General tips

Tramping should be challenging, but enjoyable. Not all of the trip will be clear skies, no blisters and first choice of the bunk beds – there will be times where you’re cursing ever reading this blog or agreeing to go on that hike with your friend. And that’s ok. We’ve all been there. But tramping should be more fun than it isn’t. Otherwise what’s the point?

That being said, a lot of newbies can get some simple things wrong which ruin their experience and make them never want to go tramping every again. Part of that is expectations – having realistic expectations for yourself, the tramp and your buddies. The best thing you can do here is educate yourself and know your own limits (experience helps with both). But below are some tips to make the whole tramping experience easier and more enjoyable. Let me know if you have some good ideas to add!

Make friends with people who tramp – this is the easiest way to build up your skills and confidence, and motivate you to go out hiking (plus they might have gear you could borrow). Join your local tramping club – New Zealand has so many! Their members may be a bit older than you (case in point: I felt like I decreased the median age of the last group I joined by a few decades), BUT that just means that they have a lot of experience and wisdom to help you. It does NOT mean that they’ll be slow (some of the fastest people I’ve tramped with have been in their 60s). You can also reach out to friendly people on social media, friends of friends, or colleagues, who go tramping, just make sure you’re polite and respectful when doing so.

Have the right gear (and food) and know how to use it – this is crucial not only for your enjoyment, but also for your safety. If you’re hiking the Tongariro Crossing wearing jeans and jandals, wheeling a little suitcase behind you with one small bottle of water, you’re not going to have a good time. (True story. That actually happened. … I know.). Make a list to check off as you pack to ensure you don’t forget anything. I’m going to be writing more about gear and food soon and will pop a link here.

Gaiters, waterproof boots, and polarised sunglasses are worth the investment – nuff said.

Wear layers and always take a wind- and water-proof jacket – even with checking the weather forecast religiously beforehand, the wind can always be stronger than you anticipated or that rain can come on quicker than forecasted. Wearing layers means you don’t get too hot or too cold, and are an easy and efficient way at maintaining your body temperature. A good windproof and waterproof jacket can literally be a lifesaver, especially in New Zealand’s changeable weather.

Do some training beforehand – this is really important if you’re not used to walking long distances, walking up or down inclines, or carrying weight on your back (or if you need to wear in those new tramping boots!). If you’re not fit enough for the trip you’re doing, then you’re not going to enjoy it and you’ll ache for days afterwards (I write, as I disregard this advice almost every single time I go tramping – it’s about knowing when to break the rules too, right?). Part of this is picking the right adventures for your fitness level (below), however if you’re really wanting to do that amazing 1000m+ climb, then sitting on your ass doing TimTam slams ain’t gonna cut it (if you don’t know what TimTam slams are then I’m about to rock your world – message me). Start small and work up. If you’re going to be carrying a pack, train with one – it makes a huge difference, likewise if you’re going on a steep tramp, find some stairs or a hill and get climbing.

Cut your toenails – especially if you’ll be going down steep terrain (and lace up your boots tight for steep downhill too).

Choose the right kind of tramp – start out small with local day walks and then begin to challenge yourself bit by bit by going longer, steeper, and further afield. If you go too hard too soon, you’ll likely not enjoy the trip, plus you might be putting yourself and others in danger. Keep in mind length (time and km/miles), difficulty, terrain, elevation gain/loss, accessibility, facilities, etc.. A three hour flat walk along a well-marked footpath is veeeeery different from a three hour walk along a poled route with an 800m elevation gain. I talk more about what factors you should consider when choosing a hike on my “How to stay safe” post – check it out here or via the top menu.

Follow the Outdoor Safety Code and stay safe – plan your trip, tell someone your plans and when to expect you back, check the weather forecast, know your limits and take sufficient supplies. You can find the code on the Mountain Safety Council’s here, and I’ve written a blog post all about this where I go into more detail about how you can plan and act to keep yourself safe – click here to check that out!

Pace yourself – tramping isn’t a race, it’s not about how fast you get somewhere or even if you reach your destination at all, it’s … (hold on to your sunhats & tighten your hip straps because I’m about to hit you with a massive cliche) … about enjoying the journey. It’s a good idea to put the slowest tramper at the head of the party. You don’t want to leave anyone behind or burn yourself out in the first hour of an 8+ hour hike.

Always pack bug spray or alternative – sandflies are sent from the devil to drive you insane. Seriously.

Rest, eat and hydrate often – take in the view, eat all of the chocolate, slurp from your fancy bladder. Don’t let yourself get dehydrated or hungry – hangry is the worst enemy of many trampers. Taking regular breaks for food and fluids will help maintain your stamina. It’s a lot easier to keep on top of this from the beginning, rather than trying to play catch-up when it’s too late and you’re uncomfortable. And also food = enjoyment. Now that’s a life motto to live by.

Apply sunblock more often than you think you need it – if you need it, then odds are you’re going to be sweating it off too. It’s the well-known tramping-sunblock dichotomy. With the right conditions in New Zealand it can only take as little as 10 minutes to receive a bad sunburn – we have the highest melanoma rates in the world. Slop on that sunscreen and slap on a hat.

Hot chocolate + Bailey’s is a delicious drink combination – trust me on this. You can also add any leftovers (if there are any, let’s be real) to your porridge the next morning. I’m not advocating to take a whole bottle (moderation in all things except for chocolate), just a small plastic bottle so that it’s worth its weight. And before you say anything I know that drinking alcohol has been disproven at helping you sleep, but hey the placebo affect works just as well for me. Plus it’s really nice to have a treat to look forward to at the hut.

Earbuds – take them. There are always horrendous snorers in every hut. Some of them have sleep apnoea so severe that as you’re lying here listening to them struggle to breath, your brain goes through all the different ways of telling them that they should probably get it checked out by a specialist.

Condensed milk comes in tubes (if that’s your jam) … (it should be)

Leave snacks + a change of clothes in the car – there’s nothing better than drinking a cool bottle of water, peeling out of your sweaty clothes and putting on loose shoes after a big adventure. Plus if you’re going anywhere after the trip other than straight home to shower, people aren’t going to stare at you for your breach of social etiquette.

This list is every growing, so let me know what tips and tricks you have up your prolprop/merino sleeves that I should add!