A Sparkly September Trip to Maniniaro / Angelus Peak – Nelson Lakes National Park

ThursdayWith the weather forecast and avalanche advisory aligning, we met to check in for the Interislander mid-Thursday afternoon sailing from Wellington to Picton. When aboard the almost empty ferry, we quickly got stuck in to maximising our chances to win the on-board prize draws that the Interislander staff were putting on to farewell their Supervisor. … Read more

Kiritaki Hut, Ruahine Forest Park

Kiritahu Hut Ruahine Forest Park

“It’ll be easy.”   Famous last words when we were trying to find a route around a gorge in Oruakeretaki Stream… On Saturday we left Kumeti campsite and started up Mangapuaka Stream for about 20 minutes before we came to the track on the true right. It was straight into a fairly steep climb. We … Read more

Nydia Track – Marlborough Sounds

Nydia Track is a picturesque 27 km two- day walk.  On Friday, the group left Wellington on the 3.45pm Interislander ferry sailing. It was a calm, quiet and sunny crossing. We stayed at the Villa Hostel in Picton, in two bunkrooms – which was a great place to stay. On Saturday morning, we stocked up … Read more

Kaweka Kaleidoscope – exploring the remote Manson Country in the Kaweka Forest Park

A 3-day hike through the Manson Country in the Kaweka Forest Park

Kaweka Kaleidoscope – exploring Manson Country in the Kaweka Forest Park A 3-day hiking trip through the Kaweka Range including the remote Manson Country It nearly makes the squatters weep, It takes five acres to a sheep, And each year sees these smaller flocks, For sheep don’t thrive on snow and rocks. (An anonymous poet … Read more

‘Take Action for Nature’ – Conservation Week 2023

You’ve planted a ‘Penguin Forest.’ This was a comment from one of my work colleagues after she heard about the volunteer work I had done over the weekend in the Catlins. Every year DoC, in partnership with Forest & Bird, organise a tree planting weekend in the Catlins and I saw this advertised on the … Read more

Eastern Hills (Hutt Valley) to Days Bay

We met at Woburn Station and set off on a clear, but chilly, morning for Te Whiti Park and the Te Whiti Riser track – with our ultimate destination being Days Bay.  The conditions were ideal for a day walk. The Te Whiti Riser track climbs at a gentle incline up to the Electricity Corporation … Read more

Paratetaitonga…. nearly! Mt Ruapehu – Tongariro National Park

*Editor’s note: Paratetaitonga (2535m) is a mountain peak located on the edge of Mt Ruapehu’s Crater Lake. It’s always nice when you are lucky enough to have a Friday off work for early travel to your weekend’s destination! It’s even better when you know there’ll be no soggy camping at the road end on a … Read more

Westies Hut – with chocolate streams and marshmallows

Westies Hut Fiordland National Park

Westies Hut (with chocolate streams and marshmallows) It started with Tony, Jamie and I jumping into a helicopter to fly to Westies Hut as a bit of a treat. We had decided to make it a bit more epic by flying in and then just walking out since the track was an out and back … Read more

Alpine training courses with NZAC

Thanks to WTMC scholarships that helped to cover some of the cost, Mathew and Anne signed up for a backcountry avalanche course and an intermediate snowcraft course with the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC). Jon had already utilised a WTMC scholarship to attend a summer rock course earlier in the year, but signed up anyway … Read more