Each walk on our program is assigned a grade which, in conjunction with the walk description, will help you assess whether you have the required walking fitness and experience to do the walk. If unsure, please discuss with the leader before booking.
Below are the definitions of our grades for Day Walks and for Pack Carry Walks.
For Accommodated Trips and Base Camps, each day walk on the itinerary will normally be assigned a separate grade. The grade for the whole trip will usually be the grade of the hardest day walk.
Day Walk Grades
Walking Grades for day walks with a 5-8kg pack:
| Grade | Track Description | Climbing Description | Walking Time ** (hrs) | Distance (kms) |
| Social | All on paths or tracks | Flat, gentle climbs if any | up to 2 | up to 8 |
| Easy | Mainly on tracks | Not too many ups and downs, with climbs up to 200m in total | up to 4 | up to 12 |
| Easy-Medium | Mainly on tracks | Some ups and downs, with climbs up to 400m in total | up to 5 | up to 16 |
| Medium | May include off track in light scrub areas and/or other challenges* | Moderate ups and downs, with climbs up to 800m in total | up to 6 | up to 20 |
| Medium-Hard | May include off track in medium scrub areas and/or other challenges* | Some steep ups and downs, with climbs up to 1200m in total | up to 8 | up to 25 |
| Hard | May include off track in thick scrub areas and/or other challenges* | Steep ups and downs, with climbs up to 1800m in total | up to 10 | up to 30 |
| Very Hard | Difficult terrain, thick scrub, alpine or desert areas and/or other challenges* | Very long steep ups and downs, with climbs over 1800m in total | over 10 | over 30 |
* Other Challenges may include river / creek crossings, rock scrambling / hopping.
** Walking Time excludes lunch break.
Pack Carry Walk Grades
Walking Grades for Pack-Carry walks with a 12-15kg pack:
| Grade | Track Description | Climbing Description | Walking time per day ** (hrs) | Max. no. of days | Distance per day (kms) | Pack Carry Experience required |
| Easy | Mainly on tracks | Not too many ups and downs, with climbs up to 200m/day in total | up to 4 | 2 | up to 10 | At least Medium day walking experience |
| Easy-Medium | Mainly on tracks | Some ups and downs, with climbs up to 400m/day in total | up to 5 | 3 | up to 15 | At least Medium day walking experience |
| Medium | May include off track in light scrub areas and/or other challenges* | Moderate ups and downs, with climbs up to 800m/day in total | up to 6 | 4 | up to 18 | At least 1 beginner pack-carry (E or E-M) |
| Medium-Hard | May include off track in medium scrub areas and/or other challenges* | Some steep ups and downs, with climbs up to 1200m/day in total | up to 8 | 6 | up to 22 | Pack-carry experience of at least Medium in past 6 months |
| Hard | May include off track in thick scrub areas and/or other challenges* | Steep ups and downs, with climbs up to 1800m/day in total | up to 10 | 7 | up to 25 | Pack-carry experience of at least M-H in past 6 months |
| Very Hard | Difficult terrain, thick scrub, alpine or desert areasand/or other challenges* | Very long steep ups and downs, with climbs over 1800m/day in total | over 10 | over 7 | over 25 | Pack-carry experience of at least Hard in past 6 months |
* Other Challenges may include river / creek crossings, rock scrambling / hopping.
** Walking Time excludes lunch break.
A Pack-Carry walk will be rated as hard as the hardest day, e.g. for a 3 day pack-carry with 2 easy days and 1 medium day, the Pack-Carry will be rated Medium.