Information for day trips

Please take note of the information on the Upcoming Trips page – where the tramp is going, the date, the time and place for meeting up, the cost for carpooling, and the trip leader’s details.

Call or message the trip leader beforehand.  If you are not yet a Club member, please don’t be offended if she/he asks you to complete several Light tramps before doing a Medium one.

Trip leaders have the authority to exclude participants who are not suitable for a trip.

What to bring on a day tramp

There will be many opinions on what the “average” person needs to have on a day tramp. Here’s some guidelines:

  • Day pack, modest sized, with a plastic pack liner (or plastic bags).

  • Sturdy tramping footwear, boots or shoes, and suitable socks.

  • Rain jacket.

  • Hat (for shade) and/or a beanie (for warmth).

  • At least two layers of clothing for the upper body (fleece, merino, or polypropylene, all quick drying). Avoid denim and cotton.

  • Small first aid kit, including any personal meds.

  • Sun block.

  • Survival blanket or bivy sack.

  • Toilet paper (in plastic bag).

  • Water, sufficient for you for a day.

  • Basic food supply for a day – sandwiches, snacks.

  • Extra snack bars or scroggin for an emergency.

  • Whistle.

  • A watch.

  • Head torch.

  • Camera/phone.

  • Some optional items:

    • Thermos, for a hot drink.

    • Gloves.

    • Hiking pole or poles.

    • Sun glasses.

Further useful information

  • Take a small bag of warm clothes to leave in the car or van.  Nice to change into after a cold wet day.

  • Take a large re-useable bag for bringing home wet and dirty boots and clothes.

  • Ensure at least one member from each tramping party is carrying a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).  The Club owns several, and some members have their own.  Ask who has one in your group. Remember: cell phone coverage does not exist or cannot be relied on in many NZ bush areas.

  • We never leave food scraps or wrappers in the bush. They must be carried out and disposed of at home.

  • We strongly advise people not to wear cotton clothing while tramping.  If these materials get wet (from rain, rivers or just heavy sweating), they take a long time to dry and increase the risk of hyperthermia.

How we grade our day tramps

The following MTC and DOC gradings will enable you to decide if a trip is appropriate for you.  MTC grade our day tramps in terms of expected time. These times do not include travel to and from the start of a tramp. DOC grade in terms of terrain and difficulty. Both gradings are included in our trip information.

Manukau Tramping Club Grades (expectation of time for tramp)

Light: Three to four hours. Over marked or defined tracks. Suitable for less experienced trampers.

Light Plus: Four to five hours. Over marked or defined tracks. Varying gradients. Possible stream crossings or other challenges.

Medium: Up to six hours. Not necessarily on marked or defined tracks.  May involve steep gradients. Possible stream- or bush-bashing.

Medium Plus: Six hours and over. For experienced trampers. Not necessarily defined tracks or markers. Most available time will be spent tramping.

DOC Grades (Terrain/Difficulty Guide)

DOC Easy - People of moderate fitness and abilities. Track is clearly marked where necessary.

DOC Intermediate - People with moderate fitness and abilities. Track is generally well formed, some sections may be rough, muddy or steep. Track has signs, poles or markers. Major stream and river crossings are bridged.

DOC Advanced - People with moderate to high level of fitness with skills and experience in navigation and survival. Track is mostly unformed, may be rough and steep. Track has markers, poles or rock cairns.

DOC Expert - For experienced trampers who have high navigation and survival skills. Complete self sufficiency required. Track may be unformed and natural, rough, muddy or very steep. Track may have markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings.

What if we are late returning from a tramp?

All of us must tell a close family member or friend where we are going and who we will be tramping with.

But the length of tramps, and return times, are approximate.  Be wary of setting definite return times or making post-tramp appointments.

In the event of your non-arrival home after a tramping trip, we advise:

  • That you contact family or friends as soon as you return to an area with cell phone coverage.

  • If you do not or cannot contact home, your family should wait two hours after sunset and then phone one of the Club members below:

Jewel Crane -  (09) 276 8064

Peter Rotherham - 021 165 4737

Geoff Glover -  021 456 837 

Disclaimer

Trip participants are reminded that certain risks exist with tramping and outdoor activities.  Trip leaders and Club officers will use their experience to provide advice to participants about safe practices in the outdoors.  But these people are unpaid volunteers and they are human – like everyone else – and participants in Club trips are ultimately responsible for their own safety.