• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Deborah Munro, Author

APEX, a Sci-Fi Thriller Set in Rural Oregon

  • Home
  • About
  • Science
  • Blog
  • Publications
  • Contact

Kiwi Diary – Hiking in Paradise

October 3, 2018 By Deborah Munro 12 Comments

One of the 10 best hikes in New Zealand, Diamond Point.
View over Diamond Point

30 September 2018

Let’s Take a Hike!

One popular Kiwi pastime is “tramping”, what I would call hiking. There are more hikes in New Zealand than I have time to do in a lifetime, but I’m game to try! I’ve joined a Meetup called Christchurch Women’s Walking Meetup (one of several hiking clubs), and they are a great group. Anyone who feels so inclined can host a hike, which range from 45 minute walks in the park after work on a weeknight to multi-hour treks on the weekend. I’ve been going on a 2-3 hour hike every weekend, and these always finish with a relaxing coffee and lunch at one of the numerous cafes set up to attract weary hikers. The Kiwis know how to top off a day!

A view of farmland from one of the 10 best hikes in New Zealand.

Walking Festivals

November features two walking festivals in the Christchurch area, one with city walks led by a docent, and one on the Banks Peninsula, going to places you normally can’t access, such as the penguin colony out on Godley Head (yes, signed up for that one already!).

I even signed up to walk The Old Ghost Road in early January (summer), which takes five days and requires stays in huts along the way. This hike is described as, “A long-forgotten gold miners’ road has been revived as a mountain biking and tramping trail – connecting the old dray road in the Lyell (Upper Buller Gorge) to the mighty Mokihinui River in the north. The 85km-long (53 mile) Old Ghost Road traverses majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys.” The huts have full kitchens, so we’ll only need to pack sleeping bags and our food.

The 10 Great Walks

New Zealand has Ten Great Walks, each 3-5 days in length that cover all the most beautiful regions of the country, and I can’t wait to start checking them off my bucket list:

  1. Lake Waikaremoana, 46km along the lakeshore takes you through a mass of rainforest, waterfalls and secluded beaches.
  2. The Tongariro Northern Circuit, 43km through Mt Tongariro, Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe (a.k.a Mt Doom in The Lord of the Rings). It includes a magnificent view of the Emerald Lakes that fill the volcanic craters.
  3. Whanganui Journey, 145km of canoeing or kayaking through steep valley walls and native forest stand on either side of the Whanganui River. The Whanganui Journey possesses a cultural experience, as one of the backcountry huts is a marae (Maori meeting house).
  4. Abel Tasman Coast Track, 60km that takes you through stretching golden sand beaches and native bush (natural areas). You don’t even have to do the whole journey by foot, as taking a water taxi and kayaking is an option for stretches, or you can have your food transported for you.
  5. Heaphy Track, 78km in Kahurangi National Park, a rainforest where you can see a whole bunch of native birds such as tui, weka, kea, kaka, kereru and, if you are super lucky, a kiwi.
  6. Kepler Track, 60km in terrain that goes from lakeshores, to tussock lands, and to mountaintops. Be sure to bring a flashlight to explore the limestone caves near the Luxmore Hut!
  7. Milford Track, 54km where you walk along the rivers in pure green rainforests. There is an abundance of waterfalls including the gargantuan Sutherland Falls, which is 580m high. The track emerges into the famous and stunning fiord of Milford Sound.
  8. Routeburn Track, 32km walking through the Southern Alps where you get the best views of the glacier carved valleys and majestic lakes.
  9. Rakiura Track, 32km all on Stewart Island. Because the Rakiura National Park makes up 80% of the island, doing the Rakiura Track is the best way to really see Stewart Island.
  10. Paparoa Track, 45km of wandering amongst a karst limestone landscape, amidst ancient forest, and over the Paparoa Ranges for breathtaking views.

A seagull with the mountains of New Zealand in the background.

Life Along the Trail

All of the Great Walks require reservations, and all provide designated huts, which are sometimes group cabins and sometimes for individual parties. Having huts helps minimize the environmental impact but also provides you a place to get warm and dry, cook a hot meal, get water, and clean up. I’m just excited to not have to carry all that heavy cooking gear, my tent, my inflatable sleeping mat, and more. With a lighter pack, I’ll have more energy and will more thoroughly enjoy the epic scenery.

Put these ten on your bucket list, and let’s go for a tramp!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Deborah Munro, Kiwi Diary Tagged With: blog topics, Christchurch, Great Walks, hiking, meetup, New Zealand, tramping

Deborah Munro

Science is pure joy for me. I love understanding how things work and teaching others what I've learned. Thus, I am a bioengineering professor, scientist, and author. I've recently expatriated from the beautiful Pacific NW and have founded a new life for myself in New Zealand.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mark Schultz says

    October 4, 2018 at 11:14 am

    Tramping sounds great! Thank you for sharing and redeeming this word.

