Ohakune

Originally settled by Ngāti Rangi, Ohakune, a small railway encampment, became a permanent stopover with the construction of the Main Trunk Line, connecting Marton and Te Awamutu. The arid volcanic plain of the Waimarino Plateau, Pihanga's native bush, and the Mangawhero Forest Walk; Ohakune and National Park made a significant impression on me growing up. It has been satisfying to see the bumper winter seasons at Tūroa and Whakapapa recently but returning recently to walk the Tongariro Crossing was an unexpected highlight and stern lesson in preparedness. From an overcast morning start at Mangatepopo, past Pukekaikiore, up the Devils Staircase and moving above the cloudline to the saddle, we were greeted with severe Westerlies and biting snow. Roped together we made the summit and, as we descended toward Ngā Rotopounamu, Mother Nature turned her snowstorm into sunshine and the walk past Rangihiroa’s mirror and down to Ketetahi was nothing short of life-affirming.

Mahia Peninsula

Located at the tip of the Hawkes Bay, Mahia Peninsula has deep-rooted connections to my family with much of my father’s family living in and around the Wairoa region. I have been regularly visiting Mahia for coming up twenty years and its raw, remote, and spiritual character never seems to diminish. Perhaps not a typical holiday destination, the Mahia Peninsula has an elemental attraction that’s becoming increasingly difficult to find along New Zealand’s coastlines. From its verdant Scenic Reserves in Kinikini to the crenelated foreshore around Kahutara Point (Table Cape), the peninsula has an uncultivated beauty.