Multi-Day Hiking for Beginners - Five Days (all female course)

This immersive five-day course is designed to give new and aspiring trampers the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to plan and undertake safe, enjoyable multi-day hiking trips. Combining practical instruction, guided backcountry travel, and real-world scenarios, the course builds strong foundations in clothing and equipment selection, navigation, trip planning, campcraft, river safety, and emergency management.

The course progresses from classroom-based learning to a supported backcountry journey, allowing participants to apply skills in realistic conditions while guided by experienced instructors. The course is run in a relaxed, friendly, and supportive environment, encouraging questions, discussion, and learning at a pace that suits the group. By the end of the course, participants will be able to plan their own trips, navigate confidently using map and compass, manage camps safely, assess river crossings, and respond effectively to common backcountry problems.

Who is This Course For?

This course is ideal for:

People new to hiking or tramping who want to build skills safely
Day walkers looking to step up to overnight or multi-day trips
Those returning to the outdoors after a long break
Anyone wanting to better understand risk, decision-making, and safety in the backcountry

No prior backcountry experience is required. A reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to learn and participate in outdoor conditions are expected.

Course Location

This course is based in St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Practical sessions are run in the Lake Rotoiti area, and the wild camp is in the Richmond Forrest Park at Red Hill. Theory sessions are run in a tented classroom.

Free Transport from Nelson

You can either meet us in St Arnaud or we can pick up and drop off in Nelson and Richmond for free!

Timings

The course starts at 9am on the first day and finishes at 5pm on the last day.

Pre-Course Chat

There will be an online, pre-course chat to discuss what kit to bring. Timings for this will be sent out after booking.

Fitness Level

The walking pace will be very relaxed with frequent stops, but there is a moderately steep hill (approximately 2-3 hours) to be climbed at the start of our wild camp journey. You should be comfortable doing this with a pack containing camping gear, food, water and spare clothing. This will be approximately 10-12kgs.

Accommodation

Accommodation is included in your course fee and consists of the following:

Two nights at The Alpine Lodge, St Arnaud, staying in single-sex dormitories (separate male and female rooms). Each dorm contains two bunk beds (four guests per room). The lodge has a fully equipped kitchen and refrigerator for self-catered meals.
Two nights of camping in Richmond Forest Park, using one-person tents. Tents, cooking stoves, and gas are provided for your use.

Food

This is a self-catered course, so please bring all food required for the duration of the week. This includes:

Lunches that do not require cooking
Two dehydrated meals for the camping nights
Plenty of snacks

There is also the option to purchase meals at the Alpine Lodge during the first two nights.

We will discuss food choices at our pre-course meeting so you know what to bring.

Course Programme

Morning (0830–1200)
- Welcome, introductions & course overview
- Safety systems and risk management
- Clothing systems (layering, footwear)
- Packs, fit, and load management
- Equipment choices: tents, stoves, lightweight vs ultralight
Afternoon (1300–1630)
- Personal & group equipment checklist
- Trip research and goal setting
- Assessing terrain, hazards, and conditions
- Leaving intentions and emergency planning
- Case study discussion
Evening (1800–1900)
- Gear preparation and questions
Morning (0830–1200)
- Navigation systems: map & compass vs GPS
- Map symbols, scale, contours & terrain interpretation
- Grid references and distance measurement
- Weather forecasting and its impact on trip planning
Afternoon (1300–1630)
- Field navigation practice
- Map orientation and handrails/tick features
- Bearings (grid and magnetic)
- Route choice and planning a journey
Evening (1800–1900)
- Route planning exercise for backcountry trip
Morning (0830–1200)
- Pack up and depart on backcountry journey
- Practical navigation on track and off-track
Afternoon (1300–1630)
- Campcraft:
  - Cooking systems and food strategies
  - Water treatment
  - Hygiene and toileting in the outdoors
- Hut booking, etiquette & wild camping principles
Evening (1800–1900)
- Camp setup and meal preparation
Morning (0830–1200)
- Lost procedures and group management
- Navigation in poor visibility
- Compass-only navigation and bearings
Afternoon (1300–1630)
- Practical emergency scenarios
- Unplanned overnight bivouac
- Access rights and campfire considerations
Evening (1800–1900)
- Debrief and lessons learned
Morning (0830–1200)
- Pack up camp
- Travel to river crossing venue
Afternoon (1300–1630)
- River hazards and decision making
- Safe crossing techniques (theory & practice)
- Course review and next steps
- Suitable clothing for the weather and temperature
- Walking boots with sole in good condition.
- Water/windproof jacket (optional over trousers)
- Warm layers (not cotton)
- At least 1 litre of drinking water (optional flask if cold weather)
- Rucksack 50-60 litres
- Pack liner (clack bin bag will do)
- Sleeping bag
- Small first aid kit and personal medications if needed
- Pencil and pad
- Map case if you have one
  (Maps and compasses can be provided if needed)
- Walking poles (optional)
- Plastic/metal bowl
- Sunscreen, hat, sun glassess
- Toilet paper
- Towels and wash kit for batch (cottage)
We provide:
- Tents
- Cooker and gas
- Sleeping pad