Slip, slap slop was certainly the order of the day; “are you drinking heaps?” the constant mantra. Not only was it hot, but perhaps unusually for Wellington, it was also humid as 7 of us gathered outside the railway station and gradually zigzagged our way along the 12 kms of the City to Sea Walkway, … Read more
Fri (evening): Otaki Forks – Kime Sat: Kime – Mangahuka via Tararua Peaks & Ladder – Anderson’s Sun: Andersons – Waitewaiwai – Otaki Forks FRIDAY: After negotiating a tedious traffic jam we finally arrived at Otaki Forks at dusk. We were lucky to have a clear starry night. We marched up to Field in a … Read more
When you’re still glowing from the trip of a lifetime in South Westland just a few days ago you don’t really need to go tramping. But if Ann is away and the Tararuas are fine and Nigel calls from mid Waiohine and says he and Graham are going up to Aokaparangi you might just have … Read more
We went to Paua Hut on the 28th of December. It took two hours to walk through the beautiful bush to the Hut. We had to cross the river. Our shoes and socks got wet and the current pushed us but we loved it. There was no power, but there was gas to cook with … Read more
Back to Part 2 We made it to Bluff! One bright, sunny April morning – just when cycling was for us, becoming a daily routine and the mind was used to drifting off in its own direction – Alice stopped ahead and I snapped into reality. There it was – a signpost informing us of … Read more
Back to Part 1 A rest in Tauranga allowed us to reflect on our Coromandel Peninsula adventures. Excellent memories of relaxing beaches and coves, deserted gravel roads, humungous hills, spectacular views, art galleries, cafés and hot bread shops, swims and siestas. A phone call to Harry in Wellington and he was inspired with all this … Read more
A rest day! Yes, at last, a proper rest day – all day to be spent in the tent reading, sleeping and listening to the pitter patter of sandflies headbanging the fly. Oh – and maybe a chance to write that article I promised Claire for the newsletter. Where to begin? Our big cycle trip … Read more
An AIC behind many of us, the dry climate of the Kaikouras drew 9 people in search of one of NZ’s highest but easier to climb peaks, Mt Tapeau-O-Uenuku. The ‘Tappy’ trip is becoming a regular club event, taking a Friday off work and setting forth to tackle the legendary Hodder River before putting the … Read more
Some may call it a degeneration of standards, but others may refer to it an effective use of resources – the promise of some poor weather was overshadowed by the generosity of some club members and some effective planning. Harry Smith, Jerry Gabriel, Peter Wills, Gerard Galvin, Bruce Sommerville and I headed for a cycle … Read more
Mud. Sandflies. Howling southerlies. Freezing cold. Don’t even think about going for a swim. That’s what I had heard about Stewart Island. Well, maybe it was El Niño (or is that La Niña?) or maybe it was just serendipitous good fortune, but whatever the reason, it wasn’t like that at all. The mud wasn’t too … Read more