My AT Prep: Backpacking Through New Zealand!

Guess what friends? Just 28 days until this traveling tarheels starts her 11-week journey in New Zealand! I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a year and it’s a great opportunity for me to go on some kick-ass shake down hikes to test of my gear and build my backpacking stamina.

For the first 6 weeks I will be taking a class on social entrepreneurship two days a week at the University of Otago in Dunedin. My partner in crime (aka travel partner), Maria, will be taking a class on wine and business (yes, her final includes a wine tasting). I am so grateful that my MBA program encourages us to study abroad during our two-year program. When else am I going to have the opportunity to spend nearly 3 months exploring a country on the other side of the world?

Maria and I make great travel companions. I like to work out the itinerary while she is awesome at finding us great accommodations. Here is an overview of our itinerary:

Weekend trips while taking classes in Dunedin:

• Rakiura Track Great Walk: 4 days/3 nights of backpacking through Stewart Island
• Lake Tekapo/Lake Pulaki area: (Hot spring spas!)
• Catlins Forest Park
• Mount Aspiring National Park (this looks amazing and there is no way to work it in unless we go as a weekend trip)

Lake Tekapo, photo courtsey of www.laketekapo.com

Once school is out we start really travel!

South Island plan 

• Kepler Track Great Walk
• Mildford sound cruise and kayak tour
• Routeburn Track Great Walk
• Queenstown
• Mt. Cook area star gazing tour and day hike
• Christchurch

Milford Sound, photo courtsey of mstecker.com

North Island Plan

• Wellington
• Egmont Naitional Park: Summit hike
• Tongariro Crossing day hike
• Waitomo Caves to see glow worms!
• Taupo lake day
• LOTR Tour
• Auckland to drop Maria off at the airport

Glow worm caves! Photo courtesy of www.amusingplanet.com

Swinging back to the South Island solo:

• Redwoods
• Te Mata Peak hike
• Aorangi Forest Park
• Abel Tasman Great Walk
• Victoria Forest Park/Nelson lakes
• Arthur’s Pass National Park Drive

Abel Tasman National Park, photo courtsey of auckland.concreteplayground.co.nz

New Zealand is really just an awesome, 11 week AT shake down hike
Since I start my thru-hike just two weeks after I get back from NZ, I’m using the trip to try out all my AT gear. I’ll be lucky to get a good two weeks of backpacking time under my belt before heading out on the trail for good, which is just enough time to help me make my first set of gear adjustments. Right now my base weight (without food and water is sitting at 16 pounds, 9 oz.). Once I get out of the Smokies I can shed some weight with my heavier clothing, but overall the pack is still a little too heavy for my taste. My hope is to shave off a pound or so while figuring out what I need in NZ.

So without further adieu, here is my gear list!

A few quick notes: Yes, I’m carrying more socks than most. Dry/dirt free socks will go a long way to prevent blisters. I’ll carry a few more onces to help keep blisters at bay. Yes, I have shorts and a skirt. While I will probably end up just hiking in the short, I like the skirt/shorts combo for keep more skin covered up. Shorts keep chaffing at bay, skirt gives more coverage. It’s also way easier to pee in the woods while wearing a skirt. The lacrose ball is heavy, but it does wonders for getting out knots after carrying a heavy bag all day. I tend to get a lot of neck and shoulder pain, I’m hoping this will help.

Okay, open to suggestions! Places to stay in New Zealand? Things I have to check out? Any gear swaps you’d make? Anything to leave at home?