Top of the sounds
I’d read about it. I’d heard about it. I didn’t know much about it, other than that I wanted to do it. The Queen Charlotte track is a multiple day walk through the beautiful Marlborough sounds in the top of the South Island. I had the ambitious plan of walking…
Travel theme: outdoors
I spent quite a bit of time outdoors in the last two weeks. There have only been a couple of days that I haven’t been out and about, exploring forests, mountains or coastal areas. There is something calming about being out there. It’s just you and your thoughts, or perhaps some…
The water to paradise
I’ve been away for a while. On a two week holiday really. It was great not to have to do anything. It was great not to have much internet or even Phone reception. Just enough to keep up to speed on what’s happening. But now I’ve got some catching up…
Dining with the sandflies
Then the bright orange arrow points straight to the river. I’m slightly confused. I am standing in a big open space, walking on the rocks of the riverbed. The river looks inviting, but I know it will be cold. At the end the river splits, leaving no room for me…
Hanmer’s highest
For my second day in Hanmer Springs I had a longer walk planned, the climb to Mt. Isobel, the best viewpoint in the area. My muscles were already slightly complaining and I hesitate for a brief moment. Should I even go? When the road to the start of the track…
Hot pools and hot hikes in Hamner
After a few weeks I finally decided to hit the road again. It’s strange that no matter how much I enjoy my trips out-of-town, and out of the house, it is so hard to actually start them. As soon as I’d decided I’d go, I was super excited though. I’d…
Broken hearts and weak knees
I’m heartbroken, so I’m trying to find things that let me calm down and forget about the things racing through my head. I also needed to be reminded of why I came here to New Zealand and why I love it so much. So I escaped to the mountains. I…
To the top of Queenstown and back
My time in Queenstown is almost coming to an end, so I had to work on my wish list quickly. On this list was walking to the top of Ben Lomond, but with 1748m there is often snow on the summit which makes it hard to reach. Today I started…
Routeburn reverse
A few weeks ago I had my first experience on one of New Zealand’s great walks. To get a taste of tramping I walked to the first hut on the Glenorchy side of the Routeburn Track. The scenery was amazing, sleeping in the hut an experience, and it left me…
The really’s of reality
Most of the time I love hiking. No. That’s wrong. I love getting to places you can’t get to without a good hike. There is nothing like the feeling of seeing something beautiful that you had to work for. Something that’s not easily accessible and doesn’t have a viewing platform.…