Mary Jane Walker's Blog: Adventures at Snow Farm Part 1 – Skiing with a broken shoulder! , page 18

Wonderful Whakapapa

This post is about a visit to the Whakapapa area of Mount Ruapehu, on the mountain's north-western flank. You can go from lowland forest with scenic waterfalls such as Tawhai Falls, the site of Gollum's Pool in the LOTR movies, past the Chateau Tongariro (modelled on the chateau at Canada's Lake Louise) and on up by the Sky Waka cable car to The Pinnacles restaurant, the highest eatery in Aotearoa/NZ at 2,020 metres (6,627 feet) and from there, even, to climb to the top at 2,797 m (9,177 feet).

To the Top of Taranaki: In the footsteps of Tahurangi

On the 10th of January this year (2022) I climbed Mount Taranaki, after arriving in New Plymouth from the north via Uruti and spending an afternoon on the 8th at the magical Bowl of Brooklands. I spent the night of the 9th at the Taranaki Alpine Club's excellent Tahurangi Lodge, named after the first person to light a fire in the crater of Mount Taranaki, and then another night there to recuperate before heading all the way down.

Te Henga (Bethells Beach), Karekare, and Mercer Bay

Just after New Year's Day, 2022, I went out to Te Henga, also known as Bethells Beach, and then the next night to Karekare Beach, to see the sunsets over the Tasman Sea. I explored the cave at Bethells Beach. I also talk about the amazing Mercer Bay which lies between, formally Te Unuhanga-a-Rangitoto/Mercer Bay.

Muriwai Beach and the Gannets

Muriwai Beach is to Auckland as Bondi is to Sydney. It's a lot wilder and more remote, though, and comes with a gannet colony!

Te Ara T��hura: The Hillary Trail Gets an Upgrade. Part 1 ��� Huia to Whatipu via ��manawanui

The area of hills and coast west of Auckland is surprisingly wild, considering that it's so close to a major city. In this post, I revisit the area and talk about the reopened section of Te Ara T��hura/The Hillary Trail that runs from Huia to Whatipu in the south. Next week, I will talk about the section of the trail that runs from Te Henga to Muriwai in the north.

Stewart Island/Rakiura: New Zealand's Isle of Blushing Skies, and its Tracks (Part Two: Into the West)

This is the second part of a two-part post about the wonderful island known as Rakiura, or Stewart Island. Part two is an account of my time hiking into the western part of the island in November 2021.

The Isle of Blushing Skies: New Zealand's remote Stewart Island/Rakiura, and its Tracks (Part Two: Into the West)

This is the second part of a two-part post about the wonderful island known as Rakiura, or Stewart Island. Part two is an account of my time hiking into the western part of the island in November 2021.

The Twilight of the Gods (the tale of fire and ice)

Chapter 10 of Incredible Iceland

Erik the Red���s Homestead

Chapter 9 of Incredible Iceland

The Lord of the Rings and Narnia (original version)

Chapter 8 of Incredible Iceland