**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT** I will be hosting a LIVE Q&A here on this channel on Friday 29 May 2020 at 7:00PM (my video on that day will be going live a little earlier so you can all watch beforehand). To make sure you don't miss it, make sure you're subscribed to this channel and have clicked the notification bell, and follow me on Instagram (where I'll post a story with all the details for how to connect before the Q&A starts). Hope to see you all there!!
Hello, great video.. I'm about to walk all around New Zealand coast to coast and everywhere in between, this was so helpful and informative thank you..have an amazing week
As always great and informative info . I totally agree you need to stay and experience New Zealand's back country huts. I have stayed in the very basic bivvy ( just a simple structure with a bunk and a small bench right up to a full hut on the Rakiura track on Stewart Island . The Rakiura track is a must if you have the time if you end your Ta in bluff. Thank you
You're welcome Darren. I can't wait to experience all the highs (and lows) of staying in backcountry huts in the South Island. I'd love to complete the Rakiura Track, but I don't know if i'll fit it in after TA... perhaps it will be something I come back to do in a year or so.
very informative. I didn't realised there's a lot of restriction for freedom camping. Great links which provide info on alternative accom. Good reason to subscribe. Is the trail open during this covid-19 situation? since there will be plenty of huts in the south island is it necessary to bring a tent?
Thank you for the compliment on this video. A lot of thru hikers (sadly) ignore the freedom camping restrictions and put the future of the trail in jeopardy, so this is a really important issue that I wanted to draw some attention to. I've spoken to Mark Weatherall (CEO of the Te Araroa Trust) and he says this is the single biggest issue he has on a daily basis. The trail is currently open for hiking, and in fact was only shut for a brief period when we were at the highest levels of Covid lockdown last March and April. It has been open ever since, and most of this season's thru hikers are now finishing up their journeys in Bluff or Cape Reinga. Yes, there are plenty of huts on the South Island, but you should still carry a tent. There are a few reasons for this: 1) just in case you end up in an emergency situation, 2) many of the huts are small (4-6 bunks) and can't fit the vast number of TA hikers who pass through on a daily basis during normal seasons, 3) many huts are old and rickety, and infested with vermin, so it's preferable to camp instead so you don't wake up to a mouse crawling over your face!
Michelle, Thank you for your comprehensive coverage of the accomodations on the TA. The wealth of information you provide will, likely, be very useful for many future trampers and hikers. I have one question. The prices you mention for the various components, are those New Zealand dollars or US dollars? Does $ in NZ mean NZ dollars?
Glad it was helpful John, and nice to hear from you (as I haven't in a while!). Yes, $ means New Zealand Dollar. Apologies for not clarifying that in the video!
Hi Michelle, what’s the deal with camping in your tent outside of the huts? If you buy a hut pass does this cover doing this and/or is it allowed? Cheers
Great question Sam. Your hut pass obviously is designed to pay for your bunk in a hut, but also don't forget it covers your usage of hut facilities as well. It depends a lot on which hut you're staying at, but most huts (especially on the South Island) will have a camping area either immediately outside or very close nearby. On the North Island, this can be a little different... I don't know how much camping space there is next to huts through the Tararuas, for example (and I don't know how much you'd want to camp there anyway!), and on Mt Pirongia there are dedicated platforms to pitch your tent on because of the nature of the environment. Your hut pass gives you use of most basic, standard and serviced huts (there are different categories, so make sure to check these) in NZ, as well as the campsites outside them. Effectively, it gives you a choice - whether you prefer to sleep in a bunk or outside in your tent. But you can still have access to the hut facilities (e.g. being able to sit inside to cook and talk, use the kitchen/benches and dry your clothes) even if you're camping. Depending on where you want to stay, some campsites are DOC campsites which have their own fees (similar to how you sometimes have to book a bunk in a hut, e.g. Mangatepopo Hut). You will have to pay this fee regardless of whether you have a hut pass or not, because they're completely separate. Usually the trail apps like Guthook or the TA App will alert you to which campsites need to be booked (i.e. Pelorus Bridge campsite) and you can do this in advance, so make sure to always be looking ahead.
**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT** I will be hosting a LIVE Q&A here on this channel on Friday 29 May 2020 at 7:00PM (my video on that day will be going live a little earlier so you can all watch beforehand). To make sure you don't miss it, make sure you're subscribed to this channel and have clicked the notification bell, and follow me on Instagram (where I'll post a story with all the details for how to connect before the Q&A starts). Hope to see you all there!!
