After a week of farming followed by a week of sitting on our butts, K and I were itching for a nice long a tramp in the park. Conveniently, the Routeburn Track runs right into the Greenstone Valley and Caples Valley Tracks, so we decided to link up the reputable Routeburn with a lesser known…
Taking a Break from Tramping to Hoe
Warning: This post has nothing to do with hiking. We had traveled to New Zealand to tramp, but after 6 weeks of mostly walking up, down, and around things, it was time to engage in another popular local activity: farming. Months prior, I had joined an online community of NZ WWOOFers (World Wide Opportunites on…
Aoraki/Mt. Cook and Mueller Hut
Mount Cook (aka Aoraki) may not be the deadliest peak in New Zealand, but it is the tallest and has claimed the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of climbers. Tucked at the tip of Lake Pukaki, this 12,218-foot giant stands at the physical and metaphorical epicenter of New Zealand’s mountaineering culture. In this small…
Welcome Flats Hot Springs
Four days of beach hiking had left us sunburned and sore. Naturally, a soak in some mountain hot pools was in order. So the five of us (two over 6-feet) crammed into a Toyota RAV4 for the 8-hour drive from Nelson, down the western coast of New Zealand’s South Island, to Fox Glacier. Welcome Flats…
Roy Peak, Wanaka
Roy Peak is short half-day hike just outside the small town of Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island. Best enjoyed at sun up or sun down, this exposed trail of switchbacks offers killer views in all directions. We opted for the sunrise version, beginning our hike in the early morning darkness. I believe the photos speak…
Abel Tasman Coastal Track
No shirt, no shoes, no problem is the mantra for most New Zealand shops, restaurants, and supermarkets. It is also the most fitting motto for trampers on the Abel Tasman track. Touted as New Zealand’s best beach tramp–with sea kayaking, fur seals, and little blue penguins abound–the Abel Tasman attracts every type of beach lover,…
Tongariro Northern Circuit
Tongariro is New Zealand’s oldest and most popular park. Encompassing a cluster of active volcanoes on the North Island, this area is sacred to the Maori people in New Zealand. But, per usual, European conquistadors and early settlers gave little regard to native people’s customs and beliefs. In 1887, in an attempt to protect their…
Mount Taranaki Summit
New Zealand’s North Island is divided by a chain of volcanoes running north to south, with the exception of one: Mount Taranaki. According to Maori legend, Taranaki used to reside in the center of the country with the rest of the volcanoes, but after a feud with his brother, the great Mount Ruapehu, over the…
The Pinnacles & Coromandel Peninsula
So far, the most difficult part of traveling has been making decisions. How can 10 weeks feel like forever and nothing at the same time? At the last minute we decided to rent a car from Auckland and drive it to Wellington, before flying to the South Island. We had two weeks free to explore–minus…
Hot Water Beach, Lake Tarawera
Every time we told a Kiwi we were headed to Rotorua, the response was unanimously, “yea, that’s a bit smelly, isn’t it.” So I rolled my car window down as we approached this little town built around the sulfur pools, just to confirm. It was smelly alright. After spending a day exploring the Geothermal Wonderland…
Rangitoto Island Loop
Having flown into Auckland, we scheduled a few days to adjust to the local time zone and explore the country’s capital city. But cities are boring so we spent our day in NZ doing a warm-up trek on the Rangitoto Island Scenic Reserve.From Auckland’s main ferry terminal we took the 30-minute boat ride to a…
Tramping in New Zealand
New Zealand, aside from tragically being known to the masses as Lord of the Ring country, is one of the world’s premier destinations for walking, hiking, and backpacking. With a booming ecotourism industry and a backcountry hut system that surpasses most, NZ (pronounced “en zed”) is the place for anyone after a good tramp, regardless…
A TRAMP IN THE PARK 