Beginners and newbies

Thanks for the feedback. We will have a non self-contained campervan, so I think that we will alternate between simple DOC campsites on the days we dont mind skipping a ...

You might be able to zip 2 sleeping bags together. This would make extra room that accommodates an infant. Another way of lightening your load is to use a tarp ...

Thank-you for the detailed advice. I will definitely check out your recommendations.

Thanks for the analysis bernieq, will bear that in mind. The mats look pretty new so perhaps they do have a reflective layer in them. I'll try with the foam ...

Yeah, me too haha!

Hi twilly, I can certainly vouch for the trip that pageix referred to: https://tramper.nz/5343/waiau-clarence-pass-lake-tennyson-circuit/ as a challenging but slightly less committing alternative that still gets you to Blue Lake and ...

G'day Chris. I'm currently based in Te Anau/Manapouri. Want to catch up and have a chat about local options? PM me if you're keen. I work 7 days at a ...

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I ended up taking the conservative decision of postponing. We'll hopefully find a good weekend to go in the coming weeks. Thanks Andrew

It's arrived! But I'm using up the gelatine first. Frank has got mild osteoporosis and collagen forms the framework for bone tissue so he's keen to use it as well.

Anyway...naughty me. Back to hydrolised collagen. @waynowski: can you recommend a particular brand? This info may be helpful for other clapped-out old trampers too.

Thank you izogi I will certainly hang out there occasionally to get some ideas. I looked at some blogs of people who have done it but so far haven't come ...

Ah, Peach Cove hut. I helped to build that with the Whangarei Tramping Club back in the 60s (before the endless flights of steps were thought of.) Good memories.

Occasionally there is non-permolat venetian blind used. We found a stash and took it home one time. Frank and I use a combination of red/white permolats sometimes. They are extremely ...

Have an Aarn pack at present, doesn't or at least has't caused me any grief with wet gear as yet. Still like to have some things in their own dry ...

OK thanks, that's what I thought :)

I second Militaris words. A lot of good trips in Mt Richmond forest park in general. May be some snow but not the Avalanche risk of the Travers-Sabine.

For new people to the site who may have missed it. The website has a track finder function https://tramper.nz/?view=tracks

Hi everyone, I just flew into Christchurch (Canadian here) and solo traveling around the country for 5 weeks and I want to do some tramping. I don't have any experience ...

theres an awful lot of vertical terrain between lake roberts and sunny creek... you need good visibility around there or you'll just get bluffed in or walk off one... danilo's photos ...

http://m.metservice.com/mtns

No, not mad at all. I do plenty of sea kayaking from Auckland's eastern coast, a tad further south from Bucklands Beach/Howick. Indeed I kayaked over and camped at Motutapu ...

Embarrasingly I've donated a fair few gas cannisters to Hamilton airport in the last few years. Do not know why I show up to the airport with them, but, I keep ...

"professional tramper forum" Enthusiastic and wealth of knowledge yes professional not really. There are a couple of people that combine there tramping with there profession but most of us are just tramping ...

Smith City clearance sale this weekend. Near half-price on Ridgeline Apache boots & assorted Hi-Tecs (including Rainier eVent) :) http://scottishmountaineer.com/hi-tec-rainier-event/ http://scottishmountaineer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MTP6436.jpg

They take them out when they've nearly completed their sentences. So they have nothing to gain by doing a runner.