26
OUTDOORS
Escape to the Marlborough
high country
TUSSOCK TRACK
STORY BY SUSIE WILLIAMS
SUSIE WILLIAMS
Do you sometimes feel that you are stuck inside a bubble and life is passing you by at great speed?
Sometimes you just want to stop and smell the roses but who has time for that these days?
STOP! It’s time to take time! And what
better way to do that than get lost in raw
rural New Zealand with an escape to the
back country.
Experience a breathtaking environment and
a sense of calm and solitude that is simply
awe-inspiring. Through rolling tussock
covered hills, along bush clad creeks and
into rugged back country with spectacular
mountain views and breathtaking night
skies. The contrasts of natural beauty are
a sight to behold on the Awatere Tussock
Track which is a three day unguided walk in
Marlborough’s famous high country.
The Awatere Tussock Track is a private
walking track through Glen Orkney station,
the Harvey family farm in the Awatere
Valley of Marlborough. Farm owners Simon,
Lynda and Tom Harvey have opened up
their land with the goal to allow visitors to
enjoy a high country experience that is not
so readily available.
“We could see this big urban rural divide
and that a lot of people had no farm
experiences,” says Lynda
A relative newcomer to the plethora of
private walks in New Zealand, the Awatere
Tussock Track was opened for business in
2007 by the Harvey family. The track is a
three day 26 kilometre walk rising from
hill to high country, through pastures and
nature covenants. You will see protected
reserves of regenerating native plants and
walk through grazing merino sheep growing
wool for the famous Icebreaker brand of
clothing.
Experience a few nights in the high country
staying in a very comfortable cottage
that would put most tramping huts to
shame! Picture tramping luxuries such as
comfortable beds, hot shower, flush toilet,
BBQ area and fridge. It’s considered one
of New Zealand's best ever private walking
tracks (as quoted by numerous experienced
trampers).
“We knew the visitors would be people
with a bit more time who have generally
tramped in their youth and who love getting
out, having a burn out and then coming
back and having a glass of wine, although
we have had families here and they love
it,” says Lynda. “Carting the packs for the
walkers is a huge bonus as are the hot
showers, the fridge, and the comfortable
bed. We don’t do any catering they bring all
their own food, we just cart it.”
What can you expect on your journey?
Say goodbye to the farm cottage, and climb
steadily over sheep tracks and farm roads,
following the cream painted markers.
There's a lookout beside the saddle, at just
over 800 meters. What a view!
Follow the farm road down into a gully,
underneath the Cregan bluffs. Keep a watch
out for the nature reserves where native
New Zealand plants are regenerating.
You'll soon see the hut in a tussock hollow
underneath the mountains. Be patient -
home comforts are now close. Remember
your big pack and food (wine! excess
chocolate!) have been kindly carried in for
you to welcome you at the comfortable
Cregan Hut.
Ahead of you are high ridgelines, at 1200
meters, then carry on to navigate and
conquer rocky spurs with the goal to admire
the incredible ‘tops’ reaching high into the
sky. The second day is a two hour steep hike
up the Twin Peaks and then through Billy
Goat Saddle and a fair bit of scree dancing
across the face of the mountains which has
strategically placed guide ropes.
You can look forward to a number of
highlights including the roped down-
scramble between ‘Twin Peaks’, safe and
scary at the same time. The deep gullies
downside of the track early on Day Two.
Shingly Billy Goat Saddle, the smoothish
grey bulk of next door Mount Malvern.
Above a fenceline strung along the edge
of nothing and gaze over rows of peaks
towards Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku where the
young Edmund Hillary practiced.
Be captivated as you wander over the
blonde tussock hills along the farm roads,
and following the sheep tracks around
lumpy corners, stretching out the mind as
well as the legs. The Awatere Tussock track
has a bit of everything to offer.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of the track
is the intangible one, the chance for both
the city folk and the farming family to
appreciate each other’s viewpoints and to
celebrate the uplifting landscapes which
have drawn people there. To know that
conservation and production farming
can co-exist rather well when both are
respected.
