We can walk it out
With seats starting from $1195 a person, this is a true bucket list experience.
A short film at the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival was the catalyst for Aaron’s decision to push himself on the Te Araroa.
‘‘One film in particular that stood out to me was Elina Osborne’s trek along the Pacific Crest Trail. That really planted the seed that a massive thruhike is quite achievable. As soon as Rob mentioned Te Araroa for New Year’s I was like, ‘That could be a bit of me!’
‘‘It was amazing, it was tough. The trail broke me but put me back together daily – physically and mentally.’’
Clearly, the benefits outweighed the hardships, as Aaron is keen to tackle the Routeburn Track and some other Great Walks, along with the Waitangi-Auckland section of the Te Araroa Trail, which is about 15-20 days of walking.
Tougher trails are in demand
Not all hikes organised by Got To Get Out are as gruelling as their Te Araroa adventure, but Bruce has certainly noticed that more challenging hikes are growing in popularity. After the shutdown of international travel last year, he saw that ‘‘Kiwis wanted to have harder activities at home’’.
As a result of this growing interest, Bruce decided to start offering a new series of ‘‘Harder Hikes’’, and has had such a positive response that he will continue to offer them this year.
I joined the Got To Get Out Auckland Adventurers for the first of their Harder Hikes last year – a day trip up Mt Pirongia in Waikato. Like many others, I was feeling restless and socially disconnected after lockdown, so I signed up for the trip, waking up bright and early on an October Saturday to meet Bruce and his bus outside Archie Cafe in Ponsonby.
On the bus ride to the mountain, I got chatting to Lauren, a well-travelled and outgoing graphic designer. I probably shared more about my life with her in the space of an hour than I have with many people who’ve known me for years. I’d go on to have many more great conversations that day, and was blown away at the camaraderie that was fostered among a group of strangers in just a matter of hours.
Those in the group were of very different ages, career paths and backgrounds, but we all clearly shared a love of getting outdoors for a hard day’s hike. The conversations were meaningful, the good humour bountiful and the snack-sharing generous. I returned to Auckland on a high.
‘‘There are huge benefits to people getting outdoors,’’ Bruce explains. ‘‘There’s a lot of research that human interaction, talking and making friends is really good for mental health, particularly if people are feeling lonely or isolated.’’
After experiencing this first-hand, I absolutely concur.
extensive set of walking tracks that meander through the bush. Along the way are clearings with hammocks and chairs to relax in next to the stream or waterholes. There is even a treehouse to climb, swings to ‘‘Tarzan yourself’’ into the water, and a waterfall to climb up (with the help of a rope).
But most people settle for finding a hammock under the trees (grabbing a blanket on a cooler day) and reading or napping to the sound of cicadas.
By evening, the magic continues. You can book an hour slot in the treehouse bath, which will be ready with candles burning and a playlist of classic love songs. You can also book the star spa; a place where you can marvel at the Milky Way.
We booked an hour at each before ending the night around a roaring firepit where marshmallows and chocolate biscuits were waiting to create gooey s’mores. It’s the kind of place where you bring a glass of wine, and talk the night away while trying to spot shooting stars.
The next morning it rained, and as we feasted on our homemade breakfast of fresh bread, cereal and fruits, we watched the rainforest refuel. Reading a book on the deck, to the soundtrack of rain, is one of life’s great pleasures – which makes Wairua just as good in the sun as it is in a storm.
On our 100-day road trip, the only true relaxation I felt was here. There were no smoothie detoxes or crack of dawn yoga classes. This is a place to relax, in your own style. And for the first time in a year, there was only one ‘‘C’’ word around. No, not Covid. Calm. And that feeling is priceless.
More information:
A night at Wairua Lodge is $225 for a double room or $320 for a two-bedroom apartment. Price includes breakfast and use of all facilities including a communal kitchen, treehouse spa, limited wi-fi, star spa and firepit.
The author was hosted by Destination Coromandel and Wairua Lodge.
Brook Sabin and Radha Engling travelled the length of New Zealand on a Stuff Travel nationwide road trip in a new Hyundai Kona Electric. The vehicle has 449km of real-world range on a single charge, for more information see: hyundai.co.nz/ Kona-electric.
Many travellers dream of chasing the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle. But did you know there is a southern counterpart which is equally spectacular?
Known as the Southern Lights, or Aurora Australis, the phenomenon is only visible in the southern hemisphere.
When conditions are just right, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them from remote parts of New Zealand – but for front-row views, your best option is to get on a special scenic flight.
In 2017, Otago Museum director and astronomer Dr Ian Griffin organised the first commercial flight to see the Southern Lights, flying to an area over the Southern Ocean where the lights tend to shine the brightest. All 154 seats were snapped up within five days.
The experience was offered again in 2018. Now, after a threeyear hiatus, it is set to take off again next month – and you could be one of the lucky few onboard.
Tour operator Viva Expeditions is offering Stuff Travel readers the chance to win two seats onboard the private charter Air New Zealand Dreamliner, which departs
Christchurch on March 21.
The flight has been timed to coincide with the autumn equinox, which helps maximise the chance of seeing the lights at their brightest.
During the 10-hour flight, expert astronomers – including Griffin – will point out their favourite objects in the night sky and explain how an aurora is created, and a photographer will be on hand to help you get some stellar shots.
With seats starting from $1195 a person, this is a true bucket list experience.
The prize includes:
■ Two economy wing seats on flight NZ1918 departing Christchurch at 7pm on March 21, returning at 5am on March 22
■ Departure cocktail
■ Onboard service including meals and beverage
How to enter:
Go in the draw to win by heading to stuff.co.nz/southernlights.
Entries must be received by 11.59pm on March 10, 2021, and the prize draw will take place on March 11, 2021.
Terms and conditions apply.