Tramping in New Zealand --Huts versus Tent?

Question

I'll be moving in New Zealand in September on a working holiday visa. I'll be there for a year, and during my stay I plan on doing a lot of hiking/tramping. I have an opportunity to buy an affordable, lightweight Kelty brand tent, but I'm not sure if I need it.

Is it a better value to pay for the huts or to bring along your own tent? Are there any tracks that don't have many huts?

Answer 1

well for the "great walks" i.e milford, kepler, abel tasman, the heaphy, routeburn you HAVE to book huts during the walking season (which for the abel tasman and heaphy tracks is all year, the fiordland tracks season is the end of October till mid April), this GUARANTEES you a bed, so it would be silly to carry a tent on any of those tracks if you would prefer a guaranteed bed in the huts.

I would suggest checking out the doc website, it gives all the information relating to facilities available on tracks throughout NZ, certainly on some of the "less well known" tracks, paying for a hut ticket doens't guarantee you a bed, so tenting would be wise. I recommend sticking to huts on the tracks where booking numbers are controlled

this web link will give you all the extra info you need

http://doc.govt.nz/templates/ByRegionLan...

Good luck, you have to book REALLY far in advance for the milford track, its already booked out for a lot of the 2008/09 season

Answer 2

A tent doesn't take up much space, always have one on you.  During the summer the huts are full and you do have to book in advance in most places with the Department of Conservation

http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/default...

Answer 3

In busy times the huts can be full.  And what happens if you don't quite make it to the next hut?  A tent is shelter wherever you are.  You would be foolish not to carry one.

Answer 4

Why not post this in the New Zealand site you might get kiwi locals who can give you up to date info.