NATURE'S NAVIGATORS

WELCOME EVERYONE
Join us for a hut baggin'! 5 days hike, in the Matemateaonga Range, east from Mt Taranaki.

SATURDAY 20TH DECEMBER
Optional: 8am Enjoy Western Springs 5km parkrun (200+ people, run, walk, or watch, the choice is yours!).
9:30am Begin 6h drive to Upper Mangaehu Road.
5pm Begin short 1.5h walk to Omaru Hut (8 mattresses).
See Omaru Hut information here doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/huts/omaru-hut

SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER
Walk 8.5h to Ngapurua Hut (10 mattresses).
See Ngapurua Hut information here doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/huts/ngapurua-hut

MONDAY 22ND DECEMBER
Walk 4.5h to Tieke Marae/Kainga Campsite and to the Whanganui River, where the Whanganui Journey happens.
Walk 1h to Puketotara Hut (8 mattresses).
See Puketotara Hut information here doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/huts/puketotara-hut

TUESDAY 23RD DECEMBER
Walk 7h to Pouri Hut (12 mattresses).
See Pouri Hut information here doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/huts/pouri-hut

WEDNESDAY 24TH DECEMBER
Walk 6.5h to carpark.
Drive 6h to Auckland.

PAYING FOR THE HUTS

Two options for paying:

Option 1:
Before you go, buy four serviced (green) DOC hut tickets, $25 each,
from Bivouac, Kathmandu, Living Simply, Macpac or a DOC visitor centre. Deposit the hut tickets in the honesty boxes at the huts.

Option 2:
Buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for $160 (allows 12 months of unlimited use at backcountry huts),

Hut Info:
No electricity.
No rubbish bins.
Non-flush toilets.
Far from carpark.
Assume no reception.
Water from rain water tank.
The huts we are sleeping at are not bookable.
The mattresses are "first come first served" which means you can claim a mattress if another hasn't.
You may like to bring an air sleeping mat, in case others have claimed the mattresses.

Hut Etiquette:
Respect sleepers.
Tidy up before you leave.
Take your rubbish with you.

Links to each hut:
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/huts/omaru-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/huts/pouri-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/huts/ngapurua-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/huts/puketotara-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/manawatu-whanganui/places/whanganui-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/tieke-kainga-campsite

GEAR - BACKPACK
Backpack.
Pack liner or rubbish sack (to waterproof gear).
Emergency shelter.
Food & water.
Headlight.
Mobile phone.

GEAR - CLOTHING
Warm-when-wet breathable layers (e.g. merino shirt, merino jumper, puffy synthetic-filled jacket).
Hiking shoes.
Rain jacket.
Rain poncho.
Hat.
No cotton.
No jeans.

GEAR - PROTECTION
Sunscreen.
Lip balm.
Sunglasses.

GEAR - FOR HUTS
Sleeping bag.
Ear plugs (for snorers).
Toilet paper.

GEAR - IF CAMPING
Tent.
Sleeping mat.

GEAR - RECOMMENDED
Buff.
Long johns.
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
Sleeping mat (in case mattresses are claimed by others).

GEAR - OPTIONAL
Gaiters.
Rain pants.
Hiking poles.
Camping stove, pot, gas canister.

DRIVING THERE
You're welcome to ask for a lift or offer a lift in the comments section.
If 1 passenger, suggest give $90 to driver.
2 passengers $78 each.
3 passengers $65 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 $5 or more to organiser for helping with the 6+ hours of organising, meetup costs and group safety gear.
There is no need to pay for Meetup+

WELCOME EVERYONE
Join us for a hut baggin'! 5 days hike, in the north-east corner of Kaweka Range.

SATURDAY 27 DECEMBER
9:00am Drive 450km 7h to Makahu Road end carpark.
5:00pm Walk 6.6km 3h to Te Puia Hut (26 mattresses).

SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER
Walk 3km ~2h (500m ascent) to Makino Hut (6 mattresses) - just visiting.
Walk 9.8km (600m ascent) to Ballard Hut (4 mattresses).

MONDAY 29 DECEMBER
Walk 6.2km (700m descent) to Middle Hill Hut (6 mattresses).

TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER
Walk 5.5km to Kaweka Flats Bivy (2 mattresses) - just visiting.
Walk ~2km ~1h to Iron Whare Hut (2 mattresses) - just visiting.
Walk ~6.2km to Middle Hill Hut (6 mattresses).

WEDNESDAY 31 DECEMBER
Walk 5.26km to Makahu Road.
Walk 3.6km along Makahu Road to end carpark.
Drive 450km 7h to Auckland.

PAYING FOR THE HUTS

Two options for paying:

Option 1:
Before you go,
buy 1 serviced (green) DOC hut ticket, $25 each,
buy 4 standard (blue) DOC hut tickets, $10 each,
from Bivouac, Kathmandu, Living Simply, Macpac or a DOC visitor centre. Deposit the hut tickets in the honesty boxes at the huts.

Option 2:
Buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for $160 (allows 12 months of unlimited use at backcountry huts),

Hut Facilities:
No electricity.
No rubbish bins.
Non-flush toilets.
Far from carpark.
Assume no reception.
Water from rain water tank.
The huts we are sleeping at are not bookable.
The mattresses are "first come first served" which means you can claim a mattress if another hasn't.
You may like to bring an air sleeping mat, in case others have claimed the mattresses.

