Volcanoes & Rainforest

This tour visits an incredible number of hard-to-get-to or hard-to-know-about places. You will explore the volcanic areas of the North Island, climb on the volcanoes and soak in hot-pools, and also visit New Zealand's best example of mature Jurassic rainforest. Many people are surprised at the extent of wilderness that is hidden in the North Island. Rotorua is not included in our itinerary as this is an attraction that can easily be visited by yourself. On the first day you can be picked up in Rotorua by prior arrangement.

Day 1. Wednesday. Join tour in Auckland - 7km/2 hours hiking.
Your guide gives a briefing before driving south to Rotorua where the big food shop takes place. A little further south, stop beside a forest lake for picnic lunch and to organise and pack your backpack for the hike into Whirinaki Forest Park. This Park covers an area of 60,000 hectares and is famous for its Jurassic-like rain forest - these podocarp trees are an ancient off-shoot of the conifer family and evolved before the flowering plants. It is thought that forests like this once covered the super-continent of Gondwanaland over 150 million years ago. Your first hike is an easy one, on a track through native beech forest, to a simple forest hut beside a river. While dinner is prepared there is time to relax and your guide will brief you on what to expect over the coming 9 days. Introduction night.

Day 2. Thursday. Whirinaki - 14km/6 hours hiking.
This morning continue along the valley track for 1.5 hours. Hike up a side river through a beautiful gorge (learning river crossing techniques) to the next hut/camp. Stop for lunch on the way and often there is a chance for a quick swim in the cascades - crystal clear water you can drink. This remote wilderness is completely off the tourist trail. Rare blue ducks and robins can be seen, and Kaka's (a large bush parrot) heard. An evening campfire, and time to enjoy the surrounds.

Day 3. Friday. Rotorua - 10km/5 hours hiking.
Today's hike takes you out through cascading creeks on a rougher trail. Hike over a small pass into the world-renowned Whirinaki rainforest of weeping ferns and forest giants. Meet a shuttle at the track exit around midday before driving to the Rotorua area. This amazing area is festooned with thermal activity. On the way have a swim in a natural hot river hidden in bush - complete with a small waterfall. Arriving at the accommodation there is time for a shower before turning in for the night.

Day 4. Saturday. Rotorua Lakes - 15km/5 hours kayaking.
Up early to kayak ($85) on Lake Tarawera, an ancient crater lake with beautiful sand beaches surrounded by forests. This area is rich in Maori history. Paddle past the site of a Maori village which was buried under the ash from the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption. There are numerous steaming thermal springs along the lake edge you will paddle through. At lunch you can also soak in a hot stream in the bush. Drive south to a thermal area before vehicle-camping beside the impressive aqua-blue waters of the Waikato River.

Day 5. Sunday. Taupo - 5km/1.5 hours hiking.
A leisurely breakfast before heading a short distance south to the clear waters of Lake Taupo for some swimming and relaxing. Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand - a 600 sq km volcanic caldera crater created when the largest volcanic explosion known to human-kind erupted in 186 AD. After lunch, continue on to Tongariro National Park. Established in 1887, it is New Zealand’s first National Park, gifted to the people of New Zealand by a far-sighted Maori chief who saw this as a way of protecting the tapu (respect, sacredness, preciousness) of this land - in particular the summits of the active volcanoes. Have an afternoon hike across alpine grasslands between these volcanoes to a hut set in native beech forest beside a bubbling stream (in warm weather you will usually camp nearby).

Day 6. Monday. Tongariro World Heritage Area - 7km/4 hours hiking.
Explore this area of beech forests, springs, and desert landscapes before hiking to the next hut/camp on this remote side of Tongariro National Park. The volcanoes in the park rumble from time to time: the most recent was in September 1995 when Mt Ruapehu, the highest mountain in the Park at 2,797m spewed clouds of ash and steam. Another much younger volcano, Mt Ngauruhoe is almost perfectly symmetrical and stands 2,291m. All around this scarlet moonscape are turquoise and green-blue crater lakes, adding their surreal colours to the landscape.

