Ultimate Hut-Based North Island Hiking Tour

Things to know

• What's included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Eight days of hiking and exploration
    • All accommodations for the duration of the tour
    • Minibus transportation for the duration of the tour
    • All activities outlined in the itineraries
    • All meals outlined in the itineraries
    • Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to Auckland
    • Transportation from the endpoint of the tour
    • Accommodations before and after the tour
    • Meals not outlined in the itineraries
    • Travel insurance
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• What equipment do I need to bring?

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

  • • Backpack with a minimum 60L capacity and small day pack
    • Day pack with a 25-40L capacity
    • Sleeping bag (minimum 3-season, preferably down, lightweight)
    • Hiking poles — optional
    • Gaiters — optional
    • Water bottle or CamelBak (2L 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.)
    • Headlamp or flashlight
    • Sunglasses
    • Camera — optional (but recommended)

  Your guide will supply:

  • • Pack-liner to keep things dry inside your backpack
    • Kit bag to hold your spare gear when you’re out hiking
    • Emergency first aid kit
    • Therm-a-rests
    • Plates, cutlery, mugs, pots, etc.
    • Tents

  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.

  Bring extra socks and polypropylene layers – ensure you have enough warm items. Also, bring some comfortable clothes for non-hiking days. Spare clothing can be left in the secure trailer when you are away on the hikes, so don’t worry about the extra weight.

• How fit do I need to be?

  While you don’t need any prior multi-day hiking experience for this tour, you still need to be fit, agile, and enthusiastic enough for 8 consecutive days of hiking 4-5 hours a day on average (8-9 hours on longer days). You can see the day-by-day breakdown in the itinerary. Keep in mind that you will be carrying packs weighing up to 10-12 kgs (22-26 lbs). You will 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.

• What is the accommodation like?

  During this hiking tour, you will have “wild nights” and nights in civilisation. With wild nights, you are truly in the wilderness, staying in backcountry huts or camping in locations that may be several hours away from the nearest road or populated area. Other nights you will stay in cabins, lodges, or camp by the vehicle. Huts and campsite fees will be covered by your guide.

  When you’re camping, you might camp under natural rock shelters, on remote beaches, or even sleep out under the stars! You will also occasionally camp near the vehicle in Department of Conservation or private campsites.

  You will also stay in huts on several nights. New Zealand has an excellent network of backcountry huts, equipped with mattresses, running water, and an outside toilet. You also have the option of camping near the hut if that’s your preference.

  For huts and camping you can either bring your own bag and liner or rent it from your guide, but you’re responsible for bringing your own private camping equipment.

  Lodges will also serve as accommodation on some nights. They are often conveniently located near the start or end of a hike and have multi-share or sometimes twin/double rooms.

  Regarding bathroom facilities once you’re in the wild, there will be long drop (pit) toilets. There will also be rivers or lakes nearby for a swim, sometimes even natural hot pools! The trip is set up so after a couple of nights of “roughing it out” in the wild, you will stay somewhere where you can enjoy a shower and even do your laundry.

• Group sizes and pricing

  For this tour, the groups consist of up to 11 people, with a usual 11:1 guest-to-guide ratio.

  It takes a minimum of 4 participants for the tour to run.

  If you happen to be a solo traveler, you’re more than welcome to join the group! Travelers will be added until the minimum group size to confirm the trip can be guaranteed.

  Anyone over the age of 18 can join these multi-day hiking tours, while minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join on a case-by-case basis. They must, however, be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To start this tour, most people fly into Auckland International Airport. From there, you can take a bus, shuttle or taxi to the Auckland city center.

  You will meet your guide in the Sky Tower in downtown Auckland unless specified otherwise. The guide will then choose the appropriate terrain depending on weather conditions and the ability of the group.

• Safety measures during the trip

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.

  Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans. 

  We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in New Zealand, please refer to the official New Zealand travel website.

  If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  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 ninety-five (95) days before the departure, Client gets an 80% refund of the deposit back.
    • For cancellations twenty-one (21) to ninety-four (94) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of eighty percent (80%) of the full trip price.
    • 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.

  Secure your spot for the following season with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you’ll be the first one to know. Pick the month that suits you best and we’ll let you know once the dates are live—don’t risk missing out on your bucket list adventure!

  • • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you.
    • Once the set dates for the following season are live, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 25% of the total amount.
    • The final balance is due 3 months (95 days) prior to departure.
    • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy applies.

  Secure your spot for 2025 with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you can rest assured you’ve booked your dream adventure in time.

  • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you. This can be done by the end of the year.
  • Another 20% needs to be paid by the end of this year.
  • The remaining balance is due 95 days prior to departure.