    Reply
    • Deborah Munro says

      October 4, 2018 at 11:23 am

      Thanks, Mark. I agree, what a great word :).

      Reply
  2. Dana Lemaster says

    October 15, 2018 at 6:05 pm

    Wonderful post! Tramping sounds like a lot of fun. I’m adding it to my bucket list.

    Reply
    • Deborah Munro says

      October 15, 2018 at 9:38 pm

      Yes, you must add this to your bucket list! It’s just beautiful here :).

      Reply
  3. Liliana says

    October 15, 2018 at 6:28 pm

    This is amazing! I’ve heard of New Zealand’s beauty and hopefully I can go someday. I know a friend went and they rented an RV and traveled from the North Island to the South Island. I will put this on my bucket list, along with The Ghan railroad trip I want to take in Australia. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Deborah Munro says

      October 15, 2018 at 9:39 pm

      What a fun RV trip! I’d like to do that myself, and while I’m at it, I’ll put that Ghan railroad trip onto my to do list as well. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Lisa @ The Meaning of Me says

    October 15, 2018 at 7:24 pm

    Love your pics! If I ever get to New Zealand, I’ll take this list along!

    Reply
    • Deborah Munro says

      October 15, 2018 at 9:41 pm

      I hope you do make it here. Our summer is over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays and goes well into February, so when you need a break, remember to come visit down here :).

      Reply
  5. christine says

    October 16, 2018 at 2:43 am

    I love walking but my hubby prefers motorised transport. I’m planning to walk the Camino in Spain and he will be my support, riding ahead each day on his scooter and meeting me at the end of each day with a glass of wine and a foot rub! ha! I hope anyway 😉

    Reply
    • Deborah Munro says

      October 16, 2018 at 2:50 am

      I’m hoping to walk the Camino de Santiago at some point, and you’ve just inspired me to hire a support team! That’s brilliant! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Leiloni Schulz says

    October 17, 2018 at 6:35 am

    I have never been to New Zealand, but I grew up hearing about it as my mother had lived there when she was a child. It is so amazing that you have a hiking group to go on adventures with. I have been wanting to get on longer hikes, but don’t have anyone do it with. I take my children, but they get worn out after a couple of miles. Maybe I need a new dog.

    Reply
    • Deborah Munro says

      January 15, 2019 at 12:54 am

      You should come! It’s a beautiful place to visit (and live) :).

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Rummage Sale: A metaphor for dating in the modern world
  • Creativity is Vulnerability
  • Barbies vs Baby Dolls
  • The Cost of Yes
  • What 2 Broken Wrists Have Taught Me

Categories

  • Craft of Writing
  • Deborah Munro
  • Interviews
  • Kiwi Diary
  • Social Media for Authors

BLOG SUBSCRIPTION

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive new posts by email.

Footer

Follow Deborah Munro

If you're a science enthusiast, like bonus material and short stories, love learning about the craft of writing, or want to know the latest on APEX, here's your chance! Be notified of new content and receive short posts by subscribing today.

  • Count Me In!

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Author Page

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

INKSHARES

Please pre-order your copy of APEX here.

