We met bright and early on Boxing Day morning and boarded the ferry. Thankfully it was a very calm crossing over to the South Island so the Christmas over indulgences were forgiven. The weather forecast for the next 10 days was beginning to look a little foreboding but, keeping our fingers crossed that it wouldn’t … Read more
I always know when I am tramping on the coming weekend as I spend the week before checking the forecast. The week before this trip was more checking than normal as we all tried to decide whether it was going to rain and blow too much. This indecision affected Air New Zealand making my flight … Read more
On the morning of Saturday 5th January, myself and Tony Gazley set out for Otaki Forks. Our plan was to walk to the top of Mount Hector, pitch the tent and take photos of the sunset. Wellington had been blessed by awesome weather for the weekend so I was looking forward to getting out onto … Read more
“Punters are but a myth of the imagination, or perhaps the memory of the trampers from a bygone era. An era which has since passed. The era of signing up for a trip meant going on a trip has since passed. But the show, of course, will always go on.” – Disillusioned trip leader Craig … Read more
We started off on a gorgeous Saturday morning from Wellington Railway Station, heading for Poads Road (about 4km east of Levin) in the club van. Our intention was to head up to Waiopehu Hut, cook up a lovely curry, enjoy the view, sleep like logs after our exertions and come back down on the Sunday. … Read more
Friday night had us hiking the 50 odd minutes required to get to the confluence of the Blackwater and Ohau streams. The campsites were brilliant. Some of us erected flys, the others relied on tree cover, mocking the weather gods. The next day our boots hit the Blackwater at a lazy 8:30am, but we made … Read more
In the middle of the southern Tararuas there is an enticing route that leads up to (or down from) Mt Hector. It fulfils all the necessities of a great shortcut: it looks like it should be quicker than other routes; it isn’t as well travelled as the traditional Southern Crossing and it promises unusual views … Read more
After a serene Thursday night ferry crossing we made our way to Tony’s ‘secret, secluded DoC campsite’ just north of Kaikoura. Arriving there before midnight, we were surprised to find that a pleasant campground had been turned into a campervan carpark and was full of campervans. We managed to find some free space underneath some … Read more
The Kepler Challenge is promoted as NZ’s premier mountain running event and is an event that I thought was achievable in a respectable time with the correct training and utmost commitment. It takes place along the entire route of The Kepler Track outside Te Anau and is 60km long with approximately 1500 metre of ascent … Read more
Back before the break, Helen Law led an excellent pre-Christmas trip to Te Kopahou Reserve near the south coast. We gathered at the WTMC club rooms on Saturday morning to begin our walk to the reserve. Our ultimate goal was some World War II bunkers and an observation post high above the Red Rocks and … Read more