Which Walk?

For the North Island I will recommend you look at the Kaimanawa Forest Park, the Pureora Forest Park or the Whirinaki Forest Park. The Kaimanawas is mixed country and the later two are mostly bush. There are good tracks and huts in all of these and they are not too crowded. If you prefer the open country the the Tongariro National Park is good. To avoid crowds I recomment the around Mt Ruapehu trip. This takes about 5 days and has excellent huts. The Tongariro Crossing is good but will be very crowded. If you are going to the south of the South Island, get a copy of Moir's Guide South (Fiordland National Park) and Moirs Guide North (Aspiring National Park. Both these volumes have descriptions trips that are not so crowded. Also this web site is a good resource. There are many excellent trip described here.

Hi there, There is a lot to choose from - I know how you feel! I came over here 5 years ago and used the Lonely Planet Tramping guide to pick 11 tramps and walk them over 3 months. Now I'm hooked and take off tramping whenever I can. Last summer I spent over 2 months just around the Mt Aspiring region, there are endless options and 4 weeks is not very long to see both islands so you have to be super selective. It really depends what you're after - are you into big panoramic views and open travel or dense rain forest? Are you comfortable walking down scree slopes and carrying a tent over high passes? Do you want to stick with loops and avoid back tracking? It all factors in. You can go very high in February, although the weather can turn at any time of year you'll most likely have no problem getting up to the peaks and saddles. But you do need to be comfortable with river crossings, it's hard to avoid at least a few shin level side streams and swollen rivers can sometimes delay your trip. Popular tramps are often popular for good reason. Aside from on the great walks you can always camp and avoid the hordes at the hut whilst taking advantage of good tracks and transport options, it really makes a difference (although be ready for sandflies). Also, "hordes" is subjective - how many people on the track is too many for you? Here's a v.nice one, happy to offer more if you let me know what you're after: Wilkin Valley and Lake Castalia (get a jet boat to Kerin Forks or walk): http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=45173 You can see some of my pics to get a feel for the tracks here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/collections/72157600262818372/

wet boots... Enjoyed your photos of the 5 passes and Lake Nerine. Boy were you lucky with the weather! See some of my pics to lake Nerine ar http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v424/pmcke/Rockburn-Routeburn%20March%202005/?start=all

Thanks, I'm happy over any terrain, and wife is ok over scree and some scrambling. But draw the line before ropes and climbing, she doesn't have the balance for that. Fairly strong ascender. As for water, mud and rivers .....never out of the ruddy things here !! The countryside doesn't matter, we appreciate everything, she loves flora & fauna and I love mountains, wherever we tramp we find something good - so I guess a bit of both, we will never be disapointed. Just don't want trails like roads and crowded campsites and huts. But very happy for some good like minded company. Circular or linear have to be favourite, rather than 'out and back'. We are fine up high and climbing, but due to minimum gear we can't be equipped for long high level walks above snowline. I gather that in NZ there is still snow etc. on some in Feb? This would be silly of us to compromise our safety, especially as I believe the weather changes rapidly. We are fine with a short high level crossing, but don't want to be caught out or benighted in snow and blizzards without suitable equipment, I want to leave the country having been a responsible walker, not an idiot!! If I have space I may also pack my Laserlight solo tent, look to a 'fast and light' (running/walking) trek on my own, any recomendations on S.Island? Needless to say, anyone comeing to Wales and wanting help, feel free to contact me. Matt.

Sounds like you are very flexible with the tramping environment so really it's a case of fitting in the tracks around the other sightseeing places you want to get to. An awful lot of people come to NZ with a car and presume they can cover the whole lot in a month but it's bigger than you'd think and if you want to spend more time out of the car than in it you really have to pick a few places to focus on and leave the others out, resisting the urge to "check them off". Here's a few ideas for the S.Island (Clockwise from Christchurch): Google them and let me know if they sound right for you. Ease into into it with Banks Peninsula Drive and Day walk. Pretty place. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/562317295/in/set-72157600384645619/ Kaikoura seal swim and peninsula walk. Much better than dolphin swim or whale watch in my opinion. http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiestompy/2303471310/ Lake Angelus and Sunset Saddle (St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes N.P). Mix of track and route. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/512682342/in/set-72157600262640806/ Inland Pack Track, caves and Punakaiki Pancake Rocks (Punakaiki). But good chance of rain. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/512676499/in/set-72157600262440240/ Helicopter ride (and free glow worms) (Fox Glacier). Or sky dive, I hear it's great! http://www.flickr.com/photos/southnz/2124607322/ Many short walks between Haast and Makarora (So I've heard), Wilkin North Branch (there and back) or Gillespie Pass (loop) (Makarora), http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/517482319/in/set-72157600275836118/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/517457030/in/set-72157600275836118/ Cascade Saddle (linear, joins Matukituki near Wanaka with Dart near Glenorchy/Queenstown). Amazing but quite steep ascent. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/2238173052/in/set-72157603838599732/ Many nice short walks around Glenorchy and lots of bigger options, Glenorchy is a tramping hub (love it!). If you are keen enough and experienced enough the Five Passes or Lake Nerine routes are knock-out but not to be taken lightly, Manapouri Garnock Burn tracks (Fjordland N.P) a short, hidden gem. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/2285486274/in/set-72157603967852961/ If time and money allow: Mason Bay from Doughboy Bay, Stuart Island (Plane and boat ride) Truly wild and good chance of seeing Kiwi, http://www.flickr.com/photos/22233635@N00/562775356/in/set-72157600386401413/ Just to name a few. I also like Kahurangi and Arthurs Pass NPs but they are harder to fit in. Reading around is key. Cheers pmcke, I like your photos too. The weather last summer was unbelievable eh?

Many thanks for all that Wet Boots, That looks great and I'll check out all the links when I have a moment next week. Just packing for the weekend. Running in Welsh mountains Saturday and mountainbiking Sunday - Jane has a 30 mile walk Saturday. But I'm still shattered from a hard week in N. Spain (picos de europa), first time I have ever been at any altitude (up to 8000ft) and I found - trying to - run hard really stuffed me !! Matt.