Below are a selection of walking and cycling tours, and accomodation providers, from information received by the club through promotional emails:

Tours Direct https://www.toursdirect.co.nz/ offer a varied selection of walking and cycling tours. The website presents these beautifully.

Recently advertised E-Bike: Hawkes Bay Trails - March 2022

"Come e-biking with Mandy Page and enjoy E-Bike riding in the Hawkes Bay – great flat trails across farmland, beside rivers, past orchards and vines.
Along with the wonderful cycling, there's the opportunity to taste fabulous Hawkes Bay wines." https://www.toursdirect.co.nz/tour/e-bike-hawkes-bay-trails-3/

Mike, the owner of "The Fern Lodge Hotel & Bar", 40 Matai Street, Inglewood, invites members looking for affordable accommodation on the doorstep of Mount Taranaki to stay.

"Fern Lodge is ideal for groups, families or individuals, our historic lodge in Inglewood has different room configurations to suit all budget. Packed lunches are available with some notice, and popular pub dinners on offer." www.fernlodge.co.nz   

Footsteps Walking Club of Aotearoa New Zealand "is like any other walking group but has a national perspective, covering the entire country every two years. During the warmer months of February-April 2022, the focus is on providing inexpensive excursions to Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Fiordland and Stewart Island."

Contact Phillip Donnell, [email protected] , to find out about the Tremendous Tranzalpine, Appetising Alps to Ocean, Fabulous Fiordland, and Super Southland tours, or check out the new website www.footstepswalkingclub.com

The team at Fiordland National Park Lodge, Pioneer Café and Restaurant, 2681 Te Anau – Milford Highway, Te Anau Downs would like "to introduce you to our ‘piece of paradise’ nestled on the shores of Lake Te Anau, right at the edge of Fiordland.

"This is truly an amazing gateway to the Great Walks and surrounding areas of Te Anau, Milford and Doubtful Sounds. 

"We are reaching out to a range of interest groups to showcase our property with large 5 acres of field, bush and lakeshore and a wide range of accommodation options to suit groups of any size." Contact [email protected] for details.

The Crossing Backpackers and Lodge offers the ideal location for exploring and tramping in the Tongariro/ Ruapehu area. 

"Located 6kms from National Park Village in a rural setting, backing onto the Tongariro National Park dual world heritage site, with a variety of rooms from ensuite motel units to bunk rooms, we are the ideal venue for groups."

The Crossing Backpackers and Lodge, 9 Erua Road East, Erua, National Park, 3990.

Contact [email protected] for details

Wairaurahiri Jet Ltd offers access to "Wild Southern Fiordland at it's very best".

"Give ROFFY a call 0276 724 222 and we'll take you on an adventure of a life time, Jet Boating the Mighty Wairaurahiri River."

Roffy @ Wairaurahiri Jet LTD [email protected] 

Adventures in the Mountains using Alpine Sports Club lodges.

The Alpine Sports Club has two comfortable lodges in Iwikau Village on Mt Ruapehu at an altitude of 1650m. Both offer fully equipped kitchens, lounges, communal bathrooms and multiple bunk-rooms. The A-Frame lodge sleeps 32 and the Bunkhouse sleeps 20. For more information and further photos of our huts see our website www.alpinesports.org.nz/huts/mt-ruapehu/

Summer Guest Rate (self-catering)

       ●       Adult Guest $38 per night

●       Junior Guest (3- 21 years) $28 per night

●       Large group/long stay booking discount may be available

For further information on booking and costs please contact our Ruapehu Coordinator Johann Schoonees at [email protected]

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, Connect | October 2021 MSC | Connect | October 2021 (mailchi.mp) 

Protect Our Waterways​​​​​​​  

Invasive freshwater pests such as Didymo (Rock Snot), Lindavia and Lagarosiphon (Oxygen Weed) pose a huge threat to our regions and can be very damaging to our environment. Both Didymo and Lindavia are microscopic algae’s that can be easily spread by a single drop of water which can’t be seen until they bloom having damaging effects on both the environment and waterway users. Didymo is only currently found in the South Island however Lindavia has been known to be in Lake Waikaremoana in the past and there is a chance that it is still there. Lagarosiphon has also been found in Lake Waikaremoana. It is a bottom rooted macrophyte weed that only needs a plant fragment 2-3cm in length for it to spread and start growing somewhere new. Preventing the introduction of pest fish species including Koi Carp, Catfish and Perch from entering our region is also very important. These pest fish disturb and reduce the abundance of native fish and plants.

Check, Clean and Dry is an easy method that we ask all fresh waterway users to do if they are travelling between different waterways. A fresh waterway user is anyone who themselves or has equipment that has come in contact with the water. This can be swimmers, anglers, kayakers, trampers/walkers, boaties and mountain bikers. The Check, Clean, Dry message needs to be spread faster than fresh water pests, with three clear steps this message is simple, but very effective at slowing the spread:

Check: all gear and equipment that has been in the water for any visible plant fragments and remove them leaving them far away from the water’s edge.Clean: all gear and equipment with a 5% biodegradable detergent solution in warm water for at least 2 minutes.Dry: all gear and equipment to the touch then leave to dry for a further 48 hours before entering another fresh waterway.It is important that you clean all your gear that comes into contact with freshwater which including togs, towels, boots, clothes, boats, kayaks, fishing rods, boogie boards and your pets. Any suspicious sightings must be reported to 0800 80 99 66 and accompanying photos are much appreciated.