Kauaeranga What to Pack

Luggage and bags: A good backpack. Line it with a plastic bin liner, and if it doesn't have a showerproof cover, make one of your own with another bin liner. The New Zealand bush is dense and green for a reason - it rains!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: I wouldn't do this walk without decent walking boots. It covers a fairly steep route over sometimes slippery, rough rocky pathways. Take a waterproof coat, or grab a cheap waterproof poncho from one of the outdoor shops in nearby Thames. Carry a change of clothing - it was such a relief to get out of my wet gear when we got to the hut.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Leave the girlie shower gel at home. Unless you really fancy a freezing cold shower.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Bring a sleeping bag and the ability to share a room with up to forty complete strangers.

Miscellaneous: Although the DOC website says cooking gear isn't provided, the hut does have a number of stove billies, the odd plastic plate and a couple of kitchen odds and ends. But best to bring what you need. Bring easy-cook camping fare and make sure your pack has room for a bottle of fortifying red wine. Two maybe. All uneaten food does need to be carried back out again, but empty bottles don't weigh so much as full ones ;-)