A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world.
The deluge that dropped last week has caused huge issues with some of the country’s most popular tracks, particularly those at the top of the South Island.
The Abel Tasman Coast Track has been severely affected, with access to the Wainui entrance in the north, Awaroa and Totaranui campground blocked. Walkers from the southern end from Marahau can only get as far as Coquille Bay, though boats can take visitors to other parts of the park.
Parts of Queen Charlotte Track are closed, including from the head of Endeavour Inlet to the head of Big Bay and Black Rock campsite to Torea Saddle.
The Heaphy Track has been further damaged, with a slip preventing people accessing Heaphy Hut from the western side (the section between Heaphy Hut and James Mackay Hut is already closed).
The Paparoa Track, meanwhile, is generally fine, but there’s been a slip on the access road at the Blackball side. Vehicles can’t currently pass this spot, but walkers and cyclists can. Read more here.
Watch rare footage of Everest from above
The stunning shots in the video below were taken by Chinese mountaineers and photographers, who managed to fly a drone from the top of Everest.
The drone they used is known to perform particularly well at high altitudes, and the crew have actually been filming at the world’s highest summit for three years.
Read more here, or watch this video…
In America there’s still a mountain called Swastika
Thankfully though, not for much longer. Swastika Mountain, in Oregon, supposedly got its name from a rancher who would brand his cattle with the notorious symbol in the early 1900s.
Although this was well before the symbol was used by the Nazis, it seems remarkable the name as survived this long. But luckily, there have been proposals to change the name by the end of the year.
The most likely new name is Mt Halo, named after a 19th-century chief known for negotiation and for maintaining his rights to his land. Read more here.
Man accused of hut arson in jail for two years without trial
In 2020 the popular Lake Dive Hut in Taranaki was burnt down causing more than $400,000 of damage. For most of the period since then, Daniel Banks, the man accused of causing the fire has been in jail awaiting trial.
The huge backlog of court cases has delayed proceedings, with the trial not set to start for another three months.
His lawyer is applying for a stay of proceedings, arguing that the delay is unacceptable, that Banks was unlikely to be convicted and that he’s already served a substantial sentence. Read on.
Freedom camping laws could tighten
Those who use a campervan for your tramping trips, take note – the rules on freedom camping on council-managed land might be about to get stricter.
If the Self-contained Motor Vehicle Legislation Bill, introduced by Tourism Minister Stuart Nash, takes effect, it would mean all vehicles on such land would need to be self contained (i.e. have a fixed toilet).
The only exception to this rule would be if the council had deemed a site suitable for non-self contained vehicles.
“Through the process of this work we’ve heard a lot of stories about how those who abuse the Freedom Camping rules place an unfair burden on small communities and damage our reputation as a high-quality visitor destination,” said Nash. Read more here.
Could Whangārei Heads become a regional park?
A former Whangārei District Councillor certainly hopes so. Robin Lieffering has launched efforts to create a new park there to enhance its beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.
It would incorporate around 6000 hectares in an area where conservationists have already managed to bring back the North Island robin / toutouwai and the whitehead /popokatea, and maintain a strong kiwi population.
Whangārei Heads is situated on the eastern coast of Northland, south-east of Whangarei, and the park would include small but impressive peaks like Manaia, as well as Bream Head, which is home to the popular Peach Cove Track and Hut. Read more here.