Day 7. Tuesday. Tongariro National Park - 15km/6 hour hiking.
Hike gently up through a moon valley of contorted lava flows and ash fields before a steep climb up the last steep section to the emerald lakes - the usual lunch stop. Cross this diverse volcanic plateau - lava valleys, scarlet moonscapes, steaming explosion craters, before descending on the western side. In good conditions, there is an option to climb one of the volcanic peaks. A short drive takes the group to an excellent lodge in a sleepy little farming town. Relax in front of a fire and cook up a big meal after having glorious hot showers. Sometimes the group might check out the classic kiwi "gumboots at the door" rural pub down the road.

Day 8. Wednesday. Waitomo - 1km/1 hour caving.
After an early start, drive two hours westwards through a hill country farming region to the Waitomo Caves area. The name Waitomo comes from the Maori wai (water) and tomo (shaft). This limestone area is famous for its thousands of caves. Explore a secret river cave - glow worms, waterfalls and limestone formations. Later, drive through the remote Waitomo back-country to the wild west coast, stopping on the way to look at rock formations in limestone scenic reserves. Camp beside the beach, swim, and cook our meal on the beach in a hangi (Maori earth oven). In the evening enjoy being beside the ocean with a beach fire.

Day 9. Thursday. Mount Egmont/Taranaki National Park - 3km/1.5 hours hiking.
Spend the morning at the coast; clambering through the bush and exploring the site of an ancient Maori pa (fortified Village). After relaxing, swimming and exploring the cliffs and beaches drive south to Mt Egmont National Park. This dormant volcano stands at 2518m. Its last eruption was in 1755 and it was smoking when Captain James Cook (British explorer) sailed past in 1769, naming it after the Earl of Egmont. Maori know the mountain as the spirit/god Taranaki. It is a considered a sacred place and the rocks represent his bones and vegetation represents his hair. Hike in the late afternoon through twisted moss covered forest to a cosy alpine hut high on the side of the volcano. From here there are spectacular views of Mt Egmont /Taranaki and across to Tongariro National Park - usually above the evening cloud.

Day 10. Friday. Tour ends Wellington - 6km/2-5 hours hiking.
If the mountain conditions are reasonable, get up early to climb up the side of Mt Egmont/Taranaki as far as Fanthams peak. There are commanding views from the summits of this solitary volcano. Late morning, descend on ancient lava flows covered in goblin forest back to the minibus. On the way south, stop at a wild Wanganui beach for lunch, a big sort out of gear and a swim. The drive to Wellington takes you through New Zealand’s flattest plains - it doesn’t last long! Arrive in Wellington 5-8pm. Head out for an evening meal and farewell drink in the capital city. Your guide can drop you at central hostels or your preferred accommodation.

Note: People heading North after the safari. You can connect in Stratford with an Auckland bound bus at 1pm ($60). Please advise guide on Day 1 if this is required. Guide can arrange this booking - cost not included.

Grade: D
Average 4-5 hrs physical activity per day, up to 7hrs on longer days.
Pack weights of 10-12kgs on some days.
Altitude gains of up to 800m.
Terrain mostly tracks. Some uneven track surfaces and river crossings. Some may be slippery or rough; some off-track hiking.
No hiking experience necessary, however, agility and fitness required. You need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic.

It is common knowledge that a guide can make or break a trip – which is why we employ the best. Our guides are inspiring individuals, who enjoy sharing their beautiful country with you. It’s amazing what you will learn from these superheros – from bird calls to bad jokes, survival skills to brewing camp coffee, keeping dry to enjoying being wet and how to find your way through 1000s of kms of wilderness. All guides are trained in Mountain Safety First Aid and have a wealth of outdoor and hiking experience. Other wonderful characters are used during peak times.

Please be gentle with your guide - good guides are hard to find!

Malcolm O'Neill - Malcolm has a BSc in physical geography and studied climatology, volcanism and glaciation. A while back, he co-authored the guidebook Classic New Zealand Adventures that involved lots of adventuring all over the country. Malcolm’s interests include mountain biking, travel, skiing/boarding, photography, making furniture, and leaping down staircases. Malcolm does more business stuff than guiding these days.

