Well, after more than two years of trying to get a guided hiking business off the ground in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, I’ve decided to call it quits. It seems there is no interest in hiking in this part of the world, which is a great pity, as some of the better hikes in the country can be found here.  I’ve given it a go, and I’ve learned so much through it, so no regrets, and very grateful for the experience.

Does this mean the end of me guiding hikes? No way, bro – just means I won’t be charging for it! Because of my love and passion for the back country and bush, it gives me a great deal of satisfaction to take people into the hills and mountains just for the joy of it, and not for the money, which was always secondary. However, as a business, profit has to be the main focus, and I couldn’t keep on putting cash into the business without some sort of return.

So, where to from here? Well, the website will NOT be disappearing, but will be transformed into a public forum on hiking and tramping in Hawke’s Bay – from Wairoa to Woodville, and everywhere in-between. Aspiring writers will be able to submit their articles on anything to do with hiking & tramping for publishing, and together we’ll make it a unique place for everyone into the outdoors in this part of the world. Down, but not out!

Also, if you’re passing through Hawke’s Bay, and have a few spare days, flick us an email or a message if you’d like to go for a wander in the hills – can’t promise I’ll always be available, but the likelihood of me connecting you with someone else who is, is very good. Not so good with English? Wir sprechen Deutsch, wij spreken Nederlands, ons praat Afrikaans, yo hablar Espanol (un poco!).

See ya

Dan

Greetings to our cousins across the ditch, especially readers of Australian Geopgraphic Outdoors! This is a blatantly unashamed punt at Aussies, to ask for comments and suggestions as to what you’d look for, recreationally speaking, from a visit or holiday in New Zealand.

We know that more and more are flocking to Queenstown, mainly for the skiing and snow I presume, but New Zealand is so much more than just Queenstown. Hawke’s Bay has so much to offer, so it’d be great to get a feeling for what might tempt you to visit this part of NZ.

Have a look at one of my earlier blogs on Waipukurau, which gives just a few of the activities available. Check out some of the links on my website for more information. Then feel free (please?) to send me a comment or suggestion.

Some news – the main runway at Napier airport is being lengthened to take jet aircraft, so direct flights from Aussie should be available in about a year’s time, if not sooner. In the meantime, the nearest international airport to us is Wellington, with numerous connections every day to Napier. Alternatively, why not hire a car in Wellington, and drive up via Masterton and the Wairarapa district?  Some funky and interesting towns en route make that a trip seriously worth considering. Another option is to fly into Rotorua, hire a car to drive down to Wellington via Taupo and Hawke’s Bay, flying back to Aussie out of Wellington. If you’d like some further trip suggestions, happy to help out – just ask.

So, comments and suggestions, anyone?

Cheers

Dan

Is there such a thing? Yet this is what our current National government is trying to sell to the electorate in the name of economic growth, future prosperity, employment opportunities, and just plain jealousy of our cousins across the ditch in Australia. It’s been an ongoing and heated debate in New Zealand over the last while, and for those who don’t know the background, there are estimated to be over NZ$60 billion worth of mineral riches estimated to be locked up underground in our National and Conservation parks. As New Zealand is economically lagging behind Australia, mainly because of its mining-based prosperity and wealth, we are seen as poor cousins who always need to keep up, or strive to catch up, with them. Another factor is because so many Kiwi’s are moving to Oz because of higher salaries, lower taxes, etc, etc. So, let’s jump on the mining bandwagon, boys, and we’ll catch up to them as a result.

At what cost? New Zealand has already lost over 80% of its original forest cover as a result of man’s influence, and just can’t afford to lose even 1 acre more. So many of its unique indiginous flora and fauna species are threatened or endangered, but to our glorious leaders in their unmatched wisdom, the end justifies the means, and some conservation values, principles and treasures will just be collateral damage. If they are allowed to proceed with this, what’s next? What will happen to our clean, green image? There are many alternatives to mining, and these should be explored first. We don’t need to strive to catch up with Oz – it’ll never happen anyway. We don’t have an unemployment problem, even with the current recession. We have a unique, wonderful lifestyle that is the envy of many in other parts of the world, and this is what we should be promoting and celebrating. Material wealth and riches are not the answer.

“Environmentally responsible” and “mining” are terms that don’t belong in the same sentence, and are irreconcilable, in my view. This grossly irresponsible notion of the government should be resolutely opposed and resisted, and I hope opinion polls and the ballot box will persuade them one way or the other.

