Where will the next Great Walk go?

The Department of Conservation is deciding where to establish New Zealand’s next two Great Walks. We asked four mad keen trampers to make the case for their favourite destinations.

If I’m being completely honest, I don’t want a Great Walk plonked in Nelson Lakes National Park.

Nelson Lakes is my happy place. It’s my favourite place to go tramping in New Zealand, maybe even the world.

I like Nelson Lakes how it is now. It’s not overrun by visitors. The trails aren’t perfectly maintained. It still retains its backcountry ruggedness.

But a compelling argument can be made for why Nelson Lakes could – not should – be the location for New Zealand’s next Great Walk.

The Nelson-Tasman region is already home to two Great Walks – the Abel Tasman Coast Track between Marahau and Golden Bay, and the Heaphy Track between Collingwood and Karamea.

Adding a third would make the region a true tramping ‘‘Mecca’’ of New Zealand, potentially surpassing Fiordland in terms of the variety of scenery.

The Travers-Sabine Circuit, a 4-7 day tramp with serviced huts, already exists and could be developed.

The scenery is spectacular, taking in Lake Rotoiti, the tussock flats of Travers Valley, roaring rivers, and a challenging alpine pass.

There are also popular side tracks to Blue Lake, the clearest known freshwater in the world, and Lake Angelus, which would add an extra day or two to the trip.

The village of St Arnaud, about 90 minutes south of Nelson, is well set up as a Great Walk gateway with a store, campground and high-end accommodation.

Nelson Lakes would be more demanding than most other Great Walks. Denim-clad tourists in casual sneakers probably wouldn’t fare too well and the last thing brand New Zealand needs is more deaths in the wilderness.

But for visitors to the region who want more adventure than what the Abel Tasman or the Heaphy can offer, a third, more rigorous Great Walk could be the answer.

It would require a greater investment of time. But the sense of accomplishment would also be greater. And isn’t that what a Great Walk should be – great?

New Zealand doesn’t need another ‘‘walk in the park’’ with trails smooth enough for buggies and wide enough for 4WD vehicles.

If the Department of Conservation has money to spare, put it into biodiversity projects and protecting New Zealand’s native species.

New Zealand’s next Great Walk already exists somewhere in our incredible network of trails. If it were to be in Nelson Lakes, all that’s required are a few signs and a catchy marketing campaign.

There’s no need to pave paradise to put up a manicured pathway or tourist attraction. The tourists come to New Zealand to experience our great outdoors, not some watered-down version.

I’ve spent a lot of time exploring Nelson Lakes, from St Arnaud to the St James Walkway. Every time it takes my breath away.

It’s already great, just the way it is.