WALKING EXPERIMENT: Matt Jenke wearing a 15-camera Google Trekker backpack, at the start of the first trial of the technology in New Zealand in Marahau.

Aliens have not invaded the Abel Tasman National Park - that ET-looking figure is a Google Trekker.

The search company's latest move to map the globe is a version of its Street View mapping system adapted for places vehicles cannot go and this morning it got its first test in New Zealand.

A tramper, or in American English, a trekker, equipped with the Google "Trekker", a 15-kilogram setup that includes 15 five-megapixel cameras, set off from Marahau to complete the Abel Tasman Coast Walk in three days.

Keen Auckland tramper Matt Jenke will be accompanied by Department of Conservation geo-spatial analyst Rebecca Hayter to help him with the load and to make sure he knows where he is going. Another DOC ranger, Bill Franklin, will support the pair by dropping supplies by boat to each overnight stop.

The cameras take photos every 2.5 seconds, capturing 360-degree views. Google's guinea pig, Mr Jenke, said he had walked the Abel Tasman three times before and although the 15kg photography rig felt comfortable and secure, he would have to be careful of overhanging branches.

He controls the rig with a handheld Android-based device, allowing him to cover the camera's sensitive lenses if it started raining, for example.

The Abel Tasman experiment is part of a trail that includes the Heaphy Track and if that goes well, the team will go on to Google Trek all of the nine Great Walks over time.

"The nine Great Walks host some of the most spectacular views in New Zealand. We're delighted to be able to help the Department of Conservation share them with the rest of the world by using Trekker, our latest Street View technology," said Nabil Naghdy, Google Maps product manager, Google New Zealand.

Since its launch last year, Google has taken Trekker to several natural wonders around the world, such as the Grand Canyon, the Galapagos Islands and most recently, Mt Fuji. Google has also taken Street View underwater to capture 360-degree panoramic imagery of ocean environments in Australia, the Philippines and Hawaii.

For Project Janszoon, the privately funded trust working with DOC to restore the ecology of the Abel Tasman National Park, the Google Trekker imagery will be a great benchmark for its work, said director Devon McLean.

"Project Janszoon is at the start of a 30-year restoration project and over the years Google Trekker will provide a visual benchmark of how our work is enhancing the park's ecology. While nothing beats walking the track yourself, it is great to see technology making it more accessible for people to plan their trips and become aware of the park's spectacular natural environment," Mr McLean said.

Glen Smith, Google Street View's Asia Pacific project manager, said he did not know when the images collected on this week's trial would be available on Street View.