We completed the 133 km Wilderness Trail plus an extra 100km was added because, to quote our guide “we pick the best bits (of the trail) and add other great bits”. Apart from the cycling we found the time to experience the Treetop Walk, Hokitika Gorge, Punakaiki, Porarari walk and a very sobering memorial to the Buller mine disaster alongside the Grey River near Stillwater.
It was a pleasure to cover so many kilometres on dedicated cycle tracks away from the tar seal and traffic, and a privilege to enjoy the beautiful surroundings as well. The many gorges, streams and waterfalls could be heard long before we saw them, their waters ranging from deep blue, turquoise to dark bronze in the wetlands. Describing the sun setting over the Tasman sea cannot do justice to the kaleidoscope of colours and is something everyone should experience for themselves.
Personally however, my most enduring memories will be cycling with fellow adventurers on the section from Ross to Hokitika, cheered on by grey warbler, tomtit miromiro and tui. This would come second only to the section from Lake Kaniere to Kumara, both of which must be covered in more detail.
Ross to Hokitika
As early as day one we were introduced to the variety of landscapes we would witness over the next five days. The 33km ride from the historic mining town of Ross to Hokitika has an unriveld diversity of scenery and vegetation. We enjoyed this section of the trail so much that we managed to repeat the last 10km or so twice more over the next two days, thanks largely to the logistical skills of our guide.
Denne historien er fra February - March 2021-utgaven av Adventure Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra February - March 2021-utgaven av Adventure Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Papua New Guinea
Four reasons to add Papua New Guinea to your bucket list
The benefits of being a Multi-Trick Pony
"A broad skill base and how you can draw from one platform to the next – women often pigeon hole themselves"
The RELUCTANT adventurer
An eighteen-year-old princess, who paints his (yes, his) nails and dyes his hair bleach blonde, embarking on an adventure trip with his family, sounds like a plot for a bad 80s movie.
The Meaning of Tramping
What does tramping mean to you?
Keala Kennelly owns Red Bull Magnitude
The North Shore season of 1957 is recognized in the surfing world as the start of an era. When Greg Noll, a young Mickey Munoz and company went out and rode Waimea for the first time, it was a glimpse of what could be in the world of big-wave surfing.
North West Circuit Stewart Island
I found myself in limbo during the winter of 2020, in between jobs in a strained covid economy. And so, I did what any outdoors person would do with a large amount of free time on their hands. It was time to pack up my belongings and hit the road. It was time to leave behind home comforts and go adventure-seeking.
Emilie's adventure to Angelus Hut
“I want to be the leader!” Miss Six announced, pushing past me in her determination to be in front. Momentarily off-balance with my heavy pack, I narrowly avoided twisting an ankle on the sharp rocks and silently swore while cracking a bright smile.
Nancy Jiang Breaking stereotypes
I recently watched a youtube movie entitled, “Her Way” (check it out on the Adventure Website) which introduced a woman who had an overwhelming passion for running. The preface at the bottom of the clip, read as follows:
Adversity at Altitude
The wind and snow is whipping at my face. I’ve readjusted the stiff frozen fleece buff around my neck and mouth, desperately trying to protect myself from the -20 degree bitter wind. Adrenaline is still pumping through my body but I know I’ll start to get cold soon.
Last Great Mountaineering Challenge
Ground-breaking mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja MBE has attained an incredible new world record by submitting K2 as part of a collaborative team in the depths of winter. Until now, it was a record that was believed to be impossible to accomplish and was famously known as the ‘last great mountaineering challenge’.
