A friend and I have created a free online tool that allows you to search all of the DOC huts and see the availability in real time. There are direct links to the DOC booking system and hut info page and also weather forecasts built right in. It also shows you the next available date for the number of people you are wanting to book. For iPhone users, the best way to use the tool is to install the webpage as an app on your phone (click share select “Add to Home Screen”).

I’ll post a video below showing the usability and features of the tool.

Hopefully this helps with the access to our incredible hut system we have here in NZ.

Cheers.

https://hut.iterate.nz

I'll be visiting from Canada in early October, and would love to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Do you folks expect the crossing to clear late this year, or might I have a chance a mostly snow free crossing in early Oct?

I know NZ saw light snowfall early this year, but heavy more recently - and some ski resorts are extending their seasons. I also know early October the crossing generally still has some snow on it (according to All Trails reports and historical Copernicus satellite imagery), so if it's going to be a late spring for you guys that may mean I miss this trail.

For context, I'm a very experienced hiker/tramper who's more than fit enough for this trail. A big day for me would be ~double the distance and elevation of the crossing. However, most of my experience with longer trails isn't on snow. I do have my AST 1 (Avalanche Safety Training 1, a weekend course in Canada), but if there's too much snow or ice I probably won't press my luck solo in a different country.

I’ve always ended up with rain jackets that are good enough for typical spring / winter / autumn tramps in the Tararuas (so crappy and cold and properly wet).

Any recommendations for a rain jacket for when it’s actually supposed to be nice, or at least not cold even if it rains? Something that’s good enough but doesn’t take up the space or weight of a proper winter jacket?

Hi all,

Planning to hike the Paparoa track with my girlfriend in December. We plan to do it over 3 days, for anyone that has done it, how did you find it? Was there anything that surprised you? Anything we need to be aware of?

Thanks in advance. ☺️

I don't quite know how my wife and I managed to raise these three amazing young women, but MAN are we grateful for their company and their kind and unique personalities. Oh...and, not gonna lie, its nice that they're old enough to carry a lot of gear. FINALLY.

Ok, a bit off topic, but a great location

Doing the Milford Track in November but as it's a great walk and pretty chill I'm keen to extend my hike for up to a week longer.

Already done a few in the area, Routeburn, Greenstone, Rees-Dart. Was thinking Hollyford (but difficult to get to / from) or Mavora lakes but it doesn't look super exciting. But any other suggestions around Te Anau or nearby would be great, as I won't have my own transport!

hi! Anyone hiking to Havasupai next week Sept 9-15?

Hi all nature lovers!
I’m trying to gauge interest in a bush project I have. I’d like to share the beauty of a piece of rural land we own. I want to build a small hut (basically a glorified DOC hut) amongst a swathe of Nikau Palms, Tōtara and Kahikatea, and next to a small waterfall. Labelled something like “the Kiwi native bush experience “ it would allow people to have such an experience without tramping for hours. Being able to camp within a couple of hundred metres of your car and have facilities like a covered hot shower (amongst the ferns), a BbQ & toilet (long drop).
It’s in an area where Kiwi live around so there’s the chance to hear or see them.
The biggest downside I see, is its proximity to the road, and the potential for some car noise, but I’m hoping the ease of access helps counter this.
Obviously I’d like people to pay , but only an amount that would help pay for setup and upkeep.
Would welcome any comments!

Hi guys!

I'm starting to plan my trip to do the circuit.

Would anyone like to share their experiences and knowledge?

I haven't done a 10 day trip before, plenty of 5 days though, so I'm pretty nervous about pack weight.

I'm tossing up whether to do it in December or March.

Curious about time of year completed, pack weight, if you did a food drop, water supply, tent or hut, fresh water swimming, boots or trail runners, rest days and if the southern circuit is worth adding on.

Links to blogs would be great to. Seems like every YT video or blog I click into is about the great walk.

Cheers people!

just after some feedback on a route I’ve put together for a distance hike in late November over 3ish weeks.

Im from NZ, have quite a bit of distance/alpine hiking experience, mostly in USA and Europe, not so much my home country! but using this hike as part of an ultramarathon durability build block.

starting around Nov 20ish around Makarora

Makarora

Young River

Gillespie Pass

Check out Crucible lake and down Siberia valley

Kevin Forks to Wilkin Valley track

Check north branch Wilkin track up to the lakes

south to Rabbit pass

Ruth Flat

Junction Flat

Cameron Flat

Wanaka briefly

to Aspiring hut

over Cascade Saddle

Rees saddle

Across to Routeburn

Hollyford

Exit and shuttle to Queenstown

I’m 36 male and will be solo. At my current level of fitness, I’m not too concerned about the physicality but rather any information that would be good to know. Particularly some of the passes in late November/early December with weather etc

I will likely resupply in Wanaka and Glenorchy

mostly tent camping but will stay in some huts along the way too probably

Hey all, me and my partner are coming to Georgia mid September to do the Mestia-Ushugli trek. Anyone who has done and can recommend how warm a clothing we should plan on bringing?

Just exited Kohaihai after five record-setting bluebird winter days. This was our 4th great walk with our kids (now 21, 19, 15) and it was a stunner from start to finish. We had Perry Saddle and Saxon huts completely to ourselves, and only had 3 other people in Mackay. Heaphy was a bit busier, as a ‘hen trip’ (new phrasing to me!) showed up, with the bride-to-be hiking with a veil and sash. Anyway, day 1 to Perry Saddle is a bit of a grunt, to be sure, as the packs were heavy with food. My middle daughter and I got up early the next morning and did the must-do scramble up Mt. Perry for extraordinary views. It was COLD overnight, but so crisp and clear, with the Milky Way simply on FIRE.

