New Zealand,  Oceania

AtoZ: G is for Great Walks

Después de regresar de Nueva Zelanda, nuestra backet list tiene un elemento más: # completar los nueve Great Walks. Los nueve Great Walks son: Tongariro Northern Circuit, Lake Waikaremoana Track y Whanganui Journey en la Isla Norte, Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Kepler Track, Heaphy Track and Abel Tasman Coastal Track en la Isla Sur, y Rakiura Track en la Isla Steward.

After coming back from New Zealand, our bucket list has one more item: # complete all nine Great Walks. The nine Great Walk are: Tongariro Northern Circuit, Lake Waikaremoana Track and Whanganui Journey in the North Island, Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Kepler Track, Heaphy Track and Abel Tasman Coastal Track in the Sputh Island, and Rakiura Track in Steward Island.

Tongariro crossing - red crater
Tongariro crossing

Durante nuestra luna de miel en Nueva Zelanda saboreamos algunos de los Great Walks. Caminamos 28km de la 46 kilometros del Tongariro Crossing (adivinad cuál será la letra T). Tongariro ofrece un paisaje muy dramático y cambiante. Llegar a la cima es difícil, pero una vez arriba, el esfuerzo es recompensado con unas vistas espectaculares.

During our honeymoon in New Zealand, we already got a taste of the Great Walks. We walked 28km of the 46km of the Tongariro Crossing (guess what would be letter T).  The Tongariro is one with very dramatic and changing landscape. Getting to the top is hard, but one you are there, you’re rewarded with magnificent views.

Tongariro crossing - Emerals Lakes
Tongariro crossing – Emerals Lakes

Si lo que os gustan son las vistas el Routeburn track ofrece también un paisaje muy variado: bosques, flora alpina, lagos, cascadas y vistas panorámicas. nosotros subimos a la Key Summit y al principio andas por el bosque, pero una vez que la vegetación se abre, sólo ves montañas a tu alrededor.

If you are looking for views also the Routeburn Track offers diverse scenery: forests, alpine flora, lakes, several waterfalls and panoramic views. We walked up to the Key Summit and at the beginning you walk through forest, but once it opens, you get mountains all around you.

Routeburn track - Key Summit
Routeburn track – Key Summit

No muy lejos del Routeburn track está el Milford Track, que es el más famoso. Es la caminata que tienes que reservar por lo menos con 3 meses de anticipación. En nuestro primer día en Nueva Zelanda fuimos a un centro de información DOC y sólo quedaban dos plazas para primeros de marzo, pero las fechas estaban tan cerca que tendríamos que haber ido a matacaballo para llegar a tiempo. Si volvemos, esta sería la primera caminata que me encantaría hacer.

Also not far from Routeburn track is the Milford Track, which is the most famous one. It’s the one that you need to book at least 3 months in ahead. on our first day in New Zealand we went to the a DOC site and there were to places for March, but the dates were so close that we would had to rush to get there. This one would be the first track I would love to do.

Milford Sound
Milford Sound

Yo creo que no hay excusa para no caminar los Great Walks. Si tienes niños (quizás la próxima vez que vayamos a Nueva Zelanda Laura, Angel y los dos peques se nos unan) puedes elegir caminos sencillas. Para mí, la caminata perfecta para una familia es el Abel Tasman Coastal Trak. Se peude empezar en cualquier parte porque los water taxis  te pueden llevar a una de las muchas bahías, es fácil de caminar y tú decides la duración de la caminata cada día ¿Qué os parece la idea, Laura?

For me there is no excuse for not walking the tracks. If you have children (maybe next time we go to NZ Laura, Angel and the two kids will join us), you can still walk. For me the perfect walk for a family is the Abel Tasman Coastal Trak. You can start anywhere as the water taxis can bring you to one of the many bays, it’s easy to walk and you decide the length of the walk each day. Doesn’t it sound like a plan, Laura?

Abel Tasman Coastal Track
Abel Tasman Coastal Track

¿Vais a añadir los Great Walks a vuestra bucket list? ¿Quereis hacer un Great Walk pero necesitáis el último empujoncito? ¿Y si pudierais ganar el vuelo de ida y vuelta, un pase para las cabañas de un paseo a tu elección y equipamineto de Katmandú para cuatro personas? Bueno pues podéis participar en “win your own Great Walk” hasta el domingo. Si ganais y sois dos, nosotros estaríamos más que dispuestos a acompañaros 😉 os ofrecemos nuestro “servicio” como grandes cocineros, ja,ja,ja

Would you add the Great Walks to your bucket list? Do you wish to do a Great Walk but do you need the last push? What if you could win return flights, hut passes for the walk of your choice and Kathmandu gear for four people? Well, you can enter “win your own Great Walk” until Sunday. If you win and it’s the two of you, we would be more than happy to accompany you 😉 we offer our “service” as great cookers too, LOL

7 Comments

  • Molly

    Your pictures made my jaw drop!
    BTW, I entered to win the trip AND I told them I’d bring you guys if I win. So, I hope your offer to cook stands. 🙂

  • Rhonda @Laugh Quotes

    Stunning photos. My niece has been visiting us since January and she has done the Kepler track and the part of the Tongariro Crossing.

    Rhonda

    • shere

      I think no matter the walk you do, there’s always something that will make you remember. Tongariro was the one I had in my mind since I saw pictures from a friend.

  • Emmly Jane

    What lovely photos. I may need to add this to my bucket list. Step one is to get in shape!

    • shere

      well, you can go there and get in shape. Starting with the easy walks and ending with the more challenging one. The good thing is that you can decide some of the distances (one walk can be made in 3 or 5 days depending on the distance you walk every day)

  • shere

    we also left a piece of ours there. It’s just a shame it’s so far from Europe, but we want to come back in the future.

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