Category Archives: Tramping

35. Kepler Track Walk-On

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Kepler Track: Te Anau – snowline and back: 29.6 km
Steamers Beach
Saturday, March 9: Cloudy at first, clearing, with a weaker wind
GPS Track
Youtube Video
Lake Te Anau redux. Tree on the right has taken a bit of a hit, and the perspective has changed a little, but eminently recognisable

Lake Te Anau redux. Tree on the right has taken a bit of a hit, and the perspective has changed a little, but eminently recognisable

Consulting the maps this morning revealed that the row to the Monument might take longer than expected, so I chose the Kepler Walk-On instead, meaning to go all the way from Te Anau as far as I could, but starting as early as possible, rather than at one in the afternoon. Went to the DoC, booked my transfers and picked up my tickets for the Milford Track tomorrow, and was ready to go by 10:00.

On the way to the control point I teamed up with a young Japanese nurse, Yoya, and got on well with her for the rest of the day. Continue reading →

33. Dore’s Pass, Lake Marian

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Steamers Beach
Thursday, March 7: Cloudy for most of the day, sun in the evening
GPS Track
Marian Falls

Marian Falls

Was on the road a little after 9:00 and found the beginning of the route just after 10:00. Parked the car at Smithy’s Creek campsite, applied sufficient DEET, and started off hopefully down the road. Crossing the river was the least part of the problem – it was only knee-deep, but very cold. The real problem was hiking up the creek – small rocks and pebbly beaches giving rise to boulders and becoming steeper the further up the mountain I proceeded. After about an hour of this I decided to call it a day, as there was no way I was going to repeat this with a full pack and possibly less time. At least the boots got a good wash. This would probably only be a good idea with someone who had done it before and knew which turn to take at the top of the mountain, although you will still have to be very desperate to try it. Continue reading →

28. Abel Tasman Coastal Track 4 – Marahau (water taxi) – Murchison

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Whariwharangi – Totaranui (12.1 km)
Riverview Holiday Park, Riverview Rd, Murchison. $25 (+ $4 for a shower) for single standard cabin, required bedding
Saturday, March 2: Cloudy at first, increasing into the afternoon & then becoming fine
GPS Track
Youtube Video

The first signs of dawn activity were at about 7:00, which was early enough. I got all the rest of my things together and was ready to go by 8:30. Robin and Shirley were off to their carpark and then to the Heaphy (70 L packs, they must have been carrying everything), and as Will & Kelly were going over Gibbs Hill, I asked them to keep an eye out for my tripod adapter. Then all set to work on their tracks. Continue reading →

27. Abel Tasman Coastal Track 3

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Awaroa – Whariwharangi (17.8 km)
Friday, March 1: Cloudy at first, clouding over then clearing in the course of the afternoon
GPS Tour
Youtube Video

Alarms went off on the dot of 6:00 and as I had gotten some sleep due to the relative paucity of snorers I was up fairly soon after the first ones.

Awaroa Crossing in the early morning

Awaroa Crossing in the early morning

The estuary was fairly clear of water and a number of people were already on their way across by the time I was ready to go, including some people going down the estuary to look for an easier passage (rather than up which would have been more promising). Continue reading →

26. Abel Tasman Coastal Track 2

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Bark Bay – Awaroa (14.2 km)
Thursday, February 28: Sunny all the day, a couple of clouds in the afternoon
GPS Track
Youtube Video 1, Videos 2 & 3

Was awoken by some giggle girls at around 6:30 who were throwing billies around. Had my breakfast, washed and was keeping an eye on the lagoon to see when water might be entering it. A girl asked to use my gas can which I gave her; then I discovered an abandoned one on one of the aluminium benches, which we swapped when she returned mine. Packed up all my stuff except the camera and then headed across the still dry lagoon for today’s shoot. Continue reading →

25. Abel Tasman Coastal Track 1

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Marahau – Bark Bay (26.1 km)
Wednesday, February 27: Cloudy in the morning with a touch of drizzle, becoming clear and sunny in the course of the day
GPS Track
Youtube Video

Was up before 7:00 to shower and pack what remained. Breakfast was unusually well populated today, and I left behind what remained of milk and bread.

Then it was time to collect the key deposit and get on the road to Marahau. Fairly slow going because of the built-up areas, and going the other way was rush hour into town and long queues. Stopped off at a supermarket in Motueka for some odd supplies and arrived in Marahau just before 10:00 at the place I had chosen for the water taxi back, bought my ticket, parked the Flying Spaghetti Monster in the long term carpark, and started walking pretty much on the dot of 10:00. Continue reading →

23. Blenheim – Nelson

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The Palace Backpackers, 114 Rutherford St., Nelson. $56, spacious, very Victorian room with iron bedstead
Monday, February 25: Cloudy at first, becoming hot & sunny
GPS Track
Wither Hills, drought withered, from ridge track to Mt Vernon

Wither Hills, drought withered, from ridge track to Mt Vernon

I seem to have got this organising thing under control – although it’s a lot of bags, small bags and even sub-bags. Took off down to the supermarket first thing for bread, milk and some sausage for lunch, then after breakfast acquired a BBH card. The telephone card costs 30c a minute from public telephones in addition to the 2.9c for the call, and that’s about as good as it gets. Continue reading →

22. Kaikoura – Blenheim

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The Grapevine Backpackers, 29 Park Terrace, Blenheim, $56
Sunday, February 24: Sunny throughout
GPS Track
Kaikoura South Beach in all its glory.

Kaikoura South Beach in all its glory.

Was off just after 9:00 this morning and wanted to do the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway again, so I parked on the Esplanade & started from there. Lovely day for the walk and the tide was low again, so I also redid the panorama. Plenty of seals about and I’m afraid at times I could neither keep the 10 m safety distance nor avoid cutting the critters off from their escape route. Continue reading →

21. Kaikoura, Mt Fyffe

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Kaikoura TOP 10
Saturday, February 23: Sunny and clear skies to begin with but clouds started forming by the afternoon as the sea wind condensed
GPS Track
Gentians on Mt Fyffe

Gentians on Mt Fyffe

Today was the day for the Mt Fyffe ascent. Breakfast was still pretty rudimentary but managed to nab another jar of vegemite, salt, some bacon which I then fried and packed into sandwiches for the hike. A roll of gladwrap was gratefully found to wrap the sandwiches up in, and a can of waterproofing spray which would be welcome for the boots. Continue reading →

18. Invercargill – Christchurch

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Matt’s
Wednesday, February 20: A little cloud, with the sun shining through & reasonably warm
Backside of the bottom in the deep south...

Backside of the bottom in the deep south…

Up at 7:30 for breakfast with Tina & Courtney – muesli, toast (with vegemite) & coffee. Then Tina was off to work and I set about the task of packing all the heavy stuff into the case and some overnight stuff into the rucksack. Worked OK and was able to close the case by just after 9:00, so I could have slept in. Continue reading →