WANTED: Mystery Shoppers to review a DOC hut near you

Mystery shoppers wanted! The Department of Conservation would like anonymous feedback into the Ōrongorongo valley overnight experience!

Perks: free nights stay at a DOC hut (which your group gets to yourself), amazing swimming holes, 45min drive each day, and the chance to hear/see North Island Brown Kiwi!

Exact date flexible! Can be a weekend or weekdays, up to you.

Route:

This trip is easy-medium. The walk to the main hut is 2.5hr (6.4km) each way, with a few steep sections and mud/tree roots to navigate. There is an added 2hr return walk to several huts for everyone on Day 1, and a 1hr return walk to another hut on Day 2 for half the group.

We'll meet at Kelburn campus at 8am. We'll carpool to Catchpool Valley campsite (45min drive), and have a safety briefing. It's an easy-medium 2hr walk along the Ōrongorongo Track, which is mostly flat but ends with a steep descent to the river. It's then 30min walk along the Big Bend Track to Tūrere Lodge, which is a bit steeper and windier. We'll have lunch at Tūrere.

We'll pack up and finish off maintenance work. One group will stay at Tūrere, while another group will walk 1hr return to Haurangi Hut. We'll aim to leave Tūrere at 12pm and reach the carpark between 2:30-4pm (taking the same route as Day 1). Lunch and optional exploring on the way. It's then 45min drive back to Wellington.

Tūrere Lodge info

Ōrongorongo Track info

Big Bend Track info

Catchpool Valley campsite info

Gear:

You need overnight tramping gear. Key things are a tramping pack, warm clothing, a windproof raincoat, tramping boots or trail runners, a sleeping bag, a bowl/cutlery, a headtorch, a big water bottle, and a first aid kit/personal medication. Bring a pot/cooker if you have them. I also recommend a towel/togs.

See the club gear list: https://www.vuwtc.org.nz/resources/gear-list

Food:

Please bring 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks and drinks (NO glass bottles please!), and some emergency food in case we get delayed in the valley. Have breakfast on Tuesday before arriving at Kelburn.

Cost:

- $5-10 fuel per person

- Free night's stay at Tūrere Lodge! (a big thank you to DOC)