By Ali Middleton Victoria Domain is a prominent recreation reserve in Waitohi/Picton. Within its 200ha are over 30km of walking and mountain biking tracks providing spectacular views over Picton,…
At Island Gully Hut, the track leads through chest-high tussock and drops down the first bank towards the Wairau River. Stay on the true right of the Wairau, but…
We had picked our route from Island Gully Hut to a tarn below the summit of Mt Dora almost at random. We could find little information about the area…
My affliction is this: put a map before my eyes and I am lost. Not lost in the sense that I cannot find my way, but lost in my…
Mt Fell Hut is situated on the bushline, 1 km south of Mt Fell summit (1602 m), just below an alpine meadow. It’s well worth heading up to this…
From Gladstone Downs, head up the Hodder River. The narrow ravine cuts through steep, broken hinterland, hemmed in by vertiginous, crumbling walls that rise to a slash of blue…
Use a 4WD to gain access to the Branch River. Go as far as you can (the author of this trip made it as far as May Stream). Carry on…
A look at the topo map will reveal something of the character of the Paske Valley: several high peaks, nudging over 2000m, large rolling expanses of sub-alpine grasslands, and…
Directly south of Paske Hut stands Turk Ridge, a high rugged dividing range between the Paske and upper Wairau, which has several crossing points at high cols to the…
This is the easiest route into Paske Hut as it involves no high climbs, however a high clearance 4WD vehicle is required to reach the Rainbow River along the…
An option from off the Wairau-Hanmer Springs Hydro Road is to park at Island Gully Hut and tramp up the Wairau River and cross over Turk Ridge at the…
Sawcut Gorge is an area of spectacular gorges and dense forested terrain which has become an increasingly popular destination in recent years. Fine, warm weather is a prerequisite for…
On an outgoing tide, follow an unmarked route along the coastline to the first point of interest at Mussel Point, where the London Hills fault enters Cook Strait. Carry…
Take dun Mountain Walkway to Windy Point from where you can take a shortcut to Rocks Hut by dropping down to Collins Creek. This will save an hour or…
This route to Rocks Hut also takes in a diversion to Dun Mountain (1129m), one of the highest hills in the Bryant Range. Take the Dun Mountain Walkway to…
The track ascends from the car park in Victoria Domain through regenerating native forest to a viewpoint about halfway along the track. The trail is broad and the views…
The Mount Richmond Forest Park is often considered a poor cousin to Abel Tasman, but for a quick trip close to home, Lake Chalice Hut is hard to beat.…