The Grand Traverse

There is no Wi-Fi in nature but you will find a better connection.

- Helen Pelham and Lynne Dickinson

There is something to be said for leaving behind the chaos and stress of our busy lives. In fact, it could be argued that we have no idea just how much we all need to ‘get away’ from it all and re-connect with nature.

We began our journey into the outdoors arriving 10 minutes late for our briefing at the Ultimate Hikes headquarters in Queenstown. Having no idea that we are about to embark on an adventure like no other, we listened intently to the guide who gave us a run down on what to expect and what to pack; six days without technology, tramping the Greenstone Valley and the more famous Routeburn Track. The thought of a week without any social media or cell phone contact, was initially, a bit nerve wracking. However it did not take us long to appreciate this lack of constant intrusion, and in fact, welcome it. Everything happening back home had to stay there and cope without us; our families, our jobs, our responsibilities. Once we let it go, it was refreshing.

Our fellow trampers looked different to what we had expected – not the latte drinking, pretentious tossers that we had imagined. Just a bunch of good old down to earth, like- minded, Kiwis and Aussies. As a group, we immediately clicked and this camaraderie just continued to grow.

An hour and a half after leaving HQ on our coach, we arrived at the start of the Greenstone Valley Track. With a hearty lunch provided, and full of enthusiasm, 12 hikers and our 3 trusty guides headed off into the wilderness. The morning was brisk, much colder than the humid summer we'd been experiencing in Auckland but luckily we'd followed the advice of Ultimate hikes and packed our layers of clothing, including thermals, gloves and hats. The Ultimate Hikes website provides you with detailed gear list, training regime and what to expect day by day, very thorough and easy to follow.