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Two Thumb Range: The Dog Kennel, Kea’s Loot & Trojan War
A spectacular off-track 5 day loop in the Two Thumb Range from Mesopotamia over Brabazon Saddle, Inkerman Saddle, Alma Col and Balaclava Saddle. The Two Thumb Range in Canterbury’s Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Area offers some rugged and remote tramping experiences through impressive, glacial valleys. A rewarding stop at Mount Somers Village Our recent mission…
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The Wye Creek Route: A Remarkables Range Traverse
The jagged silhouette of the Remarkables Range is the first thing most people see when visiting Queenstown. For years, the Wye Creek route was just a line on a topo map for me. A logistical puzzle of an alpine one-way route that seemed perpetually out of reach. But when we had a spare day in…
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Chasing more adventure: Beyond the Earnslaw Burn Track & Rock Biv
Often underestimated, the Earnslaw Burn Track is a Southern Alps classic near Queenstown. While many are drawn by the towering waterfalls and hanging glacier, navigating the windfall-heavy bush and unpredictable mountain weather requires solid planning. A night in the Earnslaw Burn Rock Bivvy and more adventurous off track route make this trip more adventurous than…
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Whakaari Conservation Area: Discovering “White Gold” & Spectacular Views
Bus Timetable Magic & “White Gold” With only two days before my flight out of Queenstown, I needed a tramp that aligned with local transport. Fortunately, the Cromwell and Glenorchy bus timetables synced perfectly to get me to Whakaari Conservation Area. The driver was even kind enough to drop me directly at the start of…
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Exploring Ferny Gair: Lake Alexander Hut and beyond
Navigating Access: The Teme River vs. Private Land After a trip to Ferny Gair a few months ago to find the elusive “dinosaur cave,” I was itching to return to explore the southern part of the conservation area including Lake Alexander and Ferny Gair peak itself. Access in this region can be tricky. A long-standing…
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Raglan Range: No teeth needed
“You don’t need your teeth to walk out.” The best adventures sometimes happen when your original plans fall through. Standing at the edge of an uncrossable Dart Ford, our Luna Tops dreams were washed away—but the Raglan Range was calling. What followed was a three-day masterclass in New Zealand ‘off-track’ travel: bush bashing, technical scree…
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Sawtooth Ridge: More bark than bite?
The Sawtooth Ridge has long been whispered about in New Zealand tramping circles as the “Broken Axe Pinnacles on steroids”—a jagged, formidable spine in the Ruahine Range that demands both respect and steady nerves. Eager to see if the reality matched the intimidating reputation, Anne and I set off on a weekend mission that began…
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News flash – dinosaur long thought extinct discovered in Kaikoura
Dinosaur long thought extinct discovered in Seaward Kaikoura The Discovery of the Sarahsaurus On a trip to the Seaward Kaikoura Range to climb Te Ao Whekere, members of the group were astounded to find a dinosaur sunning itself on a cliff face in the Puhi Puhi Valley. While science suggests dinosaurs have been extinct for…
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🦖Ferny Gair Conservation Area – in search of the strange dinosaur cave
Ferny Gair Conservation Area – in search of the strange dinosaur cave The story of a 5-day hike in the Ferny Gair Conservation Area including a route guide and photos. Hidden within the rugged terrain of the Ferny Gair Conservation Area lies a mystery that only a topo map and a bit of curiosity could…
