NATURE'S NAVIGATORS

SOUTH ISLAND HIKING TRIP (15 DAYS)

WELCOME EVERYONE
Join us for a challenging walk up Mt Taranaki. Regular hikers only. At this time of year we may be able to reach the crater level, if we can summit safely, we will!

TRACK INFO
Walking up Mt Taranaki is challenging for many.
It's pretty steep, sometimes 30 degrees from horizontal.
It's likely to be very cold.
There is no water on the track.
There is one toilet half way up.

Elevation gain from carpark to summit is 1600 metres.
For comparison:
Mt Donald McLean, 400m elevation gain.
Pinnacles, 600m elevation gain.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing, 750m elevation gain.
Mt Te Aroha, 900m elevation gain.

- Watch this 8 minute video by the NZ Mountain Safety Council:
youtube.com/watch?v=UVqQE9p0i5E

- Information from DOC:
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/taranaki/places/te-papa-kura-o-taranaki/things-to-do/tracks/taranaki-maunga-summit-climb

FRIDAY 16 MAY

• Drive 5h to The Camphouse, 2879 Egmont Road, Taranaki.
• It's near the Taranaki/Egmont National Park Visitor Centre.
• Collect key from below the Visitor Centre.
• Lock box code is in booking email.
• Park in the carpark below The Camphouse.
• Get everything ready today.
• Make tomorrow morning very easy.
• Sleep @ The Camphouse.

SATURDAY 17 MAY

• Return key if needed.
• 4:50am Be outside The Camphouse, headlights on, laces done up, ready to go. Begin walking.
• 7:23am Sunrise.
• 11:00pm Reach our highest point, enjoy lunch.
• 11:30pm Begin walk down the mountain the same way.
• Reach The Camphouse before sunset.
• The whole walk may take 8-12 hours, group fitness dependent.
• 5:16pm Sunset.

Then two options:

• Many might prefer to sleep another night @ The Camphouse
• Some might feel ok to drive back to Auckland (organiser is likely to do this).

THE CAMPHOUSE

• $28/night.
• Is next to carpark.
• No shops nearby.
• Has hot showers, electricity, kitchen with stoves, microwaves, fridge, plates, bowls, cuttlery.
• Take your rubbish when you leave.
• Book any bunkroom at doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/taranaki/places/egmont-national-park/things-to-do/lodges/the-camphouse

HUT ETIQUETTE
When people are sleeping, be quiet.
Before sleeping, prepare your gear for a silent exit from bunkroom.
When your alarm wakes you, silently get your gear and yourself out of the bunkroom, and get ready quietly in the lounge.

GEAR FOR HUT
Sleeping bag or bedding.
Ear plugs (for snorers).
Pillow.
Towel.

GEAR FOR HIKING
Headlight.
Warm gloves (e.g. ski gloves, with glove liner).
Emergency shelter.
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
Backpack.
Pack liner or rubbish sack (to waterproof gear).
Food & water.
Warm-when-wet breathable layers (e.g. merino shirt, merino jumper, puffy synthetic-filled jacket).
Rain jacket.
Rain poncho.
Hiking shoes.
Sunscreen, lip balm, hat, sunglasses.

SOME MIGHT LIKE
Helmet (bike or mountaineering).
Gaiters (prevent stones entering shoes).
Long johns.
Rain pants.
Hiking poles (helps when walking down scree).

DRIVING THERE
You're welcome to ask for a lift or offer a lift in the comments section.
If 1 passenger, suggest give $75 to driver.
2 passengers $65 each.
3 passengers $55 each.

BY ATTENDING YOU AGREE
Your safety is your responsibility.
The slowest sets the pace.
We help each other.
We stick together.
Led by organiser.
No littering.

NOTES
No guests.
Tell someone your plans.
Attendees must be a member and RSVP to event.
Please send $4 to organiser for helping with meetup costs.

RSVPing
To attend, click on "Join waitlist with a low priority".
There is no need to pay for Meetup+

WELCOME EVERYONE
Join us for a snowy walk to see the crater lake of Mt Ruapehu from the top of the Dome. Might take 10 hours. Vertical ascent is 1100 metres. Regular hikers only.

FRIDAY 11 JULY
Drive 5 hours to Whakapapa Holiday Park.
Get your backpack ready today.
Make tomorrow very easy.

SATURDAY 12 JULY
Return key to reception letterbox.
4:50am - Cars outside reception, all wearing headlights, ready to drive.
Drive 15 minutes up to the carpark.
Helmets on.
Crampons on.
Begin walk up to the Dome.
7:34am - Sunrise.
We may return to carpark at 4pm.
5:12pm - Sunset.

Then two options:
1. Sleep another night in Whakapapa Village, or
2. Drive 5 hours to Auckland.

SUNDAY 13 JULY
Sunday is optional.
We can enjoy another snowy walk together.
We can decide together what we want to do.
Drive 5 hours to Auckland.

TRACK INFO
There is a toilet almost half way up.
Terrain may be snowy all the way, or a combination of rock and snow.

GEAR FOR SNOW HIKING
Winter boots.
Crampons (no microspikes).
Ice axe.
Helmet (bike or mountaineering).
Thermal socks (e.g. wool).
Headlight.
Backpack.
Pack liner or rubbish sack (to waterproof gear).
PLB (personal locator beacon).
Emergency shelter.
Food & water.
Warm-when-wet breathable layers (e.g. merino long johns, merino shirt, merino jumper, puffy synthetic-filled jacket).
Rain jacket.
Rain poncho.
Sunscreen, lip balm.
Sunglasses (with side protection, lens category 4 or greater).
Winter gloves (e.g. ski gloves with additional inner glove).
Buff.
No cotton.
No jeans.

GEAR OPTIONAL
Gaiters (knee height).
Cap (with no button and fits under helmet).
Rain pants.
Folding foam sleeping mat.
Umbilical leash for ice axe (e.g. Black Diamond Slinger leash).

GEAR HIRE
Organise gear hire early.
Contact Living Simply in Newmarket for winter boots ($50), crampons ($50) & ice axe ($25) hire.
livingsimply.co.nz/page/hire.aspx
Contact Bivouac stores for crampons ($10) & ice axe ($10) hire.
bivouac.co.nz/gearhire

WHAKAPAPA HOLIDAY PARK
No shops nearby.
Bring sleeping bag, towel, ear plugs (for snorers).
Has hot showers, shared fridge, stoves, microwaves, pots, plates, cutlery.
Options: $23 tent site, $32 backpacker bed or we could book our own room.

DRIVING THERE
You're welcome to use the comments section to offer a lift or ask for a lift.
700km return from Auckland.
If 1 passenger suggest give driver $75.
2 passengers $65 each.
3 passengers $55 each.

BY ATTENDING YOU AGREE
Your safety is your responsibility.
Attendees must RSVP to event.
The slowest sets the pace.
Tell someone your plans.
We help each other.
We stick together.
Led by organiser.
No littering.
No guests.

TO ATTEND
Click on "Join waitlist with a low priority", then send $10 to organiser for helping with meetup costs and group safety gear.
There is no need to pay for Meetup+