Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2023 i Walking New Zealand

Walk talk Ultimate Hikes has officially opened its 2022-23 hiking season, marking its 30th year of operation on the Milford Track. Ultimate Hikes general manager Noel Saxon notes the new season has turned to an earlier start date – from early-December last year back to mid-November. ‘We've had incredible support from Kiwi walkers over the past two seasons whilest the borders have been closed and we're pleased to see they've returned in force this year too,’ Saxon says. ‘When the borders opened, we were able to open up our bookings to international visitors which gave us the opportunity to offer more hikes – we are now almost back to operating a full season.’ The season runs through to early April 2023. There is limited space still available on the Milford…

Walk talk A Walkers World/Cycling Europe is offering packages that will be suitable as add-ons for kiwis wishing to attend the America's Cup in Spain. ‘Fans may be considering their options round the racing in September- October 2024,’ says managing director Jill Grant. ‘Catalonia has a comfortable temperature at that time of year to take advantage of the great walking and cycling tours within easy reach of Barcelona.’ Jill says Cycling Europe's week-long Pyrenees to the Cost Brava self-guided bike tour is a ‘roll’ down from the little villages in the foothills of the Pyrenees, via historic Girona, to the coast of the Costa Brava. It is suitable for almost anyone. On at the coast, the Camins de Ronda is a famous walking route to coves and white-washed fishing villages.…

Walking Festival Celia Wade-Brown looks back over a successful 2nd Wairarapa Walking Festival held in November… The second Wairarapa Festival was a great success and received super feedback, with a few minor tweaks to iron out. However the organisers are exhausted from our stellar growth from nine walks to 40 this year. Attendees were mainly local with a few from Nelson, Palmerston North, Porirua and Wellington. Several walks filled up really early; some paid, some free. The vineyards and olive grove were delighted with purchases during the GoCarterton Food and Wine walk. Huiunui-o-Rangi Marae provided an excellent host to lead us to some historical sites and landmarks. I feel motivated to advocate for improved road safety on a lOOkph road their tūpuna objected to that severs the marae from their…

My Favourite Walk My husband John and I decided to tackle the Humpridge Track last October. We flew to Dunedin from Auckland to firstly spend time with our Otago uni son. A visit to stock up on our supplies at Kathmandu Dunedin saw us talking to a fellow hiker who willingly warned us of the first days challenge. We didn't take much notice- but how right he was! It is a grueling first day. Fortunately for us we were well prepared nutritionally and rest wise after a luxurious stay at the Last Light Lodge. We were fed the best three course meal by chef Craig and his partner Vi. We highly recommend a night here either side of the Humpridge Walk to experience Southlands hospitality. Day 1 We were collected…

I love walking in nature. The time when I am feeling the happiest is when I am surrounded by lush green native bush and listening to bird song. Growing up in Waikato, I have had quite a lot of tune to explore the different walks in the area. Below are four of my favourite walks in the Waikato. All of these are quite easy grade and perfect for that weekend nature fix. The Kauri Loop Do you like the idea of climbing hundreds of stairs? Well 1500 stairs to be exact. The Kauri Loop Walk will surely scratch that stair-master urge. The walk is located in the Hakarimata Scenic Reserve on the western edge of Ngāruawāhia township. The ascent is a lot of stairs. And I mean a lot. Around…

Due to recent flooding, some of the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) walking tracks on the Argentine side of the Iguazu Falls will be closed for repairs for approximately three months, World Journeys reports. During this period visitors will still be able to view Iguazu Falls from both the lower and upper circuit walking tracks. World Journeys offers a three-day, two-night Iguazu Falls package which can easily be added to a South American itinerary. Priced from $910 per person, it includes four-star accom modation with breakfast, National Park fees in Argentina and Brazil, airport transfers, two half-day private sightseeing tours to both sides of the falls and entrance fees.…

