Any ideas for a camping location???

[froggyfrenchman]

Hear that? its dueling banjos! (theme to Deleverance)

[WRT]

Gt Barrier sounds nice - apart from the transport costs - lets see, thank you.

I'm from the Barrier, my Mum owns around a dozen acres over there, on the hill between Tryphena and Medlands. If you head over there, sing out - I'm going to be there over NYE, I've got one of the spots DJ'ing the gig at Claris (a group of us ex-locals always put on a good party for new years, last year at the sports club we had around 1500 punters).

Your more than welcome to come pitch a tent at Mum's (no beds left sorry!), and we'll have transport (I'm taking over the suby) so you can come along and check out some of the local scenery.

Bear in mind its a big island, not many people, but the island itself is very rugged, very isolated, and very beautiful. Normally a couple of degrees warmer than Auck's, and the swimming / diving / fishing / surfing is sublime. Harotonga is a nice spot, and if you are into surfing make sure you take your board and try to get over the hill to Okiwi. At low tide, on a decent swell that has to be one of the best breaks in the country. Dont duckdive out tho, only amatures do that - the locals hop in the esturary, you'll get out back no matter what the size of the waves without paddling and without even getting your hair wet. Just watch for the rays . . . and the dolphins!

[justsomeguy]

I'm from the Barrier, my Mum owns around a dozen acres over there, on the hill between Tryphena and Medlands. If you head over there, sing out - I'm going to be there over NYE, I've got one of the spots DJ'ing the gig at Claris (a group of us ex-locals always put on a good party for new years, last year at the sports club we had around 1500 punters).

Your more than welcome to come pitch a tent at Mum's (no beds left sorry!), and we'll have transport (I'm taking over the suby) so you can come along and check out some of the local scenery.

Bear in mind its a big island, not many people, but the island itself is very rugged, very isolated, and very beautiful. Normally a couple of degrees warmer than Auck's, and the swimming / diving / fishing / surfing is sublime. Harotonga is a nice spot, and if you are into surfing make sure you take your board and try to get over the hill to Okiwi. At low tide, on a decent swell that has to be one of the best breaks in the country. Dont duckdive out tho, only amatures do that - the locals hop in the esturary, you'll get out back no matter what the size of the waves without paddling and without even getting your hair wet. Just watch for the rays . . . and the dolphins!

Wow thank you W.R.T - I'll talk to the others and see if they'll be in.

I honestly can't think of anything better to do for new years -

CHEERS

[Highlander]

Te Rereatukahia hut. It is on top of the hill in the Kaimais.
Start walking at the carpark the end of Hot Springs Road (a few K's the Tauranga side of Katikati. Reasonable track.
We walked up there in a couple of hours. Looking South on a clear day you can see Ruapehu, West out over the Waikato, East back over Tauranga / Mt.

[NotaGoth]

Great Barrier is an awesome place. Also you save on fuel costs getting to somewhere like the coromandel. IIRC the slow (ie cheap) car ferry is $80, but the Uni paid my transport when I went there.....

Oh yeah, and check with your mates just exactly how rough they want the hike to be.... Round the mountain is relatively easy, but to to a 5hr walk in the Waitaks you need to be prepared for some pretty heavy going in places. It is very steep there....

Great Barrier is absolutely beautiful, we trekked across it when we took part on the SONZ. Well worth it!






All I can say is avoid going anywhere near where I live. You can't even park your car up at the local swimming hole, (you'd be not even 100 metres from your car) without someone attempting to steal the damn thing ARGH.

[Posh Tourer :P]

Great Barrier is absolutely beautiful, we trekked across it when we took part on the SONZ. Well worth it!

You an ex-SONZer too?? wicked... What trip did you do?

[Jabez]

Ki iwi lakes is a great spot (North of Dargaville) You can walk around the lake/s & swim in the warm fresh water..

[justsomeguy]

We've decided to climb to the top of Mt Egmont in Taranaki. Anyone done it before? Anything we should know?

Also what do you guys think is the quickest way to get there (less holiday traffic, etc).

Oh yeah, we're taking a little 1300cc Corolla so want the quickest, shortest route, not interested in any hills, twisties though are not a problem.

[NotaGoth]

You an ex-SONZer too?? wicked... What trip did you do?

Late reply. Yes.. ex-SONZer. Trip went from Auckland, to Waiheke, Great Barrier then Tauranga. That was in August 2004.. Dunno what my voyage number was anymore though.

You gone on it too?

[Posh Tourer :P]

I wasnt on that voyage, but I did 10 days Auckland to Auckland somewhere around 97/98, going around the outside of the Hauraki Gulf - Mahurangi, the Barrier, Coromandel, Waiheke (and the tunnels) and back in....

Awesome voyage......... We had 30knots of wind and 1.5 - 2m swell at the Barrier - went out for a day of real sailing, pretty much the only real weather we had on the entire trip....