SEVEN DAYS HIKING TRIP

WELCOME EVERYONE
Join us for seven days of hiking. We'll sleep at six DOC backcountry huts around the North Island ranging from $10 to $25 per night. Regular hikers only. Dates are subject to change.

SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
8:00am - Optional: join us at Western Springs Parkrun, run or walk 5km with 200+ people!
9:00am - Leave Auckland.

ITINERARY
Itinerary will be given to attendees nearer to the time.
Each day we will drive to the next hut's carpark and walk to that hut.
Average 6 hours walking per day.
Longest day has 10 hours of walking.
Shortest day has 3 hours of walking (the last day).
Most days can be a relaxed 8am start.

ACCOMMODATION

We may go to these huts, not in order, subject to change:
Hauhungaroa Hut (6 mattresses).
Leitch's Hut (16 mattresses).
Omaru Hut (8 mattresses).
Pouri Hut (12 mattresses).
Rerekapa Hut (14 mattresses, visiting only).
Waihaha Hut (10 mattresses).
Zekes Hut (4 mattresses).

Two options for paying:
1. Buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for $160 (allows 12 months of unlimited use at backcountry huts),
or
2. Buy 4x standard (blue) $10 hut tickets ($40)
and 2x serviced (green) $25 hut tickets ($50),
from Bivouac, Kathmandu, Living Simply, Macpac or a DOC visitor centre. Deposit the hut tickets in the honesty boxes at the huts.
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.
I suggest bring a sleeping mat for huts with a low mattress count (e.g. Zekes Hut).

Hut Facilities:
No electricity.
No rubbish bins.
Non-flush toilets.
Far from carpark.
Assume no reception.
Water from rain water tank or collect from stream.

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/waikato/places/pureora-forest-park/things-to-do/hauhungaroa-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/whareorino-conservation-area/things-to-do/leitchs-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/taranaki/places/moki-and-makino-conservation-areas/things-to-do/rerekapa-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/waikato/places/pureora-forest-park/things-to-do/waihaha-hut
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/central-north-island/places/hihitahi-forest-sanctuary/things-to-do/zekes-hut

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.
Winter gloves.
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
Total driving distance is about 1400km.
We will drive between 100 and 315km per day.
You're welcome to ask for a lift or offer a lift in the comments section.
If 1 passenger, suggest give $150 to driver.
2 passengers $130 each.
3 passengers $110 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.

SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Everything is subject to change.
We may need to change the dates of the trip.
We may need to change the huts we stay at, which may change the hut tickets you need to buy.

TO ATTEND
Click on "Join waitlist with a low priority", then send $15 to organiser for helping with the 10+ hours of organising, meetup costs and group safety gear.
There is no need to pay for Meetup+