Routeburn Track February 22-28 February 2015


2015 is FULLY BOOKED now
(register you interest for the Milford Track in 2016)

Once a year I like to send open an invitation to gay hikers to come together and do a "Great Walk" together, I email hiking groups in Oz and NZ, friends and friends of friends do the rest. We usually get 6-10 people together for a hike which makes it heaps of fun (even in bad weather which we have struck on a few years) and its quite a shock to the straight couples when a group of men and women descend on hut and cook great food up, its certainly different. 

Its not really a OTS trip, like the "World trips"  just a way of getting a group of outdoor individuals together, I use the contacts I have for the custom trips, and put together a weeks holiday focused on the walk. Costs are kept to a min, and depend on final number and and the size vehicle we hire and the accommodation I can book us into. For the hikes I do a meal planner and then we do a big shop and for the main evening meals and split the bill. Accommodation is all share in the huts of course and I book shared rooms at the other locations.

You need to do some research to make sure you have the right equipment and fitness level to do a NZ wilderness hike as this is not a guided walk at all, just a bunch of blokes coming together to hike, there is safety in numbers and we all look out for each other.

See Doc's link below.

Plan and prepare   

Queenstown to Queenstown 

We will meet on the Sunday 22nd and have the first night in Queenstown, get to know each other over dinner and plan what we need to buy food wise for the hike. Next day we will do a morning shop, and then head to Milford Sound for 2 nights, (there is time for those that want to the a cruise out on the sound, or some local walks). 
Wednesday am we will drive to the divide and start the 3 day 2 night hike.
Friday night will be in Glenorchy, and on Saturday drive back to Queenstown . In the past most guys like to stay on in Queenstown for a extra day or two totally up to you.

Because the Doc huts on the track book up months in advance I need to get your interest ASAP so phone all your friends, check your diary and make it happen to keep the costs down.

If we end up with less than 4 then I would put this together using transfers rather than a car or van, never had less than 4 so its not happened yet but I like to keep that option open to .



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Steps

1. Register your interest in joining us.
2. I will email you and confirm as soon as we have min 4. 
3. Hut booking, you can either do this yourself as per instructions I send  or I can do it for you Doc huts on this walk are $54 pn for 2015 season.
4. I will require a $200 deposit if you would like me to book the huts on your behalf, as you have to pay these in full when booking, alternatively you can book the hut dates yourself and email me the confirmation.
5. When we get to 10 max or the hut is full which ever happens first I put full up on the site. 
6. At this point I can give you an approximate costing based on 4 on the trip if we get more it will be at the lower end. This includes the 6 nights accommodation sharing, van hire, dinner and breakfast on last night. Guide $650-750 NZD. Plus we will split the cost of the food shop for the hike and the fuel for the van. Drinks and not mentioned meals are your responsibility. 
7. Those flying in on Sunday and out on the Sat I can pick up and drop off at the airport. 

Come Hiking

Richard