You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.

Roads go ever ever on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

By streams that never find the sea;

Over snow by winter sown,

And through the merry flowers of June,

Over grass and over stone,

And under mountains in the moon.

 

Roads go ever ever on

Under cloud and under star,

Yet feet that wandering have gone

Turn at last to home afar.

Eyes that fire and sword have seen

And horror in the halls of stone

Look at last on meadows green

And trees and hills they long have known.

 

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

 

The Road goes ever on and on

Out from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

Let others follow it who can!

Let them a journey new begin,

But I at last with weary feet

Will turn towards the lighted inn,

My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

— Bilbo Baggins

Tongariro Crossing, Tongariro National Park

Summit Rock Track, Rock and Pillar Conservation Area

Roy’s Peak Track, Wanaka

Rob Roy Glacier Track, Mount Aspiring National Park

Wilkin River, Gillespie Pass Circuit, Mount Aspiring National Park

Mueller Hut Route, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

Gertrude Saddle Route, Fiordland National Park

Sunshine Bay Walk, Queenstown

Brides Veil Stream, West Matukituki Valley Track, Mount Aspiring National Park

Shovel Flat, West Matukituki Valley Track, Mount Aspiring National Park

Brod Bay, Kepler Track, Fiordland National Park

Paddys Track, Nelson Lakes National Park

Abel Tasman Coast Track, Abel Tasman National Park

Valley of the Trolls, Routeburn Track, Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Eldon, Mavora Lakes Park

Mount Eldon, Mavora Lakes Park

North Mavora Lake, Mavora Lakes Park

Eldrig Peak Track, Fiordland National Park

Mount Iron Walk, Wanaka

Breast Hill Track, Hawea Conservation Area

Liverpool Hut Route, Mount Aspiring National Park

Cardrona-Cromwell Pack Track, Pisa Conservation Area

Monro Beach, Westland

Monro Beach, Westland

Haast-Paringa Cattle Track, Westland

Cave Entrance, Cave Stream Scenic Reserve

Castle Hill, Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area

Stour River, Hakatere Conservation Park

Key Summit, Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park

Bywater Road, Westfarthing, The Shire, Eriador