My girlfriend and I will be going to NZ in Jan/Feb for about 4 weeks next year. We don’t have any sort of itinerary yet, but we’d like to do a good amount of backpacking and cycling. We’ll be traveling very light with just backpacks. We’re avid backpackers, but we’d rather not pack much more for the trip than our sleeping bags. It sounds like there are huts or shelters on most/all of the tracks? If not, I suppose we could rent a tent or bring a tarp. Ideally, we’d like to do a couple 3 to 5 day hikes and throw in the cycling and touristing in between. Even though we’ll be tourists, we’d like to avoid crowds and tourist traps. That’s just not our thing. Any advice on which Walks would fit this criteria? I’ve heard there are particular walks that fill their quota very early. How soon can I start booking?
On a tri related note, I’d like to throw in an international distance race and go to IMNZ to spectate if our schedule permits. Any classic NZ short course races I should be looking at? I know this is a very broad question since we’re talking about a country, but I’m just getting started. I can’t wait for this trip! Thanks.
Not in NZ at the moment, but, google - Abel Tasman National Park, Queen Charlotte Sound, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Track, and see how you go.
Jen/Feb schedule won’t really work with IMNZ will it?
hers some walks I have done that are not touristic. Most people will give you a list of the guided walks. The ones below are all South Island.
-Greenstone/Caples loop
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Port Craig/Hump track in Southern Fiordland. Saw a massive beached Blue whale here once and the sea coast is interesting along with great views and old viaducts.
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The track that goes around Stewart Island, just walking around half the Island will take a few days and this is a great one.
-You can freedom walk over the Routeburn track and come back down either the Caples or Greestone tracks.
As far as Olympic distance triathlons go there are plenty these days but alot more in the North Island.
go to www.triathlon.org.nz
Otherwise there is a race calendar I my website, but it just has my favourite races on it from the South Island.
www.triathlonshots.com
Touristic tracks in the South Island which are guided include:
-Routeburn
-Milford
-Abel Tasman
I don’t do the guided walk thing but people who have done them tell me they are good. You will have no choice but to do the Milford track under guidance because it is innaccessable pretty much.
i was there last year. I only did 1 multi day hike, the Routeburn Track. Incredible hike.
photos: http://dlee.zenfolio.com/p1008994942/
#34 - #82 are on the Routburn.
We stayed in the huts. You have to reserve them way in advance. Very affordable and super clean.
We did this hike in 2 days. It’s either a crazy 1 day hike, a semi-rushed 2 day hike, or a downright leisurely 3 day hike. Your choice.
We hiked some of the Abel Tasman as well, but only day hikes. Photos #206 - #221.
Our final hike was the 1-day Tongariro Crossing. If the weather is nice, it’s just jaw dropping beauty the whole way. But if the clouds roll in, it’s a LONG, boring walk. We had 1/2 clouds, half amazing scenery.
Photos #254-#282
Cloudy:
Sunny:
