Nine year old Emma Keeler writes about the adventures her family had during their overnight stay at Beebys Hut.
Continue Reading...Archives For 30/11/1999
By Chrissy Wickes, Biodiversity Ranger, Te Anau
My partner, our child and I recently biked the Queen Charlotte Track.
Setting out on the Queen Charlotte Track
It was a challenging but fun adventure with our two and a half year old son Shannon. It was obvious that Shannon enjoyed the camping experience and being in the bush.
Shannon in his chariot
The Queen Charlotte track was good enough for Shannon’s chariot to be attached to our bikes and we only had to push the chariot for around one tenth of the track. The rest of the track is ridable if you are fit, which luckily my partner is and he was even able to pull the chariot up some small sharp steep hills that I had to walk.
Along the track
We took it pretty slow along the track to make it more comfy over the more rough terrain. Some sections were gorgeous and smooth, others were rocky and a bit rooty.
A spot of dancing?
We chose to take the road from Cowshed Bay to Mistletoe turnoff just to avoid a big hill that we would have most likely just pushed up rather than ride. This was a great decision!
Give me a push
We got all our gear water taxied to our next camp spot which was so great. We met some lovely people on the way. The tops were gorgeous with some stunning views of the sounds.
Stunning views
I would recommend this adventure only in really good weather which we were lucky to have. The clay surface of this track would mean that a bit of rain could make it quite yucky!
How about that view?
Experience the Queen Charlotte Track
In the heart of the Marlborough Sounds, the Queen Charlotte Track stretches 71 km.The track is suitable for both walkers and mountain bike riders, taking 3-5 days to complete walking, or 2-3 days for mountain bikers. You can find more information on the DOC website.
Abby Hamilton
Abby Hamilton
Position and office:
Ranger, Community Relations, Visitor Centre, Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Are you a Family camper, a Glamper, or a Wilderness wanderer?
A Wilderness wanderer (in a tent or the back of the car), and my goal is to holiday in my caravan in secluded spots, like in the picture below (friends’ and family’s properties in the wilderness, and DOC sites etc..), more often!
The caravan that Abby used to live in while studying at Lincoln University
Arna Litchfield
Position and office:
Permissions Advisor, Hamilton Shared Service Centre
Are you a Family camper, a Glamper, or a Wilderness wanderer?
I don’t often get out camping, but did have an awesome long weekend at Matai Bay a few years back with friends. While I could handle the cold showers while I was there, I was a very happy lady when I got home and got back to hot water…. So I would say that I’d have a tendancy to glamp where the opportunity is there 🙂
Arna and a couple of friends at Cooks Beach last summer
Simon Mazzotti
Position and office:
Ranger, Visitor Information, Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre (Wanaka).
Are you a Family camper, a Glamper, or a Wilderness wanderer?
A mix of Wilderness wanderer (when I’m away on my own) and car-camper (when I have to make a few comfort concessions to convince friends to join in).
Simon and his mates play cricket at Lake Wanaka
By Herb Christophers
Since I was a nipper in the backyard with an old woven mat pegged to the fence line, I have enjoyed camping outdoors! My first real pup tent was demolished in short order. It was like a light bed sheet held up by toothpicks’ – looked good but didn’t work properly!’
Herb’s family camp site
So, by the time I had been tramping over many years in many places – mostly with just a fly or a small tent, I was a dyed-in-the-wool camper! I did not find it difficult to adapt to a larger canvas tent when a family came along. I just applied the same principles as my lightweight days and accepted that I did not have to carry the load on my back!
Ashley from Greenland learns to turn a steak
My wife would have liked a spiral staircase but they don’t do those in canvas. Even so, I wondered how we used to fill the three rooms of a canvas mansion that spilled out to resemble a small village after the kids had decided that they wanted their own little tents! In spite of this, we have always kept it simple and resisted the temptation to get too high tech which is why we prefer the less well appointed campsites. We enjoy places where making do gives you a real sense of achievement and a healthy respect for the environment and what it can provide.
The kids hang out
Over the years we have had some great camping holidays and my wife and I still take a small tent away with us to pitch at a convenient DOC campsite.
Coastal areas have always been favourites. The sounds and smells of the sea are so relaxing and even the sound of the wind tugging in the trees is something that keeps me in touch with the forces of nature. I tend to be a bit of a geek too. Out come the binocs – kaka here, dotterel there, heron over yonder by the banded rail… Summer in the sun!
Variable oystercatcher spotted at the beach
So, as summer holidays approach I bust out the tent and all the other paraphernalia, pitch it in the backyard to check it out and think back a few decades to when the adventure began!
Camping on the Coromandel coast
