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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: BuzyG on 22:43:15, 13/08/19

Title: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 22:43:15, 13/08/19
So before Ninthace and I bury the previous thread on mobile apps. I thought it time to open up a separate thread.


  Good idea.  My DiL's family farms near New Plymouth.  Ninthace minor climbed Taranaki for his stag party.


I downloaded the NZ topomap app.  Great tool.  I took a snapshot of the greater area around Mount Taranaki. Then closed the app, switched off my WiFi connection and opened the app.  The whole lot is now saved on my android tablet, including the aerial photos of the area.


I am hoping my son, he is in Wellington, wlll download it, to his to see how it performs with live GPS.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 23:05:03, 13/08/19
That would be ideal. 
As I said, ViewRanger can do the same thing but requires an inexpensive subscription to get LINZ mapping. 


Don’t know if you have been to NZ before but they are the friendliest, most helpful people I have met.  All the trails we walked were well marked.   I have have walked a trail on the slopes of Taranaki but not climbed it.  However I did spend an afternoon gliding over it up to cloud base and the paths looked good.  By all accounts it is a bit loose near the top.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 21:57:55, 17/08/19
First time in NZ for MrsG and I.  We have a month mid Nov to mid Dec.

Edd loaded up NZ Topo Map.  The GPS updates nice and quick.  The Cartography reminds me of the old one inch  series OS maps.  The cache allows you to down load some pretty big sections and you can store them on your SD card.  All for free, what's not to like, good find. O0

Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 22:14:05, 17/08/19
Well done.  The Topo map did not work well for me on my Etrex.  See this thread http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=37938.15 (http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=37938.15)


Sort of got it in the end but had a problem with contours.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 23:41:55, 17/08/19
I did read that thread originally, but I could not get the maps to run from those original links I could only down load static files to viiew as pictures.

The specific App  my son and I now have installed is....

NZ Topo Map,. By Mason Blackwood.

This is running pretty seamlessly on our Android devices.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 21:46:16, 06/10/19
quote author=ninthace link=topic=39199.msg557988#msg557988 date=1570347328]Heading back to Rotorua shortly. No plans for Mount Doom this time. There is baby cooing to be done. Oh and a circuit of Taranaki, the family are talking part in a race round it.

We are heading to South island last two weeks of Nov.  Then North island first two weeks of Dec.  Rotorua will be towards the end before heading home.


Are there any must see place near Rotorua?
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 22:18:04, 06/10/19
The.obvious spots are the geothermal sites such as Whakarewarewa. They are right on the edge of town.  Even the park in the middle of town has steaming lakes and bubbling mud pools.  The Redwood Forest in the direction of the airport is good walking, quite a few trails  Apart from the main lake, the Blue Lake, Green Lake and Lake Tarawera are worth a trip.
If you want an Adrenalin ride, there are several street luge runs in the Skyline Gravity Park.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: route2rock on 06:42:27, 11/10/19
If you get the chance to complete the Tongariro alpine crossing, it's a real must. Probably one of my favourite walks of all time, beautiful scenery, and very varied. It's 19.4km in length with an option of an excursion to the top of mount ngauruhoe. (This was used as mount doom in the Lord of the rings).

Most get a bus to the other end and walk back to their car.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: Jac on 07:59:49, 11/10/19
Heard about this on R4 a couple of days ago. As a change from walking it looks fun and there is also a historical significance to the area.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g255107-d2512213-Reviews-Rere_Rockslide-Gisborne_Gisborne_Region_North_Island.html
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 15:46:37, 11/10/19
If you get the chance to complete the Tongariro alpine crossing, it's a real must. Probably one of my favourite walks of all time, beautiful scenery, and very varied. It's 19.4km in length with an option of an excursion to the top of mount ngauruhoe. (This was used as mount doom in the Lord of the rings).

Most get a bus to the other end and walk back to their car.
  We stayed in a motel in National Park.  They bussed us to the start and back from the finish as well as providing an early breakfast and packed lunch.  Really well organised too, in terms of accounting for people and making sure nobody was left on the mounatain.  We stayed 3 nights in the hope of getting the best weather window, which we did and it was still cack!  Smelt it rather than saw it for a lot of the walk but I've got the T shirt (which was included in the price).
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 16:50:12, 11/10/19
  We stayed in a motel in National Park.  They bussed us to the start and back from the finish as well as providing an early breakfast and packed lunch.  Really well organised too, in terms of accounting for people and making sure nobody was left on the mounatain.  We stayed 3 nights in the hope of getting the best weather window, which we did and it was still cack!  Smelt it rather than saw it for a lot of the walk but I've got the T shirt (which was included in the price).


