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 but are not a part of the hire gear. All required climbing gear may be hired from the below locations. Simple gloves are usually available to buy for NZ$ 5 from Ngarua Caves.
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.
  • Ngarua Caves Shop - Gear hire only >>> This shop hires out the society's gear for up to 4 hours for NZ$ 10 <<< 4 km, 5 min from Via Ferrata carpark
  • Main Road, SH60, Motueka 7198 (show location on Google Maps)
  • Phone (03) 5288093
  • www.ngaruacaves.co.nz Ngarua Caves Shop Opening Hours:
  • From 02.06.2026 to 03.07.2026: Saturdays and Sundays only from 9.30 am to 3 pm.
  • From 04.07.2026 to 19.07.2026: Open 7 days a week from 9.30 am to 3 pm
  • From 20.07.2026 to 11.09.2026: Saturdays and Sundays only from 9.30 am to 3 pm.
  • From 12.09.2026: Open 7 days a week from 9.30 am to 3 pm
  • 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 up to 4 hours is: $7 service fee + $3 non-profit wear & tear fee = $10 Under 18s enjoy free gear hire. Ngarua Caves currently has 50 sets of adult gear and 5 sets of kids gear available for hire.

  • Gear reservations: Reservations are only available for 9.30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10.30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Gear for your reservation will be held aside for you for a maximum of 15 minutes grace period, but after that it will become available for someone else. After these morning time slots, the remaining available gear can be hired on a first-come-first-served basis.
Make a Hire gear Reservation here

Please ensure you have either $50 cash or a valid photo ID to act in place of your bond to hire the gear. You will also be required to watch a short video explaining how to use the gear. Click here to watch it ahead of time in order to speed up the collection process.
All members of your party need to be present in person to collect the gear.
Bad weather and wet conditions:For safety reasons, gear hire is suspended when conditions are visibly wet.
Gearshop - Gear hire and sales>>> This shop hires out their own gear for NZ$ 25 for a full day <<<58 km, 60 min from Via Ferrata carpark213 Queen Street, Richmond 7020Phone 03 547 7080sales@gearshop.co.nzwww.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.