A number of people had recommended the Muller Hut track in Mt Cook. However at this time of year crampons and an ice axe are recommended so it became ruled out for me. However I ventured up the track anyway to see just how far I could get without them! The track starts on the flat … More Leaving one undone
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is home to a lot of mountains! There are 27 mountains over 3050m in New Zealand and 22 of those are here. The highest is Mt Cook at 3755m. In fact it’s the highest in Australasia. It’s name in Maori is Aoraki, meaning Cloud Piercer, seems far more apt than the … More Piercing the clouds
There is something humbling about the weather determining your plans. I have decided that I cannot fight it so instead will embrace it. After a few days with my feet up and my mouth full of cake in Queenstown it was time to get on the move or rather try again to go to Mt … More Many Shades of Grey
I mentioned in my last post about The Routeburn Track that it wasn’t a loop. So it presented a dilema on how I best get back to my car. As it crosses a mountain range to drive back by road would be 250km or I could retrace my steps and do the track in reverse. … More The Long Way Home
Am vertical, back on two feet and away from the cakes on the Routeburn track. It’s another of the group of New Zealand’s Great Walks and deservedly so. At 32km it’s one of the shorter trails in the series but makes up for it in variety. How long you spend on the track is up … More Stretching the legs
The weather has me cooped up indoors for a few days. Snow, rain, wind. Winter has arrived to the South Island and I was beginning to get techy. Although it was a good excuse to visit the coffee shops and restaurants of Queenstown and eat my way around town. Am torn between the passionfruit & lime … More Be yourself
I read an article the other night in a local magazine that debated the merits of hiking alone. Opinions were mixed, safety was a primary concern, or not for some as it can be easily managed with preparation. In the heart of the article was the bigger question, why do we hike? One person interviewed spoke about … More Admiring the little things
It was one of those choices, will I or won’t I? The rain was heavy and not easing, clouds almost touching my ankles and the wind had me bent sideways, do I go on a cruise on Milford Sound? I had already waited a day or two hoping for a change in the weather, but … More Your perspective is everything
I was filing photographs and dwelled on these from the Milford Track that all contain reflections of a sort. I liked that as a theme so here you go………. Took these two early on Day 4 at a spot known as ‘The Boat Shed’ – loved the light There are many lakes and pools … More Reflections
Niamh on Leave 