Cyclists on the southern end of the Waikato River Trail near Atiamuri will have a safer and more scenic ride thanks to a New Zealnd Transport Agency Stream. The 36.5 metre bridge means people walking and riding the trail will no longer need to use the nearby road bridge on State Highway 30. The bridge was formally opened on Friday 12 August with a blessing by kuia from mana whenua Raukawa. “The Waikato River Trails Trust is delighted with the bridge, it looks great running alongside the river,” says Glyn Wooller, General Manager of the Trust. “The bridge and connecting trail will make a huge difference by taking all cycling and pedestrian traffic off the State Highway. This will provide an immediate benefit to the day-to-day trail use as well…

New Zealand Walk/Cycle Close to 30,000 trees and flaxes have been planted since Opotiki's Dunes Trail was built, and each year more are dug in, says Jim Robinson. It's a select list. A shortlist of tree species that can handle poor soils, harsh sun, and a regular beating by salt-laden wind: ngaio, taupata, karo, houpara (coastal five finger), coastal mahoe and, in places, ti kouka (cab-bage tree). Experience has shown, nothing else is tough enough. After well over a decade of planting alongside Opotiki's Dunes Trail, those species have proven their worth. They're now well-established and, increasingly, reaching well overhead. Harakeke (New Zealand flax) has also been planted extensively and is thriving. The native pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia complexa) was always present but given a more protected environment, it is spreading relentlessly.…

New Zealnd Transport Agency recently celebrated signing the construction contract for Te Ara Tupua Alliance – confirming the project team is moving to the delivery stage. The agreement means construction of the Ngā Ūranga ki PitoOne pathway will begin later this year. The project will create a safe attractive way to walk and cycle between Wellington and the Hutt and will provide much-needed resilience to the coastal edge protecting SH2, the rail line, and key underground infrastructure.…

Mt Favourite Walk On a sunny Saturday in November, ‘Shoestrings’ tramping group in Tauranga walked one of our favourite walks the Ngamuwahine Loop Track in the Kaimai/Mamaku Forest Park. The walk starts at the end of Ngamuwahine Road, off SH 29, 25 kms from Tauranga. There is plenty of par king and a lovely swimming hole in the river to entice you to have a dip at the end. We set off at 9.30am, passing the lodge, and crossing a little footbridge on the left just before a ford across the river. A sign marks the start of the track. The trail is undulating, but mostly up-hill, with some quite steep sections. There are lots of tree roots forming natural steps. After about 25 minutes we reached the junction to…

New Zealand Walks Aucklanders are lucky to have a place, Auckland Domain, to relax in a serene environment, away from hustle and bustle of the megacity, and walk for an hour or two as a part of regular exercise. The Domain, with all its important landmarks, has beautiful walking trails for everyone to enjoy. The area is 185 acres (75 hectres), which was set up in 1843. Currently, it is operated by the Auckland City Council. It is open to the general public all year round. Being so close to Auckland CBD, it is accessible to pedestrians, bikers, car drivers, and even bus riders. There are many walking tracks including Lovers’ walk, and a lot of sculptures decorate the area. The origin of the Auckland Domain was also instigated by…

New Zealand Walks Henry David Thoreau considered that “A lake is a landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” William Wordsworth reckoned that “A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.” There are 3800 lakes in New Zealand, and Dr Susie Wood from the Cawthron Institute says that “from a scientific perspective we know something about less than two percent of those.” Of the ten largest, one is located on the Chatham Islands, namely the Te Whanga Lagoon (178 sq.km). All the others are on the mainland. Seven are formed by glaciers on the South Island (e.g. Te Anau 344 sq.km, Pukaki 179 sq.km), while the rest trace their origins to volcanic activity…

Last year, holidaymakers and locals were shocked to learn the Department of Conservation had closed the 2.3-km track linking popular Kai Iwi Lakes with the wild, northern end of Ripiro Beach. Consequently, walkers in the area also lost access to a scenic track over Maunganui Bluff. Kai Iwi Lakes is an attractive dune lake system, also known as Taharoa Domain, just 35km north of Dargaville. There are several campgrounds along the lakes’ shores, often busy with families and other visitors to the Kauri Coast. Ripiro Beach stretches over 100km- longer than the erroneously named Ninety Mile Beach. Shortly after news of the closure broke in the Northern Advocate, The Outdoor Access Commission, began to receive enquiries from upset groups and individuals who had been previously unaware of DOC's plan. Eight…