Mataketake and more, Westcoast, 5 Jan 2026

My plan was to explore lesser known areas of the Westcoast, plus some old favourites over 2 weeks. We had to cut it short because of west coast rains. On the 4th, Steve and Astrid met at the very scenic Cameron Flat DoC camp, opposite Blue Pools Walk....

Wangapeka Track, Kahurangi NP, 27 Dec 2025

After much consternation over the weather and the Dart Ford levels this trip went ahead one day later than planned with 9 trampers setting out from Rolling River at 8.50 for Stone Hut, our first stop on a 5 day adventure through to the West Coast. We...

Matariki long weekend to Fenella Hut, Kahurangi NP, 20 June 2025

The Friday drive to the road end in the Cobb was muddy up the recently regraded road from the power station. Damp and moody weather welcomed the trampers as they set off up the valley heading to a picnic lunch outside Chaffey Hut. We were lucky that...

Discovering D’Urville Island, King’s Birthday Weekend, 30 May-1 June 2025

D’Urville Island is the largest island in the Marlborough Sounds. It is steep and rugged and is the remains of a mountain range with the sea flooding all the valleys as the land slowly sinks under the sea. As a result it has a spectacular coastline,...

Abel Tasman Inland Crossover

Being a crossover tramp, I had planned to have at least 3 people in each party, which, at some stage, we did have. Then, some had to pull out for various reasons and I was close to cancelling the trip, as obviously the Inland track does not appear to...