Leaving Trip Intentions
Telling someone your plans (commonly called ‘leaving your intentions’) is a crucial part of your trip preparation. Leaving your intentions with an emergency contact takes just a few minutes but is key to getting help if something goes wrong.
Why it is Important
Accidents happen! No matter how short or long your trip, how familiar you are with the route, or how experienced you are in the outdoors, anyone can get injured or lost in the bush. When things go wrong and you’re unable to call for help, your emergency contact can raise the alarm if you don’t arrive back on time.This ensures you’ll get help as quickly as possible, improving your chances of getting home safely.
How to Choose a Suitable Contact
Choose someone you know is trustworthy and reliable to be your emergency contact. A family member or close friend is ideal. Check that they are available during the timeframe of your trip, able to act quickly and are comfortable contacting emergency services.
What to Tell Your Contact
You need to provide detailed information about your trip to your emergency contact. Using the Trip Plan function in Plan My Walk is an easy and reliable way to do this. Alternatively, you can use other methods such as the Outdoor Intentions Form.
Tell your contact:
- Your starting location and destination, including the route you are taking to get there
- The names and contact details of everyone in your group as well as their emergency contact
- The emergency equipment you are carrying
- Your transport details there and back
- When you are leaving
- When you will be back
- Any alternative routes or side trips you may take
- For longer trips, when you expect to have communication coverage along the way (if any) so you can update them on how the trip is going and if you’re keeping to your schedule.
Calculating When You’ll be Back
Put some thought into estimating when you’ll be back from your trip so you can be as accurate as possible.
Consider:
- The age, fitness level and experience of everyone in your group, and how this will impact your walking or riding speed.
- Things that might slow your trip down. For example, the weather and any river crossings along the way, which may mean you need to spend an extra night out.
- The final day of your trip:
- What’s the estimated walking or riding time?
- What time will you start out?
- Are there any river crossings that could hold you up?
- Where will you have phone coverage so you can call your contact? If you’re in a remote region, this may not be at the end of the track.
Don’t forget
- If your plans change before you go or during the trip, update your emergency contact with the latest details as soon as you can.
- When you get back from your trip, let your emergency contact know as soon as you have phone coverage.
How to Share Your Plan
Choose a method to share your trip plan that ensures your emergency contact gets accurate and complete details.
Here are some reliable ways to share your plan:
The free app and website allows you to easily create a trip plan that includes all the necessary information. Sharing it with your emergency contact and the rest of your group (so they can in turn share it with their contact) is as simple as adding them to the plan. Once you’ve finalised the plan using the helpful prompts, a link will be emailed to both your emergency contact and group. If you make changes to the plan, they will be automatically notified.
Texts, social media direct messages and email provide a fast and easy way to share your plan. Messaging also allows the information to be shared with others if needed. Make sure to include all the relevant details about your trip.
A handwritten plan is old school, but reliable if kept in a safe place! Again, make sure to include all your trip details. The Outdoor Intentions Form is ideal for this. Ensure this kept in an accessible place, like stuck to your fridge.
What To Do if Things Go Wrong
Make sure your emergency contact knows exactly what to do and what action to take if you don’t arrive home at your specified time.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide if you’re an emergency contact:
- Try to call or message everyone in the group as soon as the expected return time passes.
- If there’s no response, wait one hour and try again.
- If there’s still no response after an hour, try calling the contact for everyone on the trip to see if they have heard anything.
- Still no word? Call 111 and ask for the Police. If you’re calling from overseas, phone +64 49 105 105 (note, you may incur international toll charges). If you can't get through by phone, contact the Police online at www.police.govt.nz/use-105.
- Give the Police all the information you have about the trip and how you have tried to contact the group.
Intentions Book
If you’re passing through or staying in a Department of Conservation (DOC) hut, completing the Intentions Book (or hut book, as it is commonly known) is another must-do, whether you're a tramper, trailer runner, hunter or biker. If someone gets in trouble and a search and rescue is launched, the information provides vital details about their whereabouts which could help narrow the search area. Entries from others can also be useful, as they may have seen the missing person at the hut or along the track.
The distinctive green book can be found in all DOC huts. It has labelled columns where you can record the date of your arrival at the hut and your departure, your planned route from the hut and the names of the people in your group. There is also space for noting the weather conditions and comments that would be helpful for others using the track, such as any damage or hazards.
Last edited: August 2026