tramping new zealand

I’d been on the North West Circuit six times before I finally managed to scoot around the Southern Circuit.

Two things happened that first time: I saw my first southern dotterel and a pair of red-crowned kākāriki, and I slipped on the track and dived headfirst down a 5 m bank on my way to Fred’s Camp Hut from Rakeahua. I was saved by my shoulder, hitting a punga fern, which encouraged me to finally buy an emergency locator beacon.

The following year, my only summer trip, I had Fred’s as a lunch stop, on my way to the Tin Range.

I was back in 2018 for a lone night, then in 2021 during the Auckland lockdown for a couple of nights, when there was no hurry to return to civilisation. The following year, I returned for two more nights.

I’m a fan of Doughboy, where I’ve also had multiple nights. The upper part of the Rakeahua Valley is one of my favourite stretches of forest in New Zealand. And that view down to Doughboy Bay or the Tin Range from Doughboy Hill.

Anyway, I was settling in for four nights. Couldn’t think of a better place to be at the moment.