Lake Tekapo Walks

Since I sometimes venture out on solo adventures, I always make sure to keep someone informed about my whereabouts. It’s a simple step, really. I just shoot a quick text saying something like, “Heading off to conquer the Mt John Summit track!” Then, once I’m back safe and sound, another text goes out saying, “Made it back home now.” This little routine gives me peace of mind knowing that if anything were to happen, someone would have a clue about where I should be.

When I’m out and about, I also like to check in with the local information centres to see if any spots might not be the safest for solo hiker. Luckily, the hikes I’ve taken around Lake Tekapo have been considered very safe.

When it comes to hiking in general, here are a few tips I always swear by:

Make sure you’ve got the basics covered:

• A first aid kit
• Plenty of water
• Layers of clothing. New Zealand weather can be quite unpredictable, so it’s best to be prepared for anything.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be ready to adjust your plans accordingly.
• Have a map handy, or better yet, use a map app on your phone that works offline. Personally, I’ve been using maps.me for years. It’s super handy because it can even show you the elevations of your route, expected walking times, and where you are on the map. Just remember to download the region you’re heading to before you set off, as it can use up quite a bit of data otherwise.