Tramping New Zealand:
Feb 10 to March 2: 2018
150 some miles.
Well the actual logistics of how this trip got booked is for some other time..
Many books, Movies, some shows on Discovery / Nation Geographic normally (though unknowingly ) create an image of some destination in your minds. After watching Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Narnia there is that sense of adventure that lurks in everyone, how that place would be and how would it feel to trace the paths or for that matter tramp in those surroundings. Well, it did happen, ten some days of tramping in southern parts with really fit and fun group. Guides were really great they must have received feedback already.
Given it was long journey went just a day ahead and explored a bit in and around Christchurch, driving in New Zealand was nice. Akaroa is a beautiful place to explore marine life and glad could get entry last minute, very people friendly place and many walks to do around.
Well everyone can read through the itinerary, REI did a nice job for hiking in New Zealand Southern Alps. Pictures link is already up and shared with group and coordinator 4th march. Just checked all emails and digital media after getting back as always.Though many individuals visit the place and many in your group, everyone has different perspective on same thing.
Highlights: Feb 14 - 23
Every single trek is different from other and one gets to explore or get a glimpse of different parts of the country.We got to experience all weather patterns, right from effects of cyclone Gita, sun, rain, winds, snow a real New Zealand all weather experience. Layer up and enjoy the beauty of the place.
Views atop Peak hill & the farmers crossing & the book
Wandering the hills around Rex Simpson Hut & running to make sure its a rock and not a goat :), Getting water from water holes, finding wildlife around, running on some paths, watching rain clouds rolling in and sunset. Night sky with millions of stars. Wind gusts at Erica pass while climbing Beuzenberg peak, bush walk that followed was nice skip the holes game.
Walking through honey coated tree forest and heavy gusts at Mt.Somers, local school group landed here for English outdoors class, kind of interesting concept to get kids interested in outdoors, get some real hardy workout and learn, some individuals were honing their canyoneering skills on rope way.
Besides Tasman Glacier, Hooker valley, Red tarns the Governor's bush was enjoyable way to learn
more about native plants and saved forest. Sir Edmond Hillary Museum is really good and always makes you wonder how did these incredible individuals did these things.
Wanaka lake walk with rolling hills was a nice change to climbing. The beach is nice.
Skippers canyon is a beautiful place and the jet boat ride was a thing, post that the hike feels like real walk in Lord of the rings surroundings, really nice by the edge of the cliffs. Have we ever wondered how the goats reach some places. Its a beautiful walk and the snow on surrounding mountains, wet pathways make it even more interesting. Nice place.
Stay at Ben Lomond lodge, never knew farmer's newspaper is real cool thing, special mention to piano sessions and hospitality of individuals with really beautiful stay. The trek to Ben Lamond peak was fun thing in snow and walking in slush, snow, melting waterways which got formed.
Not using poles can provide real test to one's leg strength & it was nice to have that challenge on purpose. There was just one small section climbing Ben Lomond peak from base to top, as quite a bit of snow with sudden change of weather posed some challenge when used one from Michelle as a precautionary thing, thanks ( to be more specific I had taken mine from Seattle but left them in bag and we all were also offered by guides but didn't take them, that was intentional)
For the land mass not that much wild life, place has lot of sheeps, cows, some horses, besides had never seen before extent to which red deer farming happens. Finding and seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is a real great way to see them, the seals, Hector's dolphins ( conservation is promoted for them), Penguins, Kiwi bird (conservation for them too ), was lucky to find and see many birds in their natural environment right from Tui, Kea, Kaka,Weka, Pukeko, Wood peagons & many others . It was nice when Kea follows you and then sits on your car and wouldn't even move no matter what.
Many Possum traps on the trails.
Besides the removals of introduced or invasive plants, there are wide variety of ferns in area and very different from one another. Silver fern is the known one with silver on backside of leaf and only grows in northern parts, Kauri are another type trees native and can grow really tall. The redwood forest is really nicely maintained.
The wall arts and mural displays are neat and one can find them right from Christchurch streets to Giant's house to one town dedicated for murals.
In season fruits & vegetables taste really good.There are many places in garden where how to grow
vegetables and other things is taught to kids and produce is distributed among caretakers.
