Plan your trip

Whether you have two or three days to fully explore the trails or you're taking a short group tour, you'll get the most out of your trip if you plan ahead.

Plan your trip

Top travel tips

Use a GPS 
Navigation can be hard, especially in these parts of France and Belgium where the landscape is flat with not many visible landmarks. The road systems can be complex - so double check that a GPS is included with your rental - or bring your own.

Pack headphones
Bring a decent pair of headphones to experience the audio stories without disturbance.

Base yourself in Ieper or Arras
The main trails and key sites are a day trip from these cities, so staying in either city will take the hassle out of your travel.

Avoid tourist traps
In towns, venture beyond the main squares to avoid the tourist traps and discover better restaurants, cafés and bars. 

The White Van Rule
A white tradesman’s van parked outside an establishment usually indicates a great lunch!

Be aware of unexploded shells
These are still found regularly in France and Belgium - especially in fields - so never pick up any unidentified objects while travelling these sites. Don’t purchase any ammunition souvenirs either!

Don’t venture off main roads or paths 
Use caution when stopping on the side of the road. Be aware of trucks, cars, farm vehicles, and cyclists. Bring a high-visibility vest to wear when walking near roads.

Pack wet weather gear
Bring a rain jacket, an umbrella, and choose sturdy, wet-weather shoes - as these parts of Belgium and France experience frequent rainfall.


Ngā Tapuwae Western Front trails

The trails are based around nearby towns. From Ieper, Arras or Salisbury, you can begin your journey - choosing trails to suit.

plan trails map


In and around Ieper, Belgium

A small and vibrant town, leper is an ideal location to base yourself. With its rich history and many museums, you can easily visit the battle sites of Passchendaele, Polygon Wood, Messines, and Plugstreet.

More about Ieper

1. Behind the lines
Learn about the New Zealand effort in Ypres and Poperinge, find out about how the hospitals and transport systems worked, and see evidence of the soldiers’ sacrifice in the many cemeteries.

Stream the Behind the Lines overview

2. Passchendaele
Find out about the preparations for the New Zealand and British assault, see the landscape over which the soldiers advanced, and learn how the Germans inflicted defeat upon the Allies - causing New Zealand’s darkest day.

Stream the Passchendaele overview

3. Polygon Wood
The New Zealand Division wintered here after their defeat at Passchendaele. They prepared for an attack on Polderhoek Chateau and trained in anticipation of the impending German offensive.

Stream the Polygon Wood overview

4. Messines
See the remaining German bunkers where much fighting took place, hear about the painstaking preparations, the huge mine explosions and the attack in which the New Zealanders took Messines village - resulting in complete victory.

Stream the Messines overview

5. Plugstreet
Learn about the soldiers’ lives billeting near the town of Armentières and their interaction with locals. At Plugstreet, find out about life underground, and the battle at La Basseville.

Stream the Plugstreet overview 


In and around Arras, France

Arras is famous for its Flemish Baroque houses, underground tunnels and caverns, and it was here that ‘Bloody April’ was fought in the skies between British and German pilots. Staying in Arras is perfect for travelling to the nearby Somme battle sites of 1916 and 1918 and for visiting the town of Le Quesnoy.

More about Arras

6. Arras
Learn about the New Zealand Tunnelling Company and the famous underground tunnels. Visit the memorial, the fortress walls designed by Vauban, hear about the war in the air, and see the cost of the fighting at Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery.

Stream the Behind the Lines overview

7. Somme 1916
Discover where the New Zealanders launched their first major attack - supported by tanks. Visit the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, the outskirts of Flers where the battle continued, and the Warlencourt Cemetery where many of those who fought are buried.

Stream the Somme 1916 overview

8. Somme 1918
Hear about the battles to hold off the advancing Germans, travel to where the New Zealanders pushed forward, fighting the Germans back, through Rossignol Wood, Bapaume and beyond.

Stream the Somme 1918 overview

9. Road to Le Quesnoy
Follow the New Zealanders in the last weeks of the war as they advanced through Havrincourt and Crèvecœur - eventually taking the town of Le Quesnoy in a daring attack.

Stream the Le Quesnoy overview 


In and around Salisbury, UK

Staying in Salisbury provides you with an excellent opportunity to explore the locations of both Brockenhurst and Bulford. Brockenhurst was home to the No.1 New Zealand General Hospital and other medical facilities, and Bulford was the site of Sling Camp, where many New Zealanders completed their training before departing for the Western Front.

More about Salisbury

10. Brockenhurst
Learn about how this area became an enormous medical complex run by New Zealanders, where over 20,000 soldiers passed through. Later, drive to Bulford and learn about how recruits were trained at Sling Camp and see the famous giant chalk Kiwi.

Stream the Brockenhurst overview 


Find where a relative is buried

If you wish, you can relate any of the trails to your own family history. There are two places you can search to find out where a relative might be buried or memorialised:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission 

Auckland Museum Cenotaph Database