Hut Etiquette:
Respect sleepers.
Tidy up before you leave.
Take your rubbish with you.

Links to each hut:
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/hawkes-bay/places/kaweka-forest-park/things-to-do/huts/te-puia-hut-lodge
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/hawkes-bay/places/kaweka-forest-park/things-to-do/huts/makino-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/hawkes-bay/places/kaweka-forest-park/things-to-do/huts/ballard-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/hawkes-bay/places/kaweka-forest-park/things-to-do/huts/middle-hill-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/hawkes-bay/places/kaweka-forest-park/things-to-do/huts/kaweka-flats-bivvy
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/hawkes-bay/places/kaweka-forest-park/things-to-do/huts/iron-whare

GEAR - BACKPACK
Backpack.
Pack liner or rubbish sack (to waterproof gear).
Emergency shelter.
Food & water.
Headlight.
Mobile phone.
Rubbish bag.

GEAR - CLOTHING
Warm-when-wet breathable layers (e.g. merino shirt, merino jumper, puffy synthetic-filled jacket).
Hiking shoes.
Rain jacket.
Rain poncho.
Hat.
No cotton.
No jeans.

GEAR - PROTECTION
Sunscreen.
Lip balm.
Sunglasses.

GEAR - FOR HUTS
Sleeping bag.
Ear plugs (for snorers).
Toilet paper.

GEAR - IF CAMPING
Tent.
Sleeping mat.

GEAR - RECOMMENDED
Buff.
Long johns.
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
Sleeping mat (in case mattresses are claimed by others).

GEAR - OPTIONAL
Gaiters.
Rain pants.
Hiking poles.
Camping stove, pot, gas canister.

DRIVING THERE
You're welcome to ask for a lift or offer a lift in the comments section.
If 1 passenger, suggest give $90 to driver.
2 passengers $78 each.
3 passengers $65 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.
Smoking forbidden.
We stick together.
Led by organiser.
No littering.
No guests.

TO ATTEND
Click on "Join waitlist with a low priority", then send $5 or more to organiser for helping with the 4+ hours of organising, meetup costs and group safety gear.
There is no need to pay for Meetup+

WELCOME EVERYONE
Join us for a big hike up the Mt Taranaki Summit Route. Only 5.5km horizontally, but vertically it's a 1.6km ascent from the carpark, so attendees need to be fit and regular hikers.

BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
Book The Camphouse for Saturday 17th January 2026, for $28.
Book here doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/taranaki/places/te-papa-kura-o-taranaki/things-to-do/lodges/the-camphouse

The camphouse has a kitchen with stoves, microwaves, plates, bowls, cutlery, running water,
hot showers,
electricity.
flushing toilets.
Bring a sleeping bag, ear plugs (for snorers), a towel if you'd like to shower, and a rubbish bag.

SATURDAY 17TH JANUARY
Optional: 8:00am Join us and 200+ people at Western Springs Parkrun! Run or walk 5km. It's free.
10:00am Begin 5 hours drive to Mt Egmont Visitor Centre, 2679 Egmont Road.
Get passcode in booking email.
Collect key from below the Visitor Centre (use the passcode).
Park in the carpark below The Camphouse.
Sleep @ The Camphouse.

HUT ETIQUETTE
Respect sleepers.
Tidy up before you leave.
Take your rubbish with you.

SUNDAY 18TH JANUARY
Get ready quietly.
Return key.
4:50am be outside The Camphouse, headlights on, laces done up, ready to go, begin walking.
6:18am Sunrise.
11:00am reach summit, enjoy lunch, then start going down the mountain.
8:50pm Sunset.
Drive 5 hours to Auckland.

GEAR - GENERAL
Backpack which can easily hold everything.
Pack liner or rubbish sack (to waterproof gear).
Emergency shelter.
Food.
Water (some suggest 3 litres, I take less).
Headlight.

GEAR - CLOTHING
Hiking shoes.
Thermal socks (e.g. wool).
Warm-when-wet breathable layers (e.g. merino long johns, merino shirt, merino jumper, puffy synthetic-filled jacket).
Rain jacket.
Rain poncho.
No cotton.
No jeans.
Warm gloves.

GEAR - PROTECTION
Sunscreen.
Lip balm.
Sunglasses.

GEAR - FOR ACCOMMODATION
Sleeping bag.
Ear plugs (for snorers).
Towel (if showering).
Rubbish bag.

GEAR - RECOMMENDED
Buff.
Long johns.
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
Helmet (mountaineering helmet, or bike helmet).

GEAR - OPTIONAL
Gaiters (prevents stones entering shoes on the scree section).
Rain pants.
Hiking poles (helps on the scree section).

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.
Attendees must RSVP to event.
The slowest sets the pace.
Tell someone your plans.
We help each other.
Smoking forbidden.
We stick together.
Led by organiser.
No littering.
No guests.

TO ATTEND
Click on "Join waitlist with a low priority".
There is no need to pay for Meetup+
Organiser will contact you by Whatsapp.
You'll need to read all of the description,
watch the Mountain Safety Council video at youtube.com/watch?v=UVqQE9p0i5E
and send $5 to organiser for meetup fees and organising and group safety gear.