q 232 68 -187 150 Q 232 232 150 -187 Q 68 232 487 150 Q 68 68 150 487 z" fill="rgb(163,71,130)" /><path d="m 150 329 Q 162 138 -29 150 Q 162 162 150 -29 Q 138 162 329 150 Q 138 138 150 329 z" fill="rgb(0,244,136)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Each day and walk was unique.
Coastal walks, forest and farmland. Very scenic. Huts unique, penguins, stars, swing, sea lions. Must do.
NL![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(88,93,255)" /><path d="m 150 640 Q 265 35 -340 150 Q 265 265 150 -340 Q 35 265 640 150 Q 35 35 150 640 z" fill="rgb(130,254,189)" /><path d="m 150 426 Q 207 93 -126 150 Q 207 207 150 -126 Q 93 207 426 150 Q 93 93 150 426 z" fill="rgb(125,1,66)" /><path d="m 150 144 Q 52 248 156 150 Q 52 52 150 156 Q 248 52 144 150 Q 248 248 150 144 z" fill="rgb(167,162,0)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
4 day trip is very nice and reasonable, each day ends up in different charming huts.
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4.5/5
Wonderful walk (tough walking down again) - views superb - 4 days better than 2 for older 50+ persons, luggage can be taken on.
DE![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(88,110,154)" /><path d="m 150 600 Q 249 51 -300 150 Q 249 249 150 -300 Q 51 249 600 150 Q 51 51 150 600 z" fill="rgb(242,123,152)" /><path d="m 150 514 Q 277 23 -214 150 Q 277 277 150 -214 Q 23 277 514 150 Q 23 23 150 514 z" fill="rgb(13,132,103)" /><path d="m 150 148 Q 133 167 152 150 Q 133 133 150 152 Q 167 133 148 150 Q 167 167 150 148 z" fill="rgb(167,145,101)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Very nice track, well organised (good company, but you cannot choose your travelmates except the ones you travel with so that doesn't count).
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(73,216,161)" /><path d="m 150 664 Q 181 119 -364 150 Q 181 181 150 -364 Q 119 181 664 150 Q 119 119 150 664 z" fill="rgb(218,22,248)" /><path d="m 150 413 Q 86 214 -113 150 Q 86 86 150 -113 Q 214 86 413 150 Q 214 214 150 413 z" fill="rgb(37,233,7)" /><path d="m 150 141 Q 106 194 159 150 Q 106 106 150 159 Q 194 106 141 150 Q 194 194 150 141 z" fill="rgb(182,39,94)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(6,140,191)" /><path d="m 150 519 Q 48 252 -219 150 Q 48 48 150 -219 Q 252 48 519 150 Q 252 252 150 519 z" fill="rgb(194,244,135)" /><path d="m 150 497 Q 129 171 -197 150 Q 129 129 150 -197 Q 171 129 497 150 Q 171 171 150 497 z" fill="rgb(61,11,120)" /><path d="m 150 120 Q 274 26 180 150 Q 274 274 150 180 Q 26 274 120 150 Q 26 26 150 120 z" fill="rgb(249,115,64)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(200,34,61)" /><path d="m 150 726 Q 96 204 -426 150 Q 96 96 150 -426 Q 204 96 726 150 Q 204 204 150 726 z" fill="rgb(87,50,166)" /><path d="m 150 515 Q 231 69 -215 150 Q 231 231 150 -215 Q 69 231 515 150 Q 69 69 150 515 z" fill="rgb(168,205,89)" /><path d="m 150 324 Q 172 128 -24 150 Q 172 172 150 -24 Q 128 172 324 150 Q 128 128 150 324 z" fill="rgb(55,221,194)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(201,160,33)" /><path d="m 150 654 Q 174 126 -354 150 Q 174 174 150 -354 Q 126 174 654 150 Q 126 126 150 654 z" fill="rgb(218,10,143)" /><path d="m 150 323 Q 248 52 -23 150 Q 248 248 150 -23 Q 52 248 323 150 Q 52 52 150 323 z" fill="rgb(37,245,112)" /><path d="m 150 184 Q 252 48 116 150 Q 252 252 150 116 Q 48 252 184 150 Q 48 48 150 184 z" fill="rgb(54,95,222)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Well organised with well equipped quirky accomodation enroute.
Lots of beautiful scenery, wildlife but a lot of ups and downs for the knees!
KS -
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4.0/5
Great first introduction to the beautiful scenery that New Zealand has to offer.
Amazing views and serene atmosphere.
ED -
4.5/5
Each day and walk was unique.
Coastal walks, forest and farmland. Very scenic. Huts unique, penguins, stars, swing, sea lions. Must do.
NL -
5.0/5
Do the four day tramp because night #3 is magical.
Bathtub under the stars, giant swing, gorgeous garden.....incredible. The walk itself is also amazing in its beauty and variety. Bush, river, ocean side cliffs, pasture land you get it all. My #1 favourite walk in the country. Do not miss the penguin viewing at night in New Zealand. And buy the dinner on night #1 - delish!
J -
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4.5/5
Wonderful walk (tough walking down again) - views superb - 4 days better than 2 for older 50+ persons, luggage can be taken on.
DE -
4.0/5
Very nice track, well organised (good company, but you cannot choose your travelmates except the ones you travel with so that doesn't count).
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5.0/5
4 day trip is very nice and reasonable, each day ends up in different charming huts.
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4.0/5
Very hard and very windy.
Lots of climbing but magical with lovely views and great places to buy food along the way.
