Category Archives: GPS Tracks

35. Kepler Track Walk-On

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Kepler Track: Te Anau – snowline and back: 29.6 km
Steamers Beach
Saturday, March 9: Cloudy at first, clearing, with a weaker wind
GPS Tour
Youtube Video
Lake Te Anau redux. Tree on the right has taken a bit of a hit, and the perspective has changed a little, but eminently recognisable

Lake Te Anau redux. Tree on the right has taken a bit of a hit, and the perspective has changed a little, but eminently recognisable

Consulting the maps this morning revealed that the row to the Monument might take longer than expected, so I chose the Kepler Walk-On instead, meaning to go all the way from Te Anau as far as I could, but starting as early as possible, rather than at one in the afternoon. Went to the DoC, booked my transfers and picked up my tickets for the Milford Track tomorrow, and was ready to go by 10:00.

On the way to the control point I teamed up with a young Japanese nurse, Yoya, and got on well with her for the rest of the day. Continue reading →

33. Dore’s Pass, Lake Marian

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Steamers Beach
Thursday, March 7: Cloudy for most of the day, sun in the evening
GPS Tour
Marian Falls

Marian Falls

Was on the road a little after 9:00 and found the beginning of the route just after 10:00. Parked the car at Smithys Creek campsite, applied sufficient DEET, and started off hopefully down the road. Crossing the river was the least part of the problem – it was only knee-deep, but very cold. The real problem was hiking up the creek – small rocks and pebbly beaches giving rise to boulders and becoming steeper the further up the mountain I proceeded. After about an hour of this I decided to call it a day, as there was no way I was going to repeat this with a full pack and possibly less time. At least the boots got a good wash. This would probably only be a good idea with someone who had done it before and knew which turn to take at the top of the mountain, although you will still have to be very desperate to try it. Continue reading →

31. Wanaka – Cromwell – Queenstown

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Southern Laughter, 4 Isle St. $50 double as single, room only
Tuesday, March 5: Very sunny and warm with a bit of cloud turning up during the afternoon
GPS Tour

Was off to the DoC at around 10:00 this morning to see what I could do in or around Mt Aspiring. Unfortunately there had been an issue with security at the end of the road carpark, and there being no surveillance, my plans for doing the Rob Roy at least were quashed. Decided I would go down to the end of the road anyway, if not to walk, then to be in the company of the mountains. I had been warned that the road was a little “juddery”. Turned out it was completely shot to bits, so not much chance of risking the car for those 30 kms. Went back to the Rocky Mountain/Lake Diamond/Lake Wanaka views car park and marched up the hill from there. Continue reading →

30. Greymouth – Hokitika – Ross – Glaciers – Haast – Wanaka

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Aspiring Campervan Park, 263 Studholme Rd, $65 for kitchen cabin
Monday, March 4: Cloudy at first, short rain bursts and some drizzle near the glaciers, clearing
GPS Tour

Was up bright and early and down into town to solve the “hot shoe/quick release” problem. The Kodak place did have one, but not the right size. Dick Smith had an ultra light tripod which automatically unfolds (0.6 kg) but was nearly $60 so I opted for the cheapest one from the Warehouse. Not bad, has two spirit levels and is quite tall so that I can stand, rather than stoop, crouch or squat, while using it. Continue reading →

28. Abel Tasman Coastal Track 4 – Marahau (water taxi) – Murchison

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Whariwharangi – Totaranui (12.1 km)
Riverview Holiday Park, Riverview Rd, Murchison. $25 (+ $4 for a shower) for single standard cabin, required bedding
Saturday, March 2: Cloudy at first, increasing into the afternoon & then becoming fine
GPS Tour
Youtube Video

The first signs of dawn activity were at about 7:00, which was early enough. I got all the rest of my things together and was ready to go by 8:30. Robin and Shirley were off to their carpark and then to the Heaphy (70 L packs, they must have been carrying everything), and as Will & Kelly were going over Gibbs Hill, I asked them to keep an eye out for my tripod adapter. Then all set to work on their tracks. Continue reading →

27. Abel Tasman Coastal Track 3

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Awaroa – Whariwharangi (17.8 km)
Friday, March 1: Cloudy at first, clouding over then clearing in the course of the afternoon
GPS Tour
Youtube Video

Alarms went off on the dot of 6:00 and as I had gotten some sleep due to the relative paucity of snorers I was up fairly soon after the first ones.

Awaroa Crossing in the early morning

Awaroa Crossing in the early morning

The estuary was fairly clear of water and a number of people were already on their way across by the time I was ready to go, including some people going down the estuary to look for an easier passage (rather than up which would have been more promising). Continue reading →

26. Abel Tasman Coastal Track 2

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Bark Bay – Awaroa (14.2 km)
Thursday, February 28: Sunny all the day, a couple of clouds in the afternoon
GPS Tour
Youtube Video 1, Videos 2 & 3

Was awoken by some giggle girls at around 6:30 who were throwing billies around. Had my breakfast, washed and was keeping an eye on the lagoon to see when water might be entering it. A girl asked to use my gas can which I gave her; then I discovered an abandoned one on one of the aluminium benches, which we swapped when she returned mine. Packed up all my stuff except the camera and then headed across the still dry lagoon for today’s shoot. Continue reading →

25. Abel Tasman Coastal Track 1

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Marahau – Bark Bay (26.1 km)
Wednesday, February 27: Cloudy in the morning with a touch of drizzle, becoming clear and sunny in the course of the day
GPS Tour
Youtube Video

Was up before 7:00 to shower and pack what remained. Breakfast was unusually well populated today, and I left behind what remained of milk and bread.

Then it was time to collect the key deposit and get on the road to Marahau. Fairly slow going because of the built-up areas, and going the other way was rush hour into town and long queues. Stopped off at a supermarket in Motueka for some odd supplies and arrived in Marahau just before 10:00 at the place I had chosen for the water taxi back, bought my ticket, parked the Flying Spaghetti Monster in the long term carpark, and started walking pretty much on the dot of 10:00. Continue reading →

23. Blenheim – Nelson

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The Palace Backpackers, 114 Rutherford St., Nelson. $56, spacious, very Victorian room with iron bedstead
Monday, February 25: Cloudy at first, becoming hot & sunny
GPS Tour
Wither Hills, drought withered, from ridge track to Mt Vernon

Wither Hills, drought withered, from ridge track to Mt Vernon

I seem to have got this organising thing under control – although it’s a lot of bags, small bags and even sub-bags. Took off down to the supermarket first thing for bread, milk and some sausage for lunch, then after breakfast acquired a BBH card. The telephone card costs 30c a minute from public telephones in addition to the 2.9c for the call, and that’s about as good as it gets. Continue reading →

22. Kaikoura – Blenheim

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The Grapevine Backpackers, 29 Park Terrace, Blenheim, $56
Sunday, February 24: Sunny throughout
GPS Tour
Kaikoura South Beach in all its glory.

Kaikoura South Beach in all its glory.

Was off just after 9:00 this morning and wanted to do the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway again, so I parked on the Esplanade & started from there. Lovely day for the walk and the tide was low again, so I also redid the panorama. Plenty of seals about and I’m afraid at times I could neither keep the 10 m safety distance nor avoid cutting the critters off from their escape route. Continue reading →