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Christmas in the southern hemisphere

Department of Conservation — 27/01/2014

By Marysia Mcsperrin, DOC Communications Advisor

Marysia Mcsperrin

Having moved over from London in April last year, the Christmas break featured a lot of firsts for me. It was my first Christmas away from home, friends and family, the first warm(ish) one in the southern hemisphere and the first one where, instead of a roast dinner with all the trimmings for Christmas lunch, we ate sandwiches in the car!

Me and my partner decided to spend the break taking a road trip around the South Island, down the West Coast and back up the east. We didn’t do any real tramping or camping though, just a lot of stop-offs at stunning locations.

Hokitika Gorge

We saw some amazing sights and had a chance to really appreciate the diversity and beauty of New Zealand’s natural landscapes. It was hard to choose my highlights but a few places stuck out for me.

Christmas Day stop-off and people were building stone Christmas trees

Firstly, Hokitika Gorge, which is about 30 km inland from Hokitika. We would’ve missed this if our helpful hostel owner hadn’t insisted we go and I’m so glad we did. It featured the most unreal turquoise-coloured water I’ve ever seen.

Lake Pukaki

Another place that took my breath away was Lake Pukaki, on the drive between Queenstown and Christchurch. Again, we weren’t intending to stop here but the amazing alpine blue water was quite mesmerizing, and we had to take a closer look.

Hector’s dolphins

We finished our trip whale watching in Kaikoura, which was an incredible experience – spotting two sperm whales and pods of hector’s and dusky dolphins. It was an amazing way to spend my first Christmas break in the southern hemisphere.

Sperm whale

In Native animals, West Coast Christmas, Gorge, Hokitika, Lake Pukaki, Roadtrip, South Island, Southern hemisphere, Summer, West Coast

Marlborough campsites are waiting for you

Department of Conservation — 24/12/2013

By Clare Moore, Community Relations Ranger, Marlborough

If you’re not keen on camping you obviously haven’t explored one of our lovely Marlborough conservation campsites.

Momorangi campsite

I know campers can be a bit picky, so we cater to a range of campers and camping styles; from lush forest settings, to sandy beaches and shimmering lakes.

You can camp in scenic surroundings from as little as $6 a night.

Wilderness wanderer

For the wilderness wanderer, camping is definitely about getting away from it all. A bit of bush or forest perhaps, or maybe a tranquil lake or a bubbling brook… Ah, the serenity!

To satisfy your quest for peace and quiet, campsites off the beaten track are your best bet. They have toilets and a water supply (possibly a stream), and that’s probably it! You don’t need to book them either and some are even free.

In Marlborough there lots of campsites which would suit the wilderness wanderer, especially those in the Marlborough Sounds which you need a boat to reach, like Putanui Point, South Arm and Tawa Bay.

Molesworth Station. Photo: Gregor Ronald

If you are travelling by car you could visit Titirangi Farm Park in the outer Kenepuru Sound, Cob Cottage in Molesworth or Whatamango Bay on the Port Underwood Rd.

Family camper

Family campers have young ones that can dictate where you can go.

To keep them happy, and yourself sane, you’ll need access to activities in the area to occupy them—and it wouldn’t hurt to have a few facilities to help make things simpler.

Most family campers don’t mind having other families and campers around, and like the idea that an ice-cream treat isn’t too far away!

Pelorus Bridge and Whites Bay are perfect for families – good facilities, safe swimming areas, plenty of walks and not too far to travel.

White’s Bay beach

Glamper

If the thought of camping freaks you out a little, because you don’t want to use a long drop and would rather not go without a shower, then you might just be a glamper (glamour camper). You know that camping is a fun, social summer ‘must-do’, but you want to ease in to it gently.

At these sites there may not be cell phone reception, and there won’t be a power plug for your hair straightener sorry, but you will find showers and won’t be too far from an ice cream, or a coffee if you’re lucky!

Glampers in Marlborough should check out French Pass campsite or Momorangi Bay.

French Pass campsite

Check out the DOC website to find links to more conservation campsites in Marlborough, and the rest of New Zealand, and dust off your tent, air out the chilly bin, and get out and create some long-lasting memories in our great outdoors.

In Camping Campers, Campsites, French Pass, marlborough, molesworth, Pelorus Birdge, Putanui Point, Sounds, Summer, Tawa Bay

Win a trip to Great Barrier Island

Kurt Sharpe — 29/08/2013

The Grand Prize for Conservation Week 2013 is an amazing Great Barrier Island holiday package – the perfect summer getaway for you and three others.

Great Barrier Island beach. Photo: Andris Apse.

