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New Zealand > Sports >
Trekking
/ Mountaineering
 The
New Zealand wilderness, forests and parks are a truly wonderful
place to explore, you will find easy woodlands, break a gentle sweat
in the foot hills, explore dense temperate and subtropical forests,
wind swept grasslands, all accessible with walkways, and well
defined trails. You must carry your own
food and sleeping gear. (some trails like the Milford Track, provide
portage) Huts sleep from 4 to 40 people and some have modest fees
applying.
There are high mountains up to 12,000 feet with extensive snowfields
and glaciers with some of the worlds best mountaineering.
Unless on the organised tours like The Milford Track, you will have
to carry your own food and bedding, and even there, be prepared for
all weather.
The
Milford Track is considered one of the finest walks
in the world. The three night and four day trek, is for
walkers how Mt Everest is the peak of mountaineering
for serious climbers. The trail is moderate in terms
of fitness level required and most have no problem
with the 1000 meter high point on the track. The walk
takes in glacial valleys and the Sutherland falls are
the 5th highest in the world. The trail starts near
Te
Anau on the
edge of Fiordland National Park
In the
more wilderness areas like the Paparoas, there are no
trails, no shelters. There are sheer cliffs,
spectacular waterfalls, and places where no human has
ever set foot. These places will test the skills of
well equipped adventurers.
Be it
just a few minutes stroll from the road side, and
extended walk over several days into the mountains,
you need to be aware that many people die in the New
Zealand forests. The
main reasons for tragedy are ignorance, lack of
preparedness and then there are some genuine
accidents. Others are getting lost, swept away by
rivers, hypothermia, starvation....
As the
climate is very changeable, conditions can change
rapidly from sunny day to blizzard in the space of an
hour. So regardless of where, or for how long, you
need to take some precautions.
When
going for that 30 minute stroll from the car, as long
as you do not get lost and have reasonable footwear,
you should be ok. If the conditions change, the car
is only minutes away.
However
if you go more than a half day from the road, it is
advised that you:
Plan your
journey, consult with the Conservation dept/ National Parks.
Make sure
you have the skills to handle the conditions - rivers, ice &
snow, sunburn.
Notify
others of your intent (National parks all
have books to sign in and out)
Carry
emergency rations as well as food for the
days planned away. If a river floods, you may
spend days waiting for it to be safe to
cross.
Take
adequate warm and waterproof clothing
Take a map
Note
that designated wilderness areas seldom have
marked trails or any shelter.
In
national parks and popular tramping areas,
forest huts provide basic shelter. In older
huts, there will be firewood ready which you
must replace for the next people. Modern huts
often have gas cookers, comfortable
mattresses and toilet facilities.
Terms:
Tramping - any walk where you walk
in the forest for a day or more.
Biv or bivouac - a rough shelter
Hut - public shelter/accommodation in the
mountains.
Ford - a designated safer place to cross a
river.
Swing bridge - a wire walkway across a
river.
National Parks
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