Edwards Valley with kids
When tramping with small kids, it’s the journey that counts, not the destination. For this trip, both me and Miranda completely threw away all our ambitions and just decided to play it by ear. We…
Read MoreArthur’s Pass
Avalanche Peak summer trip
When there’s a chance for Anna and me to head into the hills together like in the good old days, well, we’ve got to take it. Since having a kid – and with Anna’s parents…
Woolshed Hill tarn (Arthur’s Pass)
Elliot has been asking to go tramping for a while, so let’s get some tramping out of his system by taking him to Woolshed Hill tarn. He only just turned 4 years, but he seemed…
Mt Bruce in Arthur’s Pass
Mt Bruce is a moderate day trip in Arthur’s Pass, perfect for those looking to progress beyond marked tracks into more adventurous – yet still relatively safe and straightforward – terrain. The “traditional” route to…
Mt Philistine – the easy way
In 2022, I climbed Mt Philistine for the first time. We took the route that goes directly through Warnocks Bluff, a well-trodden and even vaguely marked path heading straight up through the bluffs. This section…
Mt Williams via Williams Saddle (Arthur’s Pass National Park)
Mt Williams (1718 m) is an impressive-looking mountain perched on the southern lip of a range that boasts stunning peaks like Mt Oates (2041 m) and Mt Franklin (2145 m). Its eastern and southern ridges…
Bealey spur with my 3 year old
My kid is growing at the speed of light, and so is his ability to walk. Gone are the days when I needed a backpack or a child carrier. Now, he just walks, and if…
Avalanche Peak (Arthur’s Pass) in the winter
Avalanche Peak is a popular destination in Arthur’s Pass National Park, and it’s no wonder why. The peak is easily accessible right from the village, the track up is well marked, and the views are…
Waimakariri Falls Hut via Waimakariri Col
There were six of us. We started off in a decent-sized car park on the left side after a bridge over the Rolleston / Ōtira River confluence. There is a good gravel road leading a…
Ranger Biv and across Poulter Range, Forest Peak and Turnbull Biv
I was “lucky” enough that Emma got injured so I could actually keep up with her on a trip that turned out to be a bit longer than I anticipated. We started off at Andrews…