The Far North - 6 days Auckland to Auckland

Hiking Safaris are for people looking for a unique hiking experience that combines multi-day hikes with kayaking, caving and camping. An unforgettable outdoor experience in remote wilderness areas with a small and social group. Hikers participate in all aspects of the safari; decision making, cooking, and camp set-up.

Highlights: The Far North is a walking and camping tour of New Zealand north of Auckland. Plenty of swimming and snorkelling in secret coves of turquoise water, and lots of great day hikes. It is also a bit warmer in the 'winterless North'. Highlights include; the remote forested coastal hike on day 1 and 2 near the Bay of Islands, open coast kayaking at Whangaroa, two nights of isolated camping at the very tip of New Zealand, and driving along 90 mile beach and Te Paki.

Your Hiking Safari Tour Itinerary

Day 1. Tuesday. East coast beaches
Depart Auckland and follow the east coast northwards. A quick stop to supplement supplies for the next six days before following crazy coastal back roads to Elliott's Bay. Set up our camp here just above the beach on a private camp. If the weather is wet there is an option of using a classic rustic kiwi bach (NZ holiday house) instead. Have a swim or explore this lovely coastline. Red-tinged pohutukawa trees (NZ Xmas tree) cover hidden coves and swimming beaches. If the sea conditions are calm there is excellent snorkelling here too.
1km/1 hours hiking

Day 2. Wednesday. Bay of Islands
Tumble out of sleeping bags and leap into the sea; refreshed, break camp and hike northwards. Climb up through regenerating native bush to the ridge tops looking down on hidden sandy coves and rocky headlands. Catching your breath, gaze out across the bright blue Pacific Ocean. Pass huge steel pots and ruins of the old whaling station. These stations all over New Zealand are a sad reminder of the many humpback and southern right whales hunted here. Many of New Zealand's first Europeans were here for sealing and whaling rather than our beautiful natural environment! Lunch at a cute cove of turquoise water, secret beaches and funky palm trees. Descend from Pukehuia - at 345m the highest hill and best viewpoint in the Bay of Islands. The track ends at a perfect bush-fringed bay of lapping water and moored yachts. Sweat from the exertion is washed away by the clear water. A short drive to the historic township of Russel where you can catch the passenger ferry across to Paihia, while your guide drives around to meet you. A brief stop here, the main tourist centre of the Bay of Islands, before driving north to the campsite at Tauranga Bay and welcome hot showers.
9km/6 hours hiking

Day 3. Thursday. Whangaroa Kayaking
Optional and highly recommended guided kayaking (NZ$89). Using a mix of single and double sea kayaks the group launches off a private beach and kayaks along this uncluttered coastline past red volcanic headlands, island outcrops and sandy beaches. After passing through sea caves you will reach the sheltered waters of Whangaroa harbour with its mangrove forests. Lunch on a beautiful beach before returning. Stories grow and expand with our stomachs over fish and chips at the famous Mangonui Fish Shop. Those not kayaking have free time at the Tauranga beach campsite until early afternoon, ask your guide about other options. Later, head to the twin coves campsite of Matai Bay.
10km/4-5 hours kayaking

Day 4. Friday. Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga
Another swim and snorkel, and off again; this time a fascinating drive up the endless hard packed sands of Ninety Mile Beach. Te Paki's massive sand dunes loom and you can jump out and impress each other with out of control fat-air-antics on sand-boards. Continue onwards setting up camp at a beautiful sandy cove. Later, have the option of a cliff-top walk, or a drive, to the edge of the world at Cape Reinga where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea. Watch the sun setting in the western sky from this (almost) northern tip of New Zealand.
2km/2-4 hours hiking

Day 5. Saturday. Cape Maria Van Dieman, Kauri forests
Set off to explore a less visited part of the cape's coastline. Crossing Te Paki Station leads you to the surreal iron stained sand dunes of Cape Maria Van Diemen. Climbing high you will enjoy grand views of this incredible piece of New Zealand landscape. Wander along an expansive stretch of empty beach before returning for lunch. In the afternoon the group leaves the Far North and begins the journey southwards passing through Kaitaia, across the Hokianga on a car ferry, and on to the Waipoua Forest. Tane Mahuta, New Zealand's biggest Kauri tree, makes you feel humble as you curl up in the comfy cabins. Frequently we hear the screeching call of the endangered North Island Brown Kiwi; whose numbers are sadly dwindling each year.
4-12km/3- 4 hours hiking

Day 6. Sunday. Kauri forests
This morning you will visit the Trounson Kauri Reserve to bask in the shadows of these huge trees. An intensively managed mainland conservation 'island' surrounded by a sea of farmland, Trounson is one of the healthiest forests in the country providing refuge for many threatened species. This reserve is also home to a well-nurtured and protected (from predators) population of kiwi. Arrive in Auckland at approximately 3pm.
2km/1 hour hiking

Notes
Luna-cy: This tour is effected by tide times and sea conditions - particularly on Ninety Mile Beach (the van is not a boat). If the moon is doing something uncooperative plan B is to go in a different or reverse order, but very occasionally your guide may be forced to skip something altogether; because life's like that, even if you try to be cunning.

