Whitepine Bush Scenic Reserve is a beautiful Kahikatea Forest and just a 15 minute drive out of Whakatane on SH2. It’s a 250m loop track nestled in native NZ bush and would be an ideal walk for families with young kids, or bird watching enthusiasts. Two weekends in a row with great weather meant no excuse to stay indoors, and although it’s a short walk, I spent a good hour walking around taking photos.
Read MoreYou’ve seen the photos of picturesque Cathedral Cove - smiling tourists, face bathing in sunlight, selfies capturing the scenery as well as the hundreds who walked it with you. This is more likely a scene in the summer months. My friend Jemma and I decided to bend the norm and check it out two days into New Zealand’s spring.
Read MoreWalking through Rotorua’s Hell’s Gate is an interesting contrast of lush green nature versus the barren geothermal landscape of steam vents and bubbling mud baths. On a cloudy day the steam looks even more foreboding, and the heat that radiates is surprisingly intense in some craters.
Read MoreWe met at Rotorua Canopy Tours’ headquarters on Fairy Springs Road, where we were checked-in by super-friendly staff. There usual waiver and emergency checklist to be completed, but since I had booked and paid online, it was all pretty straight forward. Soon we were greeted by our guides who kitted us with jackets and harnesses. After a quick (and humour-filled) safety briefing, we hopped into the van and made our way to the Dansey Road Scenic Reserve, which took about 15 minutes.
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago I saw a picture of my friend Taryn on top of Latham’s Track and I knew straight away that I had to do it. My friend Taryn said the track itself is a loop, but the path which leads to the hot pools is much steeper. The path does run on private farmland, and even though there are plenty of roots, the track itself is well maintained.
Read MoreThere are two tracks up to the summit - the stairs which is about ten minutes quicker, but I personally recommend the gravel route which gives you pretty much an obstructed view of the ocean as you make your way up. I would love to come back and walk this either at sunrise or sunset. The cliff does drop off sharply over the edge, so keep an eye on your footing, however the track itself is well maintained so roots and trees are no problem.
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