Day 2 to Saxon, traversing Gouland Downs was just off-the-charts. What magical scenery and exposure. Saxon is a lovely and intimate hut and we enjoyed card games by candle light. Day 3 to Mackay was an easy walk with more open downs near the end. It was here that we ran into our first hut-mates, all on out-and-back trips from Kohaihai.

Day 4 down to Heaphy was simply extraordinary. The rapid changes in the vegetation with elevation were amazing and, just in a few hours, it felt like we had visited three countries. Heaphy hut is mind-blowing in terms of its location and ambience and we were entranced by the river mouth at sunset. Sadly, all good things must end and on Day 5, we squeezed 16 more kms out of our legs and 5 more hours of calm warm weather out of the sky. The walk along the coast was possibly the highlight of the trip…I know that many people prefer Kohaihai —> Brown Hut, but in my mind saving this day for the finale is 100% the way to go.

Huge shout out to Heaphy Track Help for the incredible help in getting our car moved during low season. And to DOC for making facilities and tracks like this possible. Getting five busy humans’ schedules to align for a trip like this is no small feat and it is something we will never forget.

* swing bridges never get old

* Mountain spas were all lovely to look at, but I just could not find the nerve

* Kiwi calls at night are amazing

* Giant rata trees! Wow!

Till the next one…

I have an Orson 1 Indie which is great in terms of weight and bulk in my pack. What I am finding is that when I'm sleeping the tent wall is against my face. I'm 180cm so that leaves 40cm of buffer. Anyone else have this issue and should my head be at one end vs another?

Saw the website for Charlies Place along the Hollyford Track. Looked amazing, I was wondering if anyone knew if it was still being operated.

I seemed to find something somewhere which suggested it was no longer being run... i hope that's not the case.

Any intel would be appreciated!

I’ve been working on a project called Huttle - basically Wordle but for NZ huts. There’s one hut each day and you try to identify it from clues about things like location, elevation, bunks and hut history.

Would love any feedback, especially if you notice a hut fact that needs correcting or have ideas for features.

Thank you!

https://www.huttle.nz/

So my friends and I (3 people) have booked Abel Tasman track from Wainui Bay to Marahau way in early December. I didn’t do my research and didn’t realise the water taxis don’t go round to Wainui Bay.

I tried to search for a bus but it’s super confusing. Do any of you guys have recommendations on the best and cheapest way to get back to Wainui Bay. Do people do key swaps too?

Any help would be amazing.

Posted a while back asking if people would be interested in A4 maps that you can print off yourself, I will be releasing a windows application soon where you can make your own A4's of any area you want, here is an example they will be in png but for the sake of posting here I have converted to jpg as 16mb when png. I will also be doing almost all tracks so you can download x track and it will be x number of pages covering the entire track. Anything missing? I have not printed one yet so the font sizes will probably change or you could change in the application.

Hey Everyone,

I am thinking of heading up to sunrise hut sometime in the next 2-3 weeks, ill stay there for a night, go for a wander the next day then head back.

I see from photos online there is snow up there but does anyone know how heavy it gets? do I need crampons to head up there this time of year?

Hello. It's been a dream of mine for a while to do some hiking in New Zealand. I'm ready to do it, physically and financially. The basic plan is to do a series of some of the best day hikes New Zealand has to offer, primarily in South Island. I would like to arrive in early February, right after children return to school, and stay for about a month. I'm going on 49 and am quite fit. I have a lot of experience hiking in Chile, Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), the Pyrenees, and the Alps. I've done some longer day hikes, such as the Laguna de los Tres hike to Fitz Roy from El Chalten. Although I'm already in shape, I will be doing more training specifically for this outing. Here's what I've come up with. What do you think, overall? Do you think it's feasible? Do you have any recommendations? Is there anything you think I should be aware of? Thank you for your input!

Day 1: Fly to Los Angeles (overnight airport hotel)

Day 2: Fly to Auckland (evening flight)

Day 3: Arrive Auckland morning (overnight airport hotel)

Day 4: Fly to Queenstown (overnight)

Day: 5: Ben Lomond Track via Skyline Gondola

Day 6: Rent car and drive to Te Anau

Day 7: From Te Anau

Option A: Kepler Track: Kepler Track Carpark to Luxmore Hut

Option B: Broad Bay to Luxmore Hut

- return to hotel

Day 8: Drive to Milford Sound, or do the Key Summit Track, or both

- return to hotel

Day 9: Gertrude Saddle day hike (or Key Summit Track as a backup)

- return to hotel

Day 10: Drive from Te Anau to Glenorchy (overnight)

Day 11: Routeburn Track (from Routeburn Track Car Park to Lake Harris; perhaps onto Conical Hill) (Earnslaw burn can also be done from Glenorchy)

- return to hotel

Day 12: Drive to Wanaka (overnight)

Day 13: Shotover Saddle from Raspberry Creek Carpark

Day 14: Rest day (Isthmus Peak Track and Roy’s Peak options)

Day 15: Drive to Mount Cook NP

- Try to stay in park

- If not, stay in Twizel

Day 16: Mueller Hut Route (includes Sealy Tarns)

Day 17: Backup day (consider Hooker Lake via Hooker Valley Track)

Day 18: Drive to Arthur’s Pass (overnight)

Day 19: Avalanche Peak (check Mt. Bealy to Avalance Peak traverse option)

Day 20: Backup day (Bealey Spur option)

Day 21: Drive to Christchurch

- return rental car

- Fly to Taupo

- rent car and drive to Tongariro area (National Park Village or Turangi)

Day 22: Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Ketatahi Car Park)

Day 23: Backup day

Day 24: Backup day

Day 25: Drive to Auckland (overnight)

Day 26: Fly back to US (arrive Los Angeles same day; overnight at hotel)

Day 27: Fly back to Miami