Walking New Zealand July 2024

Walk talk Chocolate Gannets, with four Beachfront Luxury Villas on the Great Ocean Road in Apollo Bay, has a new koala track which provides plenty of opportunities for guests to spot wild koalas that live in the gum trees just a few steps behind the accommodation. Exclusive to Chocolate Gannets guests, the Koala Track meanders through gum trees (established and new) and native Australian plants. The track is part of a broader project of habitat rehabilitation and regenerative land management. Chocolate Gannets has planted more than 3,000 Australian native plants which provides the momentum for a flora and fauna resurgence in an area that had been overrun by invasive species. In less than a year, there has been an increase in bird activity and a stabilisation of koalas that consistently…

Walk Japan has launched he Kyoto: Mountains to the Sea tour, exploring Kyoto Prefecture, a rural region where the contrast with Kyoto's urban landscape is stark. The fully-guided, eight-day tour ventures through Kyoto's backcountry, where the pace of life is still measured by seasons and a multitude of colourful festivals throughout the year. Here visitors, Japanese and from overseas, are Walking Kyoto's countryside few and far between. The tour follows ancient trails, once vital for commerce and communication, that weave through valleys and over high passes until culminating on the Sea of Japan coast at Amanohashidate, considered one of Japan's three classic vistas. En route, it passes through littleknown villages, historic temples and shrines. Accommodation each night is in Japanese inns. www.walkjapan.com…

New research published in Aging Cell provides insights into how exercise may help to prevent or slow cognitive decline during aging. For the study, investigators assessed the expression of genes in individual cells in the brains of mice. The team found that exercise has a significant impact on gene expression in microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system that support brain function. Specifically, the group found that exercise reverts the gene expression patterns of aged microglia to patterns seen in young microglia. Treatments that depleted microglia revealed that these cells are required for the stimulatory effects of exercise on the formation of new neurons in the brain's hippocampus, a region involved in memory, learning, and emotion. The scientists also found that allowing mice access to a running wheel…

Walk talk The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) in the USA, has launched 52 new road cycling routes that wind their way through the state's landscapes. The new programme, Bike Tennessee, at BikeTN.com allows cyclists to experience the routes using the app Ride with GPS. ‘From our music to our makers, Tennessee is a state full of storytellers,’ says commissioner Mark Ezell, TDTD. ‘As travellers increasingly seek sustainable and authentic experiences, we invite them to explore our scenic routes and discover the charm of our small towns.’ Each Bike Tennessee route was carefully mapped, ensuring cyclists have access to detailed navigation and route information. Ride descriptions provide information about the terrain, waypoints and lesser known locations along the way, as well as modifications to tailor each ride to the…

The Outdoor Access Commission has just launched the new topographic basemap for Pocket Maps. This cutting-edge basemap allows hunters, trampers and other outdoor recreationists out in the field, away from phone reception, to combine our public access information with topographic maps offline. This opens a world of possibilities for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. The Outdoor Access Commission, chief executive Ric Cullinane, says the commission has been committed to listening to its users since the inception of the awardwinning Pocket Maps app in 2021. “The most frequent request we received was to integrate topographic basemaps with our public access data,” says Cullinane. The topographic basemap incorporates a wealth of data, including contours, rivers, roads, building outlines, lakes, and New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) place names. Additionally, it features huts and campsites…

New Zealand Walks We had a week in Picton and as usual we walked everyday and of course as usual the weather was just fabulous. There are so many places to explore, it does not matter where you go. The Snout The first walk we did was The Snout in Picton. The Snout is a great walk along the Marlborough Sounds and through the bush in Picton. The walk can start from Picton town (four hours) or if you do not want to make it such a big day you can park your car in the Victoria Domain and start from the beginning of the Snout Track (approximately three hours). There are many bike tracks as well as shared tracks. As you walk along the track you get views of…