Recently we and a group of friends visited Maungatautari, a nature reserve in the Waikato are of New Zealand. What’s so amazing about this place is that it is an ancient, extinct volcano, which has been surrounded with a 47km-long pest-proof fence. New Zealand’s fauna and flora is very susceptible to predation by introduced species such as the Australian brush-tailed possum, rats, feral cats, mice, etc, all of which have had a huge adverse impact on native species.

We stayed at an awesome guest lodge, Out in the Styx, near the town of Putaruru. They arranged for a bus to take us and other hikers to the northern side of the mountain, where the track starts, and 5.5 hours later we arrived back at the lodge, conveniently situated at the end of the track.

Within the main reserve, two smaller fenced enclosures exist, where endangered species being re-introduced to the reserve are left to acclimatise before being released into the main reserve. We saw a pair of native Takahe, two of only 300 of these very interesting birds left in the world! Anyone who’s interested in conservation would learn a lot from this reserve, well worth a visit. They also run a breeding programme for kiwi, as well as several other species.

The Out in the Styx owners are very involved in volunteer work in the reserve, and are a mine of information. A must-do for anyone who loves hiking and is into nature conservation. I’m happy to supply contact details, if asked, but try Google to start with.

I realise my website has a fair bit of detail in it, and the fact that we can and do offer other services may well be buried a bit too deep in the other stuff, so I thought I’d just mention a few of them.

Firstly, on our website we list all the hikes/tramps that we currently have a concession for. However if there is another particular hut or place you’d like to go to in the Ruahine or Kaweka ranges, or do say a 3-day hike or longer, let us know, and we’ll ask DOC for the necessary approvals. It may well be you’d like to go somewhere a lot more remote, and camp or tent in preference to staying in a hut – we can help!

Secondly, if you’d rather do it yourself or don’t need a guide, but you’d like to do a hike or tramp that doesn’t start and end at the same place, we’re able to transport you and your companions from one to the other, or do a drop-off or pick-up at very reasonable rates. Give us a call, or send us an email!

Thirdly, if you’re visiting and just need some hiking advice or suggestions, we’re more than happy to give this for free – just ask.

Fourthly, if you’d rather do a half-day or full day tour of the local attractions, i.e. boutique vineyards, or Te Mata Peak, etc, we can custom-design one to suit your preferences. We have a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle that can take up to three persons, and have access to a van for larger groups.

Flexibility is one of our strong points, so don’t hesitate to ask!

Camp breakfast

Crossing swingbridge

Lunch at Kaipo river

Tired hiker!!!

Oamaru hut

Did an awesome 3-day hike in the Kaimanawa Forest Park last weekend (Labour Day weekend). My wife and I, and 5 friends from Waipukurau, Havelock North and Auckland set off from the car park on Clement’s Mill road at about 12.30 on the Saturday, and headed up the Te Iringa track. It soon became apparent, from the enormous number of branches, fallen trees and debris blocking the track on numerous occasions (from the heavy snow storm in early October that closed SH5 for several days) that this was not going to be a ‘walk in the park’, to pardon the pun.  Never mind, the weather was good, and we were determined!

Our intended destination for the day was the swing-bridge across the Kaipo River, where we would camp for the first night. We initially expected to get there by around 5pm, but at 7pm we were still, in our estimation, a good hour or more away from this destination, and decided that finding a good camping spot as soon as possible was the best option, in view of the failing light. Fortunately Jim had found a great camp-site next to a tributary of the Tiki Tiki stream, and with consensus quickly reached, we set up camp in double-quick time.

It had been a hard afternoon’s hiking, requiring our combined track finding skills, bushcraft and perseverance, but pretty satisfying nevertheless. The only trouble camping so close to a stream is while the sound of a babbling brook is fine and soothing during the day, at night it sounds as if you’re sleeping next to the Niagra Falls! I didn’t get much sleep…

One tip for those who like hiking in rougher terrain, buy yourself a decent folding pruning saw – the one I have is a Japanese product, a Silky Pocket Boy, that cuts through wood (as well as skin and flesh!) like a hot knife through butter. Hunters use them as bone saws for cutting up carcasses and firewood, but on this occasion I had to use mine several times for clearing a path through the mess of fallen branches and trees which blocked the track.  One of the most useful pieces of gear I’ve ever bought. Just be very, very careful when using them, because, as mentioned above, the blade is extremely sharp, and I can testify to several bleeding cuts obtained since getting it because of a moment’s inattention. Most hunting stores (in NZ anyway) stock them.

