Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 i Walking New Zealand

It is really fascinating what you can see on the way, as on one occasion we saw the Wespac Helicopter land on the top of the hospital and we have watched the daffodils growing over the weeks and trees changing with Spring and many people along the way walking, running, biking etc. A great morning out for everyone. Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub (Many spring waters) Nga Puna Wai is a very interesting place to see. You can walk or cycle around the complex the main entrance being Augustine Drive off Halswell Road. There are all kinds of sporting facilities, track and field, hockey, rugby league, athletics, tennis etc etc. It is also very nice to look around when there are events happening. The wetlands are tucked in behind the…

My Favourite Walk The Lathams Hill Walk can be found in the hills behind Awakeri Hot Springs in the Bay of Plenty, inland from Whakatane. You can walk it as a loop easily in under two hours by walking along the road connecting the two track entrances. I am not sure of the tenure of the land over the whole length of the track but it did pass over the Latham farm whose owners were responsible for building at least part of the track. We chose to start directly behind the Springs complex where the track climbs mainly through second growth bush, interspersed with some introduced species and some grazing. On attaining the ridge, the track meanders along with glimpses of scenery to both sides and the numerous Pa sites…

New Zealand Walk The Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway in Northland, is a hidden gem that beckons adventurers and nature enthusiasts. This remarkable coastal track offers an enchanting journey through diverse landscapes, from lush native forests to rugged cliff tops, showcasing the raw, unspoiled beauty of New Zealand's natural wonders. The Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway covers a distance of approximately 8.7kms one way. While the track isn't excessively long, the ever-changing terrain and stunning vistas make it a rewarding adventure that will take approximately four to six hours to complete, depending on your pace and how often you stop to take in the sights. Coastal Views: The walkway begins with panoramic views of the Mangawhai Coast, a stunning backdrop for your adventure. You'll see the expanse of the Tasman Sea, watch the waves…

The Heaphy Track Great Walk was fully reopened as a through walk from October 19. A section of the track between Heaphy and MacKay huts has been closed since storms in February 2022 caused severe damage, including the loss of three bridges, most significantly the Heaphy River bridge. DOC Buller Operations Manager Suvi Van Smit says DOC has been very mindful of the impact the closure has had on the communities at both ends of the 82-kilometre track. “The Heaphy Track is an important asset for Karamea, the West Coast and Golden Bay. “The quickest most straightforward solution for replacing the Heaphy Bridge may have been to use the same design at the same place but we had to ensure that whatever solution was put in place it would endure…

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) invited the entire New Zealand and Australia travel industry to step up for NCL's fourth annual Walk for Wellness. This year, the cruise line is brought the industry together as a show of strength and support, and to be part of NCL's official world record attempt for the longest distance achieved by a team of travel professionals in one month. Walk for Wellness 2023 ran from 1-31 October, coinciding with National Mental Health Month and WHO World Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10 October. Travel industry participants could walk solo, with colleagues or take a hosted walk with their local NCL business development manager via the free MoveSpring mobile app, which easily syncs with users’ mobile and wearable devices. ‘Walk for Wellness was initially conceived during…

For bird lovers there is a short walk with great views on the West Coast of the North Island just north of Auckland. From August to March each year you can watch the comings and goings of a busy gannet colony. It's hugely entertaining. According to the locals the best time to see the gannets is in the eveing when the parent birds come home to feed the young. Muriwai's gannet colony is a one hour drive from the centre of Auckland. Next to the car park, a short walking track leads to a viewing platform right above the main colony area. Out to sea, the colony continues on two vertical-sided islands. About 1,200 pairs of gannets nest here from August to March each year. The nests are just centimetres…

New Zealand Walk Situated between New Plymouth and Inglewood the Mangamahoe Bridle Trail is a dedicated area for horse riding, walkers, joggers and dog walkers. It is about 5kms in length with a variation to the route through production forest and amongst mature trees, mixed with pockets of regenerated native bush. There are three titled marked trails through the zone displaying colour coded arrows, Phar Lap the outer loop the Middle Mile Centre Loop and The Lazy Loop (Western Loop) giving a choice of which loop you wish to chose, maybe if feeling energetic the whole three. These colour coded markers are situated at different areas in the forest. My sister Dale and myself had had this walk in mind for a long time and finally decided to give it…

Walk talk Walkers can explore the 27 kilometre Tomaree Coastal Walk on Worimi Country in New South Wales, Australia. The tracks retrace ancient routes used by the Worimi People and traverse an ancient volcanic landscape, rich in culture and nature. Situated near Port Stephens, two hours north of Sydney, the route starts at Tomaree Head at Shoal Bay and ends at Birubi Point Aboriginal Place in Anna Bay. You can access lookouts overlooking beaches and coves, unusual rock formations and an abundance of flora and fauna including birds, dolphins and seasonal migrating whales. The scenic multi-day trail is best experienced as a two-day walk, but can be tailored into shorter sections of the track. After a redevelopment of the site, there is a range of camping grounds as well as…

My Favourite Walk Hagley Park is our groups go to on a Sunday when it is raining, or has been raining. It is nice and central to us all as we still want to get out walking even if we cannot go to the hills. We walk around Hagley Park in our raincoats and take our umbrellas, at least we are moving and socialising! The walk can be as long or as short as you would like. There are so many options to park and start your walk in the weekends. We usually meet at Nancys Corner (Nancys Hotel used to be on the corner of Riccarton Road and Deans Ave many, many years ago). We usually head along the park towards the netball courts on the ashphalt pathway with…

New Zealand Walks With kiwi living nearly in the backyards of locals, Whakatāne has deservedly earned the title of ‘Kiwi Capital of the World’. Ceana Priest takes a kiwi hunt through the coastal township. Whakatāne is the ultimate kiwi hotspot, with more than 300 nocturnal birds residing in the surrounding forested ridges. While catching a glimpse of the nation's flightless icon in the wild may be tricky, you can join a nocturnal bush walk during autumn or early winter to hear their shrill mating calls. Or, grab a map from the information centre and tackle the urban kiwi-scavenger hunt winding through town past 10 bronze sculptures before ending near the mouth of the Whakatāne River. Here are six family-friendly kiwihunting adventures for you to discover: MOKORUA BUSH BIRD WALK Tall…

New Zealand Guided Walks Some time ago I was describing a demanding winter traverse of the Main Divide via Harper Pass, which my son and I undertook in 1995. One of my grandchildren asked me what I meant by the term “Main Divide.” I had to explain that it is an imaginary line marking the boundary between watersheds that run to the west and those that run to the east. As such it is a major high-mountain feature of geography that runs most of the length of Te Wai Pounamu, nearly 1000kms from SW to NE up the Island. The upshot was a promise to take said grandchild over the Main Divide of the South Island when he turns 15. From the great chain of the Southern Alps, many rivers…

Overseas Walk ‘Extending from the quintessentially English market town of Chipping Campden to the Roman city of Bath, the 102 mile (164 km) Cotswold Way has existed as a long-distance path for over 50 years. Following the western edge of the Cotswold Hills, the route journeys through rolling pastures, beech woodland and honey-coloured villages built from Cotswold stone. You will (pass through] ancient commons in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, pass Neolithic burial barrows, stately homes and historic battle sites. The path along the Cotswold escarpment gives views to the west towards the River Severn and the Malvern Hills. Anyone who is reasonably fit can walk the Cotswold Way, although many walkers are surprised at the frequency of steep climbs.’ This is what the official National Trails of the…

Some years ago on impulse, I walked the Palmerston North City Circuit, a route of slightly more than 26km.* When I was preparing myself I briefly considered taking a headphone radio, but soon abandoned the idea. Although I anticipated five or more hours of walking in my own company, I knew, that on my journey, I would be neither bored or lonely. Bob Hodgson is active member of the Wednesday Wilderness Wanderers an informal group of The Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club, (MTSC) So what is it about walking or tramping that makes the activity so absorbing and satisfying? This is a question that is the subject of a beautifully written and recently discovered book “The Philosophy of Walking” by French philosopher Frederic Gros. The book was first published in…