New Zealand's profile as a walking and hiking destination will be amplified with two new networks of walking tracks to be known as short walks and day hikes.
Mumbai, October 30, 2017: New Zealand's profile as a walking and hiking destination will be amplified with two new networks of walking tracks to be known as short walks and day 
hikes.
hikes.Alongside New Zealand's popular Great Walks network of nine multi-day trails (soon to become 10), the 19 short walks and day hikes will provide a complementary offering for walkers looking for shorter, more accessible experiences.
The walks are spread through both islands, many in close proximity to towns and cities or popular tourism destinations. The walks are graded and range from the ‘easy’ 45-minute Lake Gunn loop (accessed off the Te Anau - Milford Road) to the ‘advanced’ 7.5km / 6-hour Te Whara Track on the coast near Whangarei, north of 
Auckland.
Auckland.Tracks were chosen for their beauty and variety of environments, as well as accessibility and good visitor facilities.
Short walks (30 minutes - 3 hours) will appeal to those with compact itineraries and allow people to sample New Zealand’s varied natural heritage. Day hikes (3 - 7 hours) will encourage visitors to stay longer in a region while not having to commit to the full multi-day trail experience.
The new designations of ‘short walks’ and ‘day hikes’ were selected in response to tourism consumer research which showed that New Zealand has a solid reputation as a walking 
destination. All visitor markets researched ranked the country as a destination with great walking experiences.
destination. All visitor markets researched ranked the country as a destination with great walking experiences.The research showed that New Zealand is known for amazing walking experiences and that people want to experience a wide range of these, particularly shorter style walks.
Short walks (3 hours or less) were of high interest across all markets with Germans showing more interest in day length walks. Research also revealed that fitness level required, scenery and time were important drivers in selection.
“It’s fantastic to see that consumer feedback from both international visitors and Kiwis was a key input into the walk selection – this helps deliver an experience that we know New Zealanders and our international visitors are looking for and will enjoy,” says Stephen England-Hall, Chief Executive Tourism New Zealand.
Domestic and International tourism delivered over NZ$34 billion to the economy last year (YE March 2016), significantly benefiting communities through visitor spend and employing one in eight New Zealanders.
The tracks are all part of New Zealand’s extensive conservation estate – more than 30% of the land area – which includes 14,000 km of tracks, all administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Each walk was assessed by DOC as being able to accommodate increased visitor numbers. Potential biodiversity, biosecurity and cultural impacts from increased numbers of walkers were also considered.
“We know that New Zealand is highly regarded for its great walking experiences by New Zealanders and international visitors,” says DOC’s Tourism Manager Tinaka Mearns.The promotion was about providing the right information to inspire people to try new walks and experience different places around New Zealand, she said.
The walk networks were officially launched on 27 October, 2017.
Short walks (30 minutes to 3 hours)
Day hikes (4-8 hours)
Additional Information
Tourism New Zealand markets New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination. In the year ending July 2017, 3.66 million international visitors arrived in New Zealand: an increase of 9.5% on the previous year. International tourism is New Zealand’s largest earner of foreign exchange, pumping over $14.5 billion into the economy and directly employing over 188,000 people. http://ift.tt/X883Lo
Visa procedure: One may forward their application to the TT office in Mumbai or Delhi, which will then be directed to Immigration New Zealand. A visitor visa for New Zealand is processed within 15 working days. http://ift.tt/qxpVlV
Airline connections: Connecting flights to New Zealand are available on Singapore Airlines/Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines with stop-overs in their respective hubs. New Zealand’s international gateways are Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Domestic services: You can fly between all New Zealand cities and most major towns using domestic air services. Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the main providers. Their services are complemented by regional airlines, charter companies and scenic flight operators.
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For more information, please log on to www.newzealand.com