A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world.

The popular Hooker Valley Track in Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park has been closed after heavy rainfall over Easter weekend.

The Department of Conservation said the second bridge on the track was already suffering from riverbank erosion and with the rain at Easter and the prospect of more heavy rain and snow this winter, it has decided to close the bridge permanently.

DOC Aoraki/Mount Cook operations manager Sally Jones said while it’s disappointing to have to close the bridge, public safety was DOC’s number one priority.

How long the track would be closed for was not yet known, but Jones said the walk would be shut until access to the lower part of the track was secured and a new suspension bridge was built.

Jones said the new bridge was a significant investment in the long-term resilience of the Hooker Valley Track. Once complete, it will be the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the country.

The Hooker Valley Track is used by around half a million visitors annually and is the most popular visitor attraction in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Read the full story from Stuff and see the press release from DOC.

‘Obscene’ amount of poo on Southland walkway prompts warning of canine ban

Department of Conservation rangers say dog poo left behind on Southland’s Foveaux Walkway has reached “obscene” levels and dogs may be excluded unless things improve.

The walkway, which is part of the Te Araroa Trail and attracts hundreds of visitors daily, follows the Motupōhue/Bluff coastline to a lookout point. DOC acting Murihiku operations manager Jono Airey said sogs were allowed on the track, as long as they are on a lead, he said.

“Dogs are doing what dogs do, but unfortunately their owners are leaving their dogs’ faeces behind in this precious place. It’s a long-term issue, and it’s getting worse.”

Airey said track maintenance was now a “dangerous, disgusting job” for rangers.

“They return covered from head to toe in dog excrement thrown about by scrub-cutters. They even wear face shields to protect themselves. You wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

If things did not improve, dogs would have to be excluded from the track network in Bluff.

Bins for the excrement were not an option as they encouraged fly tipping and illegal dumping, as well as requiring maintenance DOC could not resource.

“People tramping in our backcountry carry out human rubbish and waste to protect our natural environments, so we’re sure visitors to the urban Foveaux Walkway can manage the much easier job of cleaning up after their dogs.”

DOC would monitor the situation before making further decisions on access. Read more from 1 News.

New 42km trail on the NSW coast weaves through ancient rainforest, volcanic mountains and spectacular waterfalls

A spectacular new walking trail has been unveiled on the NSW North Coast. The Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk weaves a spectacular 42-kilometre path through the ancient Gondwanan rainforest and volcanic landscapes of the Tweed Byron Hinterland.

The walk connects Mount Jerusalem National Park and Nightcap National Park via the Whian Whian State Conservation Area and is the latest addition to NSW’s growing collection of Great Walks.

The four-day, three-night walk offers hikers a chance to explore plunging waterfalls and towering trees, as well as take in sweeping views of the Tweed caldera mountains. It also highlights the region’s rich biodiversity. 

The trail also boasts three newly built campgrounds, each fitted out with 11 elevated sleeping platforms. There’s also a shuttle service available for transfers from nearby towns and airports. Read more from Concrete Playground.

Three tips to get back to hiking after having a baby

Lauren Matison writing for Backpacker highlights some of the most important tips for how to safely get back on the trail after having a baby.

The first is to shift your perspective. Brooke Froelich, co-founder of Wild Kind, a community for adventurous moms in Colorado says, “Instead of expecting to immediately return to pre-pregnancy activity and ability, I had to learn to shift my mindset to love being outside, for the sake of being outside.” 

Regardless of the kind of delivery you had, or how fit your postpartum body may seem, consider taking a more sensitive approach to exercise.

The second is to set realistic goals and ease back into activity. You’ve had a growing bowling ball of a baby sitting on top of your pelvis for months. This rapid increase and the pressure on muscles, joints, and bones to withstand the load can quickly turn into overload.

Thirdly, try not to play the comparison game. Dr. Katherine Koch, an orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapist says, “Everybody has had a different pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum support. Listen to your body; you do you.” 

The hut bagger trying to visit every hut

Intrepid backcountry explorer Benjamin Piggott is on a mission to visit every DOC hut in the country. So far, he’s been to 548 and has around 500 more to go.

He visited his first huts in the Tararua Ranges in his youth. Now in his late twenties, Benjamin is a Department of Conservation asset inspector and gets paid to maintain key DOC infrastructure. This means he’s able to visit huts and ensure they’re in good condition for fellow trampers around New Zealand.

Listen to his full interview with RNZ about his mission.