The track along Pinnacle Spur has to be one of the roughest in the Tararua. Photo: Sam Harrison

Gripping the bannister

Features, Off the Beaten Track

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Sam Harrison

Sam Harrison is a chocolate addict who tramps on the side and can’t resist a bit of type II fun.

By Sam Harrison

The famed Bannister Crossing involves steep ascents, slippery descents and harrowing traverses above incised gorges and along narrow ridges. Which is to say, it’s the perfect adventure tramp.

The sidle route along the Waingawa River’s true right, as it slithers through a deep and treacherous gorge separating Pukeamoamo Mitre from the rocky pinnacle of Bannister, has been called the worst track in the Tararua. To the north, the range is known for its narrow ridgeline and rocky steps. What better challenge to entice […]

About the author

Sam Harrison

Sam Harrison is a chocolate addict who tramps on the side. When he’s not in the bush he can be found pushing paper for a government department in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Sam graduated from the University of Otago in 2021 with a Bachelor of Law, a Bachelor of Arts, a large student loan and a love of all things tramping. He is easily identified in the hills by his oversized camera and his distinctive knack for finding type II fun.