Hiking in the Land of the Long White Cloud

Hiking

in the land

Of the Long White Cloud

About

In New Zealand, we were from 26th of November 2017 to 5th of February 2018. One of our main activities was obviously hiking. In New Zealand there are many beautiful routes in unique and interesting areas, full of breathtaking views. We travelled from one national park to another, and we were spending few days discovering their treasures. We crossed the oldest and stunningly beautiful Tongariro National Park, a unique native forest along the wonderful Queen Charlotte Track, the golden, sandy beaches of the Great Abel Tasman Coast Walk, the amazingly green valleys of the secluded Kahurangi National Park, the high mountains and phenomenal river valleys of the Mount Aspiring National Park. We saw fascinating glacial area with the majestic Franz Josef Glacier. We visited charming corners of the alpine region with panoramic views of the Wanaka area, and the amazingly beautiful region of Queenstown, the capital of sports, attractions and outdoor activities.

COUNTRIES: New Zealand
DATE: between 12 December – 30 January 2018
DURATION: from 1 to 6 days
ROUTE LENGTH: total of 713 kilometres
MODE: hiking
ACCOMMODATION: wild camping, in a tent at a campsite, in a mountain hut

TRAVEL NOTES

Wakatipu short walks

hiking, lakes, mountainsAustralasia, New Zealand

Wakatipu short walks

February 4, 2018hiking, lakes, mountainsAustralasia, New Zealand

Wakatipu area offers many short and longer walks of all grades, from mountain tops climbs to lakeside strolls, all with spectacular views. Having few days spare we decided to dwell on the beauty of the area while doing little walking and having lot of time for admiring and resting.

Natural Beauty of Mount Aspiring National Park

hiking, mountainsAustralasia, New Zealand

Natural Beauty of Mount Aspiring National Park

January 22, 2018hiking, mountainsAustralasia, New Zealand

Remote wilderness, long river valleys, high mountains, majestic glaciers, clear alpine lakes in a New Zealand’s third largest national park. It’s hikers paradise with large number of short and long hikes offering breath-taking range of landscapes.

One day hikes in New Zealand

hikingAustralasia, New Zealand

One day hikes in New Zealand

January 18, 2018hikingAustralasia, New Zealand

Having done few multi day tramping trips in the north of the South Island, we decided to move bit more to the south of New Zealand. We split the way into few sections stopping in some places for a day or two. We took this opportunity to do few short, one-day walks, without heavy backpacks on.

Treasured wilderness of Kahurangi National Park

forests, hiking, mountainsAustralasia, New Zealand

Treasured wilderness of Kahurangi National Park

January 8, 2018forests, hiking, mountainsAustralasia, New Zealand

Kahurangi National Park is the New Zealand’s second-largest national park. In the Maori language, Kahurangi means ‘treasured possession’, which explains its diversity of land forms, native plants and unique species of birds. Much of the area is untracked wilderness with exceptional landscapes, the oldest rocks, shafts and sinkholes, remote river gorges, alpine herb fields and tussock plateaus.

The Great Abel Tasman Coast Walk

hikingAustralasia, New Zealand

The Great Abel Tasman Coast Walk

January 2, 2018hikingAustralasia, New Zealand

Abel Tasman Coast Walk is one of the premier Great Walks of New Zealand. It’s easily accessible, well laid out and well-marked, with many huts and campsites offering the possibility for shorter walks for families.

Marlborough Sounds from two perspectives

hikingAustralasia, New Zealand

Marlborough Sounds from two perspectives

December 25, 2017hikingAustralasia, New Zealand

Leaving Wellington for the South Island we didn’t have the slightest idea what we will be doing next. Sitting at the ferry terminal in Picton, waiting for the city to wake up, reading leaflets and looking at the map we came up with an idea to walk Queen Charlotte Track.