General Information
Guides and Safety
An excellent guide can make the difference between a trip of a lifetime and just an ordinary trip. That is why we work hard to make sure we hire the best guides. Our handpicked professionals come from a range of backgrounds. Each has extensive outdoor and hiking experience and a passion for New Zealand's wild and beautiful backcountry. Our guides will ensure that your time with us is truly inspiring, a huge amount of fun and safe. All guides are trained in Mountain Safety First Aid. Please be gentle with your guide - good guides are hard to find!
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What to Take
New Zealand\'s weather is changeable and we can experience extremely cold weather at any time of year, especially in the mountains. Our huts/camps vary in altitude from sea level to over 1000 metres. It is necessary to have warm clothing. Jeans are not suitable for hiking. See our Recommended Gear page.
Essential Items- hiking boots (not shoes)
- backpack (at least 60 litres capacity)
- backpack liner (plastic bag)
- 3-season sleeping bag
- waterproof raincoat (gore-tex or similar)
- warm fleece/wool jersey (not cotton)
- shorts for hiking
- polypro/thermals - top & long-johns
- 3 pairs of socks (they get wet)
- warm hat or balaclava
- sunscreen and sunglasses
- drink bottle (1 litre)
- spare shoes or sandals
- flashlight/head lamp
- insect repellent (sandflies like foreign blood)
- spare set of clothes
- Optional items: Gaiters, binoculars, gloves/mittens, earplugs, walking poles, camera.
We supply: Therm-a-rest sleeping mat, tents, cooking equipment, plates/cutlery, first aid kit, safety equipment and maps.
Luggage: We allow space for 120 litres per person (one large pack plus one day pack). You may be required to forward excess luggage if you exceed this. Any gear you do not need while walking can be locked in the vehicle. We accept no responsibility for security of your luggage. We highly recommend travel insurance.
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Equipment Hire
We have high quality hiking equipment which you can hire for our Hiking Safaris. Please arrange hire gear when you book. Requests for hire equipment must be made at least 5 days before the departure date. Cancellation of gear hire must also occur at least 5 days in advance or no refund will be given.
|
Hire gear |
2-6 day trip (NZ$) |
7-11 day trip (NZ$) |
|
Backpack (60 litre) |
$30 |
$50 |
|
Sleeping bag |
$20 |
$50 |
|
Fleece jacket |
$20 |
$20 |
|
Thermal top & longjohns |
$20 |
$20 |
|
Raincoat |
$20 |
$40 |
|
Full set (all of above) |
$90 |
$140 |
|
Gaiters |
$20 |
$20 |
|
Walking pole |
$20 |
$20 each |
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Transport
You will travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. It is also equipped with a range of natural history reference books. The average driving time per day is around 2-3 hours and there will be a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. The guide will often stop the vehicle for you to take photos. On some of the nights you will be camping by the vehicle.
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Food
The first stop is usually the supermarket where everyone helps with buying food for the next few days. Everybody is involved with the preparation and cooking of meals: barbecues, salads, pancakes, curries, pasta, stir-fries, hangi...Vegetarian meals are no problem. When you are on overnight hikes the group will usually eat pasta and rice meals. There is always a lot of hiking food - chocolate, peanuts, raisins, biscuits. The vehicles carry a full range of cooking equipment including gas burners, woks, frying pans and billies. When you go on an overnight hike the group will carry a portable stove.
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Accommodation
The Hiking Safaris use a range of accommodation: camping, backcountry huts, cribs (summer house), hostels and cabins. You will generally camp if the weather is fine, so you get to enjoy the outdoors more and it costs you less. In less pleasant weather your guide will arrange accommodation for the group. Note that the accommodation and food costs are not included in the price of the safari.
Camping - We will camp as much as possible in a range of locations; under natural rock overhangs, on the beach, Department of Conservation campsites, established campgrounds with showers. You are provided with 2-person hiking tents to share and therm-a-rest sleeping mats. You may have a small campfire if fires are permitted.
Huts - Your guide will make use of excellent Department of Conservation huts. They are equipped with mattresses, running water and an outside toilet. Cooking is done on a portable stove. We do not have sole rights to huts and so must share with other hikers. Please be respectful of other hut users.
Cabins/Cribs - When the weather is bad your guide will seek out alternative accommodation. This can be anything that is available, from a private crib (summer house) to a cabin at a campground. Cost is usually less than $25 per night.
You must be prepared to go for three days (sometimes more) without a hot shower. There is always a river or lake for you to wash in. Some campsites/huts have natural hot pools!