Beginners and newbies

Slightly off the subject.I have oft quoted a story about Braden Currie taking his new bride with MTBs from Comyns Hut through to Cookies Point & out to the road ...

Protein powder is a great milk substitute for porridge. One table spoon per packet of instant porridge packet is delicious. Toilet paper minus the roll is minimal weight and space ...

Thanks for all your replies! It's given me more confidence, and we're looking at accommodation in Karamea - seems like a place with a bit of character? (Yurt?) I think the ...

Many thanks for all your comments!

The West Coast is one of the most challenging areas in which to tramp. You mention you haven't been to NZ before, so I suggest being mindful of the difficulty of ...

on great walks, at least 200m from the trail or in designated campsites that you have to book depending on the walk or the time of year on some of ...

I was tossing up if I needed my running shoes or not but will definitely take them now for the road walk. I got an email back from DOC, in case ...

Great walks . You can only camp at designated campsites and aren't supposed to use the huts. Although in severe weather rangers have sometimes relaxed the rules at their discretion. ...

Hi JustMe, Are you still kayaking around the gulf? I have a sit on and also want to do some exploring a bit further afield and looking for someone to go ...

I haven't checked what gets publicised, but the various bylaws have said 500 metres for ages. eg. Heaphy (in Kahurangi): http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2009/0014/latest/whole.html#DLM1679822 Abel Tasman: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2009/0046/latest/whole.html#DLM1890614 Fiordland and Aspiring: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1981/0065/latest/whole.html#DLM73706 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1981/0066/latest/whole.html?search=ts_regulation%40deemedreg_aspiring_resel_25_a&p=1#DLM73753 Tongariro: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1981/0069/latest/whole.html#DLM74154 I'm not sure what's ...

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 :)