NZ Novice - Some random questions

3 weeks in NZ (mostly S Island) in February - can you help:

- best places (and agencies) for Skydiving?
- suggestions for some shorter (2day) tramps on S Island (I'll have a car).
I'm doing a 5-dayer in Aspiring NP, and probably won't have time for another
longone - are the 'great walks' really that great - or are there quieter
equally spectacular ones?

Any help, or other random tips you'd offer an NZ novice much appreciated
Graham, London UK

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 20:36:24 -0000, in message
, Graham wrote:

- suggestions for some shorter (2day) tramps on S Island (I'll have a car).

Some suggested two-day tramps

• Cobb Valley to Fenella Hut, & return.
• Welcome Flat (soak in the hot pool) & return.
• Inland Pack Track [leave car in Punakaiki = South end of
track, get bus to Fox River = North end of track, walk track]
• Cass-Lagoon track.

I'm doing a 5-dayer in Aspiring NP, and probably won't have time for another
longone - are the 'great walks' really that great - or are there quieter
equally spectacular ones?

IMO both. The 'great walks' are great, but they also generally have
easier access and better huts than the quieter ones.


--
Cheers,
Ralph

Change is inevitable. Progress is optional.

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 20:36:24 -0000, in message
, Graham wrote:

- suggestions for some shorter (2day) tramps on S Island (I'll have a car).

Some suggested two-day tramps

• Cobb Valley to Fenella Hut, & return.
• Welcome Flat (soak in the hot pool) & return.
• Inland Pack Track [leave car in Punakaiki = South end of
track, get bus to Fox River = North end of track, walk track]
• Cass-Lagoon track.

I'm doing a 5-dayer in Aspiring NP, and probably won't have time for another
longone - are the 'great walks' really that great - or are there quieter
equally spectacular ones?

IMO both. The 'great walks' are great, but they also generally have
easier access and better huts than the quieter ones.


--
Cheers,
Ralph

Change is inevitable. Progress is optional.

in article , Graham at
wrote on 1/1/05 9:36 AM:

3 weeks in NZ (mostly S Island) in February - can you help:

- best places (and agencies) for Skydiving?
- suggestions for some shorter (2day) tramps on S Island (I'll have a car).
I'm doing a 5-dayer in Aspiring NP, and probably won't have time for another
longone - are the 'great walks' really that great - or are there quieter
equally spectacular ones?

Any help, or other random tips you'd offer an NZ novice much appreciated
Graham, London UK


Another suggestion in Arthurs Pass is Casey Saddle/Casey Hut/Binzer Saddle -
you don't have to backtrack on this one. If you are prepared to "splash
out" some serious money the South Coast Track is wonderful - you walk along
the southern coast of the SI for 1 day & through old "cut-over" beech forest
on the 2nd day, including some spectacular trestle rail viaducts. To save
turning round & walking out you can arrange for the Hump Ridge jet boat to
pick you up and drive you 2.5 hr up white water.

Vicki

in article , Graham at
wrote on 1/1/05 9:36 AM:

3 weeks in NZ (mostly S Island) in February - can you help:

- best places (and agencies) for Skydiving?
- suggestions for some shorter (2day) tramps on S Island (I'll have a car).
I'm doing a 5-dayer in Aspiring NP, and probably won't have time for another
longone - are the 'great walks' really that great - or are there quieter
equally spectacular ones?

Any help, or other random tips you'd offer an NZ novice much appreciated
Graham, London UK


Another suggestion in Arthurs Pass is Casey Saddle/Casey Hut/Binzer Saddle -
you don't have to backtrack on this one. If you are prepared to "splash
out" some serious money the South Coast Track is wonderful - you walk along
the southern coast of the SI for 1 day & through old "cut-over" beech forest
on the 2nd day, including some spectacular trestle rail viaducts. To save
turning round & walking out you can arrange for the Hump Ridge jet boat to
pick you up and drive you 2.5 hr up white water.

Vicki