Last year I did the Milford Track here in New Zealand, I uploaded a selection of my photos from the trip if anyone wants to take a look.
Be warned, there is a rather bruised finger, and even more horrifying, my face!
Great photos! Thanks for sharing.
My family took a cruise around NZ five years ago. Loved it! Can't wait to go back and explore the interior on a land trip.
muraii wrote:Did you see any elephant-sized spiders or drop bears?
TFW you get mistaken for Australian again.
Oh I wasn’t confusing anything. I thought the spiders from Arachnophobia were from New Zealand? Then I just threw in the drop bears assuming they might have migrated.
I just looked it up and they were from South America. So I’ve failed in several ways.
Oh nice! Great photos! I lived in Christchurch for a year with my family back in the early 2000s and really enjoyed it. Did a bunch of scuba diving and tramping. The tramping vs US backpacking differences are interesting where they do a lot of huts at points.
Glad to see there's one person who knows what tramping is. I almost labeled the last photo as "post-tramp meal", but thought that may raise too many questions!
You should come back if you ever get the chance. The city is quite different post-earthquakes.
Any favourite tracks that you remember?
SpaceDog wrote:Last year I did the Milford Track here in New Zealand, I uploaded a selection of my photos from the trip if anyone wants to take a look.
Be warned, there is a rather bruised finger, and even more horrifying, my face!
Great photos! Thanks for sharing.
My family took a cruise around NZ five years ago. Loved it! Can't wait to go back and explore the interior on a land trip.
There's a lot to see, I'd recommend the South Island over the North if it's sights and nice walks that you are after.
SpaceDog wrote:muraii wrote:Did you see any elephant-sized spiders or drop bears?
Oh I wasn’t confusing anything. I thought the spiders from Arachnophobia were from New Zealand? Then I just threw in the drop bears assuming they might have migrated.
I just looked it up and they were from South America. So I’ve failed in several ways.
You were right, but it was the small spiders that were from New Zealand 
"The small spiders used in the film were Avondale spiders (Delena Cancerides), a harmless species from New Zealand that were provided by Landcare Research in Auckland. Despite their fierce appearance, this spider is a docile member of the crab-spider family and is, in fact, harmless to humans."
I would absolutely love a trip to NZ. Maybe that's something I'll start planning. International travel, even intracontinental, seems so far-fetched to me I might as well be traveling to the moon. I know rationally that it's just a matter of planning, logistics, and money, but at this point even traveling out-of-state for fun feels like a Herculean task. I guess that's what growing up US Midwest poor can do to ya.
I would absolutely love a trip to NZ. Maybe that's something I'll start planning. International travel, even intracontinental, seems so far-fetched to me I might as well be traveling to the moon. I know rationally that it's just a matter of planning, logistics, and money, but at this point even traveling out-of-state for fun feels like a Herculean task. I guess that's what growing up US Midwest poor can do to ya.
It would be #1 on my list if I hadn't been there before. Definitely a bucket list place.
tuffalobuffalo wrote:Oh nice! Great photos! I lived in Christchurch for a year with my family back in the early 2000s and really enjoyed it. Did a bunch of scuba diving and tramping. The tramping vs US backpacking differences are interesting where they do a lot of huts at points.
Glad to see there's one person who knows what tramping is. I almost labeled the last photo as "post-tramp meal", but thought that may raise too many questions!
You should come back if you ever get the chance. The city is quite different post-earthquakes.
Any favourite tracks that you remember?
I went on two main ones in the year I was there apart from doing a lot of running in Christchurch and trail runs around Christchurch. Yeah, it was surreal to hear about the cathedral there going down from that earthquake. I remember massive amounts of flies crossing a stream on one shorter treck. The other one was a longer 30 km or so 3 or 4 day treck with a couple cabin stops and our vehicle was shuttled to the end. I can't recall the names and am not sure I recorded much. Digital cameras were just starting to get meh at that point.
The Poor Knights area on the North Island tip where I got to dive for a few days in the semi-tropical water was the highlight of my time there. The blustery but warm weather while I was there was fun too. Surreal place.
I would absolutely love a trip to NZ. Maybe that's something I'll start planning. International travel, even intracontinental, seems so far-fetched to me I might as well be traveling to the moon. I know rationally that it's just a matter of planning, logistics, and money, but at this point even traveling out-of-state for fun feels like a Herculean task. I guess that's what growing up US Midwest poor can do to ya.
When you do make it down here let me know, I love tramping and can drag you out to a DOC hut or two!
I went on two main ones in the year I was there apart from doing a lot of running in Christchurch and trail runs around Christchurch. Yeah, it was surreal to hear about the cathedral there going down from that earthquake. I remember massive amounts of flies crossing a stream on one shorter treck. The other one was a longer 30 km or so 3 or 4 day treck with a couple cabin stops and our vehicle was shuttled to the end. I can't recall the names and am not sure I recorded much. Digital cameras were just starting to get meh at that point.
The Poor Knights area on the North Island tip where I got to dive for a few days in the semi-tropical water was the highlight of my time there. The blustery but warm weather while I was there was fun too. Surreal place.
The first one sounds like it could be Ryde Falls (Although it could be a bunch of other places). That's one that is quite popular. I am a big fan of Multi-day tramps though. I'll be doing the Kepler Track in Feb, which is 4 days.
I have a cool little wander out to the Heaphy Hut planned for New Year's Eve.
Careful of bed bugs according to the DOC site.
I have a cool little wander out to the Heaphy Hut planned for New Year's Eve.
Oooo! That looks fun!
Careful of bed bugs according to the DOC site.
On Kepler? I think DOC has it under control now, I cancelled earlier this year because of that. It's not coming up with a warning for it anymore for me.
SpaceDog wrote:I have a cool little wander out to the Heaphy Hut planned for New Year's Eve.
Oooo! That looks fun!
It should be a good time, I'll post some photos when I'm done!
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