Beginners and newbies

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 Routeburn coloured my expectations. There ...

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 the terrain in the area. Below ...

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 them. on fiordland great walks ...

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 anyone wants to know they ...

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 with.

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.legislatio...

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 shower or having a cold ...

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 which can be pitched low. ...

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 on the bottom -- I ...

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 Waiau Pass. We...

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 time in Deep Cove, but ...

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 across anyone who has done ...

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 visible. Frank put in a ...

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 bag just in case. Think I ...

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 with overnight tramps but I've ...