The Travers - Sabine circuit is an undisputed New Zealand classic. Venturing through the beautiful Nelson Lakes national park the track travels through lush forested valleys, over an alpine saddle and with a short side trip visits the clearest freshwater lake in the world - the stunning Blue Lake. This 4-6 day tramp is on a well marked trail and is a very achievable goal for anyone with a moderate level of fitness.
A few years back I read about the Five Passes in a book called "Classic Tramping in New Zealand". At the time I thought that the route was well beyond my physical and navigational capabilities and I wondered if I'd ever be able to manage a trip of that scale. People were taking anywhere between five and ten days to complete the circuit and many had been tent bound for days waiting for inclement weather to pass.