What to Pack

Use this checklist to make sure you have all the hiking equipment, cooking utensils and food you’ll need.

GENERAL EQUIPMENT

• Backpack - opt for one that is a big enough for a multiday hike, around 40-60 litres
• Waterproof or plastic pack liner
• Rubbish bags
• Booking confirmation and ID
• Torch/flashlight with additional batteries.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

• First Aid kit
• Maps and a compass (remember for some tracks there is no cell coverage so carry a physical copy of the map)
• An emergency shelter
• A distress beacon
• Survival kit including a survival blanket, whistle to draw attention, paper, pencil and high energy snack food.

CAMPING EQUIPMENT

• Sleeping bag - suitable for the season you are walking in
• Earplugs
• Indoor shoes for the huts
• If camping: tent, ground sheet, sleeping mat
• Cooking equipment and eating utensils: pot/pan, plates, spoons, knife and fork, teatowel and equipment to clean the utensils after
• Matches or a lighter (keep these in a waterproof container
• If camping: a gas cooker

FOOD

• Refillable water bottle (1-2 litres)
• Spare bottle of wate
• Lightweight, high-energy snack
• Food that is quick and easy to cook in pots
• Pack enough for food for your trip and some extra
• Optional: thermos flask for hot or cold drinks/soup

TOILETRIES

• Wash cloth - the huts on these walks do not have showers
• Personal medication
• Products to protect you from the enviroment: sunscreen, inspect repellent, bite/sting relief
• Sanitary products, learn more about menstruation in the backcountry on the DoC website
• Small trowel to dig a hole to use as a back up toilet option, learn more about toilet options on the DoC website.

CLOTHING

Make sure to take enough clothing for your multiday hike and factor in clothes getting wet:

Tramping/hiking boots (make sure you’ve worn them in first)

• Tramping/hiking boots (make sure you’ve worn them in first)
• Socks*
• Shorts - quick drying
• Shirts*
• Under layers, top and bottom*
• Mid-layers – wool or polar fleece
• Raincoat – wind and waterproof, and with a hood
• Overtrousers – wind and waterproof
• Warm hat, gloves, neck buff
• Sunhat and sunglasses
• Underwear
• Dry clothes to change into at the hut including pyjamas

*DoC recommends wool or polypropylene

Prefer to order a food package or hire your camping equipment? Take a look at our track packages pages to choose the right option for your walk.