South Island magic

New Zealand's South Island is a wondrous place. There are so many cool things to do. I thoroughly recommend swimming with the dolphins in Kaikoura with "Dolphin Encounters". Any concerns I had about jumping into the cold ocean in middle of winter were set aside once I had put on 10 mm of wetsuit, booties and head gear and began to sweat during the promo video. 

After a short trip and equipment check I was super excited and a little wary after slipping off the back of the boat with my snorkeling gear as our group entered the ocean after a pod of dolphins was sighted by our guides. I treaded water for a few moments, finding it bizarre to be in the ocean looking at mountains with snow on them while scanning the swells for dolphins. And then they arrived, dozens of them, racing on swells towards us with their dorsal fins piercing the water, before diving below and around us.

They seem to enjoy making eye contact and I swirled around in circles as they raced around me, coming so close that I tried to reach out, but with a flick of the tail they were gone.

After half an hour of twisting and turning, marveling at the speed and grace of the dolphins, I clambered back onto the boat, not unlike an overweight seal, both stoked and exhausted.   

NZ is a trail running mecca, but variety and experiencing nature in any way is highly recommended. 

After the boat docks at South Bay, consider passing on taking the shuttle van back to the cafe and run back via Whale Bay and Point Kean viewpoint, home to numerous seals and enjoy looking across the bay at mountains rising literally out of the ocean. 

Running for Gold in New Zealand

Waihi Beach, NZ on a gorgeous morning and keen as to get into it.

Running under Pohutukawa trees

Occasionally I like to do an organised event. It is a great place to hang out with like minded folks getting out there and running trails with lots of supporters and locals to cheer you on and even feed you! If I am going to do an event, I try to do a different one as it adds a sense of adventure doing a new course and this time it was "The Nugget" in Waihi, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand an area most well known for it's working gold mine.

The Nugget offers a few options and I chose the trail run and mountain bike combo. Starting on Waihi beach, soon after sunrise, I headed off with about a hundred fit looking individuals, around the coastline trails for over an hour until a climb that never felt like ending, finally topped out on a hilltop at a transition where our mountainbikes were waiting for a further 23 kms of riding.

For some it stopped there and a handover to a buddy, but after a quick change of shoes and a scoff of a banana, I was on my way across private farm country to Waihi's mountain bike trails and the finish at the Martha Gold mine, a massive open cast mine a few steps away from the main street.

This is a quality NZ off road event, I can't believe I haven't already done it, and I will be back. It begins with a hard packed single trail running course around seaside cliffs and gorgeous bays covered with pohutukawa trees followed by a mountain bike with some fast downhills, stream crossings in farmland and then 2 enjoyable sections of undulating purpose built trails in two local forests before following a stream trail back into town and finishing with a loop of the gold mine and a short sprint to the finish. I enjoyed every minute!

Mt Fuji in New Zealand

Mt Taranaki in New Zealand is a spectacular volcanic cone rising steeply out of the surrounding plains, a Mt Fuji lookalike, so much so, it was used in the Tom Cruise blockbuster, the Last Samurai.

Mt Taranaki, New Zealand
 

It is a trail runner's paradise with the amazing challenge of 8000 feet of scrambling up the mountainside to a tremendous 360 degree outlook across iconic green New Zealand farmland, the nearby ocean and in the west, the snowy peaks of the Tongariro National Park.

Ascending Mt Taranaki with views to Ocean, not for the faint hearted :-)

There is an additional plus, in the lower forested reaches of the mountain there are fantastic narrow well maintained trails. On a recent visit I found the trails to be perfect for trail running because the volcanic surface is well drained and the terrain varies every few minutes from exposed ridge running to beautiful forest with bird life. Importantly there are varying view points all over the place, of broad forested valleys, ocean views and always the perfect volcanic peak revealing a new impression from different areas of the National Park. If you have a full day to fill, and you are fit and are well equipped, a loop run from the Park Info centre to the popular Department of Conservation hut, Holly Hut, is as good as it gets!

Recently I visited the area twice and had splendid blue days, one after the other, a real plus on a mountain that is exposed to squalls and weather bombs coming in directly off the ocean.

Visit New Plymouth and it's iconic mountain in the settled summer and autumn months before the winter snow and chances are, you will have a complete experience, from endorphin trail running highs complete with delicious fare in the quality cafes in New Plymouth or a surf on the many quality surf breaks in the area all in 1 day!
 

360 degrees view with my mate Ben, after 2 hours of ascending to the peak
 

local knowledge

New Zealand is a trail runners paradise, there are just so many options. Because of this, some great hiking, tracks and trails struggle to get a national or "tourist" profile. Last weekend, together with family, I was in the Waikato, particularly well known as a dairy farming area. Keen for a morning adventure and an endorphin kick, I quizzed Graham, my Brother in Law about where the locals go and straight away the answer was "the Huks bro."  

We headed out to the Hakamirata Walkway, a short drive north of Hamilton. The popular with locals Hakamirata Walkway is a narrow ridge run, rising out of the farming plains as a steep forest covered ridge about 12 km long with options. It is handy if you have two vehicles or someone to drop you off so the Trail can be run from one end to the other.

There is a great mid point, known at the Waterworks Summit stairs, approximately 1600+ stairs, beautifully built and well maintained, the stairs climb through regenerating virgin New Zealand temperate forest, rising with no respite until you get to the top of the ridge line, providing a real work out and test of aerobic ability, finishing with a raised wooden platform (more stairs!) for amazing 360 degree views.

View overlooking the Waikato River

However, we started at the northern end of the trail at Parker Road, some 8 km north of the Waterworks stairway and started our run with the Kauri loop, getting up and close to Kauri trees estimated to be over 1000 years of age. The track was well formed and benched and we made good time.

1000 yr old Kauri trees, young runner 

Leaving the loop walk, we began our ascent to the top of the ridge and headed south to the first viewing ridge view point. At this stage the trail became pure trail running, with the track following the form of the land, snaking through the trees and following the path of least resistance. Popular use of the trail and the Department of Conservation's (DOC) traditional orange triangles, placed at regular intervals, meant the trail was easy to follow and we could really open up, running quickly and lightly, hot stepping over exposed roots and fallen branches, while briefly holding trees for stability as we brushed by them.

Graham on single trail.

Two solid hours of continuous trail running was a delight, running under the tree canopy at all times, shielding us from the sun. Yet because we were on the ridgeline, there were occasional vantage points out of the foliage to the farmland stretching below and the breeze cut through the canopy giving relief in the warm conditions as the day got hotter. There was little margin for complacency on the uneven surface, a factor I really enjoy, sometimes stepping quickly and lightly between tree litter on the forest floor and at other times leaping over muddy holes or across fallen trees. 

Before two long we suddenly popped out at a clearing and there stood the Waterworks Summit platform, rising above the treeline.  Graham, normally a rugby player and not one for running through the woods for fun, slumped on a wooden bench under the platform while I took in the surrounds above, looking down on the mighty Waikato River and plains.

Waterworks Summit stairway, Hakamirata Walkway, Waikato, N.Z.

Feeling great, I was keen to finish the ridgeline trail, however our car was parked at the bottom of the stairway so we made good time past many local runners and hikers marching and panting up the stairs. DOC's investment into this stairway is matched by it's popularity. 

I can't wait to return and do the route the other way to feel the burn up the stairway. I think Graham though I was a bit sadistic when I suggested we do it then and there "just for fun".