Lake Chalice Hut – Mt Richmond Forest Park (and aborted Mt Owen trip)

Prelude: We had all been really looking forward to our planned Mt Owen trip in Kahurangi National Park. However, it turned out that when we arrived on site, the water level flowing over the Dart River ford (which you need to cross to access the track to Mt Owen from the North) was too high, and … Read more

Ruapehu Lodge and Zekes Hut

We left the station on the dot of 4pm, with a van full of Wellington’s finest. Our trip to WTMC’s legendary, lovely Ruapehu Lodge was disturbed firstly by a tramper performing some emergency mergers and acquisitions in Levin, and later an emergency burger stop at the piiza[sic] shop in Bulls. Once we arrived at the … Read more

Mt Fyffe – Hapuku Hut traverse (Seaward Kaikoura Range – Marlborough)

After a lovely sailing on the Interislander on Friday, we arrived at Spring Creek Holiday Park in the early evening and were able to get organised ahead of our tramp. The following day, after a quick coffee and bakery stop in Kaikoura, we ventured to the Mount Fyffe Rd road end, and began our tramp … Read more

Protecting Whio, the fight for survival – Apias trapline, Ruahine Ranges

“If you want to save a species or habitat, it’s a fight forevermore. You can never turn your back.” Trapping has taken me to so many different places since 2021, when I first began volunteering on a trapline in my local bush reserve, Waimapihi Reserve. Over the last few years I have added another two … Read more

Mitre Flats Hut and Mitre Peak – Tararua Forest Park

Friday After a quick drive over the Remutakas and some of Carterton’s finest fried chicken, we drove to The Pines carpark and were at the head of the Barra Track at 7.30 pm. Ethan, sporting the elite tramping look of gaiters and shorts, was leading 9 of us to the mighty Mitre Peak in the … Read more

Awatere Hut – Ruahine Forest Park

Friday We left at around 4.45 pm from Wellington train station and had a dinner and supermarket stop in Palmerston North before continuing on to Anzac Park campground (arriving at around 8 pm). We all set up our tents, except for Bogdan, who took the opportunity to try out his tarp. The campground is next … Read more

The Gardens of Eden and Allah – a 7 day traverse from the perspective of a baby dinosaur

Camping on the Lambert Glacier, Adams Wilderness

The Gardens of Eden and Allah – a 7 day traverse, from the perspective of a baby dinosaur. A six day hike through the Garden of Eden and Garden of Allah ice fields in the Adam’s Wilderness Area – including a route guide and photos. Episodes 1 and 2 of 3 Whāia te iti kahurangi, … Read more

Alpine week – Methven and the Lewis Pass

A brief summary of a week down South – not at Aoraki/ Mt Cook as originally planned (due to stormy, gusty and avalanche prone conditions) – but at Methven and the Lewis Pass, to follow the good weather. Day 1 – Pudding Hill(4.5 km, 1 h) Day 2 – Mt Hutt(9 km, 1,000 m elev … Read more

The Garden of Eden and Allah Ice Plateaus – Episode 3

The Garden of Eden and Allah Ice Plateaus A seven day hike through the Garden of Eden and Garden of Allah ice fields in the Adam’s Wilderness Area – including a route guide and photos. Episode 3 of 3 Episodes 1 and 2 here The next day we found that apparently getting off the Lambert … Read more

Roaring Stag Hut – Tararua Forest Park

On Saturday morning an Easy-Medium and a Medium club group set off together in the club van from Wellington Train Station to Putara Road end, via a bakery in Carterton. The group of 14 of us all started off together on the track in the rain. We needed to cross some swingbridges along the way … Read more