The Banks Peninsula Track

Trip Start Oct 01, 2003
1
28
43
Trip End Jul 29, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of New Zealand  ,
Friday, October 21, 2005

ron and i have just gotten back from doing the Banks Peninsula Track out of Akaroa. i wanted to write an entry specifically for it because it was so outstanding. it's a private track, a business made up by a group of farmers that own the land that it runs through. it's not backpacking like ron and i are used to...really alot cushier and nicer--involving hot showers daily and cold beer after a day of hiking.

we chose the four-day, four-night hike--i wouldn't recommend the two-day option, the hike is hard and in two days you'd be dead tired and feel rushed through it. we stayed in very cute cabins each night (as nice as a B&B would be). the first one offered free farm fresh eggs, the second offered beer and chocolate, the third there was lots of food for sale and the fourth also had a large selection. hot showers offered at each of the lodgings. the third night includes staying at a hobbit-like village with lots of little quirky buildings cool pool table
cool pool table
 . there are bathtubs set up on fireplaces so you can soak in a hot bath while gazing at the stars. we made ours too hot though--the people after us enjoyed it i'm sure. hard to regulate the temperature but really a cool idea for a hottub (and affordable too!).

two of the days involved pretty intense climbs up and down and the middle two days were pretty easy. lots of sheep and coastline views--i took lots of pictures. ron and i scored on being the only 4 day trekkers at the time...which meant our own cabins each night. i think around 12 are generally on a trek so it could be a little crowded--we got really lucky because i've heard it's a really popular and busy track to do.

my tips for this hike are: it's totally worth the $200 kiwi per person for the four-day trek. bring more money than you'll think you'll need--it's nice to have refreshments after hiking. buy food the last two days to save on pack-weight. pack light, the hills are steep. you're hiking boots will be full of sheep poop by the end of each day, bring some after-hiking shoes for inside the cabins.

now we're back in christchurch, awaiting the arrival of friends from the u.s. although i'm a little worried since i haven't heard from them and there's something about delta going out of business and they're tickets getting switched. hopefully they'll make it as planned and we'll be headed up north to check out the Nelson area.

until next time...
Slideshow Print this entry Akaroa hotels