Graham Frithhas a love of the outdoors and sharing that with people has taken Graham hiking, mountain biking, rafting, and kayaking all over the world. Graham also runs an outdoor safety company instructing and training guides. His most recent project was guiding in Tibet. In his limited spare time he likes to orienteer, sing, and practise his thespian skills.

Kath Watzig (DipORL) keeps bees, carves wood, and is very active in Northland conservation groups. Kath is an outrigger canoe champion and lives in a mud-brick house she built herself. She is a bundle of energy and sings whenever she has an excuse to. Kath has more charm than a politician’s PR company.

Malcolm Hughes is a keen multi-sport athlete who has worked as a UN peacekeeper in Namibia and an instructor at Outward Bound. Malcolm escapes constantly into the mountains, ensuring we never get to catch him on film!

Justin Cowen (MPhil) doesn’t just talk conservation, he’s written a thesis on it (biodiversity and sustainable development). He worked for more than 5 years for the Department of Conservation and is not fussy about where he directs his conservation efforts – a species of grass, weta, bat or bird – because he believes firmly in its benefits. Justin sometimes hikes in 1920s outdoor clothing (for our amusement or his, we are not quite sure).

Emily Hicks has a BSc(Hons) in microbiology and can answer any questions you have about nematode worms. She has returned to New Zealand from a Canadian jaunt with a wild enthusiasm for sharing pure, wild New Zealand experiences with visitors from around the world. Her interest in languages means she may occasionally break out in French.

Alison Perkins has a BSc(Hons) in biochemistry but prefers spending life in the outdoors to staring at flies down a microscope. She loves to tramp and travel, and as a guide she can combine both. She has a passion for scuba diving, so you’re just as likely to find her in the water as out of it. According to Malcolm, she gets far too excited about fish.

New Zealand’s weather is changeable and we can experience extremely cold weather at any time of year, especially in the mountains. Our huts/camps vary in altitude from sea level to over 1000 metres. It is necessary to have warm clothing. Jeans are not suitable for hiking.

Essential Items

hiking boots (not shoes)

backpack (at least 60 litres capacity)

backpack liner (plastic bag)

3-season sleeping bag

waterproof raincoat (gore-tex or similar)

warm fleece/wool jersey (not cotton)

shorts for hiking

polypro/thermal underwear – top & and long-johns

3 pairs of socks (they get wet)

warm hat or balaclava

sunscreen and sunglasses

drink bottle (1 litre)

spare shoes or sandals

flashlight/head lamp

insect repellent (sandflies like foreign blood)

spare set of clothes

Optional items: Therm-a-rest sleeping mat,(self-inflating foam mat), gaiters, binoculars, gloves/mittens, earplugs, walking poles, camera.

We supply: Sleeping mats (dense foam), tents, cooking equipment, plates/cutlery, first aid kit, safety equipment and maps.

Luggage: We allow space for 120 litres per person (one large pack plus one day pack). You may be required to forward excess luggage if you exceed this. Any gear you do not need while hiking can be locked in the vehicle. No responsibility for security of your luggage is undertaken. We highly recommend travel insurance.

Equipment Hire: We have high quality hiking equipment which you can hire for our Hiking Safaris. Please arrange hire gear when you book. Requests for hire equipment must be made at least 5 days before the departure date. Cancellation of gear hire must also occur at least 5 days in advance or no refund will be given.

Equipment Hire (NZ$)	10 days
Sleeping bag	$50
Backpack	$50
Therm-a-rest	$20
Polypro top+bottom	$20
Fleece jacket	$20
Raincoat	$40
Full set (all of above)	$160
Gaiters	$20
Walking pole	$20each

You will travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. It is also equipped with a range of natural history reference books. The average driving time per day is around 2-3 hours and there will be a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. The guide will often stop the vehicle for you to take photos. On some of the nights you will be camping by the vehicle.

