Mt Tongariro – and the lava lake

The Red Crater Mt Tongariro - Mt Ngāuruhoe behind

Mt Tongariro and the ancient molten lava lake at North Crater A 2 day hiking loop trip over Mt Tongariro and past the once molten lava lake that occupied the North Crater before cooling and solidifying.     When the warrior gods Tongariro and Taranaki fought over the lovely Pihanga flames lit up the sky, … Read more

Otaki and Ohau bush-bash – Tararua Forest Park

Day 1: Friday 12 January – Poads Road to Waiopehu HutThis trip was planned as a Medium-Fit trip in and out of Mid Otaki Hut via Poads Road. However, when it became clear a few other people couldn’t make the trip, and Mon and I wanted to visit South and North Ohau Huts as well, … Read more

Lake Monowai Circuit – Fiordland National Park

Paddling down Lake Monowai from Monowai Hut

Lake Monowai Circuit – Fiordland National Park A 4 day tramp/ packraft circuit including Green Lake and Lake Monowai in Fiordland National Park We declared this trip to be one of New Zealand’s ’11 Great Packrafts’ (like the Great Walks). The trip started with my dad dropping us off at the road end by Borland Bivy … Read more

Lake Manapouri – Hope Arm packraft

Hope Arm Lake Manapouri

Lake Manapouri – Hope Arm packraft A 2 day tramp/ packraft at Hope Arm, Lake Manamouri, including a climb to the top of the Monument. For a Mt Lake Monowai packraft story go to The Monowai Circuit. For a Mt Titiroa story go to The snows of Titiroa.

Ball Pass – a nice alpine day walk

A day hike over Ball Pass from the Hooker Valley to the Tasman Valley

Ball Pass – Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park A transalpine crossing from the Hooker Valley to the Tasman Valley via Ball Pass For another alpine tramping trip go to Cameron to Ashburton Circuit – an alpine tramping trip For a further alpine tramping trip go to Stumpy Stream

Queen Charlotte Track – Marlborough Sounds

A group of 5 trampers did the Queen Charlotte Track to ring in the new year. As we were on our summer break, we decided to take the easy option and have a sea shuttle transport our overnight packs (with tents) to the campsite we’d be staying at each day – and we just walked … Read more

Pizzas, High Ridge and a Wild Pig – Tararua Forest Park

Friday (Road end to Powell Hut – 2h 45min) As we hopped into the van with the EM group on Friday, the vision for the trip was clear: there would be pizzas. How we would justify it as a club trip and what the tramping would actually involve was not as clear, however… The trip … Read more

Mt Princess – an Alp1 climb of a pretty little peak with a bath

View from the summit of Mt Princess, Waiau Valley below

Mt Princess – an Alp1 climb of a pretty little peak with a bath A pleasant climb of a pretty peak named Mt Princess with its own Princess Bath in the St James Conservation Area If you belong to a mountaineering club then maybe every now and then you think about actually climbing to the summit … Read more

Gog, Magog and the Tin Range – Rakiura National Park

On the Tin Range Rakiura National Park

Gog, Magog and the Tin Range – Rakiura National Park A tramping trip from Gog and Magog back to Oban via the Tin Range in Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island. For more photos go to www.tararuaphotos.com