Resupplying can be one of the most daunting logistical aspects of a thru-hike. Some people prefer to not send boxes, resupplying enroute instead. If you are like me – fussy about food and a contact lens user – you better settle on sending some boxes.
I sent six boxes from Wellington, and one from Queenstown to Invercargill with stuff I wanted after the trail. I highly recommend shipping your boxes from Wellington as it offers a lot more variety than you would find in ferry town Picton on the South Island. I stayed in a private room at the YHA in Wellington, where I could sort my scores of energy bars in peace. It can be tricky to estimate how much food you will need accurately. I recommend taking the time to go over your itinerary, so you don’t end up carrying too much food. If you end up needing more food than planned, you can always resupply in the small towns along the way. Most people do a combo, your food preferences may vary over time as you get sick of stuff you used to love.
*Note regarding Lake Coleridge & river hazard zones area: This is a tricky spot for many hikers, as you need to find safe transport around the Rakaia River hazard zone. Lake Coleridge and the Rakaia are in the middle of nowhere. The hitch into Methven from the gravel road leading to Lake Coleridge is notoriously difficult, but still preferable to staying at the lodge.
I booked a single room w/ dinner & breakfast, plus a shuttle to the trailhead, and it ended up costing more than 300 NZD. The lodge is quiet and the food is good, but it is simply not worth the money. Also, a heavy storm forced us off the trail and back into Methven anyway – I felt like such a fool…
View of the Rakaia & Glenrock Station trailhead far below
My tip: chances of getting a hitch from Methven to Glenrock Station trailhead past the Rakaia (where you will start the section going SOBO to the Rangitata & Two Thumb Range) are astronomical. Group up with other hikers if you can and book Methven Shuttles, they share the office with the i-Site in Methven. If you are between the rivers and the Rangitata is too high to cross… pray there are Lord of the Rings fans visiting the location for Edoras that day.
Which mail service should you use?
You should send your boxes using poste restante, as you can bounce these forwards along the trail when there is a post office available. Note: you can not send boxes ahead from non-post office locations!
Some locations charge you extra for holding your box after a certain amount of time. To avoid any irritating holding-costs, I did not send my Wanaka and Queenstown boxes directly from Wellington. I put my contact lenses & other necessities in two small boxes and put those inside my big Lake Tekapo box. There is a post office here, so you just bounce them onwards!
I sent all other boxes from Wellington, and was surprised at how cheap it was even for heavy Size 3 boxes. Around 13 NZD for most! The only post office in Wellington that sends poste restante is located on 7 Waterloo Quay. Fill out your info on the box as directed and write a note on the side saying when you expect to arrive. Also, call each location beforehand to let them know you are sending a box. Some hostels only hold your box if you are staying there, so make sure you’ve got that sorted out.
Do not neglect to pay for tracking. My St Arnaud box was sent to Auckland instead (great job, mailman…), and since it was Christmas it caused me major headaches and I ended up without a box for that stretch. Always keep the tracking number, so you can demand that they redirect it to you for free.
Which supermarkets are best for resupply?
Most times you will have very limited choice of where to resupply. New World, Pak n’ Save or Countdown are big supermarkets with great variety, but you will only encounter these in larger towns. There are New Worlds in Wanaka, Queenstown and Invercargill, and also in Greymouth and Christchurch if you exit the trail at Arthur’s Pass.
More often, 4 Square supermarkets will be your only option. These are smaller and more expensive, but will usually offer a variety of hiker-type foods. Hanmer Springs, Methven, Tekapo, Twizel and Te Anau all have fairly large 4Squares with good selection. The 4 Squares in Havelock and Arrowtown are smaller, but well equipped for hikers.
St Arnaud and Arthur’s Pass only have small alpine stores with very basic food items. I highly recommend sending bounce boxes here, or you may find yourself spending big on a very limited selection. Should you find yourself without a box in St Arnaud, you can try your luck hitchhiking to Nelson, but finding a hitch back may prove very difficult. Arthur’s Pass sees a lot of tourist traffic, but hitches can be difficult. However, there is a shuttle from Christchurch-Greymouth, ask at the information centre for timetables.
Resupply items: what kinds of food did I eat on the TA?
Variety is key! Looking back, I wish I had spent less money on expensive backpacking foods, and generally put a bit less in my boxes. Chances are you’re not gonna find those OSM bars as yummy after 1000 km, so leave some room to refill in town.
Try to mix up textures and flavours, sour gummies and crunchy chips are heavenly standouts in your constant cycle of soft, mushy foods!
After a couple of thru-hikes, I have come to the conclusion that my digestion goes south after approximately three weeks on trail food. On all my post-TA hikes, I have carried as much fresh food out of town as possible. After Hanmer Springs, I made it a point to eat as few carbs as possible when in town. I was also very mindful of eating stuff I could not have on the trail: colourful vegetables, fruits, yoghurt, eggs, lean meats and fatty fish like smoked salmon. Trail food has two main functions: to be high in calories, and to be quick and convenient. Make sure to avoid such foods in towns as much as possible. Your body is not made to survive on foods that can last 20+ years. I love date scones as much as the next famished hiker, but try to be smart about fuelling your body. In addition, I highly recommend carrying multivitamins (containing magnesium!), as you will be lacking something no matter how elaborately you construct your trail diet.
Check out my TA Trail food guide for meal inspiration!
Full list of resupply locations & stores going SOBO:
Havelock – food for 8 days: Blue Moon Backpackers
· 4 Square Supermarket
St Arnaud – 7 days: Travers Sabine Lodge. Box was lost & sent to Auckland, extremely untimely mixup around Christmas that left me without resupplies. So be warned, the local postman doesn’t get the whole poste restante thing!
· Alpine Store w/ limited selection
Boyle Village/Hanmer Springs 6 days: Send your box to Boyle Outdoor Education Centre, but don’t miss out on vibrant Hanmer Springs! Hitching is beyond easy
· Tiny cabinet at Boyle (do not rely on this), 4 Square Supermaket in Hanmer Springs
Arthur’s Pass – 3 days: YHA Mountain House
· Alpine Store. Option of hitching to cities Greymouth/Christchurch
Lake Coleridge Lodge – 6 days: Extremely expensive, not recommended!
Methven: (I didn’t send a box here – but they can be sent to YHA Snow Denn Lodge)
· Large 4 Square Supermaket
Lake Tekapo – 1 day: Sent smaller boxes designated for Wanaka & Queenstown here. These only contained contacts and maps, not food. The post office in Tekapo bounce them ahead
· Large 4 Square Supermaket
Twizel – 5 days: Used my Tekapo box, you can send to local post office
· Two large 4 Square Supermakets
Wanaka – 5 days: YHA Backpackers
· New World++, big town with all services
Queenstown – 4 days: YHA Lakefront
· New World, Countdown++, big town with all services
Te Anau – 7 days: (no box for me here – but can be sent to YHA)
· 4 Square Supermarket and a big Fresh Choice - cheaper option
Invercargill: Southern Comfort Backpackers, box sent from Queenstown with items like leftover contacts & town clothes. Great place, highly recommended!
· City with all services
*Note: I am a fast hiker, but generally resupplied for extra days in case of weather waitouts. The only time this was necessary was in Nelson Lakes, but best to be prepared. Study the trail notes closely before estimating how much resupplies you need.