Silly season: If you are doing this trip between Xmas and mid January expect to see more tents, sun-scorched folks, and ice-creamed kids at campsites. When it all goes mad your guide may choose different campsites on night two and three to keep us all sane.

A Beach in Northland

Alternative Options

If you won't or can't do the whole trip, why not split it?
There are two options available:

- Coast & Canyons - the first five days of the West Coast Wilderness

Four hiking-filled days away from the hustle of mainstream tourism. Two excellent overnight hikes including the alpine ranges of Kahurangi National Park, to the crystal clear rivers in the limestone canyons of Paparoa National Park. Stay at an organic farm in the Buller Gorge and feast on a home grown meal between hikes. Start the fifth days exploring the unusual Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki. Finish the Coast and Canyons in Greymouth with the option to ride the afternoon TranzAlpine train ($139) back to Christchurch

- The World Heritage Wanderer - the final seven days of the West Coast Wilderness

Seven days of outdoor adventure! Kayak across New Zealand's largest unmodified wetland and into the river delta surrounded by towering kahikatea trees. Help prepare and eat a hangi meal on Okarito beach. Join a guided glacier hike on Fox Glacier and explore seracs, ice caves and crevasses. Hike up the Copland Valley and spend two nights soaking in natural hot pools gazing at 3000-metre peaks. End this amazing week in the adventure capital of New Zealand - Queenstown.

Enquire here for more information.

Some useful information:

Grading & Fitness

Grade: D
Average 4-5 hours physical activity per day, up to 7 hours on longer days.
Pack weights of 12-15 kgs on some days.
Altitude gains of up to 800 metres.
Some uneven track surfaces and river crossings.
Agility and fitness required.

No previous hiking experience is required, but you need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic.

Guides & Safety

Your enthusiastic New Zealand guides have a thorough knowledge of natural history and will enjoy sharing and discussing this with you. Each has over a decade of outdoor experience; their knowledge of the back-country and weather will ensure a safe trip. In addition, they are all trained in mountain first aid. The guides enjoy meeting and getting to know new people and have the skills to make everybody feel part of the group.

Transport

You will travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. It is also equipped with a range of natural history reference books. The average driving time per day is around 2-3 hours and there will be a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. The guide will often stop the vehicle for you to take photos. On some of the nights you will be camping by the vehicle.

Food

Safaris are run on a food kitty system - each person contributes about $10 per day. The first stop is usually the supermarket where everyone helps with buying food for the next few days. Everybody is involved with the preparation and cooking of meals: barbecues, salads, pancakes, stews, pasta, dampers, hangi...Vegetarian meals are no problem. When you are on overnight hikes the group will usually eat pasta and rice meals. There is always lots of hiking food - chocolate, peanuts, raisins, biscuits. The vehicles carry a full range of cooking equipment including gas burners, woks, frying pans and billies. When you go on an overnight hike the group will carry a portable stove.

Accommodation

The Hiking Safaris use a range of accommodation: camping, back-country huts, cribs (summer house), hostels and cabins. You will generally camp if the weather is fine, so you get to enjoy the outdoors more and it costs you less. In less pleasant weather your guide will arrange accommodation for the group. Note that the accommodation and food costs are not included in the price of the safari.

Camping - We will camp as much as possible in a range of range of locations; under natural rock overhangs, on the beach, Department of Conservation campsites, established campgrounds with showers. You are provided with 2-person tents to share and closed cell foam sleeping mats. You may have a small campfire if fires are permitted.

Huts - Your guide will make use of excellent Department of Conservation huts. They are equipped with mattresses, running water and an outside toilet. Cooking is done on a portable stove. We do not have sole rights to huts and so must share with other hikers. Please be respectful of other hut users.

Cabins/Cribs - When the weather is bad your guide will seek out alternative accommodation. This can be anything that is available, from a private crib (summerhouse) to a cabin at a campground. Cost is never more than $20 per night.

You must be prepared to go for 3 days (sometimes more) without a hot shower. There is always a river or lake for you to wash in. Some campsites/huts have saunas or natural hotpools!

Day 1 - East Coast Beaches


Day 2 - Bay of Islands

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