Taking a pass at Arthur?

I’d never do that. After spending three wonderful days around Staveley and not finding any traces of Walter White in Methven, we drove up to Arthur’s Pass. Finding accommodation was a bit tricky, because there’s not much to begin with and it was all booked. „Luckily“ one motel has reserved two rooms for email /…

Von christiankohl 2023-03-28 Aus

Gorgeous Gorge

My legs were still a tiny little bit wobbly after the Te Kiekie run on the day before, but that didn’t stop us from heading over to the beautiful Rakaia Gorge and explore the Rakaia Gorge Track. Another real highlight, even though the weather had turned again with clouds, wind, and of course frequent patches…

Von christiankohl 2023-03-18 Aus

Te Kiekie or how to really underestimate a mountain

Yes, I looked at the map, the profile, the data etc. before. Still, somehow my mind was so hooked on „we’re in the Canterbury plains/foothills, this can’t be serious“ that the facts had a hard time getting through. But let’s start at the beginning. Wonderful day, mostly sunny, few clouds, windy, not too hot, so…

Von christiankohl 2023-03-12 Aus

Paradigm Shift

Paradigm shifts are rare. I think. I’m a very stupid person, you know, I’m not qualified to appreciate art and don’t have a degree in postmodernism either. What a fucking loser! I mean, no tattoos, no muscles, no art degree. Fuck me. Well, back to paradigm shifts … I mean you can read Mr Kuhn’s…

Von christiankohl 2023-03-08 Aus

The Fruits of Passion

So, Kaikoura then … truly last minute, so not too easy to find good accommodation. We stayed at the Hapuku carriages, ca. 10k North of Kaikoura. This certainly qualifies as quirky, it’s an old rail carriage that now serves as a double room with ensuite. All the details have been retained, even the cups are…

Von christiankohl 2023-03-02 Aus

Crumbling Infrastructure …

On Feb 1st, the original plan was to take the Interislander Kaitake ferry to cross the Cook Strait to the North Island. Unfortunately, the ferry had broken down a few days ago – it completely lost power and very nearly hit the rocks. So quite a serious accident which understandably grounded the boat for a…

Von christiankohl 2023-02-26 Aus

St Arnaud – reprise

So, still owe the Internet the really beautiful hike we did halfway round the lake and back via Whiskey Falls. Here we go. Why not roundtrip, you’re asking? Well, because that would require you to walk from St Arnaud to the Mt Robert carpark – we did that bit a few years ago, it’s quite…

Von christiankohl 2023-02-26 Aus

Time travel

Need to get back to proper chronological order after my little depressive rant yesterday! So, from GBI to Nelson. The original plan was to do a multi-day hike in Nelson Lakes NP, from Lake Rotoiti to Blue Lake Hut via the Travers Saddle and then from Blue Lake to Lake Rotoroa. Well, you can probably…

Von christiankohl 2023-02-15 Aus

Mt Taranaki like you’ve never seen it before!

Here’s a picture of Mt Taranaki. I bought this gazillion euro camera with 300 million different lenses, did a four year apprenticeship, self-flagellation, bought some drones and submarines and helicopters and shit and adjusted a – please insert technical photo mumbo jumbo jargon bullshit here – to get this one-of-a-kind, super rare shot of Mt…

Von christiankohl 2023-02-15 Aus

Gabrielle, we fucking hate you

Everybody hates Gabrielle! It’s the name of the bloody cyclone that’s hit NZ over the last two days, caused a lot of destruction, and prompted a declaration of national state of emergency for only the third time in NZ history. Needless to say, it’s ruined our holiday as well, but that’s very insignificant compared to…

Von christiankohl 2023-02-14 Aus