Tramping in NZ

[Tom Poynton]

I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
guided walks first of all or maybe hooking up with some other walkers
before I set out on my own (as I very much want to do solo tramps)?

Thanks for your answers

Tom

Bristol, UK

[texan.usenet@texas.removethisbit.usa.com]

On 13 Aug 2004 08:40:36 -0700, (Tom Poynton)
wrote:

>I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
>of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
>the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
>guided walks first of all or maybe hooking up with some other walkers
>before I set out on my own (as I very much want to do solo tramps)?
>
>Thanks for your answers
>
>Tom
>
>Bristol, UK

For now peruse:

www.aaguide.co.nz

www.purenz.com


Cath

[texan.usenet@texas.removethisbit.usa.com]

On 13 Aug 2004 08:40:36 -0700, (Tom Poynton)
wrote:

>I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
>of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
>the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
>guided walks first of all or maybe hooking up with some other walkers
>before I set out on my own (as I very much want to do solo tramps)?
>
>Thanks for your answers
>
>Tom
>
>Bristol, UK

For now peruse:

www.aaguide.co.nz

www.purenz.com


Cath

[texan.usenet@texas.removethisbit.usa.com]

On 13 Aug 2004 08:40:36 -0700, (Tom Poynton)
wrote:

>I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
>of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
>the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
>guided walks first of all or maybe hooking up with some other walkers
>before I set out on my own (as I very much want to do solo tramps)?
>
>Thanks for your answers
>
>Tom
>
>Bristol, UK

For now peruse:

www.aaguide.co.nz

www.purenz.com


Cath

[Brooklyn Waters]

"Tom Poynton" > wrote in message
om...
> I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
> of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
> the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
> guided walks first of all or maybe hooking up with some other walkers
> before I set out on my own (as I very much want to do solo tramps)?
>
> Thanks for your answers
>
> Tom
>
> Bristol, UK

Tom,
I have only recently (since November) discovered the joys of tramping in
New Zealand. There are many, many places where you can tramp solo. There are
many guide books and web sites devoted to walk trails. There are some rules
you should follow though.
1. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be
back. If you do get into trouble you will have someone to raise the alarm.
2. For alpine treking carry more than you need. The weather can change in a
few minutes. I have a backpack that I take. It contains a change of clothes,
water, bilthong, barley sugars, chocolate, foil emergency blankets, a first
aid kit and matches. Keep it stocked. Chocolate is pretty tempting after an
hour or two of walking.
3. Buy, and learn how to use, a tranceiver.
4. Get to know other trampers. There are tramping and orienteering groups in
every city. Apart from anything else, they know the best walks.

When you are walking in national parks there is usually a place to sign in
and leave a note about where you plan to go and when you'll be back Do this.

Leave some feedback on my blog and I'll contact you offline with some more
specific hints for the South Island.
http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/

Have a look at these sites:
http://www.geocities.com/paponz/ (Since you're not a tramper, this is an
orienteering club to learn some essential skills)
http://www.puretrailsnewzealand.co.nz/ (guided walking)
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~fiski/nztramp.html (links to more sites about
tramping)

Tramping here is extraordinary. You will find walks that will take you
through caves, following a submerged stream, through amazing forests, around
the lips of old volcanoes, across glaciers and into ice caves, around vast
still lakes and over spectacular mountains. Take a digital camera, start a
blog, and share your unique adventure with the rest of us.

cheers

Grey

--

Good times, noodle salad.

[evski]

Dear Tom Poynton

>I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
>of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
>the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
>guided walks first of all

We operate a range of guided and unguided walks in the South Island.

Our Stewart Island walk offers the chance to see a Kiwi in the wild in
our journey across Stewart Island by foot travelling by foot, water
taxi and sea kayak. Kiwi Wilderness Walks information is at

http://www.nzwalk.com

The Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track offers a nice combination of bush,
beach and sub alpine terrain with some spectacular views from high on
the hump.

http://www.humpridgetrack.co.nz

Feel free to email me with any queries.

Regards

Evan Bloomfield


Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track

Get off your bottom and do the Hump!

http://www.humpridgetrack.co.nz

[evski]

Dear Tom Poynton

>I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
>of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
>the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
>guided walks first of all

We operate a range of guided and unguided walks in the South Island.

Our Stewart Island walk offers the chance to see a Kiwi in the wild in
our journey across Stewart Island by foot travelling by foot, water
taxi and sea kayak. Kiwi Wilderness Walks information is at

http://www.nzwalk.com

The Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track offers a nice combination of bush,
beach and sub alpine terrain with some spectacular views from high on
the hump.

http://www.humpridgetrack.co.nz

Feel free to email me with any queries.

Regards

Evan Bloomfield


Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track

Get off your bottom and do the Hump!

http://www.humpridgetrack.co.nz

[evski]

Dear Tom Poynton

>I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
>of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
>the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
>guided walks first of all

We operate a range of guided and unguided walks in the South Island.

