• Average of 4-5 hours physical activity per day, up to 8-9 hours on longer days.
• Pack weights of 10-12kgs on some days.
• Altitude gains of up to 900m.
• Some uneven track surfaces and river crossings.
• Multi-day hiking experience recommended.
• Need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic.
• Terrain mostly tracks. Some may be slippery or rough; some off-track hiking and river crossings.

• Backpack (minimum 60 litres)
• Sleeping bag (minimum 3 season, preferably down, lightweight, between 1-2 kg)
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Drink bottle or camel back – 1 litre
• Small day pack
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Insect repellent
• Personal toiletries, medication and first aid
• Walking Poles (optional)
• Gaiters

• Pack-liner to keep things dry inside your backpack
• Kit bag to hold your spare gear when you are out hiking
• Emergency first aid kit
• Thermarests (3/4 length)
• Plates, cutlery, mugs, pots, etc

• Raincoat(goretex or similar)
• Thermal underwear (top and bottom, wool or polypropylene)
• Hiking boots
• Spare lightweight shoes or sandals
• Shorts or lightweight trousers (preferably quick-dry)
• Short-sleeved shirt x 2 (quick-dry, polypropylene or wool)
• Warm fleece/wool jersey (not cotton) x 2
• Socks (we suggest 3 pairs)
• Warm hat or balaclava
• Sunhat
• Gloves or mittens (wool or fleece)
• Togs (swimming costume)
• Towel (lightweight travel towels are great)

• Stay together. Wait if you have not seen the group for 10 minutes.
• Wait at all track junctions, huts, or river crossings for everyone to catch up.
• If you get separated, stop and wait until your guide finds you.
• Watch out for sunburn. Remember, NZ sun burns fast, wear a hat andsun block at all times until you are familiar with its strength.
• Drink plenty of water, it is safe to drink from most of the streams in thewilderness without treating the water but do ask.
• Help and look out for each other on river crossings, bush bashing androck scrambling.
• Ensure you have correct clothing – see ‘packing’ list.
• Hiking tracks in NZ can be quite muddy and sometimes rough with treeroots and rocks. But this is part of the fun.
• Snow slopes are extremely dangerous – guide leads on snow. No fooling around unless guide gives the OK.

• River crossing accidents are a major cause of fatalities in the NZ wilderness so learning correct techniques from your guide is imperative.
• If your pack has a quick-release hip belt keep it fastened (to prevent thepack riding over your head if you end up swimming). Chest straps andother hip belts should be undone.
• Wear shorts not long pants. If wearing a rain-coat turn up and tuck underhip belt so pockets don’t fill with water.
• You must wear boots when crossing rivers.
• To prevent the spread of Didymo (an invasive algae) boots, gaiters, socks etc. must be washed and dried before entering another waterway.

• Always attend the safety briefing.
• Always take spare warm clothing in case the weather turns bad.
• Go to the toilet before you get into the kayak.
• Wrap valuables and cameras securely in bags or dry bags andclose PROPERLY. Put adsorbent cloth/t-shirt with camera.
• Always stay together.

• Always attend the safety briefing, know the meet times and ‘back up’ plans.
• High visibility clothes if road sections.
• Be aware if you are in the front or back of group (otherwise you might be chasing imaginary people)
• Stop to smell the roses – you might be wearing yellow, but its not the Tour de France!
• Helmets are compulsory in NZ.
• In NZ front and rear brakes are opposite to US and Europe.

• Does your torch/headlamp have good batteries – carry spares if you need.
• If you want to take a camera, make sure that it is wrapped securely in plastic bags or dry bags.
• Go to the toilet beforehand.
• Talk to guide if you are nervous about caving beforehand.
• Cave formations take thousands of years to form – please don’t touch them unless your guide okays it.

• Talk to your guide before you go swimming and don’t swim alone.
• Respect the sea – never turn your back on the sea and watch out for freakwaves & rips – even when beach walking.
• If you get into difficulty while swimming – raise one of your hands upabove your head – stay calm.
• Be careful entering the sea. Don’t run into the sea – there may be rocks below the water.
• For rescues, things that float are – sleeping mats, spare tyre, empty water bottles (jerry cans), thermarests and dry bags stuffed with clothing
• Look for Jellyfish – (check along water edge and don’t swim if there arelots about) – treat with vinegar

• Keep head above water at all times – water may contain amoebic meningitis.
• Watch out for boiling water/mud hazards around and in the pool
• Remove jewellery as it tends to turn green or black.

• Observe all fire bans. Keep fires small, use only dead wood and completely put out with water before leaving and at night (includes wood burners in huts).
• Always have a bucket of water near fire to extinguish it and for burns (or stream/river nearby).
• Be careful when wearing synthetic clothing around fires. Sparks put holes in Gore-Tex and tents.
• Do not use axe without guide’s okay – wear boots.

• You’ll get to a shower mostly every 1-2 days, otherwise there are rivers to have a wash in.
• Keep streams, lakes and rivers clean – when cleaning and washing, take water and wash well away from the water source (drain used water into soil to allow it to be filtered) – all soaps/detergents are harmful to water-life.
• Laundry facilities are limited while on trips (every 2-3 days).
• Always use toilets when they are provided even though long-dropsmay be a bit rustic!
• In situations where there is no toilet, bury toilet waste. No 1’s (pee) offthe track – No 2’s (poop) in 5-10 cm deep hole 50-100m from any water (lake, river or stream), bury toilet paper, cover up hole with soil/leaf litter. Please do not burn toilet paper.
• Sanitary pads/tampons are treated as rubbish – carried out by user – ask guide for sanitary rubbish bags.

• Correct hygiene and toilet practices are essential to keep water supplies (rivers, lakes) safe to drink.
• Remove rubbish – pack it in, pack it out. Please help guide to separate rubbish, recycling and compost.
• Keep to the track where there is one – protect native plants and animals
• Respect cultural heritage.
• Enjoy your visit – camp carefully and leave no trace of your visit. Will the next visitor know you have been there?

• Hypothermia – make sure you wear & carry the correct clothing!
• Fitness – hiking all day with a backpack on is hard work, get fit beforeyou come on a kiwi-style trip. If you are fit enough you will be able totake part in all the hikes.
• Hire gear – use the supplied liner with sleeping bags, carry all hire gear in pack not tied to outside. Please tell us if any repairs are required.
• Equipment – it is so easy to lose stuff in shared huts. Help us keep aneye on gear.
• Roads – remember kiwis drive on the left, look carefully when crossing the street for an ice-cream.
• Tipping – it is not expected in NZ to tip for service, but if you feel yourguide has done an excellent job, tips will be accepted graciously.

Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful trip.