It is Easter and we have decided to set up for Otago to cycle the Clutha Gold Trail - one of New Zealand's Great Rides. This is one of 22 Great Rides in NZ - download the App - Search for Great Rides. First Night Lawrence - It's Easter - Let's Stay in a Church! It is Good Friday - and we are staying in a church - how cool is that! It has been moved 20 kms … [Read more...]
Lake Sumner – trying out the 4WD
What is the worst thing that can happen - the car stops and we are stuck. No mobile reception. I suppose a big butch 4WD could soon come along and rescue us... I wonder how deep it is.... Deep breath, keep breathing and drive through it, whatever you do don't stop. More heavy breathing as I realise it is deeper than I thought. Keep … [Read more...]
Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail – Diary of a Support Driver
The Alps to Ocean Cycle trail is a 4-6 day ride from Mt Cook (necessitating ahelicopter ride) or Tekapo. Six of us are heading off to start it, and I have volunteered to be the support vehicle, with my electric bike on the back, I plan to do a bit of the trail along the way. Cycle Journeys – local A2O specialists You do not need a support vehicle – Cycle Journeys were … [Read more...]
Accommodation on the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail
This summer I was the support vehicle for a group of friends doing the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail. I took my electric bike along and joined in for some of the best parts of the trail - you can read about it here. This fantastic 300 km ride goes from Aoraki Mt Cook (or Lake Tekapo) in the South Island of New Zealand. It takes you through some amazing country - past beautiful … [Read more...]
Queen Charlotte Sound by Water
You can explore the Queen Charlotte Sounds at the top of the South Island of New Zealand by foot, by mountain bike or by boat. Queen Charlotte Walkway is famous Stretching between the Queen Charlotte and Keneperu Sound. A 70km track renowned for its stunning views and contrasting landscape, historical landmarks and wonderful variety of native bush and wildlife. Last … [Read more...]
Blenheim – a great biking town
We are staying in a cabin at the Top 10 Holiday Park on the edge of Blenheim, central, clean and friendly. This is definitely a great biking town We have brought our bikes along, but we could have hired them here or several of the bike shops in town. We quickly discover the trails beside the river which go for miles on both sides, for some of the time alongside a small … [Read more...]
Wine – Organic and Marlborough
We have often enjoyed Peter Yealands Wine and heard that it was organic and sustainably produced, so the chance to visit the Vineyard was too good to pass up on our way north to Blenheim We turned off towards the coast from Seddon, the sun was low in the west casting a beautiful glow over the rows of vines in their autumn glory – yet to be pruned, their leaves reflected the … [Read more...]
White and Windy – Bird Watching at Muriwai –
https://www.womentravelnz.com/bird-watching-muriwai/(opens in a new tab) It had been some time since I had taken the drive out to Muriwai on the west coast of Auckland, one day in November a friend visiting Auckland for an ecology conference was just the excuse I needed. I was reading a lot about birdwatching on learnbirdwatching.com and this was a too good a chance to miss … [Read more...]
Women Go AWOL
Inside out Adventures is an Auckland Based travel company who organises adventures for independent travelers. Mary Somervel has developed an offshoot of this business called AWOL adventures - especially for women. AWOL = Adventurous Women on the Loose Read some of AWOL's latest adventures Maungatautari Mountain weekend Middle Earth at Maungatautari Mountain … [Read more...]
Covertogs – Five Reasons I love them!
There was a time when I longed to expose as much of my body to the sun for as long as I could. There are several reasons why this is no longer true: These days because of the lack of Ozone layer around New Zealand and Australia, the sun is vicious and we are advised to not spend so long in it, or to cover up when we are in the sun. I have a middle aged body which is now … [Read more...]