Following a cruisey venture over the Five Pass trip, 5 punters (Eric, Roger, Andrew, Garry and I) sat in Wanaka, taking it easy, trying to work out what was next on the list. With only 3 days we were restricted but finally made up our minds, it would be a jet boat assisted trip through … Read more
I was too young to die. Between myself and the summit lay Newton’s Folly. Beyond that, the De Rose Step. I was way too young to die. You know how the Royal Family never travel all together, in case the plane goes down. Well, it would be the noble thing to pass on the summit … Read more
Our jackets had only just dried from the last soaking. Another shower looks imminent. Bracing against the gunwales we lean towards the centre of the narrow boat, hoping those in front will take the brunt. Waves stand up to meet us, spitting spumes of silty water. At first glance there was nothing extraordinarily daunting about … Read more
When I saw the Moonlight Southern Crossing on last winter’s trip schedule I was immediately taken by a strange urge to join in to go and walk among the moonlit clouds. But it clashed with the AIC (like this year, more about that later) so, as Lyndsay had asked full commitment of all AIC punters, … Read more
A big high-pressure system sat over the middle of the North Island offering encouragement for a group of seven cyclists set to head from the mountains to the sea. The historic and culturally fascinating Whanganui River valley was to be our route but a stinging frost was first to be negotiated. Arriving at the Mangawhero … Read more
It all began on a Ruahines trip in ’93 with Allan MacLachlan, who was just back from a Karakoram Highway expedition with Keith Strode-Penny. They had biked from Pakistan to China, finishing at Kashgar. I’d never heard of the Karakoram Highway or Kashgar, but they sounded romantic. Dave Turnbull, world cyclist extraordinary, agreed. “We’ll do … Read more
The first, and for that matter, only tournament on the 2000 Tongariro PGA Tour was the Solstice Shootout Pro-Am at the scenic Ruapehu Heights Country Club. Editor’s note: a large photo from this unique event is in the Lodge lounge. Seven players, Lyndsay Fletcher, Glynne Lloyd, Paul Cater, Keith Gerritson, Harry Smith (Ret.), Larry Cameron … Read more
Since I moved to Auckland in November ’97, tramping trips have been few and far between so I was really looking forward to spending Easter with the club in Kahurangi National Park – Andrew McLellan was leading a trip to Kakapo Spur. Andrew and the rest of the group, which included Shane Connolly, Stuart Palmer, … Read more
Story by Jeanine Langvik How on earth are we going to get through there we thought as we made our way down to the lookout over the tidal flow at French Pass. The sea was racing through the pass like a whitewater rapid at a speed of 13 knots an hour creating huge eddies on … Read more
“And in the news, a circus performer falls overboard while trying to perform acrobatics on the handrail of a fast ferry last night”. The radio news continued as I headed to the airport to pick up 2 punters, while the other 3 were travelling by car, having crossed on the fast ferry the previous night. … Read more