New Zealand Packing List

My partner and I recently returned from a long trip to New Zealand's South Island, where we completed three of the nine tracks that the Department of Conservation designated as Great Walks: the Heaphy Track, the Kepler Track, and the Routeburn Track.  The following packing list applied to each of the hikes, which we completed between mid-February and early-March.  We stayed at a combination of campsites and huts, so I noted the camp-only items below (mainly, the tent and certain cooking/cleaning equipment).

Clothing:

• Jacket - We started hiking around 7:00 AM each day, just around sunrise.  It was brisk during the early hours and from about 6:00 PM on at night, especially in the shade.
• Rain jacket - We got about 10 minutes of rain during our entire trip; I understand that this was very unusual.
• Hiking pants - I like the zip-off kind, but I preferred to keep my legs and arms covered to minimize exposure to sandflies.
• Extra shorts - for sleeping in or wearing while washing hiking pants
• Shirts (2) - no cotton
• Active bras (2) - quick-dry
• Underwear (2 pairs) - quick-dry
• Wool socks (2 pairs) - My partner's Darn Tough socks outperformed my Smart Wool socks.
• Hiking boots
• Water sandals - For me, these doubled as camp shoes (wear with socks to defend against sandflies), taking a dip in the lake/river/ocean shoes, and walking around town shoes.
• Sun hat and sunglasses

Hiking Equipment:

• Backpack and rain cover
• Water bladder and extra bottle - I like the fold-able water pouches.  If nothing else, they are handy at dinner time.
• Hiking poles
• Sunscreen and bug spray - We had better luck against the pesky sandflies with an all-natural, DEET-free repellant.
• Pocket knife
• Whistle
• Toilet paper
• Minimal first aid kit, including moleskin, bandages, antibiotic cream, tweezers, nail clippers, and plenty of ibuprofen
• Trail map and profile

Camping Equipment:

• Tent and footprint - campsites only
• Sleeping bag and pad - huts supply mattresses
• Ear plugs - especially useful in the huts, where dozens of people sleep in the same bunkroom
• Headlamp
• Cooking stove and lighter - huts supply stoves but not lighters
• Cooking pot and pan/lid
• Spork
• Dish scrubber and all-purpose cleaner - huts supply scrubbers and cleaning solution
• Toothbrush and paste
• Plastic bags - for packing out garbage/rubbish
• Zip-loc bags in assorted sizes
• Hiking permit reservation confirmation or hut tickets

Extras:

• Camera and batteries
• Compass - We did not need a compass for any of the Great Walks.  The trails were well-maintained and clearly marked.  
• Watch
• Water filter - We did not need a water filter for any the Great Walks.  Potable water was available at every hut, even during so-called drought conditions.
• Journal and pen
• Book
• Tent repair kit
• Sewing kit

Food:

• Bagels for breakfast
• 8-10 snacks (granola bars, protein bars, fruit bars, fruit snacks) for eating throughout the day, every day
• For lunch: (a) crackers, cheese, and salami or (b) peanut butter, jelly, and sandwich bread
• Dinners for each night - We tried some dried dinner pouches, but my favorite was Asian-style Shin Ramen.  We brought extra pasta (angel hair cooks the most quickly) to "cut" the dinner pouches and add some carbs.
• Tea bags - There's always time for tea.
• Multivitamins - Wekas, curious wingless birds, came after our vitamins, which we kept in a Zip-loc bag.  Do not leave food items lying around the campsite.
• We noticed that many of the other hikers (mainly those that were staying in huts) brought a lot of "luxury" food items along, such as wine.  We did not think it was worth weight, but to each his own!