Equipment

hire gear

Required safety equipment

Where to hire or buy gear

To climb a Via Ferrata safely you need a helmet, a basic climbing harness and a shock-absorbing lanyard with two leashes. It is also recommended to wear gloves to prevent getting blisters or cuts from holding on to the rope or sharp rock. Simple gardening gloves are sufficient. All required gear may be hired from the below locations.
High demand: The Via Ferrata has proved to be very popular with the public and demand for hire gear is high. Please take note of the reservation options below and make use of them if you want certainty. Visitors from Nelson should strongly consider hiring gear from the Gearshop locations in Richmond or Tahunanui!
  • Ngarua Caves Shop - Gear hire only >>> This shop hires out the society's gear for 3 hours for NZ$ 8 <<< 4 km, 5 min from Via Ferrata carpark
  • Main Road, SH60, Motueka 7198 (show location on Google Maps)
  • Phone 03 528 8093 or 027 268 2115
  • www.ngaruacaves.co.nz 2025 Winter Hours: * Until 02.06.2025: Open 7 days a week from 9.30 am to 3 pm * 03.06.2025 to 27.06.2025: Open only on weekends Sat & Sun from 9.30 am to 3 pm * 28.06.2025 to 13.07.2025 (School holidays): Open 7 days a week from 9.30 am to 3 pm * 14.07.2025 to 31.08.2025: Open only on weekends Sat & Sun from 9.30 am to 3 pm * From 01.09.2025: Open 7 days a week from 9.30 am to 3 pm --> If you want to hire gear on a weekday when the Ngarua Caves shop is closed you can call Janet on 027 268 2115 to arrange a time and she'll try and make it possible. Gear can be returned after hours by dropping it into the container by the gate at the entrance to the Caves.
  • Ngarua Caves provides the service of hiring the society's gear. The cost per set for 3 hours is: $5 service fee + $3 non-profit wear & tear fee = $8 Under 18s enjoy free gear hire. Ngarua Caves currently has 14 sets of gear for hire. Watch a video here on how to use our hire gear. Gear reservations: If you want to make sure gear is available for you, you may ring Ngarua Caves beforehand and either check how high demand is at the moment or make a reservation for a future day. Reservations are only possible for 9.30 a.m. (when the shop opens). If you don't pick up your gear by 9.40 a.m. someone else may get your gear. After this morning slot, the available gear will be hired on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • Gearshop - Gear hire and sales >>> This shop hires out their own gear for NZ$ 25 for a full day <<< 58 km, 60 min from Via Ferrata carpark
  • 213 Queen Street, Richmond 7020
  • Phone 03 547 7080 sales@gearshop.co.nz
  • www.gearshop.co.nz Gear hire reservations mandatory: Contact the Gearshop team either by phone or email or walk into one of their shops in 213 Queen Street, Richmond 7020 or 53 Bolt Rd, Tahunanui to make a hire gear reservation. Gear can be collected from both shops. Find their Via Ferrata gear for sale here.