food & gear

With accommodation worked out, you will be staying mostly in those fabulous backcountry huts. What gear do you need to bung into your pack?

When you think that you will be lugging it all with you no matter what the terrain, there’s an obvious point to make: you want everything to be as light as possible, as long as it does the job.

No point in carrying a lightweight raincoat if it can’t keep you dryish and block the wind. You also don’t want it to fall apart, it can be pretty rough out there.

So the desired tramping gear characteristics: lightweight, does the job, reliable.

Then again, as in life, there’s the cost aspect, together with compromise and making do with something that’s not necessarily 100% perfect.

But the most important aspect with your gear, is it absolutely essential? Can you survive without it?

Don’t pack unnecessary weight.

food, glorious food, maybe

Everyone has their own ideas about food, but when you have more than a week’s supply strapped to your back maximum calorific value and getting that warm cosy feeling at the end of your dinner is high on the list of priorities.

dehydrating your own tramping meals, easy-peasy

Might not look all that appetising, but it will add plenty of flavour later. | Tramping food suggestions

Dehydrating meals for hiking is surprisingly easy if you have the right equipment, like a fan-forced oven with some low-sided baking trays.

tramping costs, it all adds up

Karamea River valley, Kahurangi National Park

Think of it as an investment in your health and your physical and mental well-being.

what to wear: two sets of clothes

Big Bungaree Bay from the well located hut | Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island

Here’s a handy hint: take the right attire, only the necessary.

tramping clothes: the wet set

West Ruggedy Beach on the west coast | Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island

For what it’s worth here’s my wet set list …

tramping clothes: the dry set

Little Hellfire Beach with Masons Bay, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island

That’s all? Yeah. No excess.

a you-beaut tramping pack

Smokey Creek, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island

People swear by their different packs and who are we to argue.

tramping boots and gaiters

mud, better to have decent gaiters and overtrou. Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island

Let’s face it, feet get a bashing. You will be lugging plenty on your back, and feet in the New Zealand outdoors usually get wet.

cookin', ie, stoves for tramping

Karamea River, Leslie Karamea Track, Kahurangi National Park

You gotta take a stove of some type: huts usually have a woodburner but they are intended for heating only, being generally unsuitable for cooking and in any case, sometimes there’s just no dry firewood around, or wet for that matter, or the axe has a smashed handle, etc.

Your stove is essential equipment.