The pipeline and Lyttelton Market with the kids
This is becoming Elliot’s (my 4-year-old) classic: the Pipeline and down to Lyttelton Market via the Bridle Path. The upper parts of the Pipeline are a really nice scramble for kiddos, and a fun run…
trips with the Christchurch Tramping Club (leading)
Mt Izard to Mt Cloudsley in Craigieburn Range
Despite having been up Mt Cloudsley just two weeks ago, I didn’t mind at all when my trip to Mt Torlesse had to be cancelled due to cattle in the area – and we ended…
The Leith Hill Loop Track with kids
After about half a year’s break from organising trips for kids, I put together a wee walk around Leith Hill – a rounded, blobby hill that dominates Castle Hill Village. A few families and I,…
Mt Cockayne via Wall Creek
Nineteen trampers started off at the crossroads of the Dracophyllum Flat Track and the Broken River ski field road. The initial lovely walk along the track was swiftly interrupted by a plunge into Wall Creek….
Lyttelton Market via old Bridle Path
It’s been a while since I led a club trip on the Port Hills. It was organised quite last minute, but still, six of us showed up at the Gondola carpark. I was there a…
Raglan Range: from Lost Stream Bivvy to Mid Silverstream hut
Day 1 After the weather put a pin in our West Coast adventure, we had a few passionate discussions before settling on Plan E (or Z? I’m not sure anymore): the Raglan Range / Leatham…
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…
Lower Arahura Hut – Newton Range Biv – Styx River
The task was simple yet not easy: walk in to Lower Arahura Hut on 31st December, leave our backpacks there, cut a steep track from the hut to Newton Range until we ran out of…
Pell Stream Hut track cutting mission 2024
I’ve been trying to organise a CTC group for a track-cutting mission to Pell Stream Hut for a while now. The weather finally lined up with a free weekend, so off I went with a…
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…