Latest news with #GreatWalks
NZ Herald
4 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Great Walks with kids: A family's adventure through NZ's trails
For quality, screen-free family time, a Great Walk really delivers. You are largely off-grid and out in nature together, with several hours of walking – and potential talking time – each day. Our kids usually take turns leading and dropping back to chat with their packhorse parents. Once at the huts, it's more family bonding as you unwind from the day, share some treats and cook dinner. It's all very Brady Bunch until it inevitably isn't; for example, when someone knocks over his Milo and completely soaks his only spare set of clothes. The Kepler Track in Fiordland. Photo / Tourism NZ It's easy to get blasé about New Zealand's natural beauty and dramatic landscapes. The Great Walks will jolt you out of any such complacency. Even the kids, usually indifferent to calendar-worthy views, found plenty to delight in. Walking through the otherworldly and iron-flat South Crater on the Tongariro Circuit, surrounded by craggy, volcanic terrain and the famous cone of Ngauruhoe, was a surreal and awe-inspiring experience. To my imaginative 10-year-old, we were in dragon country. The Heaphy Hut was another highlight, overlooking the point where the Heaphy River meets the roiling Tasman Sea. As we soaked in the scene, fringed by nikau palms and resplendent in the sunset, the kids revelled on the river bank, hunting for treasures and dipping in and out of the cool, clean river current. Start small to build confidence As with any holiday with kids, adequate preparation is important. Having ticked off a few day walks in our home region of Hawke's Bay, we had already established that the kids were very capable, if not always enthusiastic, walkers. We thoroughly researched each walk before booking (the Department of Conservation has extensive information on its website – including track descriptions, potential hazards, gear lists and difficulty ratings for each walk. For pre-walk training, we put our half-full packs on and headed up our local mountain, Te Mata Peak, tramping similar distances, time-frames and elevations as we'd face on our upcoming walk. And yes, we did get some odd looks. Te Mata Peak offers a good opportunity as a trial walk. Photo / Kirsten Simcox Embrace early starts and bush toilets When on the tracks, we usually set off early – giving plenty of time to complete the day's distance. Often, there are natural stops along the way – other huts and shelters, lookouts, points of interest – and breaking the day up into chunks is a great way to keep kids motivated. You'll also be stopping when nature calls, and I'm not talking about birdsong. Realistically, and despite your repeated pleas to use available facilities, you may be dealing with an urgent bowel motion on the most remote part of the track. In this situation, you'll need a compostable bag, or a trowel and a spot well away from the track, campsites and any water. Chalk it up as a new experience for young and old. Abel Tasman National Park. Photo / Tourism NZ Lean into a little make-believe Keeping morale up on a long day of walking required a mix of games and deep-dive conversations into our children's latest interests. On the Abel Tasman, we were hard into the Harry Potter phase and every third stick we encountered was assessed for its spell-casting potential. There's a limit, of course, to how many of the 1000-plus Pokemon characters you can bear to hear about, or how much I Spy you can play in the bush. This is where outright bribes in the form of cold, hard candy come in. They work on adults too. Plan post-hiking fun Arriving at the hut after a day of walking can be a religious experience. Don't get too comfortable though, as your kids will inexplicably still have energy to burn. Once you've bagged your bunks (fellow trampers are usually very reasonable about letting families bunk in the same room), be prepared to go exploring around the huts – there is often a postcard-perfect waterfall, swimming hole or vista just a short walk away. Back at the hut, it's time to break out the snacks and diversions. Some huts have a collection of puzzles, cards and games, but it's a good idea to take your own too. The Great Walks challenge began on the Abel Tasman Coast Track. Photo / Claire Rogers Keep mealtimes simple For meals, we kept it simple. Breakfasts (porridge mix) and dinners (a freeze-dried meal) were as easy as adding boiling water to the sachets, stirring the mix and letting them sit. Lunches and snacks were salami and bier sticks, wraps, energy bars, lollies, crackers and cheese. While the thought of a freeze-dried roast chicken meal – complete with mash and stuffing – may not have you salivating, our kids gave it rave reviews. Enjoy the break from the nightly battle over fresh veggies. Make friends along the way Stepping out on day one of the Abel Tasman track, we were a tad nervous as to how our fellow hut dwellers would receive our outgoing brood, who were 6, 8 and 9 at the time. We needn't have worried. The camaraderie in the huts is one of the best things about the Great Walks, and most of our walking companions have been delighted to see children tackling the tracks with them. We loved reuniting with our newfound friends each night, sharing stories from the day. One tramper went so far as to organise an epic 'backyard' cricket match for our would-be Black Caps, constructing a bat out of driftwood and converting an avocado stone into a ball with strapping tape. On the wall in our home office, there's a Great Walk map. The kids love to look at the distances and climbs they've conquered, the huts they've lodged in, and remember the people we met along the way. When you sign up for a Great Walk with kids, you are signing up for a challenge. But the family memories made, the soul-nourishing scenery, and the immense and collective sense of achievement each time have us coming back for more.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- RNZ News
International visitor numbers back to 93% of pre-Covid figures
Bookings at Department of Conservation huts, campsites and Great Walks brought in more than $13 million last summer. Aoraki Mount Cook is one of the most popular national parks. Photo: Getty Images The department's latest visitor insights showed almost 670,000 bednights were booked between December and February - a 12 percent increase on the previous year - with revenue up by more than 18 percent. Department of Conservation heritage and visitors director Catherine Wilson said landscapes and scenery remained top attractions for international visitors and short walks were still the most popular outdoor activity across the board. "Over summer, international visitor numbers were back to 93 percent of pre-Covid figures with more than 50 percent heading to a national park during their visit," she said. "Huts and campsite fees ensure people make a fair contribution when they stay in these places and help keep facilities available into the future." Fiordland and Aoraki Mount Cook were the two most popular national parks. "Almost 75 percent of international visitors enjoy walks or tramps during their time in New Zealand and 99 percent rated New Zealand's natural scenery as good or very good," Wilson said. Coastal areas and marine reserves were also popular with New Zealanders, but not without problems, she said. "Sadly, there was also persistent illegal fishing or collecting shellfish in marine reserves with 101 confirmed offences and 79 infringements between October 2024 to March 2025." The reserves Te Whanganui-o-Hei on the Coromandel Peninsula, Horoirangi in Tasman Bay, and Long Bay-Okura in Auckland saw the highest number of offences. "This behaviour is truly disappointing, and we've seen wider issues across the country this summer. This includes dogs attacking wildlife, people driving through endangered river-bird colonies and irresponsible camping harming vulnerable natural areas like alpine wetlands," Wilson said. The department's data showed almost 60,000 people hiked a Great Walk between December and February, 60 percent of whom were New Zealanders. Outside of the Great Walks, more than 450,000 bednights were booked at campsites and 70,000 in huts over this period.
Time Out
18-07-2025
- Time Out
This beautiful 15-kilometre hiking trail has just opened on the NSW South Coast (complete with interactive map)
The hiking scene in NSW is on the up and up. Thanks to the Great Walks initiative, new trails are opening up across the state, ranging from epic multi-day mountain routes to small, remote tracks connecting beautiful, secluded beaches. The Grand Cliff Top Walk opened in early 2024 in the Blue Mountains, and in the summer of 2024, the Snowies Alpine Walk was completed – an incredible four-day hike tracing mountain valleys and Australia's tallest peak. So far this year, we've seen an impressive 42-kilometre hike through the Byron hinterland join their ranks, along with a 20-kilometre coastal hike on the NSW South Coast. Now, we've got a new hiking story to share – with the Munjip Loop open now, just a few hours south of Sydney. What is the Munjip Trail? The Munjip Trail is a 15-kilometre coastal walk in the NSW South Coast region, tracing stunning coastlines and beautiful native bushland. The project was born way back in 2010, and after the devastating bushfires of 2019 ripped through the region, the Eurobodalla Council (with support from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and other local community funding bodies) invested $6.5 million in upgrading the walking trails between Batehaven and McKenzies Beach, allowing locals and visitors the chance to explore the region's magical coastline. The name 'Munjip' reportedly translates to 'walking together, let's go' in the local Dhurga language. To honour the heritage of the area, you'll find signage, artwork and audio guides along the trail sharing stories of the traditional custodians of the land and waters. And to make your walk a truly immersive experience, the Eurobodalla Council has launched an i nteractive map that will help you plan your adventure and learn about the area as you go. Where is the Munjip Trail? The Munjip Trail is located in the Eurobodalla region of NSW, around a four-hour drive south of Sydney. The trail extends from Batehaven to McKenzies Beach, with the starting point at Batehaven about seven minutes' drive from the centre of the coastal town of Batemans Bay. The trail finishes 15 kilometres down the coast at McKenzies Beach, after tracing the clifftops past several stunning beaches (including the picture book-perfect Malua Bay). How long is the Munjip Trail? The trail stretches for 15 kilometres along the beautiful Eurobodalla coastline, taking in dramatic headlands and dreamy hidden coves as well as some more urban stretches. If you venture to every optional lookout along the route, you'll be walking 18 kilometres in total – and we'd say it's worth opting in for those extra three kilometres for the views alone. Is the Munjip Trail an overnight hike? Without stops, the hike takes around five hours to complete – but it's not the kind of walk you want to rush. We'd recommend driving down south the day before and spending the night in the area, so you have the whole day to enjoy the hike and splash around in the beaches you pass along the way. Where to stay near the Munjip Trail Our top pick for accommodation nearby is Shelter: a beautifully restored 1970s beach shack overlooking the waves at Malua Bay (just a few sandy steps away from the trail). With an outdoor shower, sun-soaked deck and carefully curated record collection, it's the perfect base for your indoor-outdoor South Coast escape. Do you need to book to hike the Munjip Trail? There's no need to book to do the hike itself, but it's worth booking accommodation in advance. It's also worth thinking ahead when it comes to transport – either make sure you have a pick-up arranged, leave a car a the end point at McKenzies Beach or double-check the local bus timetable to make sure you can get to where you need to be once you've completed the trail. You can learn more and plan your adventure over here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter
Time Out
29-05-2025
- Time Out
This stunning coastal hike in NSW has reopened after a huge $14.9 million upgrade
Calling all hiking fans: One of the most stunning coastal hikes in NSW has just received a major $14.9 million upgrade, including the addition of two elevated campgrounds and new stretches of boardwalk. The Light to Light walk – named for its route from the historic Boyds Tower to Green Cape Lighthouse – traces a beautiful, dramatic stretch of the NSW Far South Coast through dreamy eucalypt forests and coastal heathland. The walking route has been a favourite in the area for decades, but the new upgrades have made it even better – with two new purpose-built hike-in campgrounds and improved tracks connecting walkers with rock platforms and taking walkers further onto the cliff edge for spectacular views. The two new campgrounds are located by the ocean at Mowarry Point and Hegartys Bay, each home to 10 elevated hardwood sleeping platforms and toilet facilities. The positions of the new campgrounds make for the perfect three-day, two-night hiking adventure, with day one involving a nine kilometre hike, day two taking in a 10-kilometre route and day three taking hikers on a final 13-kilometre hike to the beautiful Green Cape hikers can just book their camping spots and set off, but if you'd like some extra support, local operators offer tour guides, gear transfers and meals so all you have to worry about is putting one foot after the other. Don't have the time or strength to take on the whole thing? You can choose to just tackle sections of the route – choose your journey here. The Light to Light Walk is one of seven NSW Great Walks, with others including an incredible 42-kilometre hike in the Byron hinterland and a breathtaking 19-kilometre trail in the Blue Mountains. You can learn more about the NSW Great Walks over here. These are the best hikes close to campsites in NSW.
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Milford walk sells out in 30 minutes
McKinnon Pass on the Milford Track. PHOTOS: ODT FILES It takes up to four days to walk it, but 30 minutes is all it took yesterday for all Milford Track tickets for this season to sell out. High demand was expected for a chance to traverse the track and it was. Department of Conservation (Doc) visitor services manager Cameron Hyland was pleased with the interest. 'The opening of the Milford Great Walk has been a success, continuing the run of successful openings of all Great Walks bookings beginning May 13,'' he said. He said the booking system for the Milford Track worked well yesterday morning with 11,800 people queuing in the lobby at 9.30am to make bookings for just 7100 spots. ''The Milford Track effectively sold out around 10am - with 2000 bookings made - an average booking is for two to three people. ''Inevitably some people miss out given the high demand and limited supply for Milford Great Walk. ''We recommend checking back regularly - cancellations mean new spaces sometimes become available.'' Bookings also went smoothly yesterday with Lake Waikaremoana, Abel Tasman Coast and Paparoa Tracks, with 3300 bookings made in the first hour of opening and about 6000 users joining the queue. A new Great Walks booking system had reduced waiting time online to a few minutes, Doc said last week in a statement. The booking system had been plagued with issues in recent years, with system crashes, false starts and booking dates pushed back following high demand and technical glitches. - APL
