Te Araroa – NZ South Island

[Peter Bakwin]

Here's my gear list for doing the South Island part of the TAT Dec-Jan. Would appreciate feedback from those experienced with NZ. I know I'm heavy on electronics, and am considering giving up the PowerMonkey, which is just to re-charge my iPhone, which I'll use only for backup navigation & could be handy especially in poor visibility (often there is no trail tread). I think NZ is going to be sometimes colder and generally wetter than I'm used to. Also, I'd use a lighter shelter (given all the huts), but partner/spouse really wants a fully enclosed shelter and the Lunar Duo is bomber & huge.

http://pbakwin.home.comcast.net/TAT-GearList.pdf

[Barry Cuthbert]

Looks good to me. The only thing I didn't see was insect repellent, perhaps you are relying on clothing, which is usually what I do as well except when it's too warm to wear long clothing (~20degC for me).

Also water treatment is not likely to be used very often. I have never treated water in the NZ back country and over 30 years tramping I've never had problems.

Te Araroa in the South Island tends to go down the eastern side of the Main Divide, which is warmer, drier and more stable weather-wise, particularly during summer. But yes there is bound to be some patches of rain, just pack everything in the pack inside a large rubbish bag, saves mucking around with a pack cover. It's always a great feeling arriving at a hut after a whole day's walking in the rain, and having a chance to dry out properly, rather than being stuck inside a small tent.

Enjoy your trip!

[Peter Bakwin]

Thanks! I'm just bringing about 30 AM tables for water treatment. TAT info says it's needed in one section along a lake (don't recall exactly where, maybe Tekapo or Ohau).

How bad are the bugs? In pockets or more general? Morning & evening or all day? I sure dislike deet! (But bug-sensitive spouse will have a small bottle)

[Barry Cuthbert]

Sandflies are daytime attackers, when it gets dark they stop biting.

Things that make sandflies worse:
high humidity, especially prior to rain arriving (quite reliable method of weather forecasting!)
being in places where there are pools of water such as rivers and streams, forest, tarns
low altitude – below 1000m

Things that make sandflies better:
keep moving, harder for them to land
having a breeze/wind blowing
above 1000m their intensity drops off (often coinciding with the bushline and increased breeze)

There are also mosquitoes at night but nothing like bug season in the Sierras.

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