POST-XMAS 5 DAY HIKE (KAWEKA RANGE)

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+