B![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(147,63,177)" /><path d="m 150 670 Q 123 177 -370 150 Q 123 123 150 -370 Q 177 123 670 150 Q 177 177 150 670 z" fill="rgb(168,182,170)" /><path d="m 150 536 Q 153 147 -236 150 Q 153 153 150 -236 Q 147 153 536 150 Q 147 147 150 536 z" fill="rgb(87,73,85)" /><path d="m 150 110 Q 137 163 190 150 Q 137 137 150 190 Q 163 137 110 150 Q 163 163 150 110 z" fill="rgb(108,192,78)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Walk up stony peak gives great views of Akaroa and surrounding area (steep climb to 800metres) but worth the effort.
IT![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(16,200,139)" /><path d="m 150 508 Q 58 242 -208 150 Q 58 58 150 -208 Q 242 58 508 150 Q 242 242 150 508 z" fill="rgb(247,238,160)" /><path d="m 150 437 Q 170 130 -137 150 Q 170 170 150 -137 Q 130 170 437 150 Q 130 130 150 437 z" fill="rgb(8,17,95)" /><path d="m 150 324 Q 105 195 -24 150 Q 105 105 150 -24 Q 195 105 324 150 Q 195 195 150 324 z" fill="rgb(239,55,116)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Start the track at the main carpark and walk along the sea and you see so closely sea furs.
Then afterwards a scenic section starts.
L![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(181,157,220)" /><path d="m 150 557 Q 50 250 -257 150 Q 50 50 150 -257 Q 250 50 557 150 Q 250 250 150 557 z" fill="rgb(242,158,178)" /><path d="m 150 368 Q 271 29 -68 150 Q 271 271 150 -68 Q 29 271 368 150 Q 29 29 150 368 z" fill="rgb(13,97,77)" /><path d="m 150 186 Q 77 223 114 150 Q 77 77 150 114 Q 223 77 186 150 Q 223 223 150 186 z" fill="rgb(74,98,35)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Along beach/cliffs, great walk with fabulous views - even a safe place to retreat from the cows.
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3.5/5
+ Fur seal colony + Scenery - All of a sudden we were lost, poles were sometimes hard to find - Longer walk than indicated.
Fi![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(211,35,142)" /><path d="m 150 721 Q 126 174 -421 150 Q 126 126 150 -421 Q 174 126 721 150 Q 174 174 150 721 z" fill="rgb(141,205,237)" /><path d="m 150 351 Q 189 111 -51 150 Q 189 189 150 -51 Q 111 189 351 150 Q 111 111 150 351 z" fill="rgb(114,50,18)" /><path d="m 150 123 Q 96 204 177 150 Q 96 96 150 177 Q 204 96 123 150 Q 204 204 150 123 z" fill="rgb(44,220,113)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
the 2 day walk takes you through the exciting volcanic coastal walk.
Each day is about 8hrs duration staying at 2 very nice hut type accommodation. The walk can be done over 4 days at a more leisurely pace.
AS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(175,112,45)" /><path d="m 150 647 Q 258 42 -347 150 Q 258 258 150 -347 Q 42 258 647 150 Q 42 42 150 647 z" fill="rgb(240,237,102)" /><path d="m 150 495 Q 178 122 -195 150 Q 178 178 150 -195 Q 122 178 495 150 Q 122 122 150 495 z" fill="rgb(15,18,153)" /><path d="m 150 303 Q 128 172 -3 150 Q 128 128 150 -3 Q 172 128 303 150 Q 172 172 150 303 z" fill="rgb(80,143,210)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
I did the track a few years ago and loved it!
The scenery was stunning and the accommodation is great! It's well worth doing the four day option as it allows time for extra activities such as kayaking, penguin spotting, and chilling out in the sun!
Lu![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(232,61,140)" /><path d="m 150 712 Q 207 93 -412 150 Q 207 207 150 -412 Q 93 207 712 150 Q 93 93 150 712 z" fill="rgb(194,72,4)" /><path d="m 150 406 Q 273 27 -106 150 Q 273 273 150 -106 Q 27 273 406 150 Q 27 27 150 406 z" fill="rgb(61,183,251)" /><path d="m 150 292 Q 212 88 8 150 Q 212 212 150 8 Q 88 212 292 150 Q 88 88 150 292 z" fill="rgb(23,194,115)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Privately organised, wonderful track and charming huts that were every day a most beautiful surprise!
A![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(142,57,229)" /><path d="m 150 613 Q 120 180 -313 150 Q 120 120 150 -313 Q 180 120 613 150 Q 180 180 150 613 z" fill="rgb(158,252,232)" /><path d="m 150 452 Q 156 144 -152 150 Q 156 156 150 -152 Q 144 156 452 150 Q 144 144 150 452 z" fill="rgb(97,3,23)" /><path d="m 150 229 Q 152 148 71 150 Q 152 152 150 71 Q 148 152 229 150 Q 148 148 150 229 z" fill="rgb(113,198,26)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Beautiful private track with lovely huts to stay overnight.
A little pricey ($220 for 4 days) but worth it.
O![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(81,252,188)" /><path d="m 150 741 Q 118 182 -441 150 Q 118 118 150 -441 Q 182 118 741 150 Q 182 182 150 741 z" fill="rgb(70,98,26)" /><path d="m 150 430 Q 274 26 -130 150 Q 274 274 150 -130 Q 26 274 430 150 Q 26 26 150 430 z" fill="rgb(185,157,229)" /><path d="m 150 252 Q 237 63 48 150 Q 237 237 150 48 Q 63 237 252 150 Q 63 63 150 252 z" fill="rgb(174,3,67)" /></svg>)
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