Tama Lakes makes a fantastic day walk near Mt. Ruapehu. This hike is an alternative to the busy Tongariro Crossing with alpine views. Mt. Ruapehu is the hulking mass of rock that juts up from the central part of the North Island. The area around…
Tag: north island
Lake Dive track loop is a great day walk on Mt. Taranaki. This track is a full day, adventurous walk through forest and tussock with views galore. I’ve been to Lake Dive on numerous occasions and have always enjoyed the area. Being on the south…
Here are the 8 Great Barrier Island must do’s. The island has a diverse range of activities – hiking, surfing, beach walks, or just relaxing. Great Barrier Island is truly a land to itself. It may only be a 30 minute plane ride from Auckland,…
Heketara is an endemic tree daisy in New Zealand. Here are 6 facts about this tree that has lovely clusters of white flowers in the spring. The native forests of New Zealand are lush, full of vegetation from the emergent Rata and Rimu trees to…
The Ram and Ngatoro tracks create a wonderful forest walk on the flanks of Mt. Taranaki. This walk is perfect on day when you can’t go high on the mountain. The highlight of Egmont National Park, at least for most people, is the summit. During…
The Aotea Track on Great Barrier Island is a fun, moderate 2 to 3 day walk. Here is some info – highlights, logistics, and how to get to the island. Great Barrier Island is located just north of the Coromandel and east of Auckland. This…
Karangahake Gorge is a breathtakingly narrow gorge that is great to explore over a few hours. Here are some tips on this fun day hike in the Coromandel. Shortly after moving to New Zealand we excitedly began planning our first trip to explore the country,…
The native kamahi tree is one of the trees that comprise the goblin forests in New Zealand. Read all about this common native forest tree here. One of the very first hikes I did upon arrival in New Zealand was a short walk on Mt.…
Cathedral Cove is a must do hike that is fun any time of year. This walk on the Coromandel Peninsula is one of the best short walks in New Zealand. The Coromandel Peninsula is a lovely part of New Zealand that has amazing beaches, offshore…
The Pouakai Crossing is the premiere day walk on Mt. Taranaki. This long day walk has stunning views, various terrain, and doesn’t climb too much. The other day I was thinking about all of the day walks on Mt. Taranaki, trying to decide which is…