{"id":249,"date":"2022-02-25T05:21:36","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T05:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myholidayradar.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/25\/6-epic-backcountry-adventures-for-first-time-solo-trampers\/"},"modified":"2022-02-25T05:21:36","modified_gmt":"2022-02-25T05:21:36","slug":"6-epic-backcountry-adventures-for-first-time-solo-trampers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myholidayradar.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/25\/6-epic-backcountry-adventures-for-first-time-solo-trampers\/","title":{"rendered":"6 epic backcountry adventures for first-time solo trampers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Being a solo traveler includes heaps of milestones to tick off along the way. First solo international flight? Check. First time driving on the left side of the road? Check. But perhaps one of my favorite milestones as a solo female traveler to date is diving into the world of solo tramping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I must admit that solo tramping did not come ~naturally~ to me. I didn\u2019t have a clue what to pack, what to eat, or even how to find good beta on a track, but with enough research, I finally felt ready to tackle my first solo tramp, and, no surprises here, it was amazing! Sure, it was hard, and I took away plenty of lessons to learn<\/a> from, but I\u2019ll never forget the feeling of leaving my car and exploring the bush on my own power without cell phone service for a full two days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\t\tHow I plan for an unforgettable backcountry adventure<\/a>\t<\/div>\n

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There are plenty of fabulous walks to choose from here in New Zealand, and lucky for you, New Zealand is finally getting on top of the ball when it comes to sharing trail info. <\/span>Plan My Walk<\/span><\/a> from NZ Mountain Safety Council has all of the resources you need to plan your first overnight solo tramp.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ready to dive in? Here are my top 6 overnight adventures for solo trampers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Matukituki Valley \/ Aspiring Hut<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re ready to tackle your first overnight adventure but still a bit apprehensive, you can\u2019t go wrong with a gentle walk up the<\/span> Matuktuki Valley to Aspiring Hut.<\/span><\/a> It\u2019s an excellent introduction for trampers looking to dip their toes into multi-day tramps, and the 9km hike up the valley is a low gradient, meaning you can spend less time worrying about your footing and more time taking in the sweeping views of the West Matukituki.<\/span><\/p>\n

The track starts at Raspberry Creek Car Park in the Mt. Aspiring National Park and covers 9km of ground over 2.5 \u2013 3 hours. If you\u2019d instead tackle it on two wheels, you\u2019re more than welcome to go by bike, as long as you don\u2019t mind a gentle uphill the entire way and (usually) a bit of a headwind. (Don\u2019t worry, it makes the return even that much sweeter!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Aspiring Hut is a historic stone structure with all the perks: comfy foam mattresses, DOC wardens with plenty of banter, flushing toilets (!!), and even gas cooktops, so you don\u2019t have to bother lugging in your gas canister.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got some extra energy, you can carry on a bit further up the Matukituki Valley. The track is undulating and will take you eventually to the head of the valley, although the trail gets more and more overgrown the further you get! Aspiring Hut is also the gateway hut to Liverpool and French Ridge: two very iconic red huts<\/a> perched precariously on mountain ledges overlooking steep drops to the valley below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Copeland Track to Welcome Flat Hut<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Ready for a step up from Aspiring Hut? Look no further than the popular <\/span>Copeland Track.<\/span><\/a> This was a historic track used by the first mountaineers who would walk from Aoraki to the West Coast (before mass glacial melting occurred, this was pretty common!). Now, the hardcore still use the track to gain access to the wild West Coast ranges, but the track to Welcome Hut is also one of my favorite entry walks for beginner solo trampers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s preface by saying the walk *is* long. It\u2019s an impressive 18km one way, but panic just yet. The walk into Welcome Flat Hut is also perhaps the flattest track I\u2019ve ever walked in New Zealand, and that\u2019s saying a lot. There\u2019s almost no undulation, just flat glorious Westland bush. The track does sidle along a river, so if the water is high or if you attempt to walk this in the winter, you\u2019ll need to pay extra attention to the alerts. You can easily plug your trip into <\/span>Plan My Walk<\/span><\/a> to see any up-to-date notifications and alerts that might affect your trip.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t forget your swimming suit for this tramp! Once you\u2019ve covered the 18km to the Hut, the best surprise waits for you after a long day: natural hot pools! Welcome Hut conveniently sits within a few hundred meters of some very welcoming natural hot pools with some of the best views you could ask for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Hut itself is pretty luxurious for a backcountry hut with multiple separate rooms, a stove for heat, and plenty of space to unwind. If you\u2019re feeling extra fancy, you can book the Sierra Room, which gives you a higher level of facilities, including a gas cooker, kitchen\/cooking equipment, potbelly stove, wet back shower, and lighting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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