Joe and I arrived back to the states about two weeks ago and have spent time with family,
skiing, ice climbing, snowmobiling, hiking and getting back into the swing of things! But before
we get to far into our most recent adventures it's time to wrap up the New Zealand trip with the
Best of List!!!
Kia PC- JDSTYLOS
About a year and a month ago I wrote the “Best of List” for our US road trip. So it's only fitting
that after this last big adventure we do the same. Even though there are so many similarities
between the US and NZ, there a definitely quite a few great things that jumped out at us that
should be mentioned and are mentioned below!
Fox Glacier PC-JDSTYLOS
Best Car Food:
1.Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Chili Bean, Red Pepper and Avocado Quesadillas. -These were such a
treat and were best when we used the local free BBQ's!
2.Hamburgers on Thanksgiving -After hiking the Kepler Track we met up with some friends that we had met on the track and we all enjoyed a friendsgiving together with some very american burgers,
and it was SO good!
3.Peckish Crackers with Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Apple. These rice crackers we almost always a
constant on the trip, the BBQ, and sour cream and chives were by far the best flavors!
Thanksgiving Dinner PC-JDSTYLOS
1.Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Chili Bean, Red Pepper and Avocado Quesadillas. -These were such a
treat and were best when we used the local free BBQ's!
2.Hamburgers on Thanksgiving -After hiking the Kepler Track we met up with some friends that we had met on the track and we all enjoyed a friendsgiving together with some very american burgers,
and it was SO good!
3.Peckish Crackers with Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Apple. These rice crackers we almost always a
constant on the trip, the BBQ, and sour cream and chives were by far the best flavors!
Thanksgiving Dinner PC-JDSTYLOS
Best Car Camping Spot:
1. Greyneys Camping Ground- $0NZD Arthurs Pass Latitude: -42.98418742, Longitude:171.58732714 : Not only was this one of the few free camp spots around NZ but it had a great shelter with a fire place and was perfect for socializing with other travelers.
2. Lake Poaka Amenity Area- $0NZD Near Mt. Cook -44.206297, 170.096785 : You cant actually find this camspot on the DOC website, but you can find it on most free camping apps. Like most places it does have some sandflies but being right by the water and with a view of Mt. Cook its hard to beat!
3. Gillespies Beach Camping Ground- $4NZD-$8NZD Near Fox Glacier Latitude: -43.40805133, Longitude: 169.82862366 : Even though for the most part we mostly avoided camp spots where we had to pay, this one was good enough we stayed there for a few nights. Lots of other travelers and right next to the ocean!
Christmas Eve PC- JDSTYLOS
Best Hike:
1. Avalanche Peak- Crow River Route - 2,841ft of elevation gain. This ended up being an overnight,
and not only was this hike filled with beautiful views and even though it was a full day but nothing was to challenging. The hike to Avalanche Peak is very popular, but the rest of the hike across the ridge and down the scree field to the hut was really different from anything we had done on the trip.
2. Liverpool Track - 2,913ft of elevation gain. This hike was wicked long. It took us about 7 1/2 hours, and was flat for about 3/4 of the way and the last 1/4 was extremely steep. We were hand and feet climbing up roots until we broke through the treeline to the most beautiful views of Mt.Barff and
Mt. Aspiring. We stayed at the Liverpool hut that night.
3. Mt Barff via the South East Ridge - This technically wasn't a hike but it was our only mountaineering climb of the entire trip. What was supposed to be a straight forward climb and was quickly turned into quite the whiteout and we were forced to turn around about 1/2 way up!
PC-JDSTYLOS
1. Greyneys Camping Ground- $0NZD Arthurs Pass Latitude: -42.98418742, Longitude:171.58732714 : Not only was this one of the few free camp spots around NZ but it had a great shelter with a fire place and was perfect for socializing with other travelers.
2. Lake Poaka Amenity Area- $0NZD Near Mt. Cook -44.206297, 170.096785 : You cant actually find this camspot on the DOC website, but you can find it on most free camping apps. Like most places it does have some sandflies but being right by the water and with a view of Mt. Cook its hard to beat!
3. Gillespies Beach Camping Ground- $4NZD-$8NZD Near Fox Glacier Latitude: -43.40805133, Longitude: 169.82862366 : Even though for the most part we mostly avoided camp spots where we had to pay, this one was good enough we stayed there for a few nights. Lots of other travelers and right next to the ocean!
Christmas Eve PC- JDSTYLOS
Best Hike:
1. Avalanche Peak- Crow River Route - 2,841ft of elevation gain. This ended up being an overnight,
and not only was this hike filled with beautiful views and even though it was a full day but nothing was to challenging. The hike to Avalanche Peak is very popular, but the rest of the hike across the ridge and down the scree field to the hut was really different from anything we had done on the trip.
2. Liverpool Track - 2,913ft of elevation gain. This hike was wicked long. It took us about 7 1/2 hours, and was flat for about 3/4 of the way and the last 1/4 was extremely steep. We were hand and feet climbing up roots until we broke through the treeline to the most beautiful views of Mt.Barff and
Mt. Aspiring. We stayed at the Liverpool hut that night.
3. Mt Barff via the South East Ridge - This technically wasn't a hike but it was our only mountaineering climb of the entire trip. What was supposed to be a straight forward climb and was quickly turned into quite the whiteout and we were forced to turn around about 1/2 way up!