Day two was much like day one, fighting our way over, under, through or around fallen branches and trees, marvelling at the forces of nature that could wreak such devastation. It’s just amazing how heavy snow can be when there’s no wind to blow it off branches – it just keeps on building up until it gets too heavy, and then off course the branches just break off and fall to the ground. We finally reached the swingbridge after an hour and 20 minutes, and met some hunters there - stopped and chatted for a while. They told us the track up to Oamaru hut (destination for day two) was also covered in debris, and was hard going in places. And they weren’t wrong! My wife and I had walked this part of the track in two hours about five years ago, but this day it took over four. We did, however, find a beautiful, tranquil spot beside the Kaipo river to have lunch – unforgettable moment!

Arrived at Oamaru hut rather tired and weary, looking forward to a cuppa and a rest, only to find the place bustling with over 40 people, mainly hunters and fly fishers.  The NZDA was running a HUNTS course for aspiring young hunters, and they’d almost all flown in by chopper from the Helisika base at Poronui Station. Most hunters these days have become softies (in my opinion), preferring a helicopter ride to the old, tough way of walking in to your hunting area. Gives them more time to hunt, they say – yeah, right! Harden up guys, take a man-pill!

Anyway, most of the good camping spots had already been taken, and the hut was obviously very full (only has 12 bunks), so we eventually found a sheltered, sunny spot down below the hut on the river flats, where set up camp. Had a lazy, relaxed afternoon, and a satisfying dinner, topped off by a restful night. Oamaru hut is in a super location, set on a terrace about 20 metres above the river flats, with a grand view across the Oamaru river and tussock – a great place to relax in the afternoon and contemplate the mysteries of life, and the beauty of creation.

The last day started with a couple of (cold) river crossings, first the Oamaru river and then the Mohaka, followed by a relaxing 3.5 – 4 hour walk to the end point of our hike, the entrance gate to Poronui Station. Most of the walking was through the Station’s property, consisting of plantation forests, pasture and farm tracks, so not at all hard. The weather was a cracker – almost cloudless, warm and sunny – great walking weather. Met DOC ranger Murray on the way, had a pleasant chat, and were able to inform him on track conditions – he wasn’t looking forward to him and his team doing the hard work of clearing the tracks we’d struggled along for the last two days.

On the way home we stopped at the Tarawera Pub – good and interesting place for a coffee or drink and a snack – very satisfying hike, all in all, even if we were all tired, weary, bruised and scratched!

On a more humorous note…

Three guys hiking through heavy bush in bad, rainy weather, exhausted. Eventually they get to a large river, which is raging, flooded and swollen from all the rain, and uncrossable. Our three friends were utterly dismayed, because their destination for the night (a warm, cosy hut) was on the other side.

First guy, absolutely desparate, prays ‘Lord, please give me the strength to cross the river, I can’t handle another day of this!’ Poof! He’s given the strength of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and is able to get across, almost drowning twice. Utterly exhausted, he manages to crawl to the hut.

I live about 9km south of the small town of Waipukurau, in the Central Hawke’s Bay district of New Zealand. It’s a fairly small town, even by New Zealand standards, with about 4500 residents. But it has a huge heart, and just has so much to offer, both to us as residents, as well as to the visitor passing through or coming to stay for a few days.

Most people do, in fact, drive or pass through, and have no idea what Ypuk (as the locals affectionately call it) has to offer, so I thought I’d put a few of these on my blog, to entice people to stop and explore for a few days, instead of racing through.

Many people think that hiking/tramping in New Zealand is a summer-only affair, but they’re dead wrong, and are probably missing out on some of the best hiking available. Sure, hiking in winter requires a bit more planning and forethought, as it is not hard to get caught out – the recent tragedy with the ceo of Te Papa museum and his hiking partner dying from exposure only a kilometre from a hut is a classic example. However with some common sense (i.e. know when to call it quits, and not press on regardless in order to prove something) and proper preparation, you can have a really great and safe experience. I went on a hike by myself a short while back – it was quite hard, as part of the hike was through untracked bush and scrub, but walking through pristine snow, and knowing I was the only one around for miles, and had all this incredible beauty all to myself made this a very special outing. Food for the soul…

One of the reasons I started Hawke’s Bay Hiking and Tramping is because I’m quite passionate about the New Zealand bush and its conservation, and want to introduce visitors to the special and unique fauna and flora, as well as the stunning landscape and beauty. New Zealand’s colonial founding fathers in their misguided wisdom sought to re-create the English countryside here, and as a result, today’s generation is having to struggle with these introduced species of plants and animals, many of which have exploded in numbers, having no natural predators to control their rampant spread.