Safaris are run on a food kitty system - each person contributes about $10 per day. The first stop is usually the supermarket where everyone helps with buying food for the next few days. Everybody is involved with the preparation and cooking of meals: barbecues, salads, pancakes, stews, pasta, dampers, hangi...Vegetarian meals are no problem. When you are on overnight hikes the group will tend to eat pasta and rice meals. There is always lots of hiking food - chocolate, peanuts, raisins, biscuits. The vehicles carry a full range of cooking equipment including gas burners, woks, frying pans and billies. When you go on an overnight hike the group will carry a portable stove.

The Hiking Safaris use a range of accommodation: camping, back-country huts, cribs (summer house), hostels and cabins. You will generally camp if the weather is fine, so you get to enjoy the outdoors more and it costs you less. In less pleasant weather your guide will arrange accommodation for the group. Note that the accommodation and food costs are not included in the price of the safari.

Camping - You will camp as much as possible in a range of range of locations; under natural rock overhangs, on the beach, Department of Conservation campsites, established campgrounds with showers. You are provided with a 2- person tents to share and closed cell foam sleeping mats. You may have a small campfire if fires are permitted.

Huts - Your guide will make use of excellent Department of Conservation huts. They are equipped with mattresses, running water and an outside toilet. Cooking is done on a portable stove. We do not have sole rights to huts and so must share with other hikers.

Cabins/Cribs - When the weather is bad your guide will seek out alternative accommodation. This can be anything that is available, from a private crib (summerhouse) to a cabin at a campground. Cost is never more than $20 per night.

You must be prepared to go for 3 days (sometimes more) without a hot shower. There is always a river or lake for you to wash in. Some campsites/huts have saunas or natural hotpools!

Do we all get involved with camp duties...?
Everyone is fully involved with the running of the safari, from collecting firewood, to setting up camp and cooking meals. You are expected to do your share of work. If you are not a great cook, don't worry - your guide and other people in the group will help you.

Does it matter if I am travelling alone?
Most of the people on safaris are travelling alone. The safaris are strong on group activities and participation including playing outdoor games, going for swims, helping one another to cross rivers and explore caves, and overcoming obstacles and challenges. You will be encouraged to participate in activities, but if it's not your thing that is also OK. We allow time for people to be by themselves on safari if they need it.

Can I do more than one safari?
Yes. More and more people are connecting safaris covering the whole of New Zealand. We really are the hassle-free way to experience New Zealand's best adventures.

I am travelling and have a lot of stuff that I will not need on the safari - what should I do with it?
You can store it at your accommodation if you plan on returning to the area. Or, you can travel with it on safari. There is an allowance of 100 litres per person (1 large pack plus a daypack). Depending how full the safari is, you may be required to forward excess luggage if you exceed this. During overnight hikes every thing is locked securely in the vehicle.

What do I do with my valuables (passport, airline tickets, money, etc) while we are hiking?
Keep them with you in your hiking pack. You will be given a small plastic bag to keep them dry and keep them with you while you are hiking.

Can I be picked up at my hostel or accommodation?
No. It is much easier for everyone to meet at a central location - usually the local Visitors Information Centre - and it doesn't cost much to get there on a taxi, shuttle or bus (or walking!). Leaving the city early means spending more time in the wilderness.

I'm a vegetarian - is that a problem?
Not at all. We often have vegetarians in the group. All the guides are familiar with vegetarian cooking. There are lots of excellent vegetarian recipes. Sometimes the whole group will cook vegetarian or there may be a separate vegetarian meal. The hangi is always a mixture of vegetarian and meat foods.

What is the weather going to be like?
New Zealand experiences very changeable weather - especially in the remote mountainous regions where a lot of time is spent. Some days the group can be broiling in 30 degrees and then the next day freezing in a cool southerly from the sub-Antarctic. It is best to be prepared for the worst conditions - see the 'What To Take' section. You may experience some rain on the trip so a good waterproof raincoat is important.

Which is the best trip to go on?
It depends on what you want, how much time you have and where you want to go. You can do anything from a 6-day Far North beach trip to a combination of safaris for 40 or more days! The Volcanoes and Rainforest trip has amazing volcanic scenery, the West Coast Wilderness has grand mountains and rain forests, the Secret South has a lot of tops travel and wildlife (dolphins, penguins, sea lions and seals) and the Arthur’s Pass is a great short getaway with spectacular scenery.

Will I be fit enough?
Our safaris are graded B, C or D. Read the section 'Hiking and Fitness' and choose a trip to suit you. If you are concerned about your fitness get out there and hike in the weeks prior to your safari departure.

Who is in my group?
A small group (maximum 11 people), with a range of ages, nationalities and work backgrounds. Seventy percent of people are between 20 and 40, though there have been people from 17 to 72. On average, half are women and half are men. Everyone shares an enthusiasm for outdoor adventure and an appreciation of nature.

How far in advance do I need to book?
The sooner the better for safaris departing in the peak season (November to April). We get many advance bookings so it is important to book early to avoid disappointment. Availability for trips is updated regularly on our departure dates page.

What type of gear should I buy?
If you intend to do a lot of hiking then it is worth buying quality equipment - good leather hiking boots and hiking clothing. If you think you might not do any more hiking after safari then you could buy cheaper alternatives - just remember that it won't last as long or do the job as well. You may also rent certain items from us.

What if I can't keep up with the rest of the group?
We hike together as a group, stopping often for snacks and a good lunch. Some activities are optional if you feel like having some time out.

Are we going to encounter dangerous animals?
New Zealand does not have any snakes, bears, lions or alligators. We have a small poisonous spider called the katipo that is so rare that it is a protected species. At certain times of the summer and autumn, wasps can be a problem in some of our beech forests. If you are allergic to their sting, then make sure you carry medication, and tell your guide about it at the beginning of the safari. Otherwise, it is great to climb through the bush and lie in the grass without a thing to worry about.

Kitty fund for food and camp/hut fees NZ$25/day
During winter (April - September) or wet weather summer safaris you may need to budget an extra NZ$10/day as we use accommodation more often.
Optional activities: sea kayaking NZ$85.
Kitty fund and optional activities are paid for during the trip. Prices correct at time of publishing.

Payment: For bookings 4 or more months in advance of the departure a 20% deposit can be paid with the remainder due 65 days prior to your trip. For bookings within 4 months of the departure, full payment is required.

Transferring: You can transfer to another North Island hiking safari as long as it is more than 20 days prior to your pre-booked departure. Transfers within 20 days will require a cancellation and new booking. All transfers are subject to seat availability.

Cancellations: More than 20 days prior to departure - 80% refund if full amount paid
20 to 10 days prior to departure - 50% refund
Less than 10 days prior to departure - NO REFUND
Deposits are not refunded

Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance. You will be asked to fill out a disclaimer before you begin a Hiking Safari. You must follow the instructions of your guide at all times.

Medical Conditions: When you book you must notify us of any medical condition, medical history, or medications that you are on. In particular, asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, allergies to wasp/bee stings and food allergies.

Client Responsibilities: With any outdoor activity, there is an element of risk. This safari operates in remote and mountainous areas. Risks in undertaking this activity could include hypothermia due to adverse weather conditions, personal injury, or property damage from hiking over rugged and uneven terrain.

All practicable steps are taken to identify and minimise potential dangers. However, you must follow instructions of your guide (and use the safety equipment provided) at all times. Adults accompanying any person under the age of 18 must ensure that the underage person follows our instructions at all times.

The guides reserves the right to make any alterations to the itinerary in the interest of safety, comfort or unforeseen circumstances due to causes such as weather, illness, or misadventure. Every reasonable endeavour will be made to keep to published schedules but no guarantee is given. Costs incurred by change, delay, or the missing of connecting services are solely the responsibility of the client.

The guide reserves the right to exclude a person from a tour at anytime if that person may be likely to risk the health, safety or comfort (including unsociable behaviour) of other clients, him or herself, or the environment. In such circumstances the operator will not be obliged to offer any refund or transfer of ticket.