Tramping in New Zealand: the Do's and Don'ts

Tramping aka hiking aka bushwalking

The Weather

The New Zealand climate is predominantly maritime, which means that the weather is extremely changeable, and can be quite windy and wet. IYou should take some form of raincoat on any walk that last more than half an hour, and definitely on longer walks. On longer tramps, polypropylene underwear is advisable because it dries quickly.

Whenever you plan to visit an exposed site, such as one of the volcanic cones, wind becomes a hazard, too.

Overnight, temperature in the bush drops quite significantly, even in summer. In the alpine regions of the Tongariro National Park and elsewhere, wintry conditions are always a possibility, often at very short notice.
 

The Latitude and the Light

NZ has about the same latitude as Spain, and dawn and dusk are rather short in summer. Make sure you're back at base or have a bivouac before nightfall. As NZ is a sparsely populated country, it gets really, really dark at night in the bush. Take a torch (Kiwispeak for the American "flashlight") if there's any chance that you might get delayed.

The sun in New Zealand is very intense because the air is very clear. The hole in the ozone layer adds to this in that you will get a sunburn in no time if you're not careful. Fair-skinned people can end up with a sunburn within less than 15 minutes in the sun here. Suntan lotion etc. is available locally - if you're in any way endangered you will need a high SPF one, i.e., 15+ in most cases. A hat is advisable, sunglasses, too.

If you're from north of the equator, remember that New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere. That means that while the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west, its midday position is in the north.
 

The Flora and Fauna

NZ has some of the most endangered species of plant and animal, plus some of the least endagered pests... An local species that is not threatened by extinction is the sandfly. You recognise them because they come in swarms and deliberate whether to eat you on the spot or take you back to the swamps. They're endemic in the South Island whereever there's water, but some are known to occur north of Cook Strait as well. They usually opt for the dine-in and boy do they have an appetite...

Mosquitos (mozzies) are also present but don't carry disease.

Another species that isn't endangered is the possum. It's an import from Australia and NZ's biggest pest. Yes, they do look cute, but please don't feed them - they munch young shoots by the truckload. Their favourite dish is pohutukawa - that's the tree with the strange red flowers you see all over Auckland. In fact, when you're out in the bush, look for bare branches on trees and shrubs - that's often possum damage. They love apple, too, so don't throw the leftovers away where they can get at it.

An invisible but still unwelcome immigrant is the giardia parasite which now resides in quite a number of NZ's streams and lakes, which means that it's often unsafe to drink from them.

The German wasp is widespread in New Zealand, both in cities and out of town. Feel free to kill any number of them, they're a pest, too.

Apart from this there are no dangerous animals in NZ that you are likely to come across. In particular there are no snakes.
 

What to take

Always take proper clothing. Typically, Kiwi bushwalkers take sturdy tramping boots, shorts, and a T-shirt as the standard wear. They also tend to take a warm jumper or fleece jacket, and a raincoat. Long trousers - in particular jeans - are generally not recommendable as they become heavy and stick to your legs when they become wet.

If you intend to stay overnight, a pair of trackpants may help keep your legs warm at night. For huts and backpackers as well as camping, a sleeping bag is highly recommendable. If you don't have one and would like to buy one, we'll be happy to point you in the direction of some good stores - NZ made outdoor equipment is world-renowned for its quality.

Should you intend to venture into alpine regions, take gloves, a scarf, some woollen hat or similar, and warm and windproof clothing - even in January. This includes trips in Tongariro Park and on Mt Egmont.

Don't forget sunscreen, and if you're near wetlands or waterways, particularly in the South Island, do think about some insect repellent.

Finally, take a torch (flashlight). On longer tramps off the beaten track, take a map and compass, too.
 

Crossing rivers and streams

Even on a simple daytrip you may come into the situation where you will have to cross a river or a stream. Sometimes you will not be able to avoid getting wet feet. Resist the temptation to take your boots off. Walking in wet boots is not as uncomfortable as it sounds, and by all means preferable to an injury.


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