The risks and rewards of New Zealand’s outdoors

Friday, 27 October 2017

Before you head into the outdoors, plan and share with the new free Plan My Trip tool.

Spectacular, breathtaking, and outrageously beautiful are descriptors that spring to mind when it comes to New Zealand's great outdoors. New Zealand's natural beauty is a drawcard for tourists from abroad and from within. Hiking, tramping, outdoor exploration, and day-walks are available to outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. And with summer coming there's no better time to plan a trip.

The outdoors of New Zealand can be a wily beast though, with land-based activities causing injuries at a weekly national average of 114. Whilst incidents in the outdoors are possible, the NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is quick to point out that the key to enjoyment is in the planning.

NZ’s weather can be highly changeable - so it is essential to be prepared.

PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED

As summer approaches the MSC are spreading the message of safety being the outcome of good planning and good decision making. It's simple things people may not know to check before a trip, says Nick Kingstone, communications at the MSC. More inexperienced walkers and hikers 'may not know what they don't know' according to Kingstone, who says things like checking the mountain forecast rather than the urban one, knowing colours of track markers and what they mean, and being equipped on every trip with a basic kit such as a jacket and a head torch can make a huge difference. 'New Zealand's conditions can change rapidly - it's a fast, drastic change' notes Kingstone, who says it may be sunny when you leave your car, but deciding to leave your jacket at the carpark rather than pack it can make a big difference if you're suddenly faced with an unexpected night out should things not go quite as planned.

SAFETY IS THE KEY

It's good, robust planning that can be the difference to getting everyone home safely, which is the ultimate aim of the MSC. Planning has been made easy thanks to a new swathe of resources the MSC has released, including an interactive journey planner on their website, which will pull through all relevant information for your trip into a specific PDF. There's also a series of short videos, all designed to help plan and enjoy your trip.

Day walks are some of the most popular ways to enjoy New Zealand's natural landscape, and no two tracks are the same. Differing fitness levels and equipment requirements mean different planning is required. The MSC notes that while the perceived risk can be very low, with changing conditions, injury, or a group member going missing, the potential risk can be surprisingly high. In fact, over 72 per cent of search and rescues are to recover a single person who has been separated from their group. With the correct equipment packed, and a plan in place, incidents can be avoided and everyone gets home safely, which is of course the key to enjoying everything New Zealand's outdoors has to offer.

To plan your trip safely visit: www.mountainsafety.org.nz/plan-my-trip