I look at maps of the NI from time to time and other then the central volcanoes it all bores me to tears. I consider myself very very lucky to live only 3 hours from Mt Aspiring, Fiordland, and Rakiura national parks :)
Lived most of my life in N.I. and moved to Nelson area in 2000. Can't believe I didn't move sooner! For me at 69 and a bit of a whimp at the really high/hard stuff I find the Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes perfect. Never crowded (have never not been able to sleep in the hut of choice) and can be remote or close depending on choice. When we travelled south a few years ago we found the scale of things around the big stuff too daunting.
I've spent 25 years living in various parts of the NI and have also lived in many parts of the SI. For a semi retirement location that offered great scope for outdoor pursuits I chose Westland and have not regretted that decision. The rain can be intense but a lot of it falls at night so sun shine hours are quite high too. If the wx is bad I catch up on office work or head to Nelson, Marlborough or Canterbury if I'm hanging out for some fine wx.
Taupo, Gisborne, Nelson/Golden Bay, Wanaka, Te Anau/Western Southland and Westland were considered for semi retirement living and Westland came up trumps for a variety of reasons. [we now live in Hokitika & find it great]
I've tramped in both as well and they both have their good points (and bad points). One area I especially like in the NI are the Kaimaniwa's. I spent a lot of time in the area hunting, fishing and tramping while in the Army. Fond memories!
Personally, I am a committed SI tramper: I just love the multiple possibilities on offer and living in Chch it is all only 2-3 hours away.
This post has been edited by the author on 6 May 2015 at 10:58.
grew up tramping and then hunting in the Tararuas, and still enjoy the place 53 years later. have tramped , hunted and works in a fair bit NZ, including a lot in the SI ranges.
Apart from the west coast and fiordland, a lot of the eastern valleys are pretty boring.
the scenery can be spectacular, but endless valleys don't do much for me. Some of the pass trips a enjoyable, but a few are also quite boring.
I'm not a climber, so while the views are nice, getting above the snowline isn't my thing.
The great walks, high use tracks in the south island don't interest me at all, have done some, but the crowds and excessive development put me off. Theres plenty of good scenery elsewhere in the country, without the people.
NI tramping in the Tararuas is different , mostly traversing the tops, , if you want a challenging walk. that brings with it, the difficulties weather, etc bring. certainly the level of fitness needed isn't much different to the south island. Scenery on the tops isn't too bad either.
The Ruahines are a good place to hunt, access is fairly easy so for a tramping experience I don't think they provide the scope that the Tararuas to. Or the challenge.
The west coast is my preference, by far. scenery is most spectacular, and the topography, rivers, scrub and trip opportunities etc provide a better challenge than anywhere else.
However, there are no doubt plenty of challenges in most of our ranges, if you want. Including the bush areas like the te urewera, where I worked for a while.
Like Glenn, Hokitika would be my ideal place to live, for the backcountry opportunities, and the lifestyle.
Oh, I don't know, there is something sweeping and majestic about a East Coast river valley in the SI. It looks boring at first glance but if you spend any amount of time in one you start to notice the diversity of the place.
Some examples: the play of the wind over a tussock covered hill, the subtle color differences of grass depending on how bright the sun is, the sterile immensity of glacial plains...it makes your soul ache!
This post has been edited by the author on 7 May 2015 at 11:43.
Theyre all good, @bradley1. that's why comparisons like this are bit pointless
Comparisons are somewhat pointless I feel. They are very different. I really must do some stuff down in the SI soon. Looks like absolutely stunning country down that way. Of course, I think Ill wait till summer before headin that way!
There are nice spots in both islands, and really it depends what you want I guess. I've had a helluva lot of fun in the waitakere and hunua ranges, small as they are. And stuff like the kaimais can be great fun as well.
Its all good I reckon, just gotta get out!
