#GotToGetOut: Rock Climbing At Castle Rock

When you’re just starting out in rock climbing, finding a regular climbing partner is no easy feat. Our climbing crew all live busy lives and I’ve given up trying to convince friends on the merits of embracing your inner spider climbing walls. Then one day I figured, there has to be people like me, right? People who want to embrace an active lifestyle, hang out with like minded individuals or simply to meet others outside their bubble.

After a quick search on Google, I found Got To Get Out - a social enterprise that not only encouraged people to embrace the outdoors, but their paid trips also come with a ‘buy one, give one’ philosophy. It means that for every paid trip, a child gets the chance to experience the outdoors. Volunteer leaders around the country regularly organise free group outings, as well as paid trips. Walking, running, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and snow trips are just some of the activities they offer.

Discover Our Local: Explore Ōhiwa with KG Kayaks

My loud cackle broke the silence at Gees boat ramp on Ōhiwa Loop Road. It was so good to be able to laugh like that again. It was Friday and there were only four people at the boat ramp that morning - a lone fisherman and our group of three getting ready to set out on our kayaking tour. After a couple of minutes getting to know each other, Teresa (the other woman on the tour) and I just realised that we actually work together, although we had only communicated by email previously. Talk about two degrees of separation.

It was only mid-morning and there was still a slight dew in the air, the kind that tells you that you’re just far away enough from town life. The harbour was so flat that you thought you were looking out at glass. Kenny told Teresa and I to paddle around while he locked up the truck. A few minutes had passed when Kenny called out to us to come back closer to shore - it turned out we had floated quite far out and were heading in the opposite direction. We soon realised how strong the current was, especially in the flat conditions.

A New Zealand Must-Do: A Supreme Zip Lining Experience With Rotorua Canopy Tours!

My first zip lining adventure was way back in 2017 (also with Rotorua Canopy Tours), with my friend Tamizan. It came at a time when I wanted to face my fear of heights, and face it I did! It would be another two years before the Ultimate Tour was built and after seeing their teaser video, I knew I just had to do it. I bought the voucher in 2018 just before I left for Peru, so I guess you can say that this adventure was two years in the making.

Bay of Plenty: Rock Climbing In The Mangorewa Gorge - Part 2

Even before I got into climbing, March has always been one of my favourite months, more so because it’s the start of autumn. Autumn, especially in the Bay of Plenty where it feels like a lingering summer. The bush and vast coastline is a playground you can’t help but be drawn to.

This was my second time at the Mangorewa Gorge and we somehow picked a day that wasn’t only dry and sunny, but a fairly quiet one in terms of other climbers. Last time it was only Jim and I, but this time we had Alec join us too. Jim and I drove to Alec’s house in Papamoa, then the three of us drove to the gorge together. Our small crew was growing! We decided to call ourselves the Whakatāne Climbing whanau.

Bay of Plenty: Rock Climbing In The Mangorewa Gorge

I looked up - there were three, maybe four quickdraws left on the route before the anchor. The slight wedgie from my harness reminded me that I was already closer to the anchor than I was to the ground. My arms were pumped. The sounds of the Tuis were all around, and below me I could hear the crunching of Dorritos from my climbing partner, Jim. At the pace I was climbing, he probably could have read The Lord of the Rings and I would still be up on that rock.

A Summer Tiki Tour Of Raglan

Summer in Kiwiland - what’s more Kiwi than the quintessential summer roadie? How did I decide on Raglan? I Googled where I could go rock climbing in the North Island, came across Raglan Rock’s website and planned my road trip from there. Simple as that, really. Turns out Raglan is just one of the many places on my ‘how come I’ve never been there’ gigantic list. Maybe, because I’d always considered it more of a surfing mecca, when really there’s so much you can do.