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.

This tour visits an incredible number of hard-to-get-to or hard-to-know-about places. You will explore the volcanic areas of the North Island, climb on the volcanoes and soak in hot-pools, and also visit New Zealand's best example of mature Jurassic rainforest. Many people are surprised at the extent of wilderness that is hidden in the North Island. Rotorua is not included in our itinerary as this is an attraction that can easily be visited by yourself. On the first day you can be picked up in Rotorua by prior arrangement.

Your Hiking Safari Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Join tour in Auckland
From Auckland, drive via Rotorua (optional pick-up point by arrangement) to Urewera National Park, the largest wilderness in the North Island. Easy start to three days of backpacking through beech forest to hut/camp beside river.
2 hours hiking

Day 2 Whirinaki
Backpack up river gorge (learn river crossing techniques) to next hut/camp. See rare Blue duck and Kaka (bush parrot). Swim in river.
6 hours hiking

Day 3 Rotorua
Hike over low pass to the Whirinaki rainforest - huge tree ferns amongst NZ's tallest trees (up to 60m). Soak in natural hot river before camping at one of Rotorua's beautiful lakes.
5 hours hiking

Day 4 Rotorua Lakes
Up early to explore unique area of geothermal features, beautiful lakes, and native bush. Kayak across ancient volcanic crater with pumice beaches ($89) or do hike option. An area rich in Maori history and culture. Evening drive to camp beside Waikato River.
5 hours kayaking

Day 5 Taupo
Visit thermal area. Swim in crystal-clear waters of Lake Taupo (600 sq km volcanic crater that is New Zealand's largest lake) on the way to Tongariro World Heritage Area. Start three days of backpacking across alpine grasslands near fuming volcanoes to mountain hut.
1.5 hours hiking

Day 6 Tongariro World Heritage Area
Tongariro National Park. Hike to hut across alpine desert. View volcanoes Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu (2797m) - highest mountain in North Island (including unguided section).
3 to 6 hours hiking

Day 7 Tongariro National Park
Traverse volcanic moonscape with emerald lakes, lava valleys, and steaming craters. Chance to climb volcano. Drive to riverside lodge near National Park.
6 hours hiking

Day 8 Waitomo
Head to Waitomo. Explore rarely visited river cave with glow-worms, waterfalls, and limestone formations. Drive through remote back-country to secluded beach camp. Swim and hangi dinner.
1 hour caving

Day 9 Mount Egmont/Taranaki National Park
Time to relax and swim, and eat a huge breakfast before driving south to Mt Egmont National Park. Begin two-day hike to hut high on the side of the volcano. Spectacular views all the way to Tongariro National Park.
1.5 hours hiking

Day 10 Tour ends Wellington
Up for sunrise. With daypacks, optional climb of Fanthams Peak (1962m). Return to hut before descending on ancient lava flows and through goblin forest to minibus. Head south to beach for lunch, swim and vehicle clean-up before driving to Wellington.
2-5 hours hiking

Day 5- Hiking in the Tongariro National Park

Some useful information:

Grading & Fitness

Grade: D
Average 4-5 hrs physical activity per day, up to 7hrs on longer days.
Pack weights of 10-12kgs on some days.
Altitude gains of up to 800m.
Terrain mostly tracks. Some uneven track surfaces and river crossings. Some may be slippery or rough; some off-track hiking.
No hiking experience necessary, however, agility and fitness required. You need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic.

Guides & Safety

An excellent guide can make the difference between a trip of a lifetime and just an ordinary trip. That is why we work hard to make sure we hire the best guides. Our handpicked professionals come from a range of backgrounds. Each has extensive outdoor and hiking experience and a passion for New Zealand’s wild and beautiful backcountry. Our guides will ensure that your time with us is truly inspiring, a huge amount of fun and safe. All guides are trained in Mountain Safety First Aid.

Please be gentle with your guide - good guides are hard to find!

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!

This trip goes well with the following tours:

* Nelson Multi-Adventure
* Queen Charlotte Track
* West Coast Wilderness

Day 1 - Urewera National Park


Day 2 - Urewera National Park

Highlights:

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