Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i Walking New Zealand

Otago CMS partial review approval expands possibilities for bicycle trails The New Zealand Conservation Authority has approved a partial review of the Otago Conservation Management Strategy, meaning DOC can now consider more locations on public conservation land for bicycle trail proposals. Conservation Management Strategies (CMS) are approved by the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) under the Conservation Act and provide direction for the management of public conservation land, waters, and species for which the Department of Conservation (DOC) has responsibility. The Otago CMS was approved in 2016, listing where bicycle trails were allowed on public conservation land (PCL) in the region. This was mostly a list of existing trails. By 2019 DOC was receiving multiple new proposals to construct cycleways and bicycle tracks on PCL not listed in the Otago…

Norfolk Island is the perfect year-round hiking destination. After working up a sweat on the walks and trails, just head down to some of the world's most beautiful beaches and cool off in crystalclear waters. Being a maritime climate, the weather can be changeable so it's always good to pack an extra layer. But you'll usually find a hat, swimmers, sunscreen and water bottle are of far more use! Best nature trails Norfolk Island National Park offers 10 well-marked walking tracks, with lengths and grades to suit every ability. You can take a rainforest hike beneath the world's tallest tree ferns, follow coastal tracks alive with the ever-changing songs of the sea and climb summits to see the horizon in all its 360° glory. The Botanical Gardens' easy trails, boardwalks…

“It is the only place in New Zealand where a river begins its journey on the opposite side of the main divide to where it joins the sea. With its native bush and wildlife, Te Āpiti is a time capsule that preserves the bush that once covered the Manawatū, a place frozen in time.” (Te Apiti-Manawatu Gorge- Te whenua me te tāhuhu koreroHorizons Regional Council) Sunday, July 3rd dawned with a frost in Havelock North as 10 Heretaunga Tramping Club members boarded the van accompanied by one car of four members for the trip to the 11.3 km. Manawatu Gorge Track. Another driver was picked up in Norsewood and David joined in Dannevirke. “In April 2017, the Manawatu Gorge was closed again due to a large slip. Contractors were pulled out…

Walk talk A long-term vision to restore Carnival Park Scenic Reserve in Pahiatua to its previous glory kicked off with a community open day on 16 June. Carnival Park was opened as a botanic garden in 1915 with proceeds from a local carnival. Explore Pahiatua Incorporated (EPI) member, Karolyn Donald, says the area was originally part of Te Tapere Nui O Whatonga (also known as 40-mile bush), but is now one of the few remnants of the once mighty forest. “Some of the trees were here before European settlement and survived a devastating fire that ripped through the area in 1898. This makes the reserve unique and culturally significant.” Karolyn has strong connections to the reserve. She grew up in Pahiatua and was the custodian of the neighbouring campground for…

The Waipara Vineyard Trail — Mountford Estate walkway was officially gazetted last week. This provides enduring access over part of the popular Waipara Vineyard Trail that winds through vineyards in the stunning rolling hills around Waipara. The opportunity to legalise this section of the trail arose through an Overseas Investment Office decision the Commission advised on when the vineyard was sold to a Japanese investor in 2017. The Hurunui District Council, which developed the Waipara Vineyard Trail, has become the legal controlling authority for the Walkway. It is managed and maintained by Hurunui Trails Trust. The short, easy and well-formed track offers walkers and bikers good views of vineyards and beyond to the Waipara Valley.…

We had a week in Queenstown to do some tramping and looking around. The morning was clear and we decided to go up to the Remarkables to walk to Lake Alta (a walk of one and a half horns return). Lake Alta is an alpine cirque lake (bowl shaped amphitheater - like depressions that glaciers carve into mountains and valley side walls at high elevations). We headed up to the Remarkables skifield by car to walk to Lake Alta from the skifield, (there was a toll gate and we were more than happy to pay the $10 which goes towards keeping the road in good condition). There was no snow to be seen, the day was crisp with unbelievable clear blue sky and no wind. On the way up the…

EVENT The last year's lockdowns may have turned our world upside down, and it sadly meant the cancellation of the 2021 Waiheke Walking Festival, but this year the Festival is returning with plans and a programme that will be 'uncancellable'. What the team learned over the past two years is that things change quickly, so they've designed a Festival that can flex with the changes and is sure to offer something for everyone. The focus this year is on creating amazing walks, offering choices for how people can do those walks, and keeping the walkers and volunteers safe. Those who live on Waiheke Island have long known they live in paradise, and one of the silver linings of closed borders has been more Kiwis coming to the island. And why…

Mahana in Māori word means warmth, shelter, and hospitality. All this and more are waiting for hikers visiting the Mahana Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds. When the previous owners of Mahana Lodge, John and Ann Martin, bought the property in 2002 it was called the Homestead Backpackers. There were many “Homesteads” in the Marlborough Sounds and they thought such a beautiful place was deserving of a more descriptive name. One day they were clearing out an old shed and came across a stencil which had been used for marking wool bales with the word “Mahana”. On enquiry, they found that the property up until about 50 years ago had been called Mahana. There was no further discussion, John and Ann Martin gave Mahana back its original name. Today Mahana Lodge…

Great Walks are the jewels in the recreation crown here in Aotearoa New Zealand. These multi-day hikes provide unparalleled access to some of the country's most inaudible natural landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage. The experience of doing a Great Walk is awe-inspiring, exhilarating, and highly photogenic. But like all hot commodities, some of these walks book out quickly. Happily, there are many Great Walks to choose from. And not all of them fill up as fast as the Milford, that's a myth. Which Great Walk is right for you depends on a few factors: it's important to make sur e you have a walk that matches your fitness and skills, and that you're well prepared for both the track and the weather. A good way to decide is to ……

Walk talk Auckland City Council wants to know what you think about its proposal to upgrade Harbour Bridge Park in Westhaven. Its planning to transform this popular waterfront destination, west of the harbour bridge, over the next few years to make it a place where more people can enjoy the views across the Waitematā Harbour and spend time with friends and whānau, as well as providing a key walking and cycling connection between Herne Bay and the city centre, connecting through the Westhaven Promenade. The innovative design will make the most of the location by moving part of Curran Street away from the water's edge, creating a spacious new waterfront promenade and park. This will make room for new seating, picnic and fishing spots, green space, lighting and improved stormwater…

My Favourite Walk We were lucky to have a perfect Spring day to explore Somes island in Wellington Harbour. Leaving Queens Wharf, a ferry stops at the island, and continues to Days Bay. We stayed on the boat for an extra ride, and landed on the return journey, because numbers are limited to 15 landing at any one time. This allows the resident ranger to supervise bag checks, so no pests are brought on to the island, which is a predator free scenic reserve. Matiu/Somes is a tiny island of only 25ha but with a big history. Originally named Matiu by Kupe, in honour of a daughter, it was inhabited by groups of Taranaki hapu and iwi in the 1820's and 30's. In 1839 it was renamed Somes, after the…

From surfing to stargazing, ghost tours to golf, stunning scenery, pristine beaches and fantastic food, Norfolk Island has it all. It's less than a three-hour flight from New Zealand, and once you experience Norfolk Island's 360° of wonder, you'll soon be wondering why you didn't come over sooner! Everywhere you turn on Norfolk Island - literally for 360 degrees there's something wonderful, something to thrill and inspire, to soo the the mind, body and soul. And while Norfolk has been on many Kiwis' to-do list for year's, and there's never been a better time than now to come see paradise before the hustle and bustle returns. With its mix of sunlit sands and crystal-clear waters, rugged cliffs and deep forests, Norfolk's diverse landscape magically changes at each turn. And while…

On Karaka Point, Marlborough, an isolated pa overlooking the sea, tands a carved wooden pouwhenua of Kupe, the mythical tupuna, r ancestor figure, locked in battle with the giant octopus Te Wheke o Muturangi, which he fought in Tory Channel. Local place names and traditions suggest that Kupe discovered what is now Marlborough. In Māori tradition a taniwha called Tuhirangi (probably a dolphin) guided him. The remains of early Polynesian settlers were found at Wairau Bar. Māori made adzes from argillite rock, found on Rangitoto ki te Tonga (D'Urville Island). The northeast corner of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) is part of Te Tau Ihu o te Waka-a-Māui (the prow of Māui's canoe). Marlborough as a whole, however, did not have a Māori name, as some eight separate iwi occupied…

By stepn Godsiff Northland has some fine produce and wines. As we are showcasing the best walking in the Bay of Islands it seems appropriate to bring our wonderful local produce and wine into the walks. We have extended the weekend to four' days, and have increased our foodie experiences. We have three fantastic vineyard walks all with the most incredible views of the Bay of Islands. Our newest addditon is sailing across to the exclusive Landing Vineyard, aboard the R Tucker Thompson sailing ship. The journey across the Bay gives you time to start thinking what the Bay of Islands used to look like with such beautiful boats. Arrive at Marsden Cross, New Zealand's first planned European settlement where Māori and Europeans lived side by side. NZ's very first…