NZ - Options from Christchurch in Sept

[whatevermortal]

Hello everyone, my partner and I arrive in Christchurch at the beginning of Sept and we'd really like to start our 3 week trip off with a nice tramp, say 3-5 days. I'm not familiar with the area and from what I can see the 'classic' walks are all 12hr bus journeys away which doesn't quite appeal. Any recommendations for public transport applicable adventures?

Is Arthur's Pass suitable for someone who is moderately experienced but with zero alpine experience? I found quite a few options on the DOC site for this area but am not sure if they are appropriate for the time of year we're there.

Banks Peninsula appears to be a no go due to the earthquake and lambing.

Any one been on the St James Walkway?

Cheers :]

[kanangra]

Absolutely AP is a great place to start. Another option is the Lewis Pass area a real favourite of mine.

K.

[wayno]

just watch the weather forecast. some tracks are impassable in heavy rain and heavy snow could fall then as well...

[whatevermortal]

Thanks, I'm certainly thinking AP the more I look at it, either doing a longer tramp like Harman or Minchin or basing ourselves in the village and doing a couple of shorter ones. I guess the weather will give me that answer when we arrive.

[JamesMc]

Arthurs Pass is great. Get on the DOC web site and you'll find lots of info on walking tracks. ( Much more helpful than any Aust parks web site.) There are also walks you can do on the Banks Peninsula staying at farms, but I suspect they will be serious money.

JamesMc

[Onestepmore]

I agree - Arthur's Pass has some great walks, and the scenery from the train on the way up into the mountains is great. You'll need to rgister your plans at the main office. NZ is really well organised for tramping (as they call bushwalking). DOCs maintains the tracks and facilities really well. PS if you can get up to the northern part of the South Island the Queen Charlotte track is great too - 71 km over four days, brilliant scenery over Malborough Sounds. We did it at Christmas time with two 11 and 14 year old children - they handled the steep bits much better than I did!

[whatevermortal]

Agreed, the DOC site is really impressive. Our plans have changed a little purely due to costs, we basically decided on doing Routeburn until I looked into the round trip transport costs which are a bit outside of our price. Currently it's a toss up between doing the Able Tasman, as we're both a touch concerned about the weather in the Sth that time of the year, or doing the Greenstone & Caples track. Will see what the future holds!

[wayno]

a lot of up to date information here about the status of APNP

http://www.softrock.co.nz/mg/index.php

[whatevermortal]

Thanks again way no, that site is very handy! I think a day or two will be spent in APNP, just doing some day hikes. Able Tasman looks the most likely longer tramp if we can organise some cheap track transport, apart from that just day walks lined up, looking at fitting in an overnight on Meuller Hut maybe as well. Can't wait to be there!

[wayno]

bealey spur or lagoon saddle gives great views, avalanche peak also but depends on the snow conditions and your experience.

[whatevermortal]

I think the snow conditions are going to dictate most of the trip, my experience is ok but we lack in gear. I'm not complaining though, looking forward to meandering around in the scrub over there anywhere.

[icemancometh]

if anything mueller hut and MCV will have more snow than AP and avalanche peak in general and it is much steeper going up to mueller hut...

[whatevermortal]

Thanks for the info iceman, that's the kind of knowledge I'm looking for :]

[wayno]

http://www.avalanche.net.nz/forecasts/detail.asp?m=9

http://www.avalanche.net.nz/forecasts/detail.asp?m=1

[wayno]

Thanks again way no, that site is very handy! I think a day or two will be spent in APNP, just doing some day hikes. Able Tasman looks the most likely longer tramp if we can organise some cheap track transport, apart from that just day walks lined up, looking at fitting in an overnight on Meuller Hut maybe as well. Can't wait to be there!

theres about two to three days coast walking in abel tasman. as for the inland track in abel tas, not much in the way of views at all. Kahurangi is much better for those, so is nelson lakes or the richmond range.

you can get just about anywhere in the north west of the south island with this shuttle company http://www.nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz/