Mt. Sunday

You see fences along the road, but nothing else to indicate that humans have touched the land. It takes awhile of driving on gravel, so slow down and soak in the outstanding natural beauty that surrounds you. The approach to Mount Sunday is stunning, and if you're a fan of the films you'll recognize Edoras immediately.

While the Dusky Track is not the longest hike in New Zealand, it is often regarded as the toughest. Traversing rugged terrain and muddy tracks while negotiating river crossings and ferocious sandflies, the Dusky Track hike is slow-going.

Mount Sunday Track is an out-and-back trail that covers 2.2 mi, with an elevation gain of 314 ft. It takes about 1–1.5 hr to complete.

The route up Mount Sunday is easy to follow. A wide gravel track leads hikers through the landscape towards the base of the mountain, including across a swing bridge spanning a pretty creek/river. Eventually, you'll come to the very base of the hill. From here, it's a steep climb up to the summit plateau.