Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Lace up for biodiversity tramp up the Ned
If you’re a keen tramper, conservationist or birdwatcher, lace up your boots this Sunday and head for the hills for a unique opportunity to ‘Tramp the Ned’.
It’s a chance that comes along only once every second year, and patrons of the event have had to wait an extra year due to Covid causing the cancellation of last year’s walk.
The Ned is a 909m peak rising off the privately owned property of Tempello, near Blenheim, and is a conservation area teeming with native flora and fauna, including rifleman birds, ka¯nuka forest and mountain to¯ tara.
The Waterforce Tramp the Ned is a fundraiser for Fairhall School, but the ‘‘focus is not so much on the money and fundraising, but a real feel good activity for people to do,’’ principal Steve Crockett said.
‘‘It’s all about health and wellbeing, and seeing a part of the country people wouldn’t normally have access to,’’ he said.
‘‘Camping and tramping is a big part of what we do here at Fairhall School.
‘‘We start at Year 4 with our camping programmes, and every three years we do the Tongariro Crossing with Years 6-8. Every year our Year 8 school-leavers head on to Abel Tasman National Park and tramp there for three days.
‘‘We do a lot of preparation for those tramps in these hills behind us – the Wither Hills.’’
A total of 93 students took part in the most recent Tongariro crossing, Crockett said, which forms part of a week-long school camp.
‘‘It was pretty good when we started, then the weather got really bad and it was cold. We had to carry our own backpacks and just keep going,’’ student Archie Saggers said.
‘‘The weather was good at first, then changed really quickly. It was quite hard in some parts, especially when it was cold and raining. I think Tramp the Ned will be easy,’’ Sam Hayes said.
Much of the route for the Ned event follows a 4WD track, ending with a 150m scramble to the summit, with fabulous views of the Wairau and Awatere valleys from the top.
Return trips usually take between three and five hours, but trampers have the option of turning at the first saddle at the 700m mark, and will still enjoy good views.
The event takes place this Sunday, May 16, and will begin at the Taylor Pass Rd entrance to Tempello. This is approx 15km up the Taylor Pass Rd (from
Alabama Rd roundabout).
Parking will also be available 10km up the Taylor Pass Rd, on a flat paddock suitable for 2WD vehicles.
Courtesy vans will run trampers the 2km to and from base camp registration.
Registration will take place from 8.30am to 9.45am, and entry fees will be $15 adult, $10 child, and $30 for a family.