For an outdoor enthusiast there are many things to do, more in part 2 , exploring bit of Northern side and some other things.
Instagram gallery 1:-
Instagram gallery 2:-
Newzealnd Part 1 Photogallery
New Zealand: Part 2
Fri 2 March: Just landed Friday afternoon & it was nice to be part of appreciating efforts of Individuals and their recognition ceremony. Congrats to all of them once again & it was great knowing many other amazing things they do.
Feb 10 to March 2: 2018
150 some miles.
Well the actual logistics of how this trip got booked is for some other time..
Many books, Movies, some shows on Discovery / Nation Geographic normally (though unknowingly ) create an image of some destination in your minds. After watching Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Narnia there is that sense of adventure that lurks in everyone, how that place would be and how would it feel to trace the paths or for that matter tramp in those surroundings. Well, it did happen, ten some days of tramping in southern parts with really fit and fun group. Guides were really great they must have received feedback already.
Given it was long journey went just a day ahead and explored a bit in and around Christchurch, driving in New Zealand was nice. Akaroa is a beautiful place to explore marine life and glad could get entry last minute, very people friendly place and many walks to do around.
Well everyone can read through the itinerary, REI did a nice job for hiking in New Zealand Southern Alps. Pictures link is already up and shared with group and coordinator 4th march. Just checked all emails and digital media after getting back as always.Though many individuals visit the place and many in your group, everyone has different perspective on same thing.
Highlights: Feb 14 - 23
Every single trek is different from other and one gets to explore or get a glimpse of different parts of the country.We got to experience all weather patterns, right from effects of cyclone Gita, sun, rain, winds, snow a real New Zealand all weather experience. Layer up and enjoy the beauty of the place.
Wandering the hills around Rex Simpson Hut & running to make sure its a rock and not a goat :), Getting water from water holes, finding wildlife around, running on some paths, watching rain clouds rolling in and sunset. Night sky with millions of stars. Wind gusts at Erica pass while climbing Beuzenberg peak, bush walk that followed was nice skip the holes game.
Walking through honey coated tree forest and heavy gusts at Mt.Somers, local school group landed here for English outdoors class, kind of interesting concept to get kids interested in outdoors, get some real hardy workout and learn, some individuals were honing their canyoneering skills on rope way.
more about native plants and saved forest. Sir Edmond Hillary Museum is really good and always makes you wonder how did these incredible individuals did these things.
Wanaka lake walk with rolling hills was a nice change to climbing. The beach is nice.
Stay at Ben Lomond lodge, never knew farmer's newspaper is real cool thing, special mention to piano sessions and hospitality of individuals with really beautiful stay. The trek to Ben Lamond peak was fun thing in snow and walking in slush, snow, melting waterways which got formed.
For the land mass not that much wild life, place has lot of sheeps, cows, some horses, besides had never seen before extent to which red deer farming happens. Finding and seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is a real great way to see them, the seals, Hector's dolphins ( conservation is promoted for them), Penguins, Kiwi bird (conservation for them too ), was lucky to find and see many birds in their natural environment right from Tui, Kea, Kaka,Weka, Pukeko, Wood peagons & many others . It was nice when Kea follows you and then sits on your car and wouldn't even move no matter what.
Many Possum traps on the trails.
Besides the removals of introduced or invasive plants, there are wide variety of ferns in area and very different from one another. Silver fern is the known one with silver on backside of leaf and only grows in northern parts, Kauri are another type trees native and can grow really tall. The redwood forest is really nicely maintained.
The wall arts and mural displays are neat and one can find them right from Christchurch streets to Giant's house to one town dedicated for murals.In season fruits & vegetables taste really good.There are many places in garden where how to grow
For an outdoor enthusiast there are many things to do, more in part 2 , exploring bit of Northern side and some other things.
Instagram gallery 2:-
Newzealnd Part 1 Photogallery
New Zealand: Part 2
Fri 2 March: Just landed Friday afternoon & it was nice to be part of appreciating efforts of Individuals and their recognition ceremony. Congrats to all of them once again & it was great knowing many other amazing things they do.
