Go Caving or Join the Club

Club Trips \ Come Along

Caving can be a challenging sport and your first introduction to caving is much better done with friends. So come and join one of our regular monthly club trips and try it out in a safe environment with experienced cavers. If you send us an email membership@htg.org.nz We will let you know what we have on in terms of suitable trips in the next few months. Because we run a range of trips the first suitable one may be a couple of weeks away. Club trips are always great fun with a range of ages from 8 - 80 depending on the cave and its challenges.

You don't need to be a club member to join a club trip. Come along have some fun then see if caving is for you and then join HTG.

What Can you expect on your first club trip?

Trips normally start at our club hut in Waitomo. The trip leader who has emailed you will let you know what time to meet and what you need to bring. But we have a list of what you will normally need below.

Club trips are always aimed at the level of people on them. So while they might sometimes be a bit damp and they will always be in the dark!! There won't be anything too challenging.

What do I need to bring with me? & Can I hire any gear?

The club has lights, helmets, overalls and gloves you can hire for your first few caving trips.
For more advanced trips we also have a small amount of SRT gear for hire.
Rates are very reasonable. Just ask for the current cost.

What should I bring on my trip? What should I wear?

You can use clothing and equipment you already have or is cheap and can be reused for other purposes.

Most caves have streams in them so you may get wet and cold, it may involve some scrambling, clambering, and crawling.

Helmet: Helmet (caving, climbing, bike, kayak), must have a chin strap. You must have a helmet. The club has hire helmets.
Light: Head light (LED recommended), small hand torch (LED recommended), and spare alkaline batteries.Torch can be attached to helmet with duct tape or (better) cable ties.
Caving Clothing: Top layer Overalls. Alternatively parka, or long sleeved top & trousers, track pants, or over-trousers. Underneath Polypropylene long johns, polypropylene top. Thin balaclava (so it fits under your helmet). Under your overalls polypropylene or pile are a must. Wear several layers of clothing.

Please do not wear cotton clothing for caving.

Travelling Clothes: Bring warm clothes and a towel for afterwards. A change of clothing for travelling, you won't want to wear your caving clothes after caving for anything else until cleaned.
Gloves: Save your hands, the cave, and your good tramping gloves, by bringing clean gardening gloves (heavy long rubber recommended). Polypro gloves may assist in keeping your hands warm in the rubber gloves.
Footwear: Gumboots or tramping boots or running shoes. You will get wet feet. (Thick warm socks, wool recommended).
Pack: A small day pack or large bum bag, to carry food, drink, spare lights, and spare warm clothing. Don't bring a good one, as it will get dirty and worn. As mentioned above the club does have some caving packs you can borrow.
Optional: Knee pads (recommended)
Towels: Dry off with the towels, put dirty clothes and footwear in the plastic bags.

Note: Caves are hard on clothing and equipment, and can cause considerable wear and tear. White clothing will end up coloured brown from muddy caves.

Joining Hamilton Tomo Group & New Zealand Speleological Society

Please come along to a few trips before you join the club. You definitely don't have to be a member to come on your first few trips or stay at the hut. When you are ready to join talk to a committee member at one of the trips and they will send you a membership form or contact membership@htg.org.nz

As HTG is an affiliated club to the NZSS you have to join both. But the NZSS has lots of benefits and is well worth it. Yearly membership for an individual is $35/NZSS + $25/HTG = Total $60. Family and youth membership are small additions to these and listed in the form.

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