Preferably comfortable, worn-in hiking boots with good ankle support. New Zealand is well known for experiencing four seasons in one day, so good all weather gear is essential.
Suitable clothes for walking, warm hat, gloves and jacket, shorts or long trousers, walking socks, wet weather gear are all essential items.
For both the day walks and hunting you require a daypack for personal items, eg any personal medication, sun hat, sun block, drink bottle, camera, together with wet weather gear, warm hat and gloves, etc.
New Zealand is renowned for experiencing four seasons in one day, please come prepared. Please see our What to bring list.
For the 1 day walks the walking time varies per walk:
Valley of the Feathers is an easy half day walk, and takes approximately 4 hours.
Titi Traverse is a more strenuous walk, with 4-5 hours climbing and 2-4 hours downhill, depending on your level of fitness. We will also adjust the walk depending on the overall fitness of your group.
World of the Gods is mostly downhill, and takes approximately 4-6 hours.
For the three day walk, (currently suspended) the walking times are specified per day:
Day 1 is approximately 5 hours depending on the fitness of the group. It is a 2 hour walk to lunch, and 2 hours to Shearwater Lodge. The distance walked on day one is approximately 8.5 km.
Day 2 is a 4 hours round trip. If the weather is favourable we stay out for a picnic lunch and take time to enjoy the day, otherwise lunch is served at Shearwater Lodge at approximately 1.30 pm.
Day 3 is approximately 3 hours in the morning and approximately 2.5 hours in the afternoon. You will be back in Kaikoura around 5.30 pm.
You need average fitness with good mobility and be able to walk for a few hours over hill and mountain tracks. The track surface varies from smooth, well formed paths to uneven terrain with occasional steeper gradients that you would expect of an alpine environment.
Your guide can tailor make walks to suit your group's wishes, and will ensure a walking pace suitable to all those present and there will be regular stops, although a reasonable level of fitness is required.
Luckily in New Zealand we don't have any mosquito's or ticks, our spiders are small and cute, and we do not have any poisonous creatures.
It is always a good idea to check your boots in the morning in case a weta might have crawled into them for a good nights sleep.
Puhi Peaks lies on the East Coast of NZ and has many fewer sandflies that other areas of NZ
However it’s a good idea to carry insect repellent.
Anyone allergic to bee or wasp stings should always carry appropriate personal medication.
POA
