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Lake Colenso, Unknown Campsite & Elusive Ruahine Mountain Dolphins
A few years ago, I found myself trying to convince a friend that there was actually a place called “Unknown Campsite” in the Ruahine Range. “That’s not very helpful for finding it,” he replied. Much to his disbelief, I pulled out the topo map to show him that this mysterious backcountry spot does indeed exist.…
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Mangaweka & the Pegs of the Ruahine Range
An iron peg. A wooden peg. What’s next? A tent peg or a clothes peg? Sitting at 1,731m, Mangaweka is the highest peak in the Ruahine Range. Enticed by the summit and the curiously named peaks along the way, a group of friends and I planned a 3-day loop. If you are looking for a…
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Matiri Range: Finding the Needle in the Haystack on the 1000 Acre Plateau
An epic 5 day traverse from Wangapeka over the Matiri Range to the Haystack, Needle and 1000 Acre Plateau. Involves plenty of travel off track, time above bushline and a challenging bush bash. Tony assured me that I would be able to find the Needle in the Haystack easily – he wasn’t wrong but our…
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Protecting Whio | The Fight for Survival in the Ruahine Range
Protecting Whio | The Fight for Survival in the Ruahine Range A 3-day hike in the Ruahine Range rebaiting predator traps protecting the threatened whio (Blue Duck). The story describes the tireless efforts of dedicated conservationists to protect the birds, and includes a route guide and photos. If you want to save a species, it’s a…
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Tramping the Te Pua-a-Tāne Circuit | A Whirinaki Forest Guide
“Whio, whio!” I could hardly believe it. We had been walking for less than two hours, and already my promise of sightings of the nationally vulnerable blue duck was coming true. It was immediately clear why this route is called the Te Pua-a-Tāne Circuit—a name meaning the abundance of Tāne, god of the forest. As…
