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Enjoy your hīkoi safely!

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Your hīkoi could be anything from a few hours to a few days. Image: LEARNZ.

Aotearoa is the perfect place to plan your own hīkoi. There are lots of tracks, national parks, mountains, forests, and beaches to explore. When you go into the outdoors it is important to know your location, what the risks are and how to manage them.

Where will you walk?

Your hīkoi could be anything from a few hours to a few days. You need to know your limits and be realistic about what you can do. If you want to go on a longer walk you should try short walks first and build up to something longer over time.

New Zealand’s varied landscape also means that some walks are more challenging than others. Walking across difficult terrain can be rewarding but you need to make sure your skill level is right for the challenge!

There are so many great places to explore in Aotearoa. You might like to choose somewhere close to home for your first hīkoi. Look for where you could go by exploring maps to find interesting places. Talk to friends, whānau, and local outdoor clubs about places to walk and tramp.

Planning for your hīkoi will help you stay safe. Image: mountainsafety.org.nz

Plan your hīkoi

Planning for your hīkoi will help you stay safe. Everyone going on the hikoi should be part of the planning, so you are all ready to have a safe and enjoyable trip. Good walks and tramps come from good planning.

Aotearoa has changeable weather that walkers need to prepare for. Image: LEARNZ.

Watch the weather

New Zealand’s changeable weather is part of what makes this environment so special. A passing storm can be highlights of the trip if you are ready for one! Preparing well will help you be ready for all possible weather and make it home to tell the story.

Supplies include food, water, clothing, and equipment. Image: Shelley Hersey, LEARNZ.

Supplies

Food, water, clothing, and equipment. What you wear and take on your hīkoi will depend on where you might be going, how long you are going for and the weather forecast. A good rule to follow is to take enough food, equipment, and emergency rations for the worst-case scenario.

It is a good idea to get familiar with the land safety code.

Land safety code

Before you head off on your hīkoi, it is a good idea to get familiar with the land safety code.

  1. Choose the right trip for you
    Learn about the route and make sure you have the skills for it.
  2. Understand the weather
    It can change fast. Check the forecast and change your plans if needed.
  3. Pack warm clothes and extra food
    Prepare for bad weather and an unexpected night out.
  4. Share your plans and take ways to get help
    Telling a trusted person your trip details and taking a distress beacon can save your life.
  5. Take care of yourself and each other
    Eat, drink and rest, stick with your group and make decisions together.

If things do go wrong, use the STAR Model for making decisions:

STOP: Take a breath, sit down, and remain calm
THINK: Look around you, listen, brainstorm ideas
ASSESS: Evaluate the options and their possible outcomes
RESPOND: Take the best alternative.

Ponder this:

Complete the Enjoy your hīkoi safely! quiz.

Some links to help you plan your hīkoi safely

Department of Conservation website 
Find out about tracks and walks in your local area.

Find My Adventure
A handy tool to find tracks and trails on the Walking Access Commission website.

plan my trip template
Online template on the Mountain Safety Council website to help plan your trip safely.

Trip planning 
Tips, videos, and key questions to ask during your hīkoi planning on the Mountain Safety Council website.

Weather
Tips, videos, and weather forecasting links to help with your hīkoi planning on the Mountain Safety Council website.

Supplies
Tips, videos, and more information on food, water, clothing, and equipment -  Mountain Safety Council website.

Day walks guide and multi-day tramping guide
Free guides based on the land safety code to help you to plan day walks or longer tramps.

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