Hiking Tour of New Zealand’s North Island

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the North Island, New Zealand, please refer to the official New Zealand immigration and travel website.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get on this adventure:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • Eight days of hiking and exploration
  • Cabin, camping, and backcountry hut accommodations
  • Visit to the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland
  • Minibus transportation for the duration of the tour
  • Most meals for the duration of the tour (prepared as a group)

What’s not included:

• • Transportation to Auckland
  • Breakfast on day 1, dinner on days 4 and 7, lunch and dinner on day 8
  • Bus or train transportation from the endpoint of the tour to Auckland
  • Accommodations before and after the tour

Although this trip requires no multi-day hiking experience, you still need to be reasonably fit, agile, and enthusiastic. You’ll be walking for an average of 4-5 hours a day—8-9 hours on longer days—while carrying packs weighing up to 10-12 kgs (22-26 lbs). You’ll also overcome altitude gains of up to 800 m (2,620 ft), covering some uneven terrain and river crossings. Finally, some tracks can be slippery or rough and there will be some off-track hiking and river crossings.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

• • Backpack with a minimum 60L capacity
  • Small day pack
  • Walking pole — optional
  • Gaiters — optional
  • Water bottle or camel pack (1L capacity)
  • Hiking boots or good hiking shoes
  • Spare lightweight shoes or sandals
  • Spare clothes for layering
  • Thermal underwear (top and bottom)
  • Shorts or lightweight hiking trousers (preferably quick-dry)
  • Short-sleeved shirts (quick-dry, polypropylene, or wool)
  • Warm fleece or wool jersey
  • At least 3 pairs of socks
  • Raincoat (Goretex or similar)
  • Sunhat
  • Warm hat or balaclava
  • Gloves or mittens (wool or fleece)
  • Swimming costume
  • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  • Lightweight travel towel
  • Personal medication and first aid
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • Sunglasses
  • Sleeping bag (minimum 3-season, preferably down, lightweight)
  • Camera — optional (but recommended)

Your guide offers hiking gear rentals. If you need a hiking backpack, sleeping bag or liner, fleece, thermal clothes, raincoats, or a walking pole, contact us and we’ll help set you up.
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and prices:

• • For this adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 11:1.
  • The cost does not decrease as the group grows.

Hiking in New Zealand’s North Island can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

A 25% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 95 days prior to departure. For bookings within four (4) months of the departure, full payment is required.

Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.

• • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to twenty-one (21) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of eighty percent (80%) of the total amount paid when Booking.
  • For cancellations twenty (20) to eleven (11) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking.
  • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.

To start this tour, most people fly into Auckland International Airport serving Auckland, NZ. From there, you can take a bus or taxi to Auckland.

You will usually be meeting your guide in the Sky Tower in downtown Auckland. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.