Round the Mountain Track (4 days)

Join us for a 4 day walk around Mount Ruapehu in Winter!
We will stay in 3 huts. We may be walking on some snow or a lot of snow. It's called the "Round the Mountain Track". The highest elevation we will walk to is 1600m. Not to be confused with the "Around the Mountain Circuit" which goes around a different mountain!

Day 1, Thursday 27th July:
[7am] - Drive from Auckland to Whakapapa Village. Park below the Chateau Hotel.
Display parking permit in your parked car.
[12pm] - Walk from Whakapapa Village to Waihohonu hut 5.5h, 16km, up 270m, down 270m.
It will get dark, so we will use our headlights.

Day 2, Friday 28th July:
Walk to Mangaehuehu hut, 10.5h, 23km, up 470m, down 300m.

Day 3, Saturday 29th July:
Walk to Whakapapaiti hut, 10h, 25km, ups and downs within a 384m range.

Day 4, Sunday 30th July:
Walk to Whakapapa village, 2.5h, 8.6km, ups and downs within a 384m range.
Drive to Auckland.

Get free parking permit:
If you are driving, give me your vehicle licence plate ID, and I will print a free parking permit provided by the Tongariro Visitor Centre.

Buy backcountry hut pass or hut tickets:
- No bookings required, but you will need to purchase either a "backcountry hut pass" or three "backcountry hut tickets".

- A backcountry hut pass lasts for 12 months for $160, or 6 months for $120.
Information is here:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-in-a-hut/booking-and-paying/backcountry-hut-pass/

- A backcountry hut ticket costs $10 for one hut stay. You would need to buy 3 backcountry hut tickets.
Information is here:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-in-a-hut/booking-and-paying/backcountry-hut-tickets/

Information from DoC about the "Round the Mountain Track" is here:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/roundthemountain

Winter tramping
- During the winter season, snow and ice on all or parts of the track makes the Round the Mountain Track more challenging - alpine equipment and route finding skills are often required.
- Tramping the Round the Mountain Track in winter should only be attempted by experienced, well equipped people...

Huts in winter
- All huts and campsites operate on a first come, first served basis - there are no bookings. This includes Waihohonu Hut... You need hut tickets or a hut pass to stay - buy them before you leave.
- Hut rangers are not present, although DOC rangers do periodically check facilities and hut tickets.
- Cooking stoves are not provided at any of the huts - you need to bring your own.
- All huts have a firewood supply and a wood burner for heating.
- All huts have rainwater tanks. Sometimes water pipes freeze - you may need to get water directly from the tank...

This is the gear I will be taking:
- Ice axe for walking, winter boots, gaitors, crampons.
- Glove liner and thick ski gloves.
- Merino shirt.
- Merino long johns.
- Wool socks.
- Emergency shelter, PLB.
- Buff.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm.
- Puffy jacket.
- Rain pants, rain jacket, rain hat.
- Hiking pole.
- Food for four days.
- Stove and pot for melting snow into water, and for cooking.
- Warm sleeping bag, ear plugs.
- Headlight, spare batteries.
- Mobile phone fully charged.
- 68 litre backpack.

Getting there:
You are welcome to use the comments section below to ask for a lift, or to offer a lift.
Give your suburb, and I suggest your mobile number.
Enable and check meetup messages.
Passengers give $75 to driver.

Questions
1. Able to walk 66km over 4 days?
2. Will you buy a backcountry hut pass or three backcountry hut tickets?
3. If driving, for your free parking permit what is your vehicle licence plate ID?