TIP: Pick up a copy of ‘Awatere’ by Harry
Broad, and enjoy the detailed article of the
Tussock Track to get you inspired.
Further information www.tussocktrack.co.nz
Fact File:
Experience a 3-day trek in a rugged
wilderness environment with a sense of calm
and solitude that is simply awe-inspiring.
SIMON AND LYNDA HARVEY, GLEN ORKNEY, PRIVATE BAG, BLENHEIM 7240 . T: 03 575 7361 . E: [email protected]
Access: Roughly an hour’s drive inland
from Blenheim
Grade: Moderate. Good level of
fitness required
Time:
Three days, 4-6hr each day
Distance: 26km
The track is open from mid November to
mid May and requires walkers to have a
good level of fitness and agility.
Why we should be
SunSmart this summer
STORY SUPPLIED
JACK MILTON
Over-exposure to UV radiation from the sun can cause permanent skin damage.
The Cancer Society provide some advice on being sun safe this summer.
Levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in New
Zealand are high and one of the reasons we
have a much higher rate of skin cancers than
other countries. New research has shown an
alarming number of New Zealanders are not
protecting themselves enough from the sun.
Check the UV level – 3 or more, be sun safe
The Cancer Society say UVR, unlike heat and
light, cannot be felt or seen. Even on a cloudy
or cool day you can still be overexposed to
UV rays. They encourage people to check the
UV level before going outdoors. If the level
is 3 or more it’s important to be sun safe.
You can check UV levels by going to the Sun
Protection Alert or by loading the uv2Day
app onto your phone.
The correct way to apply sunscreen
Sunscreen needs to be applied correctly
for it to be fully effective. The average-sized
adult should apply at least one teaspoon
to each arm, to the head including face,
ears and neck), and at least a teaspoon
to each leg, the front and the back of the
body. For children below 10 years - apply
half this amount.
The slip, slap, slop and wrap method
of sun safety
Slip on a shirt - with long sleeves. Fabrics
with a tighter weave and darker colours will
give you better protection from the sun.
Slip into the shade - of an umbrella or a leafy
tree. Plan your outdoor activities for early or
later in the day when the sun’s UV levels are
lower. Usually before 10am and after 4pm.
Slop on sunscreen - plenty of
broadspectrum, water-resistant sunscreen
of at least SPF 30. Apply 20 minutes before
going outside and reapply every two
hours and especially after being in water
or sweatingg.
Slap on a hat - wear a hat with a wide
brim or a cap with flaps. More people are
sunburnt on the face and neck than any
other part of the body.
Wrap on sunglasses - choose close fitting,
wrap-around style sunglasses. Not all
sunglasses protect against UV radiation,
so always check the label for the sun
protection rating.
NEVER ALLOW YOUR SKIN
TO BURN. DO NOT RELY ON
SUNSCREEN ALONE.
SunSmart schools and early childhood
centres
The Cancer Society run the SunSmart
schools programme and an early childhood
educators SunSmart module. This is an
online tool to help teachers and parents
upskill on sun safety.
• The SunSmart schools website provides
information for teachers, students and
parents on how to be SunSmart and can
be found at www.sunsmart.org.nz
• The online SunSmart module can be found
on www.cancernz.org.nz on the SunSmart
pages.
• Sun protection alert -
www.sunsmart.org.nz/sun-protectionalert
• The UV Index can also be found at
www.niwa.co.nz/UV-forecasts
Slip, slop, slap and wrap!
Remember to be SunSmart
SLIP SLIP SLOP SLAP WRAP
on a shirt with
long sleeves
and a collar into the shade of
an umbrella or
leafy tree on broad-spectrum,
water resistant
sunscreen of at
least SPF 30 on a hat with a
wide brim on close fitting
sunglasses that
protect against
UV radiation