I went on my first overnight hike (or tramp as we kiwis call it) at the ripe age of 30 something, with a friend from the UK who was brave enough to induct me in the ways of hut etiquette and hiking preparation and protocol. Not only that but she was generous enough to let my eldest 4 children (then aged 5, 8, 10 and 12) come along too.
We trekked to the Waihaha Hut (usually a 3 hour walk, but at a five-year-old pace it was substantially longer!). We had a wonderful time playing next to (ok, in) the river, cooking pasta for dinner on our tiny tramping stove, drinking delicious milo round a campfire, and watching the kaka swoop and squawk at sunset. It was an experience I will always treasure.
So began the annual (mostly) family tramp tradition. There are a few requirements:
- No more than 2 hour drive from home.
- No longer than the youngest walker can cope with (we’ve increased from 1 hour to 3 hours)
- No snow (found that one out the hard way)
- A hut with more than 8 bunks (ideally we go for larger huts to increase the chances no one has to sleep on the floor!)
- No river crossings (found that one out the hard way too!)
The four tramps we have done so far with all six kids are:
Blyth Hut Track – Our first family tramping experience was a fabulous learning opportunity. Make sure the hut is below the snow line. Make sure there are no unbridged rivers, or you’re least prepared for them. Make sure the map you have shows the whole route. Make sure there is lots of wood for hubby to burn in the stove as therapy when you finally get there.
Waihohonu Hut Track – This was a much easier track, to a stunning new hut with great facilities. It was also completely full that night. I have vivid memory of waking up to look out the window and see a guy in a sleepingbag on the deck of the hut with frost on his moustache. I would highly recommend this as a beginning tramp for families.
Whakapapaiti Valley Hut Track – I took the kids myself on this tramp. The terrain was challenging, but the walk wasn’t particularly long. The 18 bunk hut is in a beautiful valley next to a river. We loved it. The weather wasn’t great and we were pretty wet by the time we got home, but none the worse for wear.
Kiwi Tribe 