Our Stewart Island walk offers the chance to see a Kiwi in the wild in
our journey across Stewart Island by foot travelling by foot, water
taxi and sea kayak. Kiwi Wilderness Walks information is at

http://www.nzwalk.com

The Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track offers a nice combination of bush,
beach and sub alpine terrain with some spectacular views from high on
the hump.

http://www.humpridgetrack.co.nz

Feel free to email me with any queries.

Regards

Evan Bloomfield


Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track

Get off your bottom and do the Hump!

http://www.humpridgetrack.co.nz

[truebs]

May we trade lives please?

Seriously, I've tramped in NZ and all over the United States - often solo.
I hope you have some basic backcountry experience before you simply set out
on a year long walking adventure. But putting that aside, much will depend
on what time of year you are there. You need far more experience crossing
Cascade Saddle in Aspiring in April than you do hiking Abel Tasman in
December. My suggestion is to get the Lonely Planet guide Tramping in NZ
and get a feel for what is available. The mountains are unforgiving
wherever you are so the right gear is essential - especially if you are
solo. Nothing is wrong with a guided start to things. But I would bet most
places you go you will meet other hikers on the trails. Ever hike I ever
did in NZ I saw other humans. In fact, the only time I NEVER saw anyone on
a trail day after day was in the fabulous Glacier National Park in Montana
shortly after 9-11. My basic suggestions are:

1. Worry more about having the right gear - water filter, proper boots and
clothing and shelter.
2. Then read up on NZ tramping possibilities.
3. Then decide where and how you want to go (I'd personally start South and
work my way north through winter and then head back south again.
4. Last, decide whether solo or group or guided is best.

"Tom Poynton" > wrote in message
om...
> I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
> of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
> the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
> guided walks first of all or maybe hooking up with some other walkers
> before I set out on my own (as I very much want to do solo tramps)?
>
> Thanks for your answers
>
> Tom
>
> Bristol, UK

[truebs]

May we trade lives please?

Seriously, I've tramped in NZ and all over the United States - often solo.
I hope you have some basic backcountry experience before you simply set out
on a year long walking adventure. But putting that aside, much will depend
on what time of year you are there. You need far more experience crossing
Cascade Saddle in Aspiring in April than you do hiking Abel Tasman in
December. My suggestion is to get the Lonely Planet guide Tramping in NZ
and get a feel for what is available. The mountains are unforgiving
wherever you are so the right gear is essential - especially if you are
solo. Nothing is wrong with a guided start to things. But I would bet most
places you go you will meet other hikers on the trails. Ever hike I ever
did in NZ I saw other humans. In fact, the only time I NEVER saw anyone on
a trail day after day was in the fabulous Glacier National Park in Montana
shortly after 9-11. My basic suggestions are:

1. Worry more about having the right gear - water filter, proper boots and
clothing and shelter.
2. Then read up on NZ tramping possibilities.
3. Then decide where and how you want to go (I'd personally start South and
work my way north through winter and then head back south again.
4. Last, decide whether solo or group or guided is best.

"Tom Poynton" > wrote in message
om...
> I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
> of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
> the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
> guided walks first of all or maybe hooking up with some other walkers
> before I set out on my own (as I very much want to do solo tramps)?
>
> Thanks for your answers
>
> Tom
>
> Bristol, UK

[truebs]

May we trade lives please?

Seriously, I've tramped in NZ and all over the United States - often solo.
I hope you have some basic backcountry experience before you simply set out
on a year long walking adventure. But putting that aside, much will depend
on what time of year you are there. You need far more experience crossing
Cascade Saddle in Aspiring in April than you do hiking Abel Tasman in
December. My suggestion is to get the Lonely Planet guide Tramping in NZ
and get a feel for what is available. The mountains are unforgiving
wherever you are so the right gear is essential - especially if you are
solo. Nothing is wrong with a guided start to things. But I would bet most
places you go you will meet other hikers on the trails. Ever hike I ever
did in NZ I saw other humans. In fact, the only time I NEVER saw anyone on
a trail day after day was in the fabulous Glacier National Park in Montana
shortly after 9-11. My basic suggestions are:

1. Worry more about having the right gear - water filter, proper boots and
clothing and shelter.
2. Then read up on NZ tramping possibilities.
3. Then decide where and how you want to go (I'd personally start South and
work my way north through winter and then head back south again.
4. Last, decide whether solo or group or guided is best.

"Tom Poynton" > wrote in message
om...
> I will be in NZ for 12 months from October 2005, and want to see a lot
> of the countryside. I am not an experienced walker by any stretch of
> the imagaination, so I was wondering if you would recommend going on
> guided walks first of all or maybe hooking up with some other walkers
> before I set out on my own (as I very much want to do solo tramps)?
>
> Thanks for your answers
>
> Tom
>
> Bristol, UK

[truebs]

I would generall y concur but I am not sure how important it is to have a
tranceiver unless you are doing serious techinical or winter weather
tramping.