Thinking we will stay a few nights in national park. Which motel did you book and do you recommend it?
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 17:54:57, 11/10/19
We used the Adventure Lodge in National Park.  Probably not the swishest place in NP but you get a good breakfast and very friendly and helpful service.  The walls were a bit thin but we didn't have a noise problem.  It was a bit tired land dowdy looking but it was clean.  They had their own bus to take people to and from the crossing and offer a complete package deal that is bookable in advance from UK.  It includes the bus, safety brief which includes what to do if you think you are not going to make it, packed lunch, early breakfast hot rolls and the T shirt. 
http://www.adventurelodge.co.nz/ (http://www.adventurelodge.co.nz/)


Tips - do your shopping before you get there.  The only shop is the filling station and it is pricey.  The Station is a good place to eat and is not too far a walk away.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: rural roamer on 18:35:26, 11/10/19
Following this post with interest and taking notes as we are starting to plan a big holiday (for 6-8 weeks) to NZ. Possibly Australia too as we’ll probably only ever go once and I have a cousin in Queensland.  It may not be for a couple of years yet, we’ve just got a book out of the library to start working out what we want to do.  I don’t think we will do any LDWs but will certainly include some day walks.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: happyhiker on 08:37:39, 12/10/19
I can echo route2rock's recommendation on the Tongariro Crossing. It's a great day walk. You can get trips which drop you at one end and pick you up at the end.


Also some great walking on the Abel Tasman trail on the South Island - powerful ribs will take you along the coast from Kaiteriteri as far as you want to go and you walk back. This can be either day walks or multi day depending on your wishes. Beaches to die for.


Great day walks too in the Remarkables, mountains near Queenstown.


Basically, New Zealant is a fabulous outdoor playground and the possibilities are endless.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: route2rock on 12:53:10, 12/10/19
I can echo route2rock's recommendation on the Tongariro Crossing. It's a great day walk. You can get trips which drop you at one end and pick you up at the end.


Also some great walking on the Abel Tasman trail on the South Island - powerful ribs will take you along the coast from Kaiteriteri as far as you want to go and you walk back. This can be either day walks or multi day depending on your wishes. Beaches to die for.


Great day walks too in the Remarkables, mountains near Queenstown.


Basically, New Zealant is a fabulous outdoor playground and the possibilities are endless.

We actually went on a kayak trip on the Abel Tasman, you paddle out with a guide in the morning then walk back in the afternoon, also a good walk :)


The only overnight hiking we did was the Routeburn track, we did it over 3 days which made it really relaxed. Another beautiful walk :)
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 19:38:49, 25/10/19
Just a reminder.  Anyone visiting NZ from UK now requires a tourist visa as of 1 Oct 19.  Cheapest route is through the NZeTA app.  Internet applications are significantly more expensive.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 23:57:36, 25/10/19
Visas for our trip all sorted.  We had our big paper map out on the lounge floor this evening plotting out the second half of our visit.  The North island.  Jess the cat likes to help too.


(https://i.postimg.cc/MZL9MgCZ/IMG-20191025-WA0000.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bdQx4VY4)
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 01:47:28, 26/10/19
We are somewhere just south of your cat’s left ear at the moment in Rotorua. Heading up for a few days in a bach by the sea at Waihi Beach next week.  Local knowledge says the ski slopes should still be open.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 10:14:10, 26/10/19
We are somewhere just south of your cat’s left ear at the moment in Rotorua. Heading up for a few days in a bach by the sea at Waihi Beach next week.  Local knowledge says the ski slopes should still be open.


Our son was there just last week. He took a week off and explored the Coromandel National Park area. Some amazing spots.  O0
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 11:32:34, 26/10/19
Great rugby match this morning too.

And the the best team won. O0
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 15:22:26, 26/10/19
Great rugby match this morning too.

And the the best team won. O0
That was the grudging consensus here too.  Next weekend we are staying on the in-laws’ farm and the plan was to drive to the nearest bar and watch the final there.  I think that plan is on hold now  :)
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 04:23:24, 01/11/19
Just for info Buzy, if you are thinking of climbing Mount Taranaki. The last snow fell there a week ago and from what I could make out through the clouds today, there is still plenty of snow cover high up. My guess is it would need special equipment at present.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 12:37:09, 01/11/19
Just for info Buzy, if you are thinking of climbing Mount Taranaki. The last snow fell there a week ago and from what I could make out through the clouds today, there is still plenty of snow cover high up. My guess is it would need special equipment at present.


Yes I have been chatting with the ski resort desk.  I plan to bring my own crampons and axe. My feet are large and I know the standard 160mm crampon bars do not fit my boots.  Edd hired some when he did the mount doom crossing a month or so back.  I am just hoping we get a crack at it.Lots  of cloud and fog the past few weeks up there, as the snow has melted.


Have you fitted any more walks in on this trip?
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 06:00:00, 02/11/19

Yes I have been chatting with the ski resort desk.  I plan to bring my own crampons and axe. My feet are large and I know the standard 160mm crampon bars do not fit my boots.  Edd hired some when he did the mount doom crossing a month or so back.  I am just hoping we get a crack at it.Lots  of cloud and fog the past few weeks up there, as the snow has melted.


