Fri – Waiohine Gorge car park to Cone HutWithin minutes of starting our journey to Cone Hut, in an attempt to avoid getting wet feet, I had somehow managed to fall (timber-like) sideways into the creek. I hit my knee, there was blood and a bruise-in-the-making, and I needed a minute to recover. Not a … Read more
The forecast for the weekend was pretty uninviting – gale force winds on Saturday with increasing rain throughout Sunday. The low on Saturday night was forecast to be -3°C at Kime Hut. I figured there was no way we would be going ahead with our planned route along the tops. In fact I was so … Read more
Volunteering on Kapiti Island On Friday at 8am I was waiting with Anne, Jamie and nine other volunteers to jump in the boat and head across to Kapiti Island to volunteer for three days doing trapline work on the island. On arrival we headed straight to the biosecurity room to go through all our gear and … Read more
We departed from Wellington Railway Station at about 7.30am for the drive over the Remutakas and past Greytown, to the Waiohine Gorge carpark entrance of Tararua Forest Park. It was a lovely sunny winter day. We started our walk at 9.20am – going straight across the Waiohine Gorge suspension bridge. There were great views up and down the … Read more
Stumpy Stream a winter tramp in the Hakatere Conservation Park A 5 day winter hiking loop trip through the Hakatere Conservation Park and a climb to the summit of Mt Potts Since moving to Christchurch at the beginning of the year the Hakatere Conservation Park between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers has become one of my … Read more
Mt Potts and Dogs Range – frozen boots and bobsleds A 4 day hiking loop trip through spectacular mountain scenery of the Hakatere Conservation Area in winter with icy conditions Mt Potts and Dogs Range – frozen boots and bobsleds ‘The good news is that we have found your luggage. The bad news is that … Read more
Disembarking from the Friday afternoon ferry to Picton, we drove to Onamalutu Scenic Reserve campsite along with the Medium group and had a cool, but peaceful, night’s sleep under the trees (campsite fee $10 cash per person). The Medium group had a much longer day ahead of them, so we packed up and left Onamalutu … Read more
The snows of Mt Titiroa A climb to the summit of Mt Titiroa – the snowy appearance is white granite sand. We had just come off the South Coast Track after a trip into Westies Hut in Fiordland National Park, and after a quick stop in Tuatapere to restock we ended up in a caravan at … Read more
Richmond Range Traverse – Nelson to St Arnaud “Am I going the right way to St Arnaud?” I am suddenly alarmed as I look around to hear where this voice is coming from and find a Te Araroa (TA) walker who I had last seen many hours ago speeding away from Porters Hut … Now he … Read more
We left Wellington Train Station at 4pm on Friday and drove to our accommodation for the night at Te Wera Valley Lodge (www.tewera-lodge.co.nz) located on a remote road called the Forgotten World Highway – about 37km from Stratford. It was a very cold winter night and we arrived at 9.15pm. We were the only guests … Read more