It's raining, but I still want to get out and experience Nature. These walks are mostly in the forest, sheltered and on good tracks. Some get to waterfalls, which will be pumping. Others are on the coast. You are going to get wet, so do it in a place that's gonna make you love the power of Nature.

There’s something about watching these awesome critters in their own environment. When they’re not aware of us and are doing their natural thing, I feel transfixed. Time flies.

From parrots to penguins, here are the best places to spend time with our feathered friends.

Haven't got the time to go everywhere you’d like? Don't fret. We've got it sorted. Here's our take on the best spots. And they are not all on the beaten path.

You're going to have to work for these moments. Fitness and experience essential.

Firstly, best of luck. Secondly, respect. Thirdly, they will love you for it later.

There's a soft landing in these adventures, but the opportunity for bliss doesn’t diminish.

Safe tracks with little rugrats, but high in stimuli We've had toddlers. We know.

New Zealand was a hard country for the first settlers: clearing, cutting, building, farming. Walk through these memories of hardship and innovation.

Today’s backcountry tracks are often old gold mining trails, where relics from these days can still be found.

Our European history in NZ is recent. Relics from gold mining, logging and resource extraction can be found at these sites.

Although we have never been invaded, we still had some paranoia surrounding invasion. When Europeans turned up, there was altercation with indigenous Maori. These walks explore our colonial military history, from the New Zealand Wars through to World War II.

Over 70% of NZ was covered in forest before human arrival. Most is now gone and converted to farmland. It was tough work felling the dense forest. These walks explore the infrastructure and machines used to deforest mother earth.

Love forests? Love seeing trees so big you feel humbled? This is our selection of the best forest walks NZ wide.

Between the treeline and the mountain tops is a world unto its own - the Sub-Alpine. The tussocks and tarns are worth the slog.

Explore old fortified pa sites, places of cultural significance and where scenes of altercation with European invaders took place.

Where there’s limestone, there are caves. Here they all are. Bring your headtorch.

You won't have heard of most of these. Many take some getting to. But if waterfalls are your thing, then here they are.

NZ is a mountainous place. Lots to look out. Some are easy jaunts, some are full day mountaintop missions. But on each of these walks somewhere, there is a lookout.

Hot springs. Some natural, some now tamed with human structures. Therapeutic in so many ways - physically and socially. As a wise man once said, "It’s always sunny in a hot pool…"

Just fancy lazing about for the day? Here's our top picks - often away from the crowds.

Rivers and lakes. Plenty of these across Aotearoa. These walks follow rivers and lakeshores.

We are blessed with an abundance of coastline. These walks explore it.

There's nothing quite like a good picnic in a magical spot.

We're still a work in progress round here. These areas are geologically active. Or are just geological curiosities.

Abel Tasman, Captain Cook, Dumont Durville. Many navigators made it to these shores and left their mark.

Symbolic of a wild coastline. Lighthouses were an essential part of early NZ and have stories to tell. Today they are still guiding lights to awesome spots.

Nearly a thousand backcountry huts are scattered around NZ. Most take days to get to - these are overnight trips.

Usually with predator proof fences, these enclaves allow our birdlife to flourish. Much community participation goes into maintaining these.

Wheelchair accessible walks. All streams bridged. All surfaces even.

Even in the major cities you are never more than 30 minutes from the natural world.

We're a rural land. Lots of farms with sheep and cows. These public walks provide access to farmland. You get a walk with interest and experience the farmer's 'office'.

Sites where Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed.