How to plan a hike in New Zealand

Planning a hike well makes everything else easier. I use this checklist for every multi-day trip in New Zealand. It’s not always linear; you’ll often revisit earlier stages as you learn more about the route or as conditions change. Treat it as a flexible process that works for you, your group, and your trip.

Plan

Mindset

Craig Mod’s walk rules: walk whenever possible, no podcasts or social media, be present. Rules define the character of a walk; treat them as loosely canonical. His walk-and-talk format is worth exploring for group trips.

The Tiaki Promise. Tiaki means to care for people and place. In New Zealand’s backcountry you’re moving through land with deep meaning for tangata whenua and through ecosystems that are ancient and fragile. Being in the outdoors is a privilege, not a right.

Basics

• Block out dates on the calendar
• Choose the right trip for your skill level and research the route thoroughly
• Build fitness for the demands of the route: elevation, pack weight, and daily distance
• Check MetService and NIWA forecasts and DOC alerts. Weather in New Zealand can shift fast. Adjust your plans if needed.
• For alpine routes in winter or spring, check NZ Avalanche Centre forecasts
• Research track conditions: snow coverage, river crossings, and any closures
• Check biosecurity requirements for your route. Clean boots and gear before you go to prevent spreading kauri dieback, didymo, and other pathogens between waterways and ecosystems

Logistics

• Purchase campsite passes, hut passes, or hut tickets
• Book huts and any other accommodation
• Book transport (air or ground)
• Arrange a vehicle shuttle for point-to-point tracks, or confirm parking at the trailhead
• File a trip intention with Plan My Walk and send it to your emergency contact¹

Gear

• Assemble your first aid & repair kit
• Pack all necessary gear: warm layers and extra food, prepared for bad weather and an unexpected night out. See my gear list
• Carry a PLB or satellite messenger
• Pack insect repellent. Sandflies are severe in Fiordland, the West Coast, and many river valleys
• Check and charge all batteries

Food and supplies

• Plan breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks for each day²
• Identify water sources and plan your treatment method (filter, tablets, or boiling)
• Purchase food and stove fuel
• Prepare and package food

Maps

• Finalise the route
• Collect or create guidebooks, data books, maps, and GPX files. Check Walking Access Aotearoa for access maps
• Print or purchase a paper map
• Load digital files onto GPS and smartphone
  • Download offline map area in mapping apps
  • Load GPX files onto apps
  • Transfer PDF guides or notes to your phone

Do

• Shut down the house
  • Set an out of office response for email
  • Switch off power outlets
  • Water plants
• Final pack-up
  • Gear
  • Maps and guides
  • Non-perishable food, water, and fuel
  • Perishable food (avocados, cheese, butter)
  • Water and food for pre- and post-trip
  • Personal items (fresh clothes, sandals, toiletries, electronics)
• On the trail
  • Check in with your emergency contact at agreed times
  • Monitor weather and be willing to adjust your plans mid-route
  • Follow Leave No Trace principles
  • Take care of yourself and each other. Eat, drink, and rest. Stick with your group and make decisions together.

Review

• Clean and repair gear
• Check for unused gear and update your kit list
• Update your journal or logbook. Note times and distances covered, useful as a reference when planning future trips.³
• Export collected data: GPX files, photos, and any field notes
• Update your walk map (a personal log of routes completed)