Multiday Tramping

Exploring the wilderness of New Zealand on foot is immensely rewarding and is something that three-quarters of a million people do each year. However, it comes with some unique challenges. Our landscape is rugged, steep, remote and often covered in dense bush or is exposed to wild weather patterns. The weather can be notoriously fickle and changes can occur very quickly. Don’t be surprised if you’re caught in a storm in the middle of summer, especially if your intended journey takes you above 1000m altitude.

Each year an average of 769,363 people go tramping in New Zealand. 447,366 of these are international visitors.

– There and Back, 2016

Watch how to pack for a tramp below:

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No two tracks are the same. Each one will require different levels of fitness, equipment and planning. It doesn't take a big injury to slow you or your group down considerably and there are plenty of people who've got lost at a track junction. If you do have an 'incident' in the Kiwi outdoors and you end up spending an unexpected night out the temperature can drop dramatically and its often damp as well. You'll be thankful you planned accordingly – let's get started.

The remoteness of many of New Zealand's tracks means you can't rely on your cellphone if you need help. It's up to you to make smart decisions and tell someone your plans before you head out. That way if you're not back when you expected to be, someone can send out a call for help on your behalf.

Helpful hint:

The average speed for a group tramping in New Zealand is approximately 3km/h. This varies depending on fitness of group and track difficulty.

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What are the risks?

There and Back

For the first time, the outdoor recreation sector has a comprehensive picture of what’s been going on in the New Zealand outdoors from an outdoor safety perspective, across 5 major outdoor recreation activities. This publication combines all injury, search and rescue and fatality data together to present a comprehensive ‘state of the nation’ style detailed breakdown.

Read it online

47% of Tramping fatalities occur in December and January.

– There and Back, 2016.

The Central North Island has 10.5x the national average of search and rescues.

– There and Back, 2016.

Helpful resources

How ready are you?

Click to expand the items below and learn what you need to consider of the 5 Outdoor Safety Code Steps:

Plan your trip

Where are you going? Find routes online, talk to experienced friends and experts to find a trip that suits your skills. Do you need permission for the area?
Who are you going with? How experienced are the group members? What previous experience and skills can they bring?

How long will it take? - Each day and total trip time - Think about each day and the total trip / an achievable daily distance
Where can you get local knowledge? Visit your local DOC centre, talk to locals or research online.
What are potential hazards? Think about the weather, the season, the local area and understand what hazards could occur along your trip.
Prepare carefully to avoid an unexpected night out. Anything can happen in the outdoors it it pays to be prepared. WATCH: 'How easy is it to get lost outdoors?' - Newshub, 2016
You can use our Plan My Trip Tool to help you do this

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Tell someone your plans

What would happen if something went wrong such as an injury or you got lost? It is vital to tell someone to raise the alarm if you have not returned. Make sure you tell them details such as:

What are you doing?
Where are you going?
Who is going with you?
Your transport there?
When you will be back?

There are good, better and best ways to leave your intentions with someone. Click the link below to find out how:

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Be aware of the weather

New Zealand’s changeable weather conditions frequently catch out the unprepared. Consider how it might affect your desired trip if weather were to change for example:

Exposure to the wind and cold
Overheating and dehydration
River crossings
Slippery tracks and terrain
Staying longer than expected, and therefore extra supplies.

Learn how to be aware of the weather, how to read the weather in the link below

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Know your limits

Is the trip achievable for you and the members of your group? Well there are plenty of tracks to choose from in New Zealand so researching before you go is a great way to identify the perfect trip. Involve everyone in planning process and get help from the following resources:

People who have already been there
Local DOC Visitor Centres
Pamphlets, visitor guides and books
Online resources such as local council websites and DOC

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Take Sufficient Supplies

What you take with you will make all the difference if something were to go wrong such as getting lost, delayed or injured.

Wear the right fabrics. Clothing only retains what heat your body produces. Certain fabrics wick moisture away from the body and retain warmth. Avoid cotton clothing – when cotton gets wet it ceases to insulate you. Wet and cold clothing significantly contributes to hypothermia.

Some of the essentials to get you started:

A comfortable backpack. A good estimate is 25-30L bag per person
A specifically designed MSC pack liner, or you can use a (new) rubbish bag but be careful you don't poke holes in it when loading / unloading your gear
Shelter. Even if you’re not planning on staying in huts, a lightweight emergency shelter is a good idea
Food and water - always take more than you need
A basic first aid kit with any personal medication you may need
A map of your walk
A communication device. Mobile phones have limited coverage in most outdoor locations. If you are going into a remote area consider hiring a personal locator beacon.
A basic survival kit.
Use our online Plan My Trip Tool to receive a PDF of the track conditions, weather and gear list for your chosen activity.

Learn more about how to pack for your trip:

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Helpful hint:

Write in every hut book you come across, even if you're not staying the night - this is the first place Search and Rescue look if they're trying to find you.