Tararua Traverse

There is plenty of parking space at the start, an area to camp before your early start. Getting someone to drop you off is the best way to get there, but back in the early days of the trip it was done by train and then taxi.

19 km

43 minutes

Unknown

No

Hard.

On a clear day the trip and track is relatively straight forward to follow. However if the clouds come down then visibility will be near zero and the potential for disaster is very, very high. The early parts around Dundas and Arete have caused problems for some and the Marchant ridge when tired and in the dark can be difficult to follow.

Patchy.

Waterproof leggings, Thermal leggings, Lightweight fleece top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Cellphone, Compass, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries.

Water is available from the well spaced huts along the route but is more or less non-existent between them. To break 24 hours there are a couple of stretches up to 5 hours with no water.

The Tararua Range has in the vicinity of 250 bad weather days per year. It can and does snow all year round. October to April are the best time to attempt this, the more daylight hours you have the better. Local advice suggests that the 48 hours after a southerly front has passed generally provide good conditions.

The popularity of the Tararua Range means that it is often taken for granted, however the Southern end has an unobstructed line to the Antarctic and is often hit with deadly southerlies. While there are plentiful huts for shelter, the potential to get lost and be caught out is quite high. This is a serious trip.

Sleep
It may come to you without asking

Garage Project - Beer
91 Aro St, Aro Valley, Wellington 6021
https://garageproject.co.nz/products/beer
If sleep doesn't attack you then celebrating the finest trip in NZ with the finest beer in Wellington is appropriate. I didn't get to drink mine, as recommendation #1 happened.