Trip Planning

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Trip Planning

Planning is essential for a safe and enjoyable trip. This involves choosing a trip and making a plan that matches your group’s skill level, learning about your route, and assessing the weather forecast and track conditions. Get everyone involved in the planning phase – when the whole team is prepared, the adventure runs smoother and the memories are better!

How to Plan a Trip Like a Pro

 

Choose the Right Trip

Know Your Group 

When selecting a route, start by considering the fitness, skills and experience of everyone going. These key questions will help you choose the right route for you and your group.

  • Who is going? Is this a group trip or solo mission? What does everyone want out of the trip? Are any children going?
  • What are their abilities? Consider the fitness, skills and experience of all group members – including yourself. 
  • Any health issues? Does anyone have any medical conditions or disabilities that will impact their abilities and/or enjoyment?

Understand Track Categories

New Zealand uses a national system to grade the level of each track. These help you choose a track that suits everyone’s fitness, skills and experience. 

There are six different categories: 

  • Wheelchair-accessible short walk
  • Easy short walk
  • Easy to intermediate walking track
  • Intermediate tramping track
  • Advanced tramping track
  • Expert route

Find out more about track categories on the Department of Conservation website.

Learn About the Location

Consider the location of your trip carefully as this will greatly affect your experience. Assess whether your group has the skills and abilities for the terrain and environment. Even short walks can involve steep climbs, so know what’s ahead and consider whether everyone’s fitness is suited to the challenge.

Use Plan My Walk, talk to experienced tramping friends or contacts, and the local Department of Conservation visitors centre to find out as much as you can about the area.

Factor in the Weather

Even an easy track that is well-graded and maintained can be difficult in bad weather. Always check the weather forecast when planning your trip and before you go, so you can make informed decisions.

Other Key Things to Consider

  • Hazards: Are there unbridged river crossings? Does the track enter alpine terrain? Do you have the skills, experience and gear for these hazards?
  • Length and walking times for each day: Will you have enough daylight to reach your destination each day? 
  • On-track accommodation: Where will you stay at night? Are there huts along the way? Will you camp? Do you need to book? 
  • Essential gear: What essential tramping clothing and equipment will you need? Does everyone have good footwear, a waterproof jacket and warm clothing.
  • Hut facilities: Does the hut have cooking facilities? Or will you need to take your own cooker and gas? 
  • Emergency essentials: What emergency equipment will you need? Do you have an emergency communication device in case you need to call for help? Do you have an emergency shelter and extra food for an unplanned night out?
  • Where are the decision-making points on your trip? Where will you stop and check in to see that it’s still safe to continue?
  • Plan B: If something goes wrong or the conditions change, have you got a back-up plan that you can switch to easily?
  • Logistics: How will you get to the start of the track? Will you need to allow for extra travel days? Will you need to book a shuttle to the start of the track and/or to meet you at the end?

Leave Your Trip Intentions

Sharing your plans with someone is an important part of trip planning, no matter where you’re heading. Things don’t always go as expected, and if no one knows where you are, it can make getting help much harder. Letting a trusted contact know your plans is a simple step that can make a big difference in getting home safely.

Plan My Walk makes this step easy. Once you’ve finalised your trip plan using helpful prompts, a link will be emailed to both your emergency contact and tramping group. 

 

Plan My Walk Trip Planning Tool

Plan My Walk makes it easy to research tracks and create a trip plan. The free trip planning tool brings together all the essential information you need for a safe trip:

  • Detailed track descriptions, including distances and estimated walking times, track categories, the terrain and potential hazards
  • Weather forecasts and warnings
  • Alerts about hazards that could impact your trip
  • Other essential information, such as the skills needed and the best time to attempt the track
  • Travel time to reach the start of the track 
  • Links to helpful resources

Top tip: Have your app notifications turned on in Plan My Walk to receive updated alerts and any changes in the weather forecast for your trip.

What to Do Next

Continue your preparation with our online resources. There is still plenty to learn to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip!

Explore Our Resources

  • Use Plan My Walk | Our free planning tool allows you to easily choose tracks, get alerts, build a gear list and share your plan with others before you go.

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