Thanks for the Q&A everyone, see you on the next one!
Hello, great video.. I'm about to walk all around New Zealand coast to coast and everywhere in between, this was so helpful and informative thank you..have an amazing week
Thanks for the video. You put a lot of my anxiety at ease. I'm hiking in October.
I'm so glad, good luck for your October start date Rowan! Would love to hear how you get on!
That wa REALLY informative!!
I'm glad it helped Dean :)
Hey,
Thank you so much for these shares, you actually answered all of my enquiries about this topic as it is my main concern to respect the rules !
You're welcome Maeli, I appreciate you letting me know you appreciate the videos.
As always great and informative info .
I totally agree you need to stay and experience New Zealand's back country huts.
I have stayed in the very basic bivvy ( just a simple structure with a bunk and a small bench right up to a full hut on the Rakiura track on Stewart Island . The Rakiura track is a must if you have the time if you end your Ta in bluff.
Thank you
You're welcome Darren. I can't wait to experience all the highs (and lows) of staying in backcountry huts in the South Island. I'd love to complete the Rakiura Track, but I don't know if i'll fit it in after TA... perhaps it will be something I come back to do in a year or so.
very informative. I didn't realised there's a lot of restriction for freedom camping. Great links which provide info on alternative accom. Good reason to subscribe. Is the trail open during this covid-19 situation? since there will be plenty of huts in the south island is it necessary to bring a tent?
Thank you for the compliment on this video. A lot of thru hikers (sadly) ignore the freedom camping restrictions and put the future of the trail in jeopardy, so this is a really important issue that I wanted to draw some attention to. I've spoken to Mark Weatherall (CEO of the Te Araroa Trust) and he says this is the single biggest issue he has on a daily basis.
The trail is currently open for hiking, and in fact was only shut for a brief period when we were at the highest levels of Covid lockdown last March and April. It has been open ever since, and most of this season's thru hikers are now finishing up their journeys in Bluff or Cape Reinga.
Yes, there are plenty of huts on the South Island, but you should still carry a tent. There are a few reasons for this: 1) just in case you end up in an emergency situation, 2) many of the huts are small (4-6 bunks) and can't fit the vast number of TA hikers who pass through on a daily basis during normal seasons, 3) many huts are old and rickety, and infested with vermin, so it's preferable to camp instead so you don't wake up to a mouse crawling over your face!
Michelle, Thank you for your comprehensive coverage of the accomodations on the TA. The wealth of information you provide will, likely, be very useful for many future trampers and hikers. I have one question. The prices you mention for the various components, are those New Zealand dollars or US dollars? Does $ in NZ mean NZ dollars?
I'm very sure she means NZ dollar, as we also use $ for them in New Zealand.
Glad it was helpful John, and nice to hear from you (as I haven't in a while!). Yes, $ means New Zealand Dollar. Apologies for not clarifying that in the video!
Thanks for helping me clarify :)
Hi Michelle, what’s the deal with camping in your tent outside of the huts? If you buy a hut pass does this cover doing this and/or is it allowed? Cheers
Great question Sam. Your hut pass obviously is designed to pay for your bunk in a hut, but also don't forget it covers your usage of hut facilities as well. It depends a lot on which hut you're staying at, but most huts (especially on the South Island) will have a camping area either immediately outside or very close nearby. On the North Island, this can be a little different... I don't know how much camping space there is next to huts through the Tararuas, for example (and I don't know how much you'd want to camp there anyway!), and on Mt Pirongia there are dedicated platforms to pitch your tent on because of the nature of the environment.
Your hut pass gives you use of most basic, standard and serviced huts (there are different categories, so make sure to check these) in NZ, as well as the campsites outside them. Effectively, it gives you a choice - whether you prefer to sleep in a bunk or outside in your tent. But you can still have access to the hut facilities (e.g. being able to sit inside to cook and talk, use the kitchen/benches and dry your clothes) even if you're camping.
Depending on where you want to stay, some campsites are DOC campsites which have their own fees (similar to how you sometimes have to book a bunk in a hut, e.g. Mangatepopo Hut). You will have to pay this fee regardless of whether you have a hut pass or not, because they're completely separate. Usually the trail apps like Guthook or the TA App will alert you to which campsites need to be booked (i.e. Pelorus Bridge campsite) and you can do this in advance, so make sure to always be looking ahead.