Getting Ready

Back in August 2008 we decided we were ready for a new family experience - something different and exciting but a tangible challenge. Both Christopher and Luke have always wanted to do an overnight hike ("tramp" in NZ) and have been aware of the many tracks available for such trips including the Heaphy Track. David in his previous life had actually walked some of these legendary tracks and was game for another experience. Anything that meant physical activity for the family got me on board!

I must backtrack a bit for those of you who don't know about New Zealand's famed "Great Walks". It is a collection of nine premier walking tracks through some of the best scenery in New Zealand, the most popular touristed ones include Abel Tasman and Milford Tracks. The tracks and the associated huts are managed by Dept of Conservation (DOC) and are kept to a very high standard. There is a charge per night for use of the huts for adults but children are free. However anyone using the hut needs to be booked in advance to ensure an available bunk awaits you after the day's walk.


The Heaphy Track is one of these DOC tracks in the northwest corner of the South Island in Kahurangi National Park. It is billed as a minimum 3 night 4 day walk which takes you 78 km through mountainous areas, forests and beach. It is the longest of the Great Walks. Got your attention yet?


However as I was saying we made our decision to "knock the b* off" ( as the late national icon Sir Edmund Hillary said about Everest) during our summer of 2009. The bookings were made and the planning began - at least mentally. Realistically, sometime in November or December we started to prepare. What would we need to survive for 4 days in the NZ wilderness? How much can two boys aged 15 and 11 actually carry for 4 days - not to mention the youth-challenged parents! Could David manage to keep his business going without any internet or cell phone access for 4 days??


Bit by bit the plans came together. Fortunately Christopher is in a bit of a growth spurt and by the time January came around he exceeded his mother's carrying capacity! Luke is never short on enthusiasm and was keen to carry whatever was needed. Once we had the food and essential supplies sorted out we needed backpacks and covers which we bought or borrowed from family and friends. We decided boots were too complicated to sort out, agreed it wouldn't rain much and settled to wear our well-loved trusty running shoes.




We drove to Wellington and had a week of final preparation before taking the car ferry across the Cook Strait to the South Island. After two nights in comfortable South Island motels we set out from Nelson on Jan 27th for Mapua where we would leave our car and travel by charter bus for 2 hours drive to the remote eastern end of the track - the mighty Heaphy awaited us!