APEX cover

Instagram Feed

deborahmunro.author

Day 11 - Aberdeen, Scotland. Not to be outshone b Day 11 - Aberdeen, Scotland. 
Not to be outshone by Edinburgh or Glasgow, Aberdeen is a lovely city. It has a quieter, less touristy vibe, but with more people living in its urban areas. There were dozens of streets lined with row houses, all waking distance to everything. Cathedrals, monuments, parks, and shops all coexist within its borders. I went on a walking tour and stopped at the art museum on my journey, which was well worth the time. Then, I drove back to Edinburgh to return the rental car. My last hotel is next to a glorious field of yellow rapeseed plants, a fitting last image for an amazing trip. My flight out is early tomorrow morning. Thank you, Scotland, for some unforgettable memories 💛💛💛. #aberdeen #scotland
Day 9-10 Orkney Islands, Scotland. I arrived on t Day 9-10 Orkney Islands, Scotland. 
I arrived on the ferry at Orkney Island  and met up with my good friend who took a faculty position there about 1.5 years ago. It's a windblown, treeless place covered in grasslands, crofter stone houses from the 1700s, stone fences, sheep, cows, rabbits, and pheasant. The coastlines are phenomenal,  and the historic churches and narrow, meandering streets add historical charm. Orkney is known for its Neolithic history, with likely hundreds of cairns, broghs, and standing stone circles, the biggest of which is the Ring of Brodgar. We had a rare dry and windless day to explore everything, and I had a blast. This morning, I took the ferry back to the mainland and drove six hours in a downpour (and flooding) to Aberdeen, tired but content. Tomorrow is my last full day before I fly back to the US. #orkney #aberdeen #scotland
Day 7 - Argyllshire to Loch Ness. I drove 5 hours Day 7 - Argyllshire to Loch Ness.
I drove 5 hours north today, winding along the lochs, through the foggy highlands, and down tree-lined roads. The bright yellow fields are rapeseed oil, and the scrub is gorse. It rained until 11:30am, but stopped in time for Urquhart Castle on the Loch Ness. Yes! I saw Nessie, but unfortunately, I blocked the view of her in my selfie, lol. I've marked the location for you. Now, I'm at the northern tip of the mainland, marked by a sturdy lighthouse,  about to take the ferry over to the Orkney Islands, where I'll be for two nights with friends. 🥰 #LochNess #UrquhartCastle #Scotland
Day 6 - Glasgow to Argyllshire. I started my day Day 6 - Glasgow to Argyllshire. 
I started my day with a Full Scottish Breakfast, including haggis for the first time, which was delicious in spite of the off-putting name, lol. It reminds me of corned beef hash, but it's made with lamb and whole oats. I stopped at the aquarium at Loch Lomond (yes, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond), then went to the home region of my ancestors in Argyllshire in the western highlands. It's a gorgeous country of rolling hills, pines, and endless lochs. I don't know exactly where my people lived, but Oban was one possibility. While there, I visited the ancestral home of the McDougall's, DunOllie Castle, which is now a ruin. #Argyll #Scotland #ancestry
Day 5 - Glasgow, Scotland. The rain finally arrive Day 5 - Glasgow, Scotland. The rain finally arrived, but I still managed to enjoy some sites in Glasgow before deciding an early night was in order. The one-hour drive for Edinburgh was entertaining in my rental car, as the steering wheel is on the right, it's a 6-speed manual transmission, and you have to lift a collar on the shifter to put the car in reverse (took me 5 min to figure that out). The "classic rock" station played everything from the Rolling Stones and Van Halen to Culture Club, with a good mix of British pop I've never heard. Oh, and all the road distances are in miles and speeds in mph, unlike the rest of Europe, including Ireland. 🤣 #glasgow #scotland
Days 3 + 4, Edinburgh, Scotland. Most of my two da Days 3 + 4, Edinburgh, Scotland. Most of my two days were occupied by the World Congress on Endometriosis, but I still managed to take in a few sites around the city. We had some actual fog last night, which fit with my imaginings of the UK, along with bright red phone booths, pubs, and cobblestone streets. But there were surprises, too, like the amazing Camera Obscura exhibit, Dolly the first ever cloned sheep, a man with owls on the street, and a bagpipe playing rock band that was quite talented! #scotland #edinburgh #fog #owl #dollythesheep
Day 2: Edinburgh, Scotland. I had a second beautif Day 2: Edinburgh, Scotland. I had a second beautiful day to explore the city, including walking up to the St Anthony's Chapel ruins, which overlook the city and loch below. So many details of this city are inspiring, from its bright doors and archways to its unicorn mascot. The flora is embracing spring, and some birds graciously posed for me. I finished the day with opening ceremonies for the conference I'm attending, complete with a talented bagpipe player in full highlander garb 😍. #scotland #edinburgh #nature
Day 1 in Edinburgh, Scotland. What a gorgeous city Day 1 in Edinburgh, Scotland. What a gorgeous city, full of history, architecture, and monuments to its ancestors! One its largest monuments is to author Sir Walter Scott, who wrote Ivanhoe and Waverly (both of which I now wish to read), and is credited with revival of Scottish pride and its swashbuckling, highlander heroes that make many of us proud to carry those bloodlines. Edinburgh Castle, perched on a high rocky mound overlooking the city,  was the home of Mary Queen of Scots and the birthplace of her son, James, who became king. So far, the weather has remained dry, and I look forward to another day of adventure :).
The Rummage Sale: A Metaphor for Dating in the Mod The Rummage Sale: A Metaphor for Dating in the Modern World 
https://deborahmunroauthor.com/2023/04/the-rummage-sale-a-metaphor-for-dating-in-the-modern-world/
Happy St Patrick's Day from CJ and Debbie Happy St Patrick's Day from CJ and Debbie
Party in the terminal tonight, everyone celebratin Party in the terminal tonight, everyone celebrating the #SDSU basketball conference win 🏆.
Impressions from Las Vegas. Impressions from Las Vegas.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

HOME | ABOUT | SCIENCE | BLOG | PUBLICATIONS | CONTACT

Copyright © 2023 Deborah Munro, Author

WordPress Website by Waterlink Web | connecting your customers with you

 

Loading Comments...