Included:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 5-day North Island hiking adventure
  • Accommodation for 4 nights in quality hotels and lodges
  • Luxury minibus transportation for the duration of the tour
  • Luggage transfers
  • All activities and experiences as in the itinerary
    • Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland
    • Māori Village Experience
  • All meals, as outlined in the itinerary (apart from one lunch)
  • First aid kit
  • Drinking water
  • Safety equipment & maps
  • Walking poles — leave us a note if you need them

Add-ons (available to add at checkout):

• • Single occupancy room

Not included:

• • Transportation to Auckland
  • One lunch
  • Personal equipment
  • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
  • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
  • Guide gratuities — optional

To join this New Zealand hiking tour, great fitness is required. Most days involve up to 4–5 hours of physical activity, with walking on tracks that are generally in good condition. On some days you’ll carry a backpack weighing around 4–5 kg (8–10 lbs), containing personal gear and essentials. While no previous hiking experience is required, a good level of fitness is recommended to fully enjoy the journey.

Day 4 features 21 km (12 miles) of hiking with 900 m (3,000 ft) of elevation gain. Still, there’s an option for a more restful day.

Check out the itinerary for day-by-day distances and elevation changes.

You are allowed to bring up to 120L of luggage per person, this will be transported in the support van.

Several layers of wool, polypropylene and/or polar fleece will ensure you remain a comfortable temperature regardless of the weather. No cotton shirt hiking/kayaking in the wet, please! Cotton gets cold when wet and it’s difficult to dry.

Clothing you should bring:

• • Raincoat (gore-tex or similar)
  • Thermal underwear (top and bottom, wool or polypropylene)
  • Hiking boots or good hiking shoes
  • Spare lightweight shoes or sandals
  • Shorts or lightweight trousers (preferably quick-dry)
  • Short-sleeved shirt (quick-dry, polypropylene or wool)
  • Warm fleece/wool jersey (not cotton)
  • Socks
  • Warm hat or balaclava
  • Sun hat
  • Gloves or mittens (wool or fleece)
  • Swimsuit
  • Towel (lightweight travel towels are great)

Extra socks and polypropylene layers are always handy—ensure you have enough warm items! Comfortable clothing for non-hiking days as well. Spare clothing can be left in the secure trailer when we are away on the hikes, so don’t worry about the extra weight! Note that there are only limited opportunities to do laundry during a tour, so quick-drying clothing is an advantage.

Equipment you should bring:

• • Daypack
  • Flashlight/headlamp
  • Drink bottle or camelback (1L)
  • Small daypack
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses
  • Insect repellent
  • Personal toiletries, medication, and first aid
  • Walking poles (optional)
  • Gaiters (optional)

Daily driving times vary throughout the trip. Some days involve very little driving, while on a typical day we spend around 2–3 hours in the vehicle. On a handful of days, driving times will be longer, giving you a chance to rest, relax, and enjoy New Zealand’s ever-changing scenery along the way.

We travel in a comfortable luxury minibus, towing a lockable trailer that carries food, equipment, and your main luggage. Roads range from sealed highways to unsealed backcountry roads, adding to the sense of adventure. And if there’s a great photo opportunity, vineyard, or memorable ice cream stop—our guides are always happy to pull over.

Group sizes and prices:

• • For this adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 13:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 13 participants.
  • Solo travelers are welcome—they can either share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.

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 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.

The price for this New Zealand hiking adventure is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.

Solo travelers are welcome—they can either share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.

The starting point of this tour is Auckland. To get there, most people fly into Auckland International Airport. From there, you can take a bus, shuttle or taxi to Auckland city center.

You’ll meet your New Zealand hiking guide and the rest of the group in Auckland at 6.30am on Day 1 of your tour. This means that you should be in Auckland at least a day prior to the start of the tour, as it starts early in the morning.

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.