I really love hiking in my spare time
yes I do too
where do you usually hike? in new zealand, a hike is also called "tramping"
New zealand is cool for that
yeah, however in the UK they like to call it "rambling" 
Are there any regulations in other countries for hiking?
not that i know of. it's usually promotoed positively
Are there specialized hiking areas in the United States?
yes, usually trails in the countryside
When was the word hiking first used in history?