PC-JDSTYLOS
Best Hut:
1.Camp Stream Hut (E1410867, N5148335) Recommended donation but not required of $10NZD : This hut was the last of the trip and was quite the pleasant surprise. This hut is not ran by the DOC and was the oldest one we visited. It was quiet and filled with character.
2.Mt. Brown Hut (E1453002, N5252141) Donation Recommended but not required : We spent Christmas day at this hut and stayed the night while a storm raged outside. It was beyond wonderful. High above the treeline, we had beautiful views the following morning and watched little Wecka birds run around.
3.Liverpool Hut (E1254993, N5071096) 18+ years old $15NZD : This was our base spot for our climb of Mt.Barff. With views of the Southern Alps, Aspiring herself and Mt.Barff. Having this hut was magical and a great place to hangout after our climb attempt.
Camp Stream Hut PC-JDSTYLOS
Best Town:
1. Wanaka, New Zealand : We spent the most time here of all the cities in NZ. With free wifi on the
lake, hiking just outside of town, a great base for all Aspiring climbs, and just a very traveler friendly
town! Highly recommended
2. Hokitika, New Zealand : We also spent a lot of time here waiting out weather and going from place
to place. Plus they had the best wifi in the whole country and we could sit in the car outside of the
library to use it.. win!
3. Twizel, New Zealand : This is where we spent time just outside of Mt.Cook national park while I
was sick. A cute little town with some good amenities.
Hidey and Myself PC-JDSTYLOS
Overall Favorite Part of the Trip:
Katie: The fact you can get world class mountains, crystal clear lakes, the ocean, rolling hills,
dense jungle, versions of desert, glaciers and almost all other landscapes in a very small place.
Pictures cant do this place justice, it's just as beautiful if not MORE beautiful than what people tell
you!
Mt Cook PC-JDSTYLOS
Joe: There is a few things that New Zealand has that the US doesn't that definitely should be
mentioned on the favorite list. Not only does New Zealand offer an unreal Backcountry Hut system
with over 950 huts to choose from but the fact that we were able to come to the country, choose and
purchase a car in less than 12 hours and get it registered for $8NZD. Plus, the free electric park
BBQ’s that are located throughout the country make car living that much better.
Camp Stream Hut PC-JDSTYLOS
Even though the climbing part of our trip didn't go exactly to plan, so many other parts of the trip
really blew us out of the water.
Now that we are back in the states the adventuring continues! After two weeks here in Idaho we
are packing up all of our gear and are headed to Bozeman, Montana then onto Munising, Michigan
and will eventually get to our final destination in New England, all while we ice climbing along the way!
Cheers!
Lake Wanaka PC-JDSTYLOS
1.Camp Stream Hut (E1410867, N5148335) Recommended donation but not required of $10NZD : This hut was the last of the trip and was quite the pleasant surprise. This hut is not ran by the DOC and was the oldest one we visited. It was quiet and filled with character.
2.Mt. Brown Hut (E1453002, N5252141) Donation Recommended but not required : We spent Christmas day at this hut and stayed the night while a storm raged outside. It was beyond wonderful. High above the treeline, we had beautiful views the following morning and watched little Wecka birds run around.
3.Liverpool Hut (E1254993, N5071096) 18+ years old $15NZD : This was our base spot for our climb of Mt.Barff. With views of the Southern Alps, Aspiring herself and Mt.Barff. Having this hut was magical and a great place to hangout after our climb attempt.
Camp Stream Hut PC-JDSTYLOS
Best Town:
1. Wanaka, New Zealand : We spent the most time here of all the cities in NZ. With free wifi on the
lake, hiking just outside of town, a great base for all Aspiring climbs, and just a very traveler friendly
town! Highly recommended
2. Hokitika, New Zealand : We also spent a lot of time here waiting out weather and going from place
to place. Plus they had the best wifi in the whole country and we could sit in the car outside of the
library to use it.. win!
3. Twizel, New Zealand : This is where we spent time just outside of Mt.Cook national park while I
was sick. A cute little town with some good amenities.
Hidey and Myself PC-JDSTYLOS
Overall Favorite Part of the Trip:
Katie: The fact you can get world class mountains, crystal clear lakes, the ocean, rolling hills,
dense jungle, versions of desert, glaciers and almost all other landscapes in a very small place.
Pictures cant do this place justice, it's just as beautiful if not MORE beautiful than what people tell
you!
Mt Cook PC-JDSTYLOS
Joe: There is a few things that New Zealand has that the US doesn't that definitely should be
mentioned on the favorite list. Not only does New Zealand offer an unreal Backcountry Hut system
with over 950 huts to choose from but the fact that we were able to come to the country, choose and
purchase a car in less than 12 hours and get it registered for $8NZD. Plus, the free electric park
BBQ’s that are located throughout the country make car living that much better.
Camp Stream Hut PC-JDSTYLOS
Even though the climbing part of our trip didn't go exactly to plan, so many other parts of the trip
really blew us out of the water.
Now that we are back in the states the adventuring continues! After two weeks here in Idaho we
are packing up all of our gear and are headed to Bozeman, Montana then onto Munising, Michigan
and will eventually get to our final destination in New England, all while we ice climbing along the way!
Cheers!
Lake Wanaka PC-JDSTYLOS
Love this -- heading there in about 2 weeks and I really appreciate your 'Best of' list; we have our itinerary all planned out and we share several spots on your list. We have Gillespies Beach for our campervan, too. Can't wait!
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