Tramping through farmland

I would probably not have posted this query had not I found something to
answer to give on aus.bushwalking, but now I have posted there twice, I
cannot resist another try (addictive, is not it ?)

(fu2 rec.travel.australia+nz)

I am leaving for New-Zealand in nine days, intending to do a good amount
of tramping. Lonely Planet guidebook and the web gave me loads of
information about "serious" moutains, so I don't really need advice
about that.

But I am definitely curious of lower hills, places with elevation under
say 1000 m, optimally with sheep grazing. For those who have my
knowledge my good old Europe, places like the Basque country, the
Scottish borders or Exmoor.

I have seen the relation to private property seems quite different there
than in my good old France, where hiking anywhere is tolerated as far as
one makes no special nuisance. So it seems necessary to find
institutional tracks to follow -and it is probably also necessary for
safety.

Presently, I have found interesting directions mainly around
Christchurch, the most obvious being Banks Peninsula Track, another
being (thanks Lonely Planet) the Kaikoura Coast Track.

I would be much interested in other suggestions, especially in North
Island, and more especially in the western part of North Island.

--
Pierre Lavaurs, from Lyon, France
My walks in Europe on http://www.lavaurs.com/enMain

in article , Pierre Lavaurs at
wrote on 1/2/04 1:23 AM:

I would probably not have posted this query had not I found something to
answer to give on aus.bushwalking, but now I have posted there twice, I
cannot resist another try (addictive, is not it ?)

(fu2 rec.travel.australia+nz)

I am leaving for New-Zealand in nine days, intending to do a good amount
of tramping. Lonely Planet guidebook and the web gave me loads of
information about "serious" moutains, so I don't really need advice
about that.

But I am definitely curious of lower hills, places with elevation under
say 1000 m, optimally with sheep grazing. For those who have my
knowledge my good old Europe, places like the Basque country, the
Scottish borders or Exmoor.

I have seen the relation to private property seems quite different there
than in my good old France, where hiking anywhere is tolerated as far as
one makes no special nuisance. So it seems necessary to find
institutional tracks to follow -and it is probably also necessary for
safety.

Presently, I have found interesting directions mainly around
Christchurch, the most obvious being Banks Peninsula Track, another
being (thanks Lonely Planet) the Kaikoura Coast Track.

I would be much interested in other suggestions, especially in North
Island, and more especially in the western part of North Island.

In spite of what your guide books might suggest there are in fact hundreds
of hiking trails across farmland in NZ. Many of these have been collected
together under the banner of "Walkways NZ" - they use a destinctive stylised
"W" sign to show the way. Individual farmers have the right to ban access
at lambing time but otherwise walkers are free to cross private land. You
can actually walk the length of NZ on these tracks. Around the Waikato
there are walks near Raglan, up Mt Pirongia etc. Near Chch there are walks
that criss-cross the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula.

Try the DOC website - www.doc.govt.nz or ask at local Visitor Centres for
local knowledge.
Vicki