another rough day
Friday, April 30th, 2010
What started out as a wet day went downhill in the afternoon. Yet again a case of non existant trail that left me stream bashing and pushing my way through heavy brush. Finally made it out to a real track (not te araroa) and down to waitomo many hours later than planned. A night at a backpackers and clean and dry to face a rainy day.
See where Roland was on the map when he wrote this.
For those not in New Zealand – Waitomo is famous for its caves, glowworms and blackwater rafting.
Tags: Ngauruahoe | Posted in Walks | 1 Comment »
Cape Reinga to Te Paki Stream
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
Saturday 21st November – Cape Reinga to Te Paki – 5.75 hours
Hazel and I arrived at a deserted Cape Reinga at 8.00 am, so had the lighthouse there and the views to ourselves. Left around 8.30. A warm and cludy day, so great for walking down and up hills, along beaches, and over and around some scrubby headlands.
A diversion from the main track took me out to Cape Maria van Diemen, with a break at the lighthouse lookimg back to Cape Reinga, and on to the next section. Didn’t always find the unmarked tracks there – so at times walking through kikuya grass with each footstep sinking in over the top of my socks.
Pleasant walk on Twilight Beach (the last small beach before the big one), over some more headlands, and then down onto 90 Mile Beach for 40 mins, before heading up Te Paki Stream, avoiding a couple of buses, to the pick-up point
Tags: Cape Maria van Diemen, Cape Reinga, kikuya grass, Te Paki Stream, Twilight Beach | Posted in Walks | 3 Comments »
Ngaruawahia – Hamilton
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
45.5km of road walking with a nice bit of walking along the river thru Hamilton. Yet another stretch along busy sh1 with trucks roaring past. But the mountain tracks are nearing, and I’ve stocked up with food as it looks to be a fairly long time before resupply. That’s been one of the harder things on this trip. There is little documentation, so you end up carrying a bit more food and water than necessary.
Had a nice stopoff with Mike and Tom in the “tron” too.
See where Roland was on the map when he wrote this.
Tags: Hamilton | Posted in Walks | 1 Comment »
Rangiriri to Ngaruawahia
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Walking along the stopbank to the hunlty power station. I was thinking to make Hamilton today. But a nice Devonshire tea with Sarah in the morning slowed the day and I looked ahead and realized that I had to stop by 630 or face 15k of roadwalking into the evening. Beautiful track this afternoon. Nice climbing on and on and so much better than all that roadwalking!
See where Roland wrote this luxuriously lying in his tent with a million mosquitoes outside!
Rangiriri was the setting of some of the New Zealand wars battles in the Waikato between Maori and the Settlers.
Ngaruawahia is the home of the Turangawaewae Marae – the home of the Maori King movement,
Tags: Huntly, Maori, Ngaruawahia, Rangiriri, Turangawaewae Marae, Waikato | Posted in Walks | 3 Comments »
Hunua to Rangiriri
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
A fair bit of road walking followed by walking down 4 lane SH1, followed by field after field of young and curious bulls. However the day ended with a nice pub meal and Sarah came down and we had a nice night at a hostel.
Check out where Roland was when he wrote this.
More about the historic Rangiriri Hotel and its GIANT meals here (almost American sized!).
Tags: Rangiriri | Posted in Walks | 6 Comments »
Clevedon to the Hunuas
Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Mostly nice track with a bit of road walking mixed in. I decided to skip part of the offical walk and do the bypass instead as the though of 6 km of bush-bashing unmade track didn’t appeal. Camped just off the road with the sounds of highway in the distance .
See where Roland wrote this on the map.
Tags: Hunua | Posted in Walks | 1 Comment »
Levin to Otaki Forks: Via Mt. Crawford
Friday, April 9th, 2010
The Wellington branch of the Te Araroa Trust have forged a path through the Tararua Ranges. Read their comments as reported by the Kapiti Independant News and those of David Somerset – have you tramped in this area? I so what are your thoughts? Suitable hike or a dumb idea
Tags: Kapiti, Levin, Mt Crawford, Otaki Falls, Tararua Ranges, Te Araroa | Posted in Walks | 2 Comments »
Mangere to Clevedon
Friday, April 9th, 2010
Following our mate Rolands journey to the end of the country!
Mostly horrible track through industrial auckland. A nice respite through the botanical gardens couldn’t make up for the boring and smelly day. If I were to do this part over I would have walked down the east coast instead. Finished the day at a large keep out sign that blocked the trail. So I fence hopped my way around.
Tags: Clevedon, Mangere | Posted in Walks | 2 Comments »
Coast to Coast walkway
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Met up with Richard (brother-in-law) and walked from his house just off the trail with Sarah and him to the next family location in Mangere Bridge. And then more family walking group with Richard and my nephew Sam down to the airport.
Tags: Coast to Coast walkway, Mangere | Posted in Walks | 8 Comments »
Pureora Mountain
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
Thoughts on this 1/2 day walk – Pureora Mountain - (between Taupo and Te Kuiti).
I have never hiked in this area, but hear it is great. Love your comments – enlighten us all please!
Tags: 1/2 day walk, hike, Pureora, Taupo, Te Kuiti | Posted in Walks | 1 Comment »
Stillwater to Mt Eden
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
With our intrepid “guide” Roland
A day of walking along the coast. A bit banged up when I ran into a submerged log while crossing the chest deep Orikino river. Great to see the Auckland skytower in the distance. Finished up in the centre of Auckland just after climbing the volcanic cone of Mt Eden.
See where Roland started on the map.
Tags: Mt Eden, Orikino River, Stillwater | Posted in Walks | 2 Comments »
Walking the length of Te Araroa – Day 16 Dome to Puhoi
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
With our “guide” Roland
Mixed track and roadwalking with the final destination of a pub and cold beer.
Tags: Dome Valley, Puhoi | Posted in Walks | 2 Comments »
Trampers are Happy to Pay? …really…??
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
Picked up this article from The Marlborough Express last week. But are trhe views of 8 self proclaimed “Fat Bastards” and a couple of Aussies really representative of all Trampers? What is your view?
Tags: Queen Charlotte Track | Posted in Walks | 2 Comments »
Official Opening of the Clutha River Track
Monday, April 5th, 2010
The Southland Times report the official opening of the Clutha River Track – includes the new Pawsons Crossing Bridge, which spans the Cardrona River near the beginning of the track. Nice story and great work!
Tags: Cardrona River, Clutha River Track, Pawsons Crossing Bridge | Posted in Walks | 1 Comment »