Have you fitted any more walks in on this trip?
This was it today.  I am told February is the best month.  We went walking in the forest on the slopes today.
(https://i.postimg.cc/3rnLrJcv/20191102-074342.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 10:20:06, 02/11/19
Great picture. Is that Taranaki?    If so that is plan B.  I have looked up a number of lower level walks in that area and will hopefully get to try one or two with Mrs G and Edd.


Plan A is the summit peek of Mt Ruapehu, Tahurangi 2797m via skyline ridge. Just Edd and I for that one and weather dependent. A day like you have there would certainly be a go.


Edd has applied for an extension on his visa. Can't say I blame him.

Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 10:39:29, 02/11/19
That was Taranaki at 0730 this morning. It clouded over mid morning then cleared later. It is a common pattern requiring an early start for good summit conditions. We were helping out with a team for the Round the Mountain Relay - a 150 km race.  My son ran 2 legs and daughter-in-law walked one. In between we went up the north side to the tree line for a wander round.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 07:44:05, 03/11/19
Great picture. Is that Taranaki?    If so that is plan B.  I have looked up a number of lower level walks in that area and will hopefully get to try one or two with Mrs G and Edd.


Plan A is the summit peek of Mt Ruapehu, Tahurangi 2797m via skyline ridge. Just Edd and I for that one and weather dependent. A day like you have there would certainly be a go.


Edd has applied for an extension on his visa. Can't say I blame him.
I passed some distance N of your Plan A today on SH41. This is what it looked like from the Waituhi Lookout.  Ruapehu is the one on the right, the cone on the left is Mout Doom (Ngauruhoe).  SH4 through National Park was signed as shut.  On the other hand, forecast high for Rotorua tomorrow is 29, today it hit 28 so it may thaw quickly
(https://i.postimg.cc/pr6CCGr0/20191103-174331.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 21:46:24, 03/11/19
Wow, what a view.

I am watching the forecast here.

https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Ruapehu/forecasts/2796 (https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Ruapehu/forecasts/2796)

Not the same as being there though.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 09:35:56, 04/11/19
That picture of Ruapehu was taken from 46km away using only a 4x zoom on my phone.  It is big!
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 20:38:24, 13/11/19
So the adventure begins tomorrow.  :) 

It's the first time since starting work 40+  years ago that I have had more than a few weeks off at once.  Blame good health and full employment for that one.  Any way I am very much looking forward to it, as is Mrs G.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 23:14:23, 13/11/19
Bon voyage.  It’s an awful long flight!
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: sunnydale on 04:38:55, 14/11/19
I’ve only just seen/read this thread! Lots of useful info too.
I hope you & Mrs G have a fabulous time Buzy  O0
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 09:24:58, 19/11/19
Our second day in NZ today. 

The NZtopoApp is a brilliant tool.  Having snapshoted the detail for all the areas we plan to visit.  I have been using it today driving just click on he locate icon and it zooms right in on your location at 1:50k detail, then you can switch over to the aerial photos and get even more detail for walking. If only the OSApp was so simple to use and completely free.
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: ninthace on 12:40:13, 19/11/19
Our second day in NZ today. 

The NZtopoApp is a brilliant tool.  Having snapshoted the detail for all the areas we plan to visit.  I have been using it today driving just click on he locate icon and it zooms right in on your location at 1:50k detail, then you can switch over to the aerial photos and get even more detail for walking. If only the OSApp was so simple to use and completely free.
  It is less good for paths.  For example, the Redwoods in Rotorua is criss crossed by foot and bike trails but the Topo App shows virtually nothing in the way of trails.  ViewRanger on the the other hand shows most of them.  I would recommend having off line maps in both apps.  I also experienced a problem zooming on off line maps.  I frequently had to reverse and zoom again having changed the centre point.  IMHO the maps are handicapped by being 50k and are crude at higher zoom.
For in car navigation I used GoogleMaps which gives steering directions as well. 
Title: Re: Maps and Walking in New Zealand
Post by: BuzyG on 18:44:24, 19/11/19
  It is less good for paths.  For example, the Redwoods in Rotorua is criss crossed by foot and bike trails but the Topo App shows virtually nothing in the way of trails.  ViewRanger on the the other hand shows most of them.  I would recommend having off line maps in both apps.  I also experienced a problem zooming on off line maps.  I frequently had to reverse and zoom again having changed the centre point.  IMHO the maps are handicapped by being 50k and are crude at higher zoom.
For in car navigation I used GoogleMaps which gives steering directions as well.


The biggest plus so far is the detail on the Arial photos and switching between them and 1:50k map off line.  Yes the detail on the maps is crude and old school 1 inch style.  The photos though are detailed. :)