This year's family trip on the Heaphy Track was just Zack and I over a couple of days in the middle of the winter. The Heaphy track is always a special trip with my kids, really rewarding to see them grow and progress on each trip. Each time we take them through we always talk about sections of the trail they have had challenges on, like the first time Zack cleaned the notoriously slippery coal seam (RIP), or highlights like getting to the Heaphy hut or reaching the tops of major climbs... but mostly we end up talking about food.
Recently I had a quick weekend trip to ride the Queen Charlotte track as a shake-down for an upcoming multi-day backcountry trip. I wanted to test some systems out on the bike and try out the Stealth 'Heaphy Harness' and to get my head and legs into bikepacking mode.
My First New Year's trip was to the Kill Devil Track, one of Golden Bay's iconic backcountry trails. Mechanic extraordinaire Gazza and I have been talking about this trip for a while.
This has been on my list to do - an overnight stay at Rocks Hut in the Richmond Forest Park. The trip involved riding up to Coppermine Saddle (stashing the bikes in the bush) followed by a 1.5 hr walk into the hut over Dun Saddle.
I am very pleased to to announce that I am now an ambassador for Absolute Wilderness outdoor food which is made right here in Nelson New Zealand.
