In recent times I have learnt much about glaciers. I have many new words in my vocabulary, moraine, firn, blue ice, ablation zones, glacial flour…….. Then I came across this Maori explanation at Franz Joseph Glacier and decided I preferred that instead! The early Maori knew Franz Joseph as Ka Rominate o Hine Hukatere (Tears … More Frozen Tears
What a difference a day makes, or in this case 2. I took these photographs 2 days apart at the same time each morning! Ok I will stop talking about the weather, but seriously, if anybody is planning a trip to New Zealand, prepare to be flexible with your plans as they may change a … More What a difference a day makes
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
I have struggled somewhat with this post. My original intent was to share my experience of the remainder of the Milford Track hike with you. However this week a hiker has died on the track after getting swept away on a river crossing. Knowing this happened within days of me being in the same place has … More Milford Track
Once described as the finest walk in the world, the Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular walks, with approximately 14,000 people completing the track each year and I am now one of them. Throughout the Great Walks season, the track is heavily regulated. There is a maximum of 90 walkers per day … More Alone in the woods
Niamh on Leave 