> Tom,
> I have only recently (since November) discovered the joys of tramping
in
> New Zealand. There are many, many places where you can tramp solo. There
are
> many guide books and web sites devoted to walk trails. There are some
rules
> you should follow though.
> 1. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be
> back. If you do get into trouble you will have someone to raise the alarm.
> 2. For alpine treking carry more than you need. The weather can change in
a
> few minutes. I have a backpack that I take. It contains a change of
clothes,
> water, bilthong, barley sugars, chocolate, foil emergency blankets, a
first
> aid kit and matches. Keep it stocked. Chocolate is pretty tempting after
an
> hour or two of walking.
> 3. Buy, and learn how to use, a tranceiver.
> 4. Get to know other trampers. There are tramping and orienteering groups
in
> every city. Apart from anything else, they know the best walks.
>
> When you are walking in national parks there is usually a place to sign in
> and leave a note about where you plan to go and when you'll be back Do
this.
>
> Leave some feedback on my blog and I'll contact you offline with some more
> specific hints for the South Island.
> http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/
>
> Have a look at these sites:
> http://www.geocities.com/paponz/ (Since you're not a tramper, this is an
> orienteering club to learn some essential skills)
> http://www.puretrailsnewzealand.co.nz/ (guided walking)
> http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~fiski/nztramp.html (links to more sites about
> tramping)
>
> Tramping here is extraordinary. You will find walks that will take you
> through caves, following a submerged stream, through amazing forests,
around
> the lips of old volcanoes, across glaciers and into ice caves, around vast
> still lakes and over spectacular mountains. Take a digital camera, start a
> blog, and share your unique adventure with the rest of us.
>
> cheers
>
> Grey
>
> --
>
> Good times, noodle salad.
>
>

[truebs]

I would generall y concur but I am not sure how important it is to have a
tranceiver unless you are doing serious techinical or winter weather
tramping.

> Tom,
> I have only recently (since November) discovered the joys of tramping
in
> New Zealand. There are many, many places where you can tramp solo. There
are
> many guide books and web sites devoted to walk trails. There are some
rules
> you should follow though.
> 1. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be
> back. If you do get into trouble you will have someone to raise the alarm.
> 2. For alpine treking carry more than you need. The weather can change in
a
> few minutes. I have a backpack that I take. It contains a change of
clothes,
> water, bilthong, barley sugars, chocolate, foil emergency blankets, a
first
> aid kit and matches. Keep it stocked. Chocolate is pretty tempting after
an
> hour or two of walking.
> 3. Buy, and learn how to use, a tranceiver.
> 4. Get to know other trampers. There are tramping and orienteering groups
in
> every city. Apart from anything else, they know the best walks.
>
> When you are walking in national parks there is usually a place to sign in
> and leave a note about where you plan to go and when you'll be back Do
this.
>
> Leave some feedback on my blog and I'll contact you offline with some more
> specific hints for the South Island.
> http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/
>
> Have a look at these sites:
> http://www.geocities.com/paponz/ (Since you're not a tramper, this is an
> orienteering club to learn some essential skills)
> http://www.puretrailsnewzealand.co.nz/ (guided walking)
> http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~fiski/nztramp.html (links to more sites about
> tramping)
>
> Tramping here is extraordinary. You will find walks that will take you
> through caves, following a submerged stream, through amazing forests,
around
> the lips of old volcanoes, across glaciers and into ice caves, around vast
> still lakes and over spectacular mountains. Take a digital camera, start a
> blog, and share your unique adventure with the rest of us.
>
> cheers
>
> Grey
>
> --
>
> Good times, noodle salad.
>
>

[truebs]

I would generall y concur but I am not sure how important it is to have a
tranceiver unless you are doing serious techinical or winter weather
tramping.

> Tom,
> I have only recently (since November) discovered the joys of tramping
in
> New Zealand. There are many, many places where you can tramp solo. There
are
> many guide books and web sites devoted to walk trails. There are some
rules
> you should follow though.
> 1. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be
> back. If you do get into trouble you will have someone to raise the alarm.
> 2. For alpine treking carry more than you need. The weather can change in
a
> few minutes. I have a backpack that I take. It contains a change of
clothes,
> water, bilthong, barley sugars, chocolate, foil emergency blankets, a
first
> aid kit and matches. Keep it stocked. Chocolate is pretty tempting after
an
> hour or two of walking.
> 3. Buy, and learn how to use, a tranceiver.
> 4. Get to know other trampers. There are tramping and orienteering groups
in
> every city. Apart from anything else, they know the best walks.
>
> When you are walking in national parks there is usually a place to sign in
> and leave a note about where you plan to go and when you'll be back Do
this.
>
> Leave some feedback on my blog and I'll contact you offline with some more
> specific hints for the South Island.
> http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog/
>
> Have a look at these sites:
> http://www.geocities.com/paponz/ (Since you're not a tramper, this is an
> orienteering club to learn some essential skills)
> http://www.puretrailsnewzealand.co.nz/ (guided walking)
> http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~fiski/nztramp.html (links to more sites about
> tramping)
>
> Tramping here is extraordinary. You will find walks that will take you
> through caves, following a submerged stream, through amazing forests,
around
> the lips of old volcanoes, across glaciers and into ice caves, around vast
> still lakes and over spectacular mountains. Take a digital camera, start a
> blog, and share your unique adventure with the rest of us.
>
> cheers
>
> Grey
>
> --
>
> Good times, noodle salad.
>
>