Who administers First Aid?
In case of injury, someone will need to take responsibility for First Aid. Bring a small First Aid kit.
In every group, someone should be assigned the role of First Aider. This person should be competent & certified in First Aid. If you are hiking alone — you must administer your own First Aid.
Help is never far away on the Mangatepopo - Ketetahi section, but the rest of the Circuit can be empty at times. Bring a cell phone if you can — dial 111 for emergency in New Zealand.
Will it rain?
You never know. Expect wind and heavy rain. But you may get lucky.
The west facing slopes are wet & windy. Whakapapa Village gets rain about half the days of the year; total rainfall about 2.7m.
The eastern side of the volcanoes is much dryer, especially the Rangipo Desert in the rain shadow of Ruapehu.
If tenting, be sure yours is waterproof. Test it in advance.
Bring rain gear & proper footwear. We have not had as much success as we expected from Goretex clothing. We recommend you additionally cover yourself & your pack with a cheap plastic poncho.
One of our hikers advocates wearing fleece in the rain. It gets wet immediately — then keeps you warm, insulated by heated water.
How can I check on the weather?
The 5-day weather forecast is posted in many places in the region as most attractions are outdoor.
- summer tempeature range 5C to 35C
- winter tempeature ranges -5C to 10C
Be prepared for anything; wind, sun, rain, snow. Many day hikers do not carry sufficient clothing — they sometimes get in trouble when the weather shifts suddenly. You may need to help a rookie in distress.
Ring for weather information (Met service) 0900 999 15.
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