Wilderness November 2017

ON THE ONE hand, DOC is to be applauded for doing something to control the traffic woes and congestion found at the road ends on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The situation, with hundreds of vehicles often lining the roads, had grown dire. DOC has been signalling changes are coming. Many meetings have been held and talk of parking restrictions have been mooted for at least a year now. But the implementation of those restrictions, which came into effect on October 21 and run through to April next year, seem to have been rushed. DOC announced a four-hour parking limit at Mangatepopo Road end, to be enforced around the clock under threat of clamping or towing, less than two weeks before the date the restrictions came into effect. Now, to walk…

KEA CAPERS THE ITEM ON kea (‘Kea numbers estimated at 3000-7000’, June, 2017) reminded me of an encounter I had with the parrots. I was fly fishing the upper reaches of Roaring Lion River with two mates. Barney and I were both medicos, but Baldy was deputy director of DOC. We had ended a hard day’s tramp downstream and were still a day away from Roaring Lion Hut. At Barney’s suggestion, we camped and after a meal and a brew, he retired to his so-called tent while Baldy spread his gear out on the grass. I pitched a pup tent, mainly because there were swarms of sandflies. Before retiring, though, I noticed three keas circling above. At about 4am, I woke to Baldy saying, “Yeah, what do you want? Have…

Get your photo here to published receive an Opinel No.5 folding knife worth $20. Learn more about Opinel at www.ampro.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz…

DOC IS CALLING for ideas for two new Great Walks, which it hopes to develop before the summer of 2021. The department has $12.7 million to develop the walks in a bid to reduce the strain on the existing nine Great Walks which are attracting record numbers of visitors. There’s a preference for North Island tracks and they must be upgrades to existing trails, rather than entirely new tracks. Other criteria include spectacular landscapes, a wide range of scenery and biodiversity. Walks should cater for relatively inexperienced trampers and take three to five days with four to six hours of low level risk walking each day. DOC has already received 24 full and partial submissions. Proposals can be submitted on the DOC website before November 30. The two new walks…

A VOLUNTEER PROJECT which has lead to the restoration of 60 backcountry huts and 500km of track is on firmer footing with the launch of a new trust. The Backcountry Trust has secured $700,000 from DOC to fund further track and hut projects over the next two years. The trust replaces the Outdoor Recreation Consortium, a collaboration between the Federated Mountain Clubs, New Zealand Deerstalkers Association and Trail Fund NZ, which represent about 130 clubs and 35,000 members or affiliates. The consortium started as a three-year trial, providing funding and support for volunteers who wanted to restore neglected huts and received about $1.2 million from DOC over that time. It also had an agreement with DOC to streamline the process for groups to take on management of huts and tracks.…

MAJOR CHANGES ARE coming to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (TAC), as DOC ends all-day parking and discourages walkers from climbing the Ngauruhoe and Tongariro summits or swimming in the lakes. The changes will mean walkers will have to arrange transport to do the crossing, which could allow DOC to manage numbers and reduce bottlenecks. Parking at the Mangatepopo Road end, where most people start the track, will be restricted to four hours at all times – overstayers will be clamped or towed. Parking at the end of the track, on Ketetahi Road, will also be limited and traffic reduced to one lane. DOC is promoting return shuttle services as an alternative, which leave from Whakapapa, Ohakune, National Park Village, Taupo and Turangi and can be booked through local iSITEs. The…