My First Hike – Pinnacles, Coromandel
At the age of 26, I was invited on my very first hike.
I hadn’t been raised as an outdoors person. I played sport at school, went to the gym, and did a bit of mountain biking at Woodhill Forest in Auckland—but hiking? I knew very little about it and didn’t really have an opinion either way. So when I was invited on an overnight hike, I said yes with complete naivety and very little understanding of what I was actually agreeing to.
I had no gear and no idea what good gear looked like, let alone what I needed.
Getting Kitted Out
A visit to a local outdoor store quickly followed. I was fitted out with what I could afford at the time—nothing fancy, and certainly nothing lightweight (ultralight wasn’t really a thing back then). I walked away with a pack, sleeping bag, boots, waterproof jacket and pants. Just the basics for my first overnight adventure.
Cooking would be handled by the other two in our group; I just needed to carry my own food.
That felt manageable.
Setting Off
We left Auckland and headed for Thames, starting from the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail. I’d been told the track was an old historic pack track, that it climbed steadily to an 80-bunk hut, and that there was an optional side trip to the Pinnacles themselves for views. To me, it all sounded entirely doable—nothing too extreme.
We also had our bunks booked, which felt reassuring.
The forecast was good for our first day, with rain due overnight and into the following day. The rain might push up the side creeks, but the fords on the road should still be passable. Again, it all sounded fine. I was ready for the adventure.
On the Track
At the end of the road, we parked up, I shouldered my pack, and we set off along the Webb Creek Track.
The track started gently, well graded and winding through beautiful bush. Before long, it began to climb steadily toward Pinnacles Hut. Being an old pack track, much of the route had rock steps carved into it—built for packhorses back in the kauri milling days.
We crossed several side streams and creeks, all low enough to step through without wet feet. There were flood tracks and bridges nearby, just in case conditions changed. After about three hours, we reached the hut.
We claimed our bunks, unpacked our gear, and settled in for the afternoon. A short walk took us to Dancing Camp and the remains of a 1921 dam—a glimpse into the area’s history.
Later, as dusk approached, we took the side track up to the Pinnacles.
Facing My First Fear
The track to the Pinnacles began easily enough, with formed steps and a steady climb. But as we gained height, the terrain changed. Suddenly, I was standing at the base of a rocky outcrop, staring at metal ladders and rungs bolted directly into the rock face.
The exposure was immediate. Steep drop-offs fell away on either side.
I took my first hesitant step up.
I moved slowly, deliberately, focused on each rung, each handhold. I wanted to reach the viewing platform—to see the views everyone talked about—despite how uncomfortable I felt.
When I finally reached the top, I wasn’t brave enough to stand upright. I crouched low, clung to the sides, and took in the view. A vast, almost 360-degree panorama stretched out across the Waikato and the eastern Coromandel.
I was awed.
It was my first real challenge on a hike—and it left a deep impression.
As dusk settled in, we carefully made our way back down. The descent wasn’t quite as daunting, but I still moved cautiously. Back at the hut, we cooked dinner, ate well, and settled in for a solid night’s sleep.
Rain on the Way Out
Overnight, the rain arrived.
By morning, it was falling heavily. We knew the side streams would likely be up, but the flood tracks and swingbridges would allow us to get through. If the fords on the road were too high, we’d simply wait it out.
I pulled on my full waterproof layers, covered my pack, and we set off again via the Webb Creek Track.
The rock steps were slick, and the side streams had risen enough that crossing them directly wasn’t an option. We followed every flood diversion, crossed every swingbridge, and eventually emerged back at the car park.
The rain had swollen the creeks, but not enough to stop us driving out. We crossed the fords and made it safely back to Thames.
What That First Hike Gave Me
That first hike came with many firsts:
My first hike
My first character-building moment
My first experience with exposure and steep drop-offs
My first remote views
My first night sleeping in a hut
My first stream crossings and swingbridges
The rain didn’t deter me. If anything, it sealed it.
I wasn’t put off—I was propelled into something new. That weekend gave me a taste of something special and unique. It was the beginning of what would become a deep passion: hiking and tramping throughout New Zealand.
I walked away from the Pinnacles hooked—and I’ve never really looked back.
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