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In: Hiking, Location, Photography, Shane's Posts

Wow what a big day 19km tramp up Mt Arthur, 8.8km up, 8.8km down plus 1.4km returning because numb skull forgot to turn off the vehicle lights and had to return and turn them off. Yep it’s only 8.8 km to the summit but boy are the climbs long and steep. The first 4km to Mt Arthur Hut is not too bad as it climbs steadily to 1300mtrs. Once past the Mt Arthur Hut the wind blew over the ridges constantly lifting the cloud up and over the ridges amplifying the cool temps at altitude, the track narrows and starts getting into the long steepRead More →

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15th December has arrived so quickly, we have settled into our house sit. Jude decides that we need to have a day out of Motueka and a change from our regular MTB ride to Rewaka’s Ginger Box for our daily coffee, a round trip of 25 km. She had been looking at some rides in a cycling tracks book she found at our house sit and thought the Flora Track would be a good change…. marked as “easy” she seemed pretty happy to leave the eBike batteries at home for this one…. I say nothing. Well I’m no stranger to Jude and her desires toRead More →

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Leaving Balmoral we head to Waiau to travel the inland route to Kaikoura. The pass through to Kaikoura was windy, hilly still showing signs of damage from the Kaikoura earthquake of 2016. Overall a pleasant trip through the gorge and one of the many routes we had not taken until now. Arriving at Kaikoura it was warm and we spent two lovely days walking the town looking at the galleries before deciding it was time to move on. While at the NZMCA park we met John and Barbara Kerse, a lovely couple from Rangiora and now keep in touch with them via social media. LookingRead More →

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In: 4WD, Jude's Post, Location, Photography

The dawns warm and breezy but cloudy, today we go up to Lake Coleridge, sealed road to the village, makes a change from the gravel road and dust. The village is on the banks of the Rakaia River alongside the historic Lake Coleridge Power station, 165m below Lake Coleridge. It was built between 1911-1914. The village is surrounded by mature trees, an arboretum created by Harry Hart, the first tree planted in 1933, with more than 200 plant and tree specimens. We wander through to the cemetry amongst the old man pines once again history is told in the headstones. We leave the village andRead More →

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We decided to continue onto the Ashburton Gorge as time was on our side, I drive “Jimmy” and Shane follows in Moho, fuel up in Mt Somers and off up the gorge very hot late afternoon warm foehn wind and 27degrees, 35 km later we come to Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater we choose to stay at Lake Clearwater, a lovely campsite down by the lake and thank goodness a huge shelter belt protecting us from the howling nor west. On the hillside a small village of cribs) and holiday homes overlook the lake. We have plenty of exploring to do from here, after aRead More →

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In: 4WD, Jude's Post, Motorhome

We camp at Peel Forest DOC camp, a beautifully maintained camp with excellent facilities. Do a hike to the Acland Falls, picturesque 14mt falls nice to stretch the legs! A beautiful late afternoon we enjoy a cold beer and socialize with a lovely couple David and Deirdre from Clarksville, Canterbury. The following morning we pack a picnic to spend the day exploring the Rangitata Gorge, first stop is the Mount Peel at the Church of the Holy Innocents, built by the Acland Family in 1869, built from hand cut boulders from the Rangitata River, a stunning sturdy church. Surrounding the church are gravestones which tellRead More →