Route for South Island Northbound Hike

Hello All from Laos! I am here now but will hopefully hiking the South Island chunk of the TA going Northbound starting mid-late November and hoping to get to Nelson at some point in January. Could someone please tell me if this plan makes any sense or will I be expiriencing lots of snow in the high passes. I'm from the states and this whole reverse season thing trips me up. Thanks for any info you may have! CatNap AT NOBO 2012

I reckon Summer generally runs from late November to mid-Feb. Nothing wrong with Spring or late Summer either. Xmas campers can get rained-out from their campsites. It can snow in the mountains anytime. You might think it prudent to shelter in the hut an extra day instead of carrying full Winter kit ?. Tramping Northwards puts you face-first into the sun all day. Really depends on how this years Summer shapes up.

You'll certainly be fine as far as Queenstown. I'm not familiar with the TA route north of Queenstown but Bluff to Queenstown is all low level stuff, you don't get over 800 metres. It'll take you a couple of weeks to reach Queenstown so that puts you into December for points further north. You'll possibly hit snow on south faces above 1200m into January so watch for that. Good luck!

waiau pass in nelson lakes is the only high pass. you're not liekly to have trouble with that even if you're starting in the north and takle it in november...

Here, check out this blog from a Kiwi who walked the TAT last Summer, lots of good info to glean from it: http://kiwiscoutwalksteararoa.blogspot.co.nz/ Im section walking the South Island part. So far Ive covered the area from the Rakaia to St Arnaud. Also the Queen Charlotte walkway. Waiau Pass would be the most likely spot for snow, Ive been over it in January once and there was still snow on top but it was an exceptionally cold, snowy Winter that year. Anywhere else can be affected by heavy rain but there are no other high passes to cross. Get in touch with the DOC office at Nelson Lakes to garner information on conditions.