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Just a short 5 min walk! You have to cross the stream as if you’re continuing on the Mount Somers Track, then head right back the way you’ve come. If you’re walking in from Woolshed Creek car park you’ll see it on the other side of the stream as you approach the hut.

@LongWhiteGypsy thank you!

Yep that’s right! It might not sound like a long walk, but it’s great for families and mid-winter trips.

@@LongWhiteGypsy cool. Fair enough. I guess I think of multi-day as at least three. I might have described that walk as an overnight, but that’s just semantics. Thanks for posting it.

Hi Brendon, thanks so much for checking in! It feels good to be back. Hoping to have some more adventures coming your way soon!

Yes I think there’s lots in common! I once walked to the top of Mt Snowdon… was great preparation for NZ tramping conditions!

This is a great idea, and something I’ve done on a few occasions, thanks for bringing people’s attention to it! (No matter how hard you try, you always miss something out!) Glad you enjoyed!

Yeah wool is an absolute lifesaver, especially on long trails where you aren’t ever dry!

Agreed! I’m always wary of the fact that whenever I’m tramping, I’m never 100% clean, so try to avoid eating food with my hands unless I’ve properly washed them. A good practice!

This is a great question and I actually don’t know the answer. I bought these insoles by chance at a random pharmacy in Kerikeri as I passed through, and by the time I wanted to check what brand, it had already rubbed off from overuse! If anyone knows, I’d love them to share ☺️

Awesome!! I’m so glad you’ve found them helpful. And we look forward to seeing you here hiking in NZ!

Thank you so much! 🙏

I’m so glad you enjoyed! And yes it’s a great starter walk for anyone new to multi day hiking. There are pros and cons to both camping and hiking, so it would depend a lot on what you enjoy about each and what kind of trip you’re after. If you’re going in anything other than rainy or cold weather, I’d highly recommend camping. There are more camping options along the track, meaning that you can often have a beach or small bay almost to yourself. The larger campsites have fantastic facilities, flushing toilets, covered cooking areas etc. But the huts are also an iconic kiwi tramping experience!

Wow! This is a great effort. As you say, the track is definitely doable in a single day, if you’re fit and prepared enough. Personally, though, I like the slower and more immersed multi-day option. Sad you didn’t get to see any kiwi, but I hear only 60% of people do!

Thank you!

Thanks!

That’s a matter of personal preference… purist thru hikers would say you haven’t done the trail unless you’ve walked every kilometre. But the vast majority of thru hikers (especially on the TA) skip large sections, mostly because there is a lot of road walking on this trail, which many people don’t enjoy.

Awesome! Glad you found it helpful. Hope you get to put some of these tips into practice soon!

Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks Anna!! Should be coming soon (and so lovely to hear from you 😉☺️). Maybe we will bump into each other again soon!

😂😂😂

You’re so welcome Tim! It’s such a special place 😍

You’re welcome Tim. I’m really happy you’ve found it so helpful. Hiking in a different country is a daunting prospect, so please reach out if you have any questions. You can contact me via my website or on IG ☺️🙏

Thank you 🙏🙏 I wish I had more too, but I’m glad I have such dedicated ones like you rather than thousands that could take them or leave them ☺️ Thanks so much for being here ❤️

Awwww shucks! Thank you 🥹 Hope you liked the latest instalment 😁

No worries! I did the 5 day version from Whakahoro to Whanganui as part of the TA (if you didn’t already know that!). I stayed at Ohauora DOC camp, Ramanui private camp (opposite Tieke Kainga), and then Flying Fox and Hipango Park. Such a great trip, although I did get very lucky with weather and river conditions!

Yeah it’s a beaut track, right into the heart of the Tongariro Northern Circuit and an easy day hike with the ability to stop at the hut for lunch. Love it!

Yeah so good aye?! Hope things are well with you Jesse, sorry for the late reply!

Maybe one and a half hours.

Thank you! I'm still using my Canon Eos M50. I'm not actually super happy with it and looking to upgrade, but it's well out of the budget for now so i'll have to make do!

@@LongWhiteGypsy your over critical of your work. I like it, good quality, good editing. Keep up the good work and happy hiking and exploring.

You definitely should next time you're passing through. Absolutely spectacular, especially with a bit of snow on the hills!

Yes absolutely, I believe you can hire PLBs from the DOC Visitor Centre at Whakapapa village. Otherwise, check out your local bivouac or macpac store in Auckland, they usually hire them too! If you're still stuck, check out locatorbeaconz.co.nz or the mountain safety council PLB hire page for more ideas. I'd recommend ringing ahead first to check availability. Good luck, and have a safe trip!

Oh also, if you're using a shuttle bus to get to the trailhead, they may hire beacons to their walkers as well, so ask them and find out!

You're very welcome, I'm glad you found it helpful!

Yes, it's annoying when you spend thousands of dollars just learning all these little tips. I'm grateful I did the research beforehand and didn't have to buy multiple pairs of shoes/boots to find out!

Awesome, thank you so much!

Hope it went well!! Such a beautiful way to explore this part of the country 😍

100% agree. It's been a while since I made this but apologies if this is the impression it gave you.

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it 😊

Yeah I'm really looking forward to hopefully getting her out there again for another try sometime soon.

The first part is ok, but the climb up the slope is a bit tricky if you're not used to the gravel. It's definitely worse on the way down, but much easier than the scree slope and some of the other tricky sections on the tongariro crossing (it's a lot shorter). Yes I think from memory the person had slipped a bit, but then just stayed sitting there for a while until we'd passed them. They were fine and made it back down safely.

No ticks to worry about here in NZ but yes this is great advice if you're hiking overseas in a country that has ticks.

Such wonderful words Wendy, thank you so much 🙏😍

I hadn't thought of it like that, but yes you may be right Wendy! You'll probably be finished with your QCT adventure now, I hope it went well and proved to be good training for you both! Good luck for the rest of your prep and please reach out if you have any questions!

For my North Island trip I just used compostable zip lock bags and my food kept well for months. But I hadn't dehydrated any meat myself for that trip. For the south island, because I'd dehydrated my own meat, I vacuum sealed all my meals using a dealer I bought at Briscoes. Some people recommend using mylar bags, I just made do with the norma sealer bags that came with the unit. Worked a treat! I was still eating them a year later.

I managed to get in with 3-4 weeks notice at peak season, and most of my TA hiker friends only had a week's notice. But not all of them were able to do only the 5 day journey, some had to add on a couple of days due to bookings. Taumarunui Canoe Hire were absolutely excellent at getting us all onto the river at the busiest time of the year with very short notice. They're very well practiced!