I did my bit of research before starting this topic and unfortunately I was not able to get the information I needed!! Probably due to the complexity of my questions.
Now I am working in Hastings and will be free to start tramping by 23rd of December until 16th of January. (Roughly 24 days). My problem : it is high season and I am afraid of crowded huts and tracks.
What tracks would you recommend me ( from 3 to 5 tramps depending on the durations) I would like to do tracks that are challenging, remote, scenic and longer than 3 days. (I heard about some but I need your opinion: Cascade Saddle, Mt taramaki high level circuit, Stewart Island Northwest circuit, Dusky...maybe something in arthur pass)
Although I have a 2 person light weight tent, I will be doing the tramps solo. For this reason I wouldnt like to carry it. Is ithere a problem to rely only on the huts?
To help you give your opinion, I will give some information about my current situation:
-I am a quite experienced in extend walks and reasonably fit. I have all the basic gear (fleece, waterproof jackets/pants, gaiters, boots, tent, sleeping, thermarest, compass, msr coocker,first aid kit ...).
-I have already had my share of regular tourism (jet boat, bungee, museuns ....) including the Milford track on that ( I dont have the intention to understimate the track with this comment the views are stunning). So simple tourism is not relevant at this point.
-I dont have a car so the tracks have to be somehow acessible by public transport or whatever...
-I am in a tight budget so I can not afford planes and water-taxis for all tracks (maybe one)
-I have to be in the end of the trip in Auckland.
And If you came up to this point....tks for reading and I want your opinion...Cheers
I did four NZ tramps last Feb. (Routburn, Caples, Kepler, Greenstone.) You do not need a tent on the tramps since you will be staying in the huts. A tent is very handy, however, for camping at the private campgrounds in the towns. Take it! It's only about $8.00 a nite for most places and you get to use the shower, kitchen, dining room. It's somewhat difficult to get the permits to hike the famous "Great Walks" (ie (Milford), but if you go to the Dept of Conservation offices (Parks Dept) and keep asking you can get them becasue there are cancellations - especially since you are solo. You don't need a permit to walk the NON-great walks and you can stay at the huts without a reservation. Public transportation is great. Use the busses. They are everywhere. There are also shuttle busses to the trail heads. My only criticism of NZ is that the culture, history, towns. beer and people are rather uninteresting. Sometime you don't feel like you are in a foreign county. It's very American with a British accent. It is quite safe and clean -especially on the south island. Enjoy!
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