Included:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 8-day hiking and exploration tour of New Zealand’s North Island
  • Accommodation for 7 nights in cabins, lodges, camping, and backcountry huts
  • Minibus transportation for the duration of the tour
  • All activities and experiences in the itinerary (including Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland)
  • All meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8, except dinners on Days 4 and 7
  • Tents (single tent available, leave us a note at checkout)
  • Pack-liner to keep things dry inside your backpack
  • Kit bag to hold your spare gear
  • Emergency first aid kit
  • Thermarests
  • Plates, cutlery, mugs, pots, etc.

Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):

• • Backpack, walking pole, sleeping bag & liner rental

Not included:

• • Transportation to Auckland
  • Transportation from the endpoint of the tour
  • Meals not outlined in the itinerary
  • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
  • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
  • Guide gratuities — optional

For this adventure, you need to have great fitness and good agility. Prior hiking experience is generally required for this tour, but multi-day hiking experience is not necessary.

Your average day will involve 4–5 hours of physical activity, with the number of hours decreasing on more laid-back days and increasing to up to 8–9 hours on more challenging days. Altitude gain won’t be greater than circa 800 m (2,625 ft), while the maximum hiking distance on any day is 16 km (9.9 miles).

Hikes will involve managing uneven terrain and crossing rivers while carrying a pack weighing up to 12 kilograms (26 pounds) on some days. The group will take breaks on a regular basis to get some rest and eat lunch and snacks.

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

Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more New Zealand hiking adventures!

It’s best to bring two bags on your trip, a hiking backpack with an internal frame (minimum 50L) for overnight hikes, and a smaller daypack for day hikes.

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:

• • Backpack (minimum 50L)
  • Lightweight, compact sleeping bag (1–1.5 kg, 5°C (41°F) comfort rating, down preferred)
  • 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)

This is what your guides will provide you with:

• • 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
  • Thermarests
  • Plates, cutlery, mugs, pots, etc.
  • Tents

The average driving time per day varies, some times you are in the wilderness and won’t see the vehicle for 2 or 3 days! On other days, you might be in the vehicle for 2-3 hours. The driving time is a chance to rest and enjoy the fantastic scenery. The guide will often stop the vehicle if there is a great photo opportunity or primo ice cream shop!

You will travel in a 12-seat minibus towing a custom-built trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. They are also equipped with a range of natural history reference books.

Group sizes:

• • For this North Island New Zealand adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 11:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 11 participants.
  • Solo travelers are more than welcome to join! While single occupancy rooms on hotel/lodge nights aren’t available, a single tent for camping nights is, just let us know at checkout.

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.

No, a single occupancy room is not available on this trip. Accommodation on hotel/lodge nights will be twin-share or multi-share. When camping, solo travellers will be provided with their own tent.

The starting point of this North Island hiking adventure is Auckland. To get there, most people fly into Auckland International Airport (AKL). From there, you can take a bus, shuttle, or taxi to the Auckland city center.

You’ll meet your guide at 7 am on Day 1 at the pick-up zone outside SkyCity, 20 m from the base of the Sky Tower, on the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets. As the tour starts early in the morning, plan to arrive in Auckland at least a day before. Pick-up in Rotorua can be arranged on request.

The tour ends in Wellington at around 3:30 pm on Day 8. If you’d rather head back to Auckland, you can take a bus or train from National Park Village instead (not included).

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.