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Lake Chalice & Old Man Circuit in Richmond Forest Park
Lake Chalice and the Old Man Circuit in Richmond Forest Park is a fantastic weekend tramp. The route goes past the peaceful Lake Chalice before climbing up to Old Man peak that is part of the Richmond Range Alpine Route. Our trip involved clearing road blockages, navigating swollen rivers and a surreal summer snowstorm. It…
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Exploring Ferny Gair: Lake Alexander and beyond
If you’ve ever found yourself hunting for elusive backcountry spots off the beaten track, navigating “geographical embarrassment,” or frogmarching a hiking buddy up a 1,670-meter peak for 360-degree views, you’ll feel right at home in Ferny Gair Conservation Area. Lake Alexander in Ferny Gair Conservation Area is a hidden gem that many people have probably…
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Leatham Molesworth Route: A 5-day trip full of magic
Looking for an off-the-beaten-track backcountry adventure in New Zealand? The Leatham-Molesworth Route is a rugged, 5-day tramping route tucked away in Marlborough’s stunning Leatham Conservation Area. Covering roughly 100 km of marked through unmarked river valleys, scree slopes, and high-country saddles like Severn Saddle, this remote circuit offers wild alpine views, cozy Department of Conservation…
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Silverstream-Bull Paddock-Lost Stream Traverse: A 3-day trip in Leatham Conservation Area
“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 with a Silverstream-Bull Paddock-Lost Stream Traverse. What followed was a three-day masterclass in New Zealand…
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Climbing Te Ao Whekere: An Alpine Adventure in the Seaward Kaikōura
Listening to the calls of two kea at 5:30 am isn’t your average wake-up call, but on the rugged slopes of the Seaward Kaikōura Range, nothing is quite “average.” From our infamous “Rubbish Bag” campsite to the 2,590m summit of Te Ao Whekere, our journey was an energetic yet magical traverse of unstable scree and…
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🦖Ferny Gair Conservation Area – in search of the strange ‘dinosaur cave’
Hidden within the rugged terrain of Marlborough’s Ferny Gair Conservation Area lies a local mystery: a lone cave icon sitting silently on the topographical map below Mt Harkness. Intrigued by the prospect of finding a “secret dinosaur cave,” Tony, Matt, and I set off from the Awatere Valley on an ambitious 5 day tramp to…
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Angelus Hut – a multi-day hike in Nelson Lakes National Park ❄
Nelson Lakes National Park – The Winter’s Tale A 7 day hiking loop trip through spectacular mountain scenery in Nelson Lakes National Park visiting Cupola Hut, and Angelus Hut via the Cascade Route up Hukere Stream. This is a delightful child’s fairytale written especially for young adults who have yet to grow up, which of…
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Mt Owen – and some thoughts on trundling*
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Lees-Hellfire Circuit: 5-Day Raglan Range Tramp
Carrying two tents. Spaniards on steroids. Endless treefall. A slow bush bash through dense beech forest. Sleeping on the hard ground. Lees-Hellfire Circuit: Five Days in the Raglan Range The Lees-Hellfire Circuit in Marlborough had been on my tramping wish list for several years. With a good weather window approaching, Tony and I finally decided…
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Greigs Hut | Meeting Fatso at the hutcraft weekend