One of the beautiful beaches on Great Barrier Island

I’ve heard Great Barrier Island described as a remote, tranquil and untouched paradise. My Auckland friends who are lucky enough to holiday there induce jealousy every summer by raving about the pristine beaches, the unique wildlife and the relaxed vibe of the island – if you are reading this I’m still waiting for my invite!

The island boasts scenic mountain biking trails, walking tracks that weave through coastal forests, and isolated coves to snorkel and explore. It’s also perfect for those who want to do a bit of boating, kayaking or fishing. If all that sounds a bit too exhausting, there is always the chance to retreat to the Kaitoke Hot Springs to relax at the end of the day.

Kayaking in a cove on Great Barrier Island.

There are plenty of activities to do on the island like mountain biking and kayaking

All you have to do to win is to make a pledge for Conservation Week, it’s nothing too strenuous. Simply head to the Conservation Week website, choose a nature-related activity for your pledge and fill in the form. Your pledge can be as simple as changing your Facebook cover photo or something ambitious like planning a Great Walk.

What’s your whānau doing for Conservation Week?

There are also loads of great spot prizes to be given away to those who share their pledges through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest using #pledgefornz. So what are you waiting for? Head over and make your pledge today.

Stay connected this summer

Kurt Sharpe — 28/12/2012

Camping is often seen as a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, away from the work phone calls and emails flooding your inbox. But not everyone is so keen to undertake the digital detox and cut themselves off for a week long camping adventure.

Luckily all is not lost for the keen campers who want to stay connected this summer. Technological advances now give you the means to rough it in a tent while still keeping in touch with what is going on in the outside world. Here are three tips to make it easier to stay connected while camping these holidays:

Some still want to rough it and stay connected this summer

1) Check your campsites coverage

The Department of Conservation manages over 200 campsites throughout New Zealand, and while mobile reception can be patchy when you are out enjoying our wonderful natural scenery there are some things you can prepare for. Check up on your mobile carriers coverage before choosing your campsite. All major carriers have detailed maps on what the likely mobile coverage will be:

Telecom
Vodafone
2Degrees

Mobile coverage signal boosters are also an option and are available online and in some electronic stores.

The screen of death for many a summer camper

2) Use alternative energy sources

While a lack of power plugs may limit the life of a smartphone when you are out camping there are plenty of other ways to charge that iPhone or Android mobile. Portable battery chargers, that run off AA batteries, are available from all good electronic stores and as long as you have enough long lasting batteries, they should see you through most camping trips.

Solar chargers are also an option, presuming a plentiful supply of sun is on hand this summer. They are a great, clean and renewable source of electricity to keep you charged.

If you need a bit more of a physical work out while camping there are also hand crank options to keep you powered up while you get back in touch with nature. So long as you have the energy to keep manually charging up your phone this is the perfect option.

Portable solar chargers are a perfect summer gift

3) Choose a Wi-Fi hotspot holiday

Yes they really exist. Whananaki, Cable Bay, Uretiti Beach are to name a few connected campsites but all up there are more than 100 Wi-Fi hotspots in popular summer regions throughout New Zealand this summer, including Northland, the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty Tasman and Queenstown Lakes. This will help keep you connected all summer long.

So what are you waiting for? It is time to start preparing for your first connected camping adventure. Remember though that being connected is not what your camping trip is about – take time to enjoy the surroundings and activities away from your mobile devices and appreciate the beautiful places you get to explore. If the technology fails don’t panic, enjoy camping!

Stay connected even at the beach

Do you have any other tips for staying connected while camping? Leave them in the comment section below.

In Camping Camper, Camping, Charger, Connected, Email, Holiday, iPhone, Phones, Solar, Summer

Spot a fairy tern this Christmas

— 21/12/2012

How cute is this Christmas fairy tern. Unfortunately they won’t be as easy to spot this summer, given that there’s only 31 of them.

A fairy tern getting in to the Christmas spirit

If you’re around Mangawhai, Waipu and the Pakari River, have a read of these suggestions (they also apply to dotterel breeding areas as well):

Leave the dog at home/don’t take it to the beach, or at least have it on a leash.

Stay out of taped-off nesting areas, and don’t linger while parent birds are doing distraction displays or appear agitated – while they are preoccupied with you they are not tending to their eggs or chicks.

Fishermen should bury their scraps to avoid feeding and attracting black-backed gulls.

Walk below the high tide mark, to avoid standing on nests, which are higher up on the beach.

Motorbikes and four-wheel drives on beaches are not good for shorebirds, and prohibited in many places anyway.

Keep away from birds doing dive-bombs cause that means they’re agitated.

Fairy tern eggs playing hide and seek

A fairy tern is banded and released by DOC staff

In Native animals Beach, Christmas, Dotterel, fairy tern, Mangawhai, Pakari, Summer, Waipu

Archives For 30/11